African Adventure Motorcycle Travel

We Are Sailing

It may sound odd that I was asked to lecture on the Asian leg of the Saga Ruby round-the-world cruise, but there were plenty of people who wanted to know about my African motorcycle trips on the cruise ship. My stories about the kindness of strangers on the road never fail to translate, no matter which continent (or ocean) I'm on.

I picked up the ship in the Maldives and disembarked in Singapore (above), a city that should be on your list of places to see if you have not been. In port, I did not have enough time to rent my own bike but did ride pillion a few times with friendly locals and spent plenty of time in tuk-tuks.

I'd like to thank the crew, fellow lecturers and cruisers for introducing me to the sybaritic delights of cruising. Please call again.

IT FLOATS! BREW HA-HA TAKES TO THE HIGH SEAS

African Brew Ha-Ha takes to the high seas this week when I bring the presentation to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore. Even though I'll be at sea most of the time, I think it still counts as Asia (the third continent on which I've presented).

The crew on the good ship Saga Ruby must have heard how well the presentation went at ADVENTURE TRAVEL LIVE last Saturday so they invited me along to join the round-the-world cruise and present three 'lectures' - relax, it's not that formal.

I join the ship on a private island in the Maldives (apparently it looks like the picture above) and they turf me off 8 days later at Singapore where I shall try and get a bike and do what comes more naturally on terra firma.

I can't wait to combine the book tour with more travel.

Now, I like the book tour and I like travel, but which one is better? There's only one way to find out...

Adventure Travel Live - cheap tickets

 

I'll be joining Chris Scott, Benedict Allen and a bevvy of travel talent to give a talk about African Brew Ha-Ha at Adventure Travel Live - the show for serious adventure travellers on January 28/29/30 at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London.

I know that makes it sound like I know them all but actually I'm just thrilled to be asked.

I'll be talking in the Overland & Expeditions Theatre at 1pm on Saturday Jan 29. Come along and ask a difficult question!

Tickets here www.adventuretravellive.com - use the promotional code WHELAN for £4 off the door price.

End at the Beginning

I was more than a little keen to bring the Brew Ha-Ha show to the place where it all began - Original Tea Bag Designs in Cape Town. They provided the inspiration for the trip and last month they provided the venue for my presentation of stories and pictures from my trans-Africa trip.

Thanks to Jill and the tea bag workers who re-arranged the room for seating and came out on a Monday night for tea and wine.

Plenty of Variety

Lots more events coming up in 2011 for African Brew Ha-Ha.

Three that have just been confirmed range from the Ladies Guild of Blackpool (Jan 25) to the Porsche Owners Club of Great Britain (Feb 16) - and in between I will be presenting at Adventure Travel Live at the Horticultural Halls in Victoria, London (Jan 29). The last of these is an ideal event to attend if you've ever dreamed of heading for the wild blue yonder and other cliches.

You can't say my venues lack variety.

Cape Town Calling

Here is the first event in Cape Town for African Brew Ha-Ha.

You will need a ticket, so please email me on alan@inkwellpr.co.uk or Jill on info@tbagdesigns.co.za or call Original Tea Bag Designs - 021 790 0887.

East Lancashire comes out for Tea

Thank you to everyone who came to the Rainhall Centre in Barnoldswick (love that name!) in East Lancashire last Friday for another stop on the African Brew Ha-Ha roadshow.

The terrific evening was organised by The Bookshop Colne and my gratitude must go to Christine (centre, below) and Jo who worked hard to make sure we had a big group of bikers and tea-drinkers and that the curry was served on time. 

I also think it's great when people read ABHAHA but still come to an event to see the characters mentioned in the book. One visitor had already read the book after borrowing it from the library - and then bought a copy as a keepsake from the evening.

African Brew, Ha Ha Ha

African Brew Ha-Ha is officially launched in Ireland. There were sponges, a teapot cake and tea, with a chaser of that West Africa favourite - Guinness - at the event in Tallaght.

Thanks to Catherine and Kay for the cakes and sandwiches, to Denis for organising the event and to Mick Duff, the Mayor of South Dublin, for saying some well chosen words to begin the evening.

It was great to bring the book home to Dublin, a formidable literary hub and home to Beckett, Behan, Yeats, Synge, O'Connor, Joyce and many modern writers such as Roddy Doyle.

Before we knew it the evening became the night; the cakes were eaten, the Guinness drunk, and hopefully soon the books will be read.

Dear Reader ...

 

Last night saw the Brew Ha-Ha's first outing / book signing to a book shop - with real readers and everything - at Plackitt and Booth in Lytham, Lancashire.

There were bikers, adventure travellers and a smattering of tea drinkers who came to hear some highlights of my trip through Africa.

It was a tight fit in the bijou bookshop for the people who turned out on a Thursday evening, and a strangely intimidating experience to be talking about my book while gazed upon by the words of dead poets - and Alan Titchmarsh.

Thanks to everyone who came and especially to Patrick and Allison who run the shop, arranged the evening and poured the wine (no tea).

Talk is Cheap

There's another talk coming up about the African Brew Ha-Ha. Handy if you live near Lytham, Lancs. As usual, I shall be talking about my favourite things: Africa, adventure travel, bikes and tea. And it's only £2, including a glass of wine!

Venue: Plackitt & Booth bookshop - 87c Clifton St, Lytham

Date: May 27

Time: 7pm

Ticket: £2.00

Call 01253 796958 for a ticket

or go to

http://www.plackittandbooth.co.uk/page3.html