Round-the-world biker returns home

By Annie Davidson

A LONE motorcycle rider came home yesterday after spending six months travelling the world.

Mark Stowe set out on the open road on April 1 with only his BMW motorbike for company, but ended up making countless friends on his epic journey through 22 different countries.

Mr Stowe, from Stanway, began his adventure in Holland, before travelling through Europe, Russia, across Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia and onwards to Alaska, Canada and finally America, clocking up a total of 25,000 miles.

The former engineer was inspired to take up the unusual voyage after watching Long Way Round, a documentary of film star Ewan McGregor and a friend travelling from London to New York on motorbikes.

Mr Stowe had never even ridden a motorbike before but was so keen to achieve the ambition that he enrolled straight on to a crash-course in riding and never looked back.

Mr Stowe said: “I've learnt that whenever you are having a low, you have to tell yourself a high will be coming along soon.

“You have to expect things to go wrong because they inevitably will at some point.”

One friend he is certain to keep in touch with is fellow Englishman John Yates, whom he met in Mongolia - they are currently planning another trip together for sometime next year.

“It was a lot easier to meet people than I had thought. You have to make friends or you would end up going mad with no one to talk to.”

Mr Croft was sponsored by the Sudbury-based Internet company e-tribes. He is hoping to work as an engineer again before setting off on further travels, but he said he might need to buy a new bike when he does.

“I wasn't the most experienced of riders when I started my journey - and let's just say the bike is not quite in the same condition now as when I set out,” said Mr Stowe.