In May, Bruce Smart, 37, from Mintlaw, set off on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 on a journey across seven different continents in a bid to raise £1million for charity.
The 75,000 mile journey will take him across 84 countries in 18 months
The adventure is in memory of his mother who fought cancer for 10 years before passing away.
The mother and son used to watch the Long Way Round programme, featuring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. Bruce told his mum he could do that.
“She said that I should. She told me to live life without any regrets as we only get one shot at it,” Bruce added.
Your Car caught up with Bruce as he makes his way through his gruelling journey.
How is the challenge going?
All going very well thanks. I’ve had a fair few issues like the subframe breaking four times, and crashing twice in Japan, but still going strong.
Where are you now?
I’m currently in Malaysia, heading to Sepang for the motoGP race this weekend for my birthday.
And next?
Then I head back into Thailand where I then go into Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, before heading back down through Thailand and Malaysia again, before crossing to Indonesia, then Australia and New Zealand for Christmas and New Year.
How long do you have left? And how many miles?
All going well I aim to be back at the Cenotaph in London, where I started, by the end of June/early July 2014. I’ve got about another 35,000 miles left to do, so I’m about half way.
What have you found to be some of the main challenges?
In the early stages, first month or so, I felt like I was in a race, I had to get going, I couldn’t stop and take my time anywhere. You soon realise that you’re on a long-term journey here, you won’t be going home anytime soon, so slow right down and enjoy it.
I was also fairly homesick at times, just missing my girlfriend and mates at home. But also the familiar things you take for granted, like knowing what the “normal thing to do” is in a place. When you’re on the road all the time, things are constantly changing and new. Just when you start to understand a place, you’ve moved on again.
But now, that’s what I love about being on the road. I enjoy the changing environment, cultures and people.
Any recent interesting anecdotes?
There have been countless, like finding myself in a forest in the depths of Siberia with 150 drunken Russian special forces bikers. Or being charged by a moose in Norway, or finding myself halfway up Mount Fuji on a dirt track surrounded by bear country.
How long do you ride for each day?
It all depends. I tend to start between 9am and 10am, then ride until about 6pm or 7pm, or just before it gets dark. Most days I’ll cover about 200 to 400 miles, sometimes less, and sometimes as much as 1,000 miles if I have to. It’s painful on a Superbike though.
What keeps you motivated?
I promised my mum I’d do the trip before she died, I don’t need any more motivation than that really. But I want to make my son, friends and family proud too.
What do you think of on long rides?
Everything. Biking is the greatest therapy you ever need, there’s just you, alone in your lid for hours/days/months. You think of your past, your mistakes, your goals, your promises. You get the opportunity to really digest and dissect stuff, not always a good thing, but hopefully you learn from it. I’m finding myself questioning what it is I ultimately want from life, and formulating plans to achieve it. We’ll see.
Has it been a lonely experience?
At times yes. On the road you see incredible sights, whether it’s beautiful sunsets or sunrises, wildlife in its own domain, or just the people you meet along the way. I’ve often thought to myself, “I wish Nikki (my Mrs) was here to experience this”, or thought I’d love to have my mates along for parts of it. But you meet folk along the way, it just happens, and that’s what makes a trip like this so incredible.
When did your interest in bikes begin?
I’ve always wanted to be a biker, but somehow never got around to it. I remember being about five and my dad bringing a mate home when he was onshore off the rigs. This guy turned up at the house on a huge bike and sat me on the tank. It took me another 27 years to finally go for it and do my bike test.
But it was that conversation with my mum which threw my world wide open. Once I got on a bike for real, everything changed. It’s simply the greatest feeling I can attain, second to the birth of your kids. It’s freedom, power, exhilaration and excitement all at once and in an instance.
How is your bike getting on with the trip?
Suitable and practical no, but it’s the best bike for me. I know my gixxer’s (Suzuki GSXR), I know how they feel, how they sound and how they ride when they’re healthy. But I also know when they’re not quite right, and that’s a big help on the road as you learn to pre-empt mechanical issues and, hopefully, get her serviced before anything breaks.
I’ve snapped the subframe four times now, once in the Sahara desert, once on the way to a track day in the UK, and twice crossing Russia.
My bike is not the most comfortable, it’s not the easiest to ride off road, and it’s not got much luggage-carrying space. But for me, it’s perfect. She’s a part of me now, a living, breathing limb. She’ll get me home, but only once we get around the world.