Driving overland from London to Sdney
In late 1998 I was flicking through my father's copy of Private Eye and spotted an advert, asking for people to join a 4 others driving from London to Sydney.

I was fortunate not to have any real ties, and a supportive family, and some savings which meant that in February 1999 myself, Jimmy, Simon, Lisa and Al set off in a 1987 Land Rover hoping to arrive in Sydney for the millennium celebrations.

The journey took 9 months and we drove 27000 miles visiting 19 countries en-route, including Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand and Laos. The route we chose included 2 sea crossings where the Land Rover was shipped in a container and we flew over - these were between Chennai (then Madras) and Kaula Lumpur (KL) and KL to Perth.

Sadly neither Jimmy or Simon made it to Sydney - for various reasons they both flew home before the end and I have now lost touch with them but would like to see them both again if I could. The vehicle and myself, Lisa and Al all made it though in one piece.

It really was a fantastic trip - we covered a pretty full range of emotions, foods, temperatures, conditions and cultures and if the opportunity where to rise again I would go for it in an instant, despite having a business to look after now.

While I was in Sydney I wrote three articles that were published on the Bootsnall website and they are still there 12 years on:

www.bootsnall.com/articles/99-11/overlanding-land-rover-1-3.html
www.bootsnall.com/articles/99-11/overlanding-land-rover-2-3.html
www.bootsnall.com/articles/99-11/overlanding-land-rover-3-3.html
( Admiral_Fubar, Fri 15 Jul 2011, 20:52, 6 replies)

Hmmmm
So you drove to India, then ?
(CIIJASIIE Fanny Scratching in Cock Lane, Fri 15 Jul 2011, 21:59, closed)

Yes - we drove through Europe, into Greece, then Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, into Nepal for a month, back to India before shipping to Malaysia, then Thailand and Laos before back to Malaysia before shipping to Australia.
( Admiral_Fubar, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 21:06, closed)

Wasn't this covered in one of the landrover mags a while back....LRO or LRM?? If it is the same trip I read it totally totally jealous....well done!!
(spinks its only kinky the first time, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 9:10, closed)

Our trip was not picked up by LRO (the LRM/LRW didn't exist then!) although we did offer, mainly in the hope of getting sponsorship. I am sure others have been covered since - I think we were unusual in that there was no charity motive just a common desire to reach Sydney for the Millenium celebrations.

Sadly I think trying to follow the same route as we did now would be very difficult - Southern Pakistan then was a pretty lawless place but now I don't think I would want to be hanging around too much. We also drove up into the Swat Valley - since devastated by the huge earthquake.
( Admiral_Fubar, Sat 16 Jul 2011, 21:11, closed)

I dont think i have the bottle to go that far.....but i do intend driving to Porec via most of europe one day (when i have built my ideal 90 of course!!!)
(spinks its only kinky the first time, Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:35, closed)

Wow.
I'm tempted...
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Sun 17 Jul 2011, 9:08, closed)