Spices and Spandex

Two men, 26 countries, 501 days, 20,000km.

by Mike Gibson

Frank Bike Push: Frank, the motorbike and sidecar I bought from the backstreet of Khartoum, Sudan (whilst I was forced off the bicycle with a six month knee injury). I crossed five borders with Frank and had to push over four of them due to mechanical failures. Frank was in a terrible state from day one but generated such interest and interaction with every breakdown – people just wanted to help and help. This time we were pushing over the Sudanese/Ethiopian border.

Into the White Desert: When the tarmac stops. 'Off-roading' with all this weight proved to be quite the physical challenge. Deep sand and corrugated roads are less then ideal. This is heading into the Western Desert, Egypt.

Sudan Pyramids: The Pyramids at Monroe, Northern Sudan. A mind blowing site. We had the place completely to ourselves, a true privilege to see such incredible feats of ancient human engineering so intimately. This picture was taken at midnight - using a long exposure and illuminated by the most brilliant of full moons.

Sudanese Portraits: Faces of Sudan. A people of great humility and kindness. Sudan exposed us to a level of generosity and welcome on an entirely unique level. A very special place along our journey.

Traditional Wrestling, Sudan: One of the most celebrated sporting events in Khartoum. Teams of wrestlers come together and grapple it out to see who comes out victorious. A great social occasion and celebration. The competition is fierce.

TV Cycle: Riding through the Balkans. Often we would come across whole villages deserted of any life. Shells of houses now fallen into disrepair and degradation. A vivid reminder of a dark, troublesome history.

Albania Valley: Cycling through Albania. A country that we knew so little about, and one that blew us away from the moment we crossed the border. A place of exceptional natural beauty and people full of warmth and generosity.

Camp fire in the White Desert, Egypt: The White Desert, situated in Egypt's larger Western Desert, is a spectacularly beautiful natural phenomenon. Our home for a few days. Camping under the stars, cooking over open coal. Just perfect.

Camping in the Bus Shelter: Another incredible 'Home for the Night'. This abandoned bus shelter in Jordan next to the Dead Sea, proved to be one of our favourites. Cooking up a hearty warm meal was a priority and a joy at the end of every long day in the saddle.

Fish Market, Tanzania: Gutting and cleaning in Dar es Salaam. Freshly caught tuna and calamari straight from the boat. The Indian Ocean providing a bounty of incredible seafood treats.

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Published: Friday 21st March 2014

Inspiration

Two men, 26 countries, 501 days, 20,000km. That's a dramatically condensed version of the journey undertaken by avid cyclist, food fan and general globetrotter and go-getter Tom Perkins, who cycled with a friend to some of the farthest-flung corners of the world in search of a bit of adventure – with some cooking thrown in along the way.

The fruits of his labour, aside from some stunning photography, is an as-yet unreleased book called Spices & Spandex, a travelogue/cookbook which documents his journey as well as the cultures and characters he encountered along the way. See the gallery above for just a few of his photos.

See more information and photography at thenomadickitchen.com, or check out his Kickstarter page here.

Inspiration

Guides

Spices and Spandex

Two men, 26 countries, 501 days, 20,000km.

by Mike Gibson

Published: Friday 21st March 2014

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