Riga to Hong Kong
July 31 – October 7, 2015
Beginning in Riga, Latvia on July 31, 2015 The Epic Journey is a fully-supported 69 day adventure totaling nearly 13,000 miles ending in Hong Kong. Notwithstanding the vast and divergent territory that we’ll cover during this incredible adventure, it’s not about miles. It’s about the collection of experiences that we’ll enjoy as we ride through Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China.
Ron Ayres spent several weeks in Russia and Mongolia in 2013 scouting out various sections of the Epic Journey. This was followed up with a full pre-ride of the entire tour by John Jesson (Ayres Adventures CEO) and Janis Cimins, our Latvian Based Tour Director.
Starting in Riga, John and Janis undertook the task of riding the entire planned route of the Epic Journey. Their trip took them through Northern Latvia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Siberia, Mongolia, China and over to Hong Kong. An incredible journey of 20 000 km’s.
The Epic Journey Live Waypoints consists of stories from the scouting and pre-ride undertaken by Ron, John and Janis. We will also be posting live updates sent in from John and Janis as they lead this incredible Journey starting July 31. Updates will be done as often as possible every few days as the tour leaders get sufficient internet connections.
Participants of the Epic Journey will also have the opportunity to post their personal updates during this incredible 13 000 mile/68 day adventure. Follow Lee-Ann and Dave’s Epic Eurasia Motorcycle Adventure blog for updates on their ongoing journey as part of the group.
Join us on a virtual tour of the Ayres Adventures Epic Journey and feel free to leave your comments at the bottom of the page.
The Long Road to Russia
I can still remember when, as a child, my school would conduct the occasional air raid drill. I don’t know if it was common throughout the country or whether our proximity to our nation’s capital [...]
Kirilov, Vologda Region
[SlideDeck2 id=7783] June 1, 2013 It seems as though it’s been much more than four days since I arrived in Moscow to begin scouting our first tours here. Svetlana met my flight and we were [...]
Ron’s scouting trip in Russia and Mongolia
[satellite gallery=53 caption=off auto=on thumbs=on] I was in Russia last June to set up two tours that we'll operate in 2014. The June trip provided the opportunity to do some scouting for The [...]
Tour Development Status and Plan
By the time this trip begins I will have thoroughly scouted it and will have finalized the itinerary. I was in Russia twice in 2013 to perform scouting. On my second trip, I also scouted [...]
Pre-ride in China
[satellite gallery=52 caption=off auto=on thumbs=on] Hi Everyone, Greetings from Chengdo, China. Things are going really well, albeit very busy with long days. Today we have a free day so the [...]
Epic Journey Update July 2015
As time draws closer to the start of out Epic Journey we are on track with all the tour logistics. The shipping container with the bikes has arrived in Riga, been cleared through customs and [...]
Riga, Latvia to Tallinn, Estonia
Lee-Ann and David posted a story about their first day of motorcycling riding: "Today is our first day of motorcycle riding on the Epic tour. We begin in Latvia. We will end in Hong Kong. [...]
Tallinn, Estonia to St. Petersburg
Lee-Ann and David posted a new story about crossing the border between Estonia and Russia: "It was a very long day. We had missed the dinner originally planned for us, but our guides quickly arranged [...]
Past Latvia, Estonia to Russia
First days of riding, crossing borders of three countries, visiting many places of interest. Riders enjoyed a quick stop in front of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, the largest museum in the world. Read [...]
Smolenskiy Shlyuz – Yaroslavl Region
Lee-Ann and David posted a new post about the group covering 341 miles in Russia: "This posting is slightly out of order because the internet in Russia has become a problem - very slow, so [...]
Yaroslavl Region to Moscow
Lee-Ann and David's post about reaching the capital city of Russia: "After breakfast this morning, we geared up and rode the bikes back to the resort's reception area. No one was allowed out of the [...]
Uglich – Sergiev Posad – Moscow
On our way to the capital of Russia we made a stop at Sergiev Posad, founded in the 14th century by the Saint Sergy Radonezhsky. The most important sight of the town is the Trinity [...]
We have made news headlines in Russia!
The Epic Journey group was interviewed by the local TV Channel in Cherepovets, Russia, on their way to Moscow. A city in the west of Vologda Oblast was thrilled to host an international group heading [...]
Moscow
Really fascinating time in Moscow. Our hotel was within walking distance from the Red Square, the Kremlin, the Bolshoy Theater and many other places of interest. Now off to Suzdal. [...]
Moscow Tour – No Motorcycles Today
Today the group toured Moscow with a local guide and a big tour bus. They took a ride on the metro and enjoyed beautiful arches and sculptures stored inside, visited Novodevichy Convent where the remains [...]
Moscow to Suzdal
"...Who remembers stopping at roadside picnic tables while traveling in the family car? They still do in Russia. It's a little blurry, but all along the road there are small pavilions with picnic tables. Families [...]
Suzdal to Nizhniy Novgorod
Lee-Ann and David posted a new post covering the group's route from Suzdal to Nizhniy Novgorod: "The morning briefing today was just outside the lodge rooms, by the motorcycles. Today will be easier because we [...]
Exploring Nizhniy Novgorod
Exploring Nizhny Novgorod. No history of any period of Russia, from Kievan Rus’, through the era of Muscovite rule, to the Communist period, would be complete without the involvement of people from the province. The [...]
Nizhniy Novgorod to Kazan
"...As usual, the morning briefing was held by the bikes. It was overcast and threatening to rain. We were aiming for an 8:15 departure, and came pretty close. Today is a fairly boring blog, as [...]
Kazan tour
"Today was a “free” day in Kazan. We have a walking tour of the city, and then are on our own for the afternoon. Our day began with the news that our first granddaughter, Emma [...]
The Epic Journey team hit the headlines again!
Stopped for a lunch in Bugulma, Tatarstan, and got spotted by local media. We got interviewed and joined for group photos by local motorcyclists. [...]
Ufa to Magnitogorsk
"As usual, we attracted attention. The gentleman in the back took several pictures. As we left, there must have been about a dozen people watching and taking pictures from the front steps of the hotel." [...]
Magnitogorsk to Kostanay
"We met at the bikes and left the hotel in Magnitogorsk at 8 AM today. Today we needed to cover 410 km (256miles), plus a border crossing into Kazakhstan..." Read the full story of crossing [...]
Kostanay to Borovoe
"It was going to be a long day of Kazakhstan steppe land and road conditions that varied from good to really, really bad. Watch out for the pot holes!" Read the full story by Lee-Ann [...]
Borovoe to Astana
"Things were going well - until we came to the toll booths. We had a problem getting through the gate. A few of us went through and waited on the side of the road on [...]
Astana to Pavlodar
"...The gravel sections sometimes diverted us around this type of work; huge culverts being placed beneath the new road. Basically, we were riding in the midst of ongoing road construction the entire time - [...]
Pavlodar to Yarovoe
"It was after 1pm when all of us had our bikes inspected and sniffed by the dog, and our picture taken with a very lovely border guard. She really only wanted big Mike in [...]
Yarovoe to Novosibirsk
"Today we rode 396 km (248 miles ) to Novosibirsk, the third largest city in Russia. It is located on the banks of the Ob River. The Novosibirsk Hydro Electric plant was built next [...]
Novosibirsk to Tomsk
"...Today we rode through some new geography in Siberia, from the industrial/military town of Novosibirsk, to the more vibrant Tomsk. Tomsk is one of the oldest towns in Siberia, and is the third largest. [...]
Tomsk to Krasnoyarsk
"...We left Tomsk under chilly, overcast skies. Anyone who doesn't have Klim brand gear put on their rainsuits before the 8am start. We left earlier than usual, because it's a long way to Krasnoyarsk [...]
Almost 4 weeks in to our Epic Journey and things are rolling along well!
We are in the city of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia for a two night stop giving the local BMW dealership enough time to clean, service and do some tire changes to the bikes while the riders [...]
Krasnoyarsk to Nizhneudinsk
Today we had a scenic drive in the rain. The temperature dropped to +12 C (~ 53 Fa). One of our fellow riders wrecked at speed and totaled her bike. Thanks to good riding [...]
Nizhneudinsk to Listvyanka (Lake Baikal)
Today we covered 580 km's (~360 miles). Fall has already come to Siberia and it's getting colder every day. Mike Meyer wrote: "Apparently it's pretty cold here in the summer too. What's [...]
Listvyanka (Lake Baikal) to Arschan to Ulan-Ude
Heading to Sayan Mountains. The Sayan Mountains range along the border between Russia and Mongolia. The Sayans are known for their full-flowing rivers, cristal clear lakes, blooming [...]
Darkhan to Sainshand
/]fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"] Welcome to Mongolia. The country known as the "Land of Eternal Blue Sky"... The country [...]
Erenhot to Xian
/]]fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"] China, officially the People's Republic of China, is the most populous and fourth largest country in the world by total area (about the same size as the United States [...]
“And then there were nine!” Accidents along the Silk road
And then there were nine! We are in Jiayuguan. It is high Gobi Desert, about 5500 feet. There are snow capped mountains around us, but we are not in them. Today we saw, up [...]
The wheels are rolling and the time is flying… From Russia to China through Mongolia.
The wheels are rolling and the time is flying…. 69 days, 9.9 weeks, just over two months…. No matter how you think about it, a 69 day tour is a long time, or so [...]
The Silk road
The Silk Road is a series of trade and cultural transmission routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East by linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, [...]
Southern China. Chengdu – Fuquan
Going to Chengdu Chinese kids The people everywhere along this voyage are interested in us and the big motorcycles. Many approach us, often in little towns and gas stops. Others are more shy and [...]
Fuquan-Dong Village
Indescribable motorcycle riding through Southern China. Today we rode hundreds of sweepers, switchbacks, and hairpin turns through the most spectacular mountain farming scenes, in the middle of rice harvest. We've ridden the Alps and [...]
We made it to Hong Kong!
The last riding days of this incredible journey covering the distance from Yuangshuo to Hong Kong. The Yuling River is a small tributary of the larger Li River, which runs from Guilin to Yangshou. [...]
Epic Journey 2015 by Geoffrey Smith
For me, going for a day ride in Los Angeles generally means taking a couple of bottles of water in the tank bag. Going for a few days, a few [...]
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