A non South Pole post

A few posts ago I mentioned that I was planning an around the world bicycle journey for my daughter and I. While looking at the demographics of this blog I see that it is read by people all over the world. In fact page views by country shows that it is very European and Russian read along with a smaller number in South America. What follows is my first cut at an itinerary  I would welcome comments/suggestions from those who live in the countries we plan to visit or anyone who has biked, hiked, driven, or just visited the various countries. I would  really appreciate comments to mikey8590@gmail.com. Thank you.

World Tour 2014

Eurasia Bicycle Route

Lisbon, Portugal (April 1, 2014)

North to Santiago de Compostela, Spain (336 miles). Ride the “Way of St. James” in reverse to France (462 miles)

Over the Pyrenees through France, Switzerland, and Austria skirting the Alps

Drop down to Budapest, Hungary (from France 1300 miles)

Bucharest, Romania

Burgas, Bulgaria (Black Sea)

Istanbul, Turkey (end of Europe and the beginning of Asia) (from Budapest 830 miles)

Istanbul – Erzurum – Dogubayazit (Turkey)

Tabriz – Tehran – Mashhad (Iran)

Mary - Turkmenabat (Turkmenistan)

Bukhara – Samarqand - Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

Shymkent – Taraz (Kazakhstan)

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Istanbul to Sharkent (Chinese border) (3,000 miles)

China (Sharkent to Shanghai) (2900 miles)

Approximately 9000 miles.

At 40 miles per day = 225 days = 7 ½ months

Add 30 days off = 8 ½ months in Eurasia.

April through November/December 2014

After China possibility:

Ferry to southern Japan and ride to northern Japan

Fly to Patagonia, Argentina and ride to Vancouver, Canada, east to New Brunswick, Canada, south to Cape Canaveral, Florida.