OC Charlie Condell reveals all about epic round the world journey so far

OC Charlie Condell is currently on an epic round-the-world motorcycle journey. Having completed a similar journey by bicycle last year, the teen is now currently on a new journey by motorbike. Charlie is hoping to break records and raise money for charity along the way. He recently updated us on his journey so far…

Having set off on the 2nd of October, I’m now just over two months into this adventure! So far, I’ve seen landscapes more magnificent than I could have dreamed of, met people who exemplify the true meaning of kindness and faced daily challenges that were completely unforeseen.

Europe was mostly wet, with some beautiful days crossing the Alps! Having never really ridden a motorbike on the road before it was certainly trial by fire. My first major delay came at the end of Spain when the Spanish post lost my Carnet de Passage – basically a passport for the bike. Eventually, it was found and sent down to me in Dakar.

Northern Africa was, in my eyes, the perfect mix of Turkey and New Zealand. Morocco is a beautiful country that I thoroughly intend to return to in the near future. Getting into the swing of African life was hard in itself. African drivers, especially once you get out of Morocco, truly don’t care for any kind of safety! I saw coaches on their sides, strewn across the desert from drivers nodding off at night, and also had near misses with camels. A camel crossing the road just when you’ve been hit by a 60kph cross wind and your face is beaten by the hot sand is not fun, but that’s all part of the joy of adventure. I would be upset if I had experienced anything less!

I had to make the difficult decision to end the African leg of my journey at Dakar. The current political climate further south simply presented too high a risk of being attacked, kidnapped or shot.

That pretty much brings us to the present day, where, after weeks of waiting and delays, my bike will hopefully be joining me in Montevideo, Uruguay. The South American leg of my journey promises to be one of the best bits and, although I haven’t learned a word of Spanish in my life and I don’t really have a plan other than get to Cape Horn (at least a two-week hard ride away), I feel truly excited to get on the road again.

I must say a massive thank you to Clifton College and Fowler’s Motorcycles for their continuing support of the expedition. A Life for a Cure is the charity I have chosen for this journey (do click the link if you would like to donate) and you can follow me on my travels via my Instagram @rtwcharlie.