Sam Manicom: 8 years & 200,000 miles by GS80

[piedevant]

Those in South West London or Surrey with an interest in long distance overlanding by motorbicycle might like to hear
my friend Sam Manicom's talk in Guildford tonight (Tuesday October 16th, 8pm) about his adventures in the Dark Continent, as recounted in his much-acclaimed account of the journey: Into Africa.
His talk in the Onslow Village Hall, near the Cathedral, is part of the Guildford Book Festival.
I daresay he'll probably give a mensh or two to the sequel, his new book, Under Asian Skies which is just out.
Both books are a cracking read and his talk includes lots of slides. Sam really makes you feel as if you are there, in the dust, amongst the people with all the highs and lows he experienced on and off the road from Sudan to Calcutta and Namibia to Varanasi.
He talked about Into Africa on Johnnie Walker's Radio 2 show, and about Under Asian Skies with John McCarthy on Radio 4's Excess Baggage, and you can read more and also hear it again by clicking on the link here:
bbc.co.uk/radio4/excessbaggage

There's every chance that Sam will actually be arriving on the trusty 200,000 mile BMW R80GS that he used for his 8 year odyssey around the world, since it's still his only transport - he doesn't own a car.
My own short article about Sam's RTW trip is here:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/newsandupdates/
although it seems to have lost its photos!
Sam's own website is www.sam-manicom.com
PNB
More details of tonight's talk, including a location map here:
http://www.guildfordtravelclub.org.uk/where/index.htm

http://www.sam-manicom.com/bookings.html
Sam Manicom - Into Africa
Non-Fiction
2007-10-16
20:00
Onslow Village Hall
Onslow Village Hall
Wilderness Road, Onslow Village, Guildford GU2 7QR
Upfront with adventure, mishaps, dust and heat, Sam evokes all the pleasures and pain of a 20,000 mile journey by motor cycle through a stunning land.
£5 (includes refreshments) Guidlford Travel Club members free ? Doors open 7.30pm, event ends approx 10pm
Tickets are available
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[colesyboy]

I'll second that - it will be an inspirational talk....

I met Sam at a horizons unlimited do in Derby about 4 years ago, just as I was about to do a 1 year tour of the americas, top to bottom. I had about a thousand questions and Sam answered all of them and basically told me "dont worry, but be assured that it will be the best thing you have ever done in your life". He was not wrong. I'll never forget that year and the year I just spend riding to Vietnam from London. It's addictive and gets you appreciating all the important things that you always thought you appreciated, but never really did.

So DO go along if you have just the slightest desire to do a long distance tour on a bike.

Sam's first book was a fantastic read, just amazingly well written and got my imagination back out on the road.

I'm looking forward to devouring his next book with copious amounts of tea.