ADVENTURE

When Abbey Molyneux turned her back on the demon drink she found herself with spare cash and fidgety feet. 3500 miles in 16 days should do it…

Kick the demon drink and go on an adventure. Abbey Molyneux did…

You’ve just come back from your first solo ride? Where did that take you? From London I ploughed through Brussels, the Netherlands and Germany for the Petrolettes festival (a female-only event). Then on to Switzerland and France and back to Portsmouth. It was 3500 miles over 16 days.

What were you riding? A 1980s Honda CX500. I’d owned it for ten months before the trip, all without a hitch. However, when I returned I was down to one indicator, the head gasket had blown and the engine had burned £860 worth of oil.

Your approach was refreshingly low tech…

Yes, I spent £10 on some army ammunition boxes. Dad welded up brackets for me and I bolted them on as panniers. I could only use the rack for light gear – if I loaded it up I got involuntary wheelies. To help I bought a tool bag for the handlebars and filled it with spanners. I’m glad I did as I ended up using every one. I bought a GPS in Germany and wired it up in a car park because I kept going round roundabouts the wrong way.

What inspired your trip? The journey began when I gave up drinking – I’m the kind of drinker who starts on Friday and wakes up in Spain on Monday. Without drinking I was bored, fidgety and had spare cash which was a novelty. I saw an advert for the Petrolettes festival and the next thing I knew I was on the road. I’d been riding for ten months on a full license and I’d never ridden abroad. I had no plan and a very tight budget. I discovered you can do exactly 2700 miles on £1000 with a leaky bike.

How was travelling on your own?

I’m a bit of a recluse – I live on a boat on the Thames and it’s solitary. Travelling alone you learn a lot about yourself and have the freedom to be as selfish as you please. I often forgot to eat and drink, so I’d arrive somewhere exhausted and starving.

What was the best moment of the journey? The Alps were my favourite. Feeling the waterfalls splash as you ride, and the tranquility of the lakes is divine. The water tastes incredible.

And the worst?

Riding up a mountain in a thunder storm was bad; I fell off and petrol flooded out of the tank and down the road… and then some fantastic people helped me lift the bike. To see the mountains so angry and powerful was mind blowing. But the bit I hated and would never do again was riding in 43° heat. Misery. The scariest bit was riding down the Grand Ballon with the bike firing on just one cylinder – keeping upright was exhausting.

What advice do you have for those considering their first solo trip?

Don’t make a plan, just go get lost and figure out what makes you tick. I spent too much time fretting about the destinations. They don’t matter. It’s the journey you’re there for. Buy a Tomtom sat nav. Oh and rest days are totally overrated. Read more about Abbey’s adventures at: abbeyboatbuilder.co.uk INSTA @abbeyboatbuilder