My Road to Damascus - An Introduction

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I love to travel but prefer travelling overland; Flying to me seems to eliminate some of the adventure and excitement. I like to see the changes in architecture, terrain, and the faces of people as well as experience the food and other delights in between.

In my travels I have discovered that being 64, sporting grey hair and beard means people get the feeling that you are harmless. An added bonus is that in many Middle East and Northern African countries age gets respect, which is useful, and despite many an opinion, age has its advantages.

So why Damascus? Well not for any sudden change in my ideals or beliefs, there was no blinding light, it just seemed a really great place to go, full of history and a new place to explore.

My chosen mode of transport for this trip was a 20 year old, 250cc Honda, brought in 2009 for the princely sum of £550.00 and which had been stored for 4 years waiting for something like this to bring it out of retirement. For the trip I had the clutch, brake disc and pads, spokes, tyres and tubes changed, and fitted a 12-volt socket, a screen and panniers. It came with a top box and I was given an old tankbag. I also fitted some Daylight Running Lights something which I attribute my safe return.

The bikers among you will notice this was a small bike for the journey I had ahead, I prefer a small bike for its lightness and ease of handling; and at 64 I have lost much of my upper body strength so a large BMW, if or in my case when dropped would be impossible to lift.

When the day came for the off, I’d like to say my tummy was full of butterflies, although I feel squirming worms would be a better description. It’s a daunting prospect leaving the safety and comfort of your home, kissing your loving wife good bye, and knowing there will be no more food and tea on tap for a while.

Yet knowing all this I was off to the middle east, a 64 year old granddad on a 20 year old bike, was I mad?

I’d told everyone what I was going to do, so I had to do it.

David Stokes, 64, travelled through eleven countries to the very tip of Jordan, five kilometres from the Saudi Border and all the way back covering 7,500 miles in six and a half weeks on a twenty-year-old Honda CD250U. Over the next few weeks you will be able to follow his journey. If you don’t want to miss anything sign up to our newsletter to receive an alert when the next part is published.