Compass Expedition Blog
Home > Compass Expedition Blog
Welcome to the Compass Expeditions Blog where we share our most unforgettable experiences from the road. Relive some of the most exhilarating moments that we’ve had out on tour. Read stories from past European motorcycle tours, adventure riding in Australia, motorcycle tours through Tasmania, African Safaris, and more! Feel the vibrations from our on-road and off-road motorbikes blazing through the most rugged and wild terrain on earth!
Happy 10th Anniversary Compass Expeditions!
Most thought we wouldn’t last a year, to be honest either did we!! Compass Expeditions was started more so that we could help raise funds for Friedreichs Ataxia Network, a support group close to our heart, than getting others to pay for us to ride around the world each year. It is exactly 10 years …
INNOVV C5 Motorcycle Camera System Install
We recently received two INNOVV C5 cameras to test on our fleet off tour and rental Motorcycles in Australia. Our first impressions of the C5 units when we opened the boxes were that they are very solid and compact units. There is a camera, a recorder unit and a wiring harness along with mounting hardware …
Charley Boorman – Cape Town To Victoria Falls – African Adventure 2017
Charley Boorman, Billy Ward and a great group of adventurous riders and pillions departed Cape Town in overcast conditions on the 29th of August. They were headed for warmer weather and an amazing and challenging African experience. Providing logistical and mechanical support was the founder of Compass Expeditions, Mick McDonald, and our regular tour medic, …
2017 Australia Encompassed – Part 1
One of the highlights for me leading tours, is meeting and riding with a diverse group of riders from all over the world and sharing great roads and attractions along the way. Our Australia Encompassed tour 2017 is no exception. Introducing the group we have Rafael from Spain, Miguel from Portugal, Paul from Norfolk Island, …
True North: Alaska – The Research Run Gallery
Bayne, one of our trusted Compass Expeditions all rounders has just completed the research trip for our new True North: Alaska motorcycle tour. We had him hit the road following routes that we thought would be perfect for an amazing ride through this staggeringly beautiful landscape. Sometimes we were spot on other times Bayne was …
Kyrgyzstan Explorer – The view from the support truck – Week Two
Click Here to read about WEEK ONE of the tour Story by Ryan Heath Images by Mick McDonald The next day we are off the bikes but the adventure does not stop. Early in the morning we board two former Russian army trucks that transport us to the stunning alpine valley of Altyn Arashan. …
Kyrgyzstan Explorer – The view from the support truck – Week One
Story by Ryan Heath Images by Mick McDonald It is fair to say that when I told people I was travelling to Kyrgyzstan the most common reaction was, “you’re going where?” I think there was an assumption that any place that ended with “stan” was not a travel destination of choice. People seemed …
South America 360 Expedition – The finale!
Back into Argentina form Bolivia, to Santiago, Chile, and then the 360 is done. Tupiza, Bolivia into Humahuaca, Argentina. A generally difficult border went very well, much quicker than anticipated. The twisty mountain roads of Bolivia turn to flat and straight again in Argentina, but not for long. We soon hit the beautiful hills and …
South America 360 Expedition – Welcome to Bolivia!
Welcome to Bolivia! In this instalment of the South America 360 blog, we cross the border from Peru into Bolivia and head towards La Paz. La Paz to Uyuni, a long day, with a lot of kilometers. We left very early because of a predicted protest. They locals had just finished 3 days of celebrations …
South America 360 Expedition – Nazca to Puno
May 28, Nazca to Puno, June 9, marks the end of our visit to the wonderful country of Peru. We continue from Nazca to Puerto Inka, a great short day of Riding along the moon scapes of the western shores, with nothing but ocean, desert and huge dunes, with a magically constructed road leading through …
Compass Expeditions – Patagonia Relocation Motorcycle Rentals – December 2017
Compass Expeditions – Patagonia Relocation Motorcycle Rentals – December 2017 December is the perfect time of year to ride in Patagonia and we have a motorcycle rental deal that can’t be beaten. If you have ever dreamed of riding independently in this spectacular part of the world, this is your chance to do it and …
South America 360 Expedition – Mancora Peru to Nazca, Peru
May 18, Mancora Peru to Nazca, Peru, May 27 Mancora. A beautifully scenic beach town on the coast of Peru. The group meets up again after the long separation, we spend a short day and night at the comfortable beach bungalows. Then are straight back on track to the scheduled itinerary. Heading out again the next …
“The biggest mistake of our lives” – The birth of Compass Expeditions
“The biggest mistake of our lives”, a book written by Compass Expeditions founder, Mick McDonald, is now in its second print run and we have a couple of 100 for sale. Purchase your copy now In 2005 four novice bike riders rode Honda Transalps from London to Vladivostok, primarily to raise money for a tiny Australian …
South America 360 Expedition – Justin of the Jungle reports
The group separates. I go one way, from the coast of Brazil to the coast of Peru, transporting the bikes and the van. The rest of the group goes on to explore Columbia and Ecuador. Definitely not the ideal situation, but it had to be done this way. The troubles and dangers and the crazy …
South America 360 Expedition – Praoi do Pipa to Manaus – Crew Report
Felix and Justin…somewhere A good riding day leaving Pipa, traffic, sun, rain, sun, late afternoon arrival to a great place called crooked canoe, Quanoa Quebrada, to stay at the Hotel California, such a lovely place. This will be my second stay at a hotel California, once before in Mexico, that they say was the original …
South America 360 Expedition – Rio to Praia do Pipa – Crew Report
Rainy and twisty. Long kilometers for the first day leaving Rio. Second day, long day again with very slow traffic and even slower towns and villages, and pouring rain, did, I mention the rain… Getting into Oro Preto next. It is a beautiful town with very tight and steep cobblestone streets. A great town to walk …
The 2017 Compass Expeditions Photo Competition!
On the 25th and 26th of March Compass Expeditions held it’s annual Reunion Weekend. You can read all about the rides and the fantastic dinner that followed here on our Blog. One of the most anticipated components of our Reunion Weekend is always the Photo Competition. Each year, we ask all of our past tour …
South America 360 Expedition – Brazil, Foz do Iguacu to Rio de Jenairo – Crew Report
Leaving Foz do Iguacu to Rio de Jenairo for 3 days By Justin Wow, a long and challenging day of riding, leaving Foz, arriving in the dark into Campo Largo, over 600 km. Relief and anticipation of the great days ahead of us. Passing an interesting Bathroom shop and aptly named at that. This is the same …
CAIRO TO CAPE TOWN 2017 – Zimbabwe to Chobe, Botswana – CREW REPORT
The most amazing hotel we were to stay at in Zimbabwe was the lodge at the ancient ruins. This hotel is a series of lodges built into the mountain side integrating the massive granite boulders into the construction of the rooms and buildings. From here we visited the great Zimbabwe ruins. An city which was …
2017 Compass Expeditions, Mansfield, Reunion Weekend Wrap-Up
It was overcast but warm when a handful of riders gathered at the entrance to Southbank Motorcycles BMW on Saturday morning……. Actually there were lots of riders there, but that was because a BMW ride was coincidently planned and meeting at the same place and time as our little Compass Expeditions Reunion ride group. Once …
Cairo to Cape Town 2017 – Malawi and Mozambique – Crew Report
Relaxed and ready to roll, once again we made our way out of the traffic of Arusha and headed south. Unfortunately Mount Kilimanjaro would not show its snowy peak through the high cloud cover this time around. We passed the days on easy roads winding our way beyond Dodoma, stopping at sights like the Ismalia …
South America 360 Expedition – Justin Reports – Ushuaia, Argentina to Foz do Iguacu, Brasil
South America 360 Expeditions Ushuaia, Argentina to Foz do Iguacu, Brasil One quarter (¼) of the 360 journey is complete! Justin reports After some relaxation and recuperation time in Ushuaia, and deeply needed visitations to the local Irish pubs, you know they’re everywhere! We were ready to ride North, from el Fin del Mundo …
Mongolian Magic Motorcycle Tour
Mongolian Magic Motorcycle Tour www.compassexpeditions.com 15 March 2017 Compass Expeditions is excited to announce our latest unique riding destination, Mongolia. “This is definitely one of the most exciting, remote and rarely visited regions left on earth, its true last frontier stuff”, says Compass Expeditions director Mick McDonald, “Mongolia is always a standout highlight for …
Cairo to Cape Town 2017 – Tanzania – Crew Report
The Compass Expeditions Cairo to Cape Town Expedition continues South towards it’s destination at the very tip of Africa. The riders have had a chance to take a few days off the bikes, take a safari and spend some beach time as they make their way through Tanzania. Farewelling Brendan, we welcomed Bayne on to …