WELCOME TO ARIZONA!

ON THE ROAD WITH BILL
RECENT TRAVELS

A Grand Swing Through the South of France 2024 makes a memorable 90-day cycling loop from Geneva to Bordeaux and back. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EuropeSwing2024

Way Down South in Thailand, with a Bit of Northern Malaysia is a cycling adventure that begins in Penang Island and weaves its way through the Deep South of Thailand to Songkhla and Hat Yai. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/MalaysiaThailand2024

Central Vietnam Soft-Nut Bike Tour 2024 is a journey through caves, culture, history, and coastal scenery with a group, then solo. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/VietnamSoftNut2024

India 2023-24 backpack trip takes in history and culture of Kolkata and Chennai including many performances of Indian classical music and dance. India2023-24_01.html

Central Laos 2023—Tuff Cycling to Vientiane, Muang Fuang, and the Mekong River tells about a group ride in the very challenging mountains and backcountry of central Laos. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/MuangFuang2023

Khwai Noi Kayak Tour 2023 journeys past verdant vegetation and cave-filled limestone hills on the Khwai Noi River between Thong Pha Phum and Kanchanaburi in western Thailand. KayakKhwaiNoi01.html

South Korea—Seoul to Jeju Island 2023 is a one-month solo, then group bicycle ride that follows long-distance bike paths for most of the length of Korea, then makes a spin around Jeju Island. I also climbed Mt. Hallasan, the highest summit of Korea. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/SeoulJeju2023

France 2023 relates a grand 89-day cycling journey from Paris, down the Loire River, around Brittany, then along the Atlantic Coast to Bordeaux, followed by a dozen days in London. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EuropeSwing2023

South India, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Philippines Backpack 2023 begins with a few days of art and aviation in Bengaluru, journeys south to Trichy for temples and Bharatanatyam dances, then heads to Chennai for more dances, music, temples, art, and history. Next a week of art and sights in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Then 30 days in the Philippines on Palawan Island, the highlands of northern Luzon, and city sights in Manila. India_KL_Philippines2023_01.html

Laos 2023—Nong Khai to Vang Vieng is a group bicycle adventure across the Mekong River in Laos on back roads and a jaunt on Nam Ngum Reservoir to the cave country of Vang Vieng. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Laos2023

Trang Islands Kayak Tour 2023 makes two loops out onto the calm Andaman Sea off the west coast of southern Thailand to fishing villages, national parks, and sheer limestone pinnacles with snorkeling visits to the coral reefs. https://arizonahandbook.com/KayakTrang1.html

Taiwan Cultural and Scenic Delights 2022 begins with a week in Taipei, meanders among the cities and coast of the West and the Rift Valley in the East, then returns to Taipei for more art and sights. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Taiwan2022

Way Out Northwest—Seattle to San Francisco 2022
The journey begins with a train ride from San Francisco to Seattle, then cycling back to San Francisco with a swing around the Olympic Peninsula, south to Portland, then to the Pacific coast near Lincoln City. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/WayOutNorthwest2022

A Sentimental Ride on the TransAmerica Trail from Berea KY to Yorktown VA in Summer 2022
Train rides brought me from Los Angeles to Cincinnati, where I rode south to join my Berea College 50th class reunion, a great experience. I then turned my wheels east on the TransAmerica Trail across the green hills of eastern Kentucky and Virginia. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Berea-Yorktown

California Coastal Grandeur—San Francisco to Los Angeles 2022
In May I returned to the U.S.A. and bicycled along the rugged California coast—one of the world’s great rides. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/CaliforniaCoast2022

Southern Thailand 2022—Twice Across the Isthmus, a Ride from Songkhla to Chumphon
My eighth and final bicycle ride of this Thailand visit swung through favorite places in the South, capped by scuba diving off Koh Tao. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/SouthernThailand2022

Eastern Thailand—A Meandering Coastal Ride from Trat to Sattahip 2022
I joined a bicycle tour—a rare opportunity for me—that took in many out-of-the-way places along the coast of eastern Thailand and a climb up a Buddhist mountain. Our group turned out to be the same people as on the Mae Nam Ping kayak tour. After the tour I continued to Sattahip and boarded a ferry bound for South Thailand. https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EasternThailand2022

Mae Nam Ping Kayak Tour 2022
Bill took to the water this time, joining a small group for a kayak journey through a remote and mountainous area of North Thailand on the Mae Nam Ping (Bhumibol Reservoir). https://arizonahandbook.com/KayakNamPing1.html

Western Thailand 2021-22—A Swing from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Province
This westward loop ride headed first to the hills of western Ratchaburi Province, turned north to the scenery and history of Kanchanaburi Province, then swung through the historic towns of U Thong and Suphanburi on the way back to Bangkok. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/WesternThailand2021

Northeastern and Northern Thailand 2021—A Ride from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai
From Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) I rode north to Nong Khai on the Mekong River, then turned west and meandered across mountains of northern Thailand to the Golden Triangle and Mae Sai, where I headed south to Chiang Mai. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/ThailandKhoratAndNorth2021

Southern Thailand 2021—A Ride Through Paradise
This three-month journey begins in the far south at Hat Yai, follows the Andaman coast and islands, crosses over to the Gulf of Thailand coast and islands, then ends in Bangkok. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/SouthernThailand2021

Northeastern Thailand 2021—A Ride Down the Mekong River and Isan Culture
This delightful ride started from Phitsanulok in the North and headed over hills to the Mekong River, which I followed until it left the Thai border at Khong Jiam, then I turned up the Mun River to Ubon Ratchathani. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/NortheasternThailand2021

Cycling Northern Thailand 2020—A Loop Filled with Culture and Mountain Scenery
Bessie Too the Bicycle and I took a train north from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for a loop ride east to Nan. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/NorthernThailand2020

Cycling Southern Thailand 2020—A Ride Along the Gulf of Thailand from Hat Yai to Chumphon
After months of hanging out in Bangkok, I took a train to Hat Yai in the far south of Thailand, then rode north along the Gulf of Thailand to Chumpon, where I headed out to sea for scuba diving off Koh Tao. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/SouthernThailand2020

Backpacking South India, Singapore, and Philippines 2020
I ring in the New Year with 2½ months of travel adventures across South India, Singapore, and the Philippines. India_Sing_Phil_01.html

Taiwan Adventure 2019
Chinese culture, pretty coastlines, and lofty mountains attracted me to this island for a cycling loop. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Taiwan2019

Cycling Indonesia’s Bali and Nusa Tenggara 2019
I head south of the equator to the tropical paradise of Bali for culture and volcanic scenery, then ride east through the Nusa Tenggara islands of Lombok, Sumbawa, and Flores. www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Bali_Nusa2019

Cycling Swing through Europe 2019
The ride begins with two weeks in Paris! Then travels in France, Luxembourg, and Belgium before catching a ferry from St. Malo on the north coast of France to Portsmouth in England, then a short ride north to the wonders of London. Please join us at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EuropeSwing2019

Cycling in the Philippines 2019
I shall return! Way back in 1982 Bessie the ‘Bicycle’ and I rode loops north and southeast of Manila. Now I have returned for a longer ride with ‘Bessie Too the Bicycle.’ As before we start with a loop in mountainous northern Luzon, but now have time to head for the Visaya Islands as well. Return with us at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/PhilippinesRide2019

Backpacking Around South India Dec. 2018-Jan. 2019
This five-week ramble takes in culture and nature of India’s Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala states. Come along if you like at https://arizonahandbook.com/s_india_backpacking_01.html

Backpacking and Diving in Southeast Asia Oct.-Dec. 2018
I return to Asia to enjoy city sights in Thailand’s Bangkok and Chiang Mai, then fly south to Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur. Finally I travel to southern Thailand for scuba diving adventures in the Andaman Sea. It begins at https://arizonahandbook.com/se_asia_backpacking_15.html

A Cycling Loop Out of Seattle to Vancouver Island and the City of Vancouver 2018
My third North American ride this year started after the Empire Builder train arrived in Seattle. Under bright blue skies I pedaled and ferried to Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula and caught a ferry to Victoria in Canada. The ride north along the cloud-scraped coast of Vancouver Island took me to Nanaimo. A ferry and short ride then led to the city of Vancouver, where I turned south back to Seattle. The tale and photos are up at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/VultureBill4

Chicago to Washington D.C.—A Bicycle Tour of the Midwest and East 2018
After cycling the canyon country of the American Southwest, I hopped on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief for a journey from Flagstaff to Chicago. After a couple days seeing city sights, I began a meandering bicycle ride through the verdant plains and hills of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia to Washington, D.C. Story and photos are at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/VultureBill3

Cycling Canyon Country of the American Southwest 2018
From San Francisco I took Amtrak’s California Zephyr east to Grand Junction, Colorado. There I began a bicycle ride across southern Utah, then turned south into Arizona for a visit to north and south rims of the Grand Canyon. Lastly I arrive in my hometown of Flagstaff. You can join Bessie Too the Bicycle and me at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Southwest2018

Backpacking Around Southeast Asia Jan.-April 2018
‘Bessie Too the Bicycle’ stays in a box again as I make a swing through Thailand, Malaysia, and Brunei. The adventure begins at https://arizonahandbook.com/se_asia_backpacking_01.html

Backpacking Across India 2017-18
‘Bessie Too the Bicycle’ gets a rest as I fly from Bangkok to Jaipur of India’s Rajasthan state. After a visit to this ‘Pink City,’ I meander across northern India to Kolkata. From here I fly to the one major region of India that I’ve not been to before—the remote Andaman Islands. Lastly I return to Bangkok via Chennai and Tamil Nadu state. Tales at https://arizonahandbook.com/india_backpack_1.html

Cycling Swing Through Europe 2017
Starting from Rome, I set sail for the rugged islands of Sardinia and Corsica followed by a ferry ride to the grand city of Genoa. A jaunt along the Italian coast led to France and a long ride across its heart to Normandy. Another ferry took me to Ireland and a journey completely around the Emerald Isle. Lastly the final ferry ride headed east to Wales and a ride to London. Story is at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EuropeSwing2017

Bill & ‘Bessie Too the Bicycle’ Ride Asia 2016-17
I return to this wonderful region for a series of three rides, first in northern Myanmar from Hsipaw to Bagan, followed by a loop in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country, then a return to Myanmar for a ride the entire length of the south from Myawaddy to Kawthoung. Come along at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AsianSwing4

A Grand Tour of the American West
This big ride took in many spectacular regions of the West on a loop beginning and ending at San Francisco. The adventure ran April to September 2016. You follow along at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/GrandWest2016

Cycling in the Himalaya of India’s Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh, then Across Myanmar to Thailand
From Sri Lanka I flew to New Delhi for a week, then took a train east to Siliguri, where the ride to Darjeeling and Sikkim commenced. After enjoyable loops in Sikkim, I rode east across West Bengal and Assam to Bhalukpong, gateway to Arunachal Pradesh and the very tough ride over increasingly high passes to Tawang near the borders of Bhutan and Tibet. Also in Arunachal Pradesh, I rode to the capital Itanagar and the very pretty hill country around Ziro. From there I turned south back into Assam and across the great Brahamaputra at Majuli Island, then continued south through Nagaland and Manipur states to the border with Myanmar. Only recently have independent cyclists been able to ride all the way across Myanmar, and I was fortunate to do that on a very memorable adventure! I emerged into Thailand at Mae Sot. The journal for this epic ride is at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/IndiaSwing2015

Cycling in Sri Lanka 2015—A Loop of the South
In late August I returned to this tropical island for another loop, this time with an emphasis on the South, a region I’ve never visited before. As on my April ride of Sri Lanka, I made a clockwise loop from Negombo and headed first to the Ancient Cities region. The route also took in the East and West Coasts, as well as the South Coast. For the story and photos, swing by www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/SriLankaSwing2

Cycling Swing Through Europe 2015
I landed in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at the end of April and began a nearly 4-month ride north through Italy’s dazzling spring countryside to Genoa, then east across the mountainous north to Slovenia and on through Central Europe—Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany to Holland. A giant ferry then took me across to the U.K. for its memorable history, culture, and landscapes. Follow along at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EuropeSwing2015

Cycling in Sri Lanka 2015—A Loop of the North
For the month of April I visit Sri Lanka, the ‘Teardrop of India,’ packed with beautiful tropical beaches, temples, wildlife, and mountains. First I rode to Mannar Island and Jaffna in the North, which now welcome visitors again after the long civil war. Join me in at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/SriLankaSwing

Bill’s 2014-15 Cycling Swing Through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Yes, I keep coming back to this favorite region of the world! From Bangkok, I headed west to Kanchanaburi Province and all the way to the Myanmar border, passing many historic sites, caves, waterfalls, and beautiful limestone mountains along the way. Next I turned the wheels east for Cambodia to take in contemporary culture and ancient Angkor temples. From northeastern Cambodia’s Ratanagiri Province I continued east to Vietnam and over the hills to the coast, where I turned south toward the Mekong Delta. Lastly I returned to Thailand via southern Cambodia. Story and photos are at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AsianSwing3

Bill’s 2014 Grand Cycling Tour of the U.S.A.
I flew into Los Angeles from Asia on a double-deck Airbus A380 to begin a ride of the American Southwest. Unlike my trip here two years ago, I arrived early enough in the spring for pleasant weather in the desert regions of central and southeast Arizona. I greatly enjoyed cycling in my home state, including several rugged mountain routes. I then headed into Utah to Moab, east into Colorado, and kept riding east all the way to Washington, D.C.! A curious feature of the ride is that it began near my birthplace of Santa Monica and passed through most of the places where I have lived over the years! Follow along if you like at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/VultureBill2

Bill’s 2013-14 Cycling Swing Through Thailand and Cambodia
I enjoyed the ride in Southeast Asia last winter so much that I returned for another one! This time the route begins in the east of Thailand and ends in the north. You can come along on at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AsianSwing2

Bill’s 2013 Himalayan Adventure on a Bicycle
In late July 2013 I flew to Ladakh in India’s far north to visit villages, monasteries, and experience the grand scenery here in Northern India Delights. From Ladakh I cycled west to Srinagar in Kashmir. Next I took buses to New Delhi for festivals and art in October and November, then continued east by train for a week in Kolkata. Stories and photos are at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/IndiaDelight

Bill’s 2013 European Grand Cycling Adventure
I had long wished to experience Italy on a cycle ride in the springtime. So that’s where my trip Italian Delights, then Short Visits to Slovenia and Croatia went! Flights in April 2013 took me from steamy Bangkok to Rome for a grand 90-day tour of Italy. From Italy, I continued along coastal Slovenia, followed Croatia’s Istria Peninsula around, then turned inland to the capital Zagreb. The greatest challenge wasn’t the rugged mountains of Italy, but the lofty Euro prices! I managed by free camping and picnicking for much of the trip. My online journal www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/EuropeDelights has lots of beautiful photos along with practical advice for cycling in Italy.

Bill’s 2012-13 Cycling Through Thailand and Cambodia
In late November 2012 I set out with ‘Bessie Too the Bicycle’ on a four-month journey, Off the Beaten Track in Thailand and Cambodia. The theme was to experience places that I’ve not been to before, many off the tourist track. I took a bus from Bangkok to Nan Province in the very mountainous north near the Lao border. From there I made a big arc around northern and northeastern Thailand, following the Lao border and Mekong River much of the way. I then crossed into northern Cambodia to visit remote Khmer sites before stopping in at the famed temples of Angkor Wat area. I continued to the capital Phnom Penh and rode south to the coastal plain before returning to Thailand. From Chanthaburi in the east I took buses to Songkhla in the far south and rode north via Nakhon Si Thammarat to a ferry for Koh Phangan and a meditation retreat. Afterward I hopped a boat to Koh Tao for a spell of scuba diving. You can read about the trip and see the photos at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AsianSwing

Bill’s 2012 Southwest Adventure in the U.S.A.
From April to September 2012 I enjoyed A Grand Ride of the American Southwest with ‘Bessie Too the Bicycle,’ www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/GrandSouthwest. The ride began in San Francisco, California, and followed the coast south to Oceanside in San Diego County, headed inland to Arizona, climbed the Colorado Plateau for visits to the Grand Canyon’s south and north rims, continued on to southern Utah’s canyon country, swung west across the lonely Great Basin’s mountains and valleys of Utah and Nevada, crossed the Sierra Nevada in northern California, then lastly rolled over the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco. Unusually, this time I simply headed out the door for the ride without any planes, trains, buses, or automobiles to deal with. Also, no visas, as it was one of my rare bicycle tours in the U.S.A.!

Bill’s 2011-12 Asian Grand Adventure with a Backpack
On November 22nd 2011 I headed to Asia on a backpacking trip, Indian Ramble. Flights on Cathay Pacific took me from San Francisco to Chennai in the south of India, where I traveled overland north to New Delhi, then east to Kolkata, taking in lots of Indian culture (and cuisine) over the course of about three months. A short flight brought me to Bangkok for a spell of about two months of meditation, travel, and scuba diving in southern Thailand. Story and photos begin at https://arizonahandbook.com/indian_ramble_01.htm for India and https://arizonahandbook.com/Thai_ramble_01.htm for Thailand.