FEATURE

Expanding their horizons: Lavi and Ollie

Thirty-five countries, five continents, two people and (just maybe) a ukulele!

While many of us will be happy to enjoy anything other than a staycation after two years being cooped up at home, one couple from Northampton are taking things to the extreme; travelling through 35 countries and five continents on a journey that will take two years. Oh, and the 45,000km trip will be completed on one motorcycle! Lavinya Scholl and Oliver Gamblin told Sammy Jones about their epic adventure.

Lavi and Ollie aren’t new to the idea of long distance travel. Having met on a cherry farm whilst travelling in Tasmania, the duo quickly discovered a shared love for the open road. They have since driven 2500km across Indonesia, by scooter, obviously, and cycled 2000km across Britain.

“Long distance travel is definitely the best way to really see a place in depth and spend time exploring an area without spending too much money,” Lavi told me, and this trip will certainly deliver plenty of space to investigate.

“We have been dreaming of doing a round the world trip for quite a few years now,” she said, speaking to Pulse shortly before beginning their journey, “We are always looking for the most ‘budget’ way to travel and originally wanted to cycle around the world! We did a test ride, and cycled 2000 km from the top to the bottom of the UK, but quickly realised we would definitely need a motor to make it around the world – that’s where the idea of a motorbike came about.”

This odyssey will see our intrepid couple travel from Europe across the vast asian continent to the edge of Siberia before heading across to Canada and the start of the second leg, which will involve crossing mountains, jungles and the deserts of North and South America to Rio de Janeiro.

A third crossing will see them hit the West Coast of Africa and then back through Europe where everything started.

If you’re one of those who gets in a tizz before flying for a mini-break to Paris, simply reading that itinerary overview might have brought you out in a bit of a sweat, but these guys are mad for it.

“We love the lifestyle of long distance travelling and living on the road...the freedom

of wild camping and waking up in different and wonderful places, discovering our fabulous planet.”

While they might not come home with suitcases full of holiday mementoes, their memory bank will be overflowing with mindblowing recollections.

They’ve already made more than a few of those on those previous trips. Oliver remembers one experience in a mountain range in Java, Indonesia, in particular.

“We had camped the night in front of an active volcano on a neighbouring mountain, intending to climb to the summit the next morning,” he explained, “It was a steep and difficult climb and with backpacks weighing around 15kg. We finally reached the summit after three hours.

“To our surprise, we were the only ones there, probably because we are very slow hikers!

“We were just about to start heading back down when we turned around and couldn’t believe our eyes; the volcano next to us had just started a massive eruption throwing a cloud of ash five miles into the air, darkening the sky. It was a very surreal and special experience.”

The couple have worked hard to fund this spectacular journey, from picking fruit in Australia to working in a gold mine in the desert. They’ve even taken factory work here in the UK.

But with war-torn areas and pandemic restrictions, they are having to be flexible; the trek may need to be re-routed on occasion. Our travellers aren’t worried.

“We know we are going to have to be creative, but if we need to avoid certain places there are many other options available to us. We know that it’s possible with optimism, determination and a great deal of patience. We will make it happen one way or another!”

The Guinness Book of Records has verified the jumbo journey as a new world record attempt for the ‘youngest pair to circumnavigate the globe by motorcycle (riding pillion).’

“We were super lucky, because we pitched the idea in my local area on the small chance that someone would be able to lend us a bike, and one shop was crazy enough to support us!” Lavi said.

The ukulele puts in an appearance on an earlier trip Getting in gear to hit the road - the couple will attempt a new world record while raising money for the Born Free Foundation

“Motorcycle World in Northampton have offered us a demo Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT. We do have to give it back though!”

Having spent months researching, plotting routes and researching visas and borders, as you read this, the couple should be somewhere close to crossing into France, having bid farewell to Northampton on April 10.

Lavi and Ollie will be using their journey to raise funds for the Born Free Foundation, the charity founded by Virginia McKenna OBE, Will Travers OBE and Bill Travers MBE, which works to stop the exploitation and suffering of individual animals living in captivity or in the wild. “During our time in New Zealand and Australia we had volunteered with various conservation organisations and even made a documentary called ‘Saving the Dinosaur Bird: Replanting the Rainforest’, so wildlife conservation has always been a passion of ours,” Ollie explained, “We had booked to spend three months in Bali in 2020 replanting rainforest, but that was cancelled due to the pandemic. Supporting Born Free on this trip allows us to get involved in wildlife conservation again.” You are going to be away for two years, and living in close quarters the whole time, and there are sure to be some challenging moments. What happens when you have cross words? “Luckily, walking together for six months during our hike through New Zealand and living in camper vans for a few years have hopefully already tested our relationship to its maximum,” Lavi thinks.

They know they will miss family and friends, and that they’ll be sleep deprived on occasion, but say they are easy trade-offs for the many positives that a life on the road will deliver.

“Its a totally free lifestyle full of experiences that teach you about the world and yourself,” Lavi smiled.

If you are the sort of heavy packer who takes six changes of clothes for a weekend away in a caravan, you would detest this trek, that’s for sure, What’s in your travel kit, Ollie?

“It’s broken down into a few sections and it really is only the essentials!” he promises, “The sleeping kit, which is the tent, blow up sleeping mats, pillows and sleeping bags. The cooking kit is all fold down pots and cups and a screw on, single stove top that goes on top of a camping gas bottle.

“We’ll also have one set of leisure clothes alongside the motorcycle outfit, tools for the motorbike and our kindles.”

But there may be more if Lavi has her way: “If we have the room we will try and fit a ukulele in there somewhere too!”

> Ollie and Lavi will be sharing regular highlights of their journey on their YouTube channel. Subscribe to laviandollie for updates, or check in on instagram: lavi.and.ollie or TikTok: @lavi.and.ollie

If you would like to make a donation and help support the Born Free Foundation visit justgiving.com/laviandollie

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