Elspeth Beard
In the summer of 1982, while other students were hitting the books in libraries or making vacation plans, 23-year-old Elspeth Beard from England packed up her life and set off on two wheels. She was an architecture student, tech-savvy, curious – and she had a dream: to travel around the world on a motorcycle. Her companion: a used 1974 BMW R 60/6 with 55,000 kilometers already on the odometer. Elspeth bought it for the equivalent of €1,300, a considerable sum for the time. But she didn't see the machine's age, she saw a promise – that of endless freedom.
Even with the internet, GPS, and credit cards, it still takes courage to do this today, but back in the early 1980s, it was a real adventure. No network, no community, no backup plan. Just maps, gut instinct, and an unyielding determination not to give up.
With courage into the unknown.
”From the Big Apple to the Outback
Elspeth and her BMW begin their journey separately. The motorcycle crosses the ocean by ship, while Elspeth follows about two weeks later by plane. Reunited in New York, she rides the BMW northward to Canada, then south to Mexico. Loaded in Los Angeles, her BMW continues on by ship to Sydney. Elspeth herself uses the interim period to travel through New Zealand on foot.
She flies on to Australia, completes an architecture internship in Sydney, and, on the side, makes her own aluminum cases for her bike. Technology, design, and a thirst for adventure: this is where her worlds begin to merge.
As she continues her journey around the world on her motorcycle, a serious accident in the Australian wilderness lands her in hospital.
Fortunately, two weeks later she is already working on her BMW again – getting it back into shape herself – and continues her journey. Then, in Singapore, she suffers another blow: all her travel documents, money, and even her ignition key are stolen. She spends six grueling weeks wrestling with the authorities, writing letters, and asking for help. And finally, she continues her journey.
Between East and West
Between East and West
Via Malaysia, she travels to Thailand. There, a dog runs in front of her motorcycle, causing her to crash again. A local family nurses her back to health for two weeks. Then she continues on to India via Malaysia. Political unrest makes it difficult to leave India, but she manages to get to Nepal, where she sees her parents, who have flown in from England, for the first time in over two years. They are shocked at how emaciated their daughter looks. But Elspeth has grown inwardly, full of strength and confidence in herself.
She begins her return journey with a Dutch BMW rider she meets in Nepal. They travel across Pakistan on unpaved tracks, then on to Iran. Although Iran's well-developed roads offer some relief, Elspeth is weakened by hepatitis. Barely able to stand, she nevertheless continues on. In Turkey, she allows herself a break – and her BMW some overdue maintenance. Refreshed, she travels through the Balkans back to England.
Three years, over 55,000 kilometers, countless challenges, setbacks – and just as many moments of happiness. Elspeth Beard circumnavigated the globe with courage, curiosity, and a trusty BMW R 60/6 – at a time when hardly anyone believed that a young woman could do it alone.
Today, Elspeth Beard lives in a Victorian water tower, which she has converted into a unique home, and is a multi-award-winning architect. She still owns her BMW – as a monument to freedom, determination, and the dream of great adventure.
