Motorcycle Explorer February 2015 Issue 4 | Page 71

S
imply a fantastic and superbly written
paperback about exploring Eastern Europe
that takes a party of five with two seriously
modified scooters and one labouring stock
version on a brilliant ride. Martin’s sense of
humour is poured into each page and I found
myself laughing out loud at the self created
situations that he gets himself into and the oh
so very colourful analogies… well if you go
racing Harley Davidson bikes on a scooter, shit
is going to happen and it does.
The title to Dracula’s castle is not the final
destination for this posse that also includes
Martin’s 11 year old son and his friend Dean’s
13 year old daughter, but rather all the way
down to Istanbul, Turkey. Taking in the Eastern
Block countries and of course the
Transfargasan highway is all part of the fun
and education.
Anyone that has picked up a sprocket set in
the shed with a glint in their eye while looking
at their bike will be drooling and dreaming of
future plans. After reading about a pair of
scooters stuffed with a DRZ400 engine and
the other sporting a CRM250 if gives a real
flavour of fun to a long biking love affair that
means family and travel are intertwined as
required elements of the journey. Looking at
other countries and cultures as Martin never
forgets to look at the historical importance of
places, even if kids only see the big guns as
something to play with rather than the
devastation of life that happened in trenches
many years ago, you know they will come
away all the better for having been there –
what a treat this must have been for the two
young explorers on the pillion side of the ride!
The layout has been done with great care and
you can tell that Martin has been writing for
some time with none of the passion waned for
either riding or writing as the first part of the
book talks about the build of the bikes in some
detail but not so much that your left looking at
Google for a Haynes manual! The main body
obviously being the very well written take of
the trip and then something that I felt was a
brilliant addition, Martin goes on to give some
top tips on how to have your own trip.
Listing opinions for you to mull over from
luggage to road companions is a great touch.
The end of the story is left open to another
ride that is coming up … I’m looking forward to
reading it, get a move on Sticky!