make his family financial wealthy.
While Mike and his Motolombia business is the pri-
ority of travel he concedes that many other areas of the
world have a draw that keeps Mike dreaming, Africa is a
favourite, “for all types of travel”.
“I absolutely love riding Norway,” he shrugs. “For the
scenery and roads. It’s expensive and has a very short
summer season, but it’s worth it.”
Yet South America seems to be his special place.
Speak of the Brazilian Amazon and Mike’s body seems
to change, without words it’s clear the language is one of
fondness, perhaps a love affair.
“The three old Dutch, French and English colonies on
the east coast of South America are super unique travel
experiences,” he’s animated, open. “We hope to visit
there with a group of adventurers this year.”
As Mike continues, he becomes more animated, his
experience of travelling Australia becomes apparent,
something he wants more of.
“My first real off-road solo experience,” Mike explains
he was riding a Honda NX650. “Riding from Cairns to
Cape York along the Telegraph Line in Northern Australia
is still imprinted in my mind.
“Those deep river crossings and nights spent sleeping
in the bush.”
Perhaps we’re biased but we agree wholeheartedly that
the Australian landscape does draw you in, but the Old
Telegraph Track for a first-time off road? Mike is definite-
ly into adventure.
The conversation swings back to Colombia, rightly
so, it’s Mike’s home and he clearly loves the place. He
explains that he has ridden more than half a million
kilometres through the country, often to places were the
locals won’t even go. He believes being ‘nonlocal’ has
opened many doors for him.
“I was not a target,” he grins. “Though I did see some
stuff in the early years.”
“I’ve always felt safe and welcome.”
Mike explains that the early days were tough and, in
many ways, continue to be so, many travellers pull out at
the last minute because “they’d just seen another film fea-
turing a Colombian drug lord”, he laughs that they often
freak out.
“There were times we’d wonder if it was all worth it.”
Through hard work and changing the worlds percep-
tion of Colombia has paid off with Motolombia being
awarded the ‘most innovative travel agency in Colombia’
numerous times. Something both Mike and Diana are
extremely proud of.
“As a rider, there is so much to experience here,”
Mike’s getting excited again. “It’s like all the different
terrains of the world compressed into one intense area of
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