The first time I rode a motorbike was when my father plunked me on a 50cc Suzuki scrambler at 6 years of age. I proudly was assigned a racing number, 11, and then toured around many a weekend riding in various races. I can still remember at how huge the adult scramblers looked at that age compared to my little yellow rocket.

There was no doubt, my father was living out his dream through me and why the hell not. It ignited a life long passion for 2 wheels and I have owned various bikes throughout my adult life. Though when a family came along it was put on pause, and when I moved over to the USA, I never sought out the license and get back on.

Naturally, when Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman burst onto our screens in 2004, with Long Way Round, I watched intently, marveling at their adventures as the pair of them went around the world, then in subsequent series, up and down various continents. I was in awe of their BMW Adventure bikes, which was basically a more road worthy version of the scrambler.

A couple of years ago, watching their recent series with my wife, I lamented, I would love to get back on again. Without missing a beat she asked “what is stopping you?“. After some thought, she was right, what the hell was holding me back? I booked the 2-day course to get my license and sailed through that with no problems. Next I needed my own ride. My own adventure bike.

When we went into one of our local dealers, specifically looking for a model I seen online, but there was this other one sitting in the line up. We both looked at it, and instantly knew it had my name on it – it was the big brother of the 50cc bike that started it all off – and it was in yellow. It was meant to be.

Two years later, I have not had a single regret. It has taken me far and wide, loving every minute. The dream was complete. Or at least I thought it was.

We still watched Ewan and Charley regularly, and when their latest one, Long Way Home, of them going through northern Europe, the pangs of wanting to go on a real adventure ride, hitting long twisty roads, on and off terrain came back. But you know what I was happy. Like my father, I was living my adventure through them pair on screen for the last 20 plus years.

Well – if you don’t dream then how do you know what to reach for?

A few weeks ago, Charley announced he was taking 12 riders, on a ride of a life time, through Morocco, on BMW Adventure bikes, complete with off-road riding and one of the crew from Long Way series that will be filming it all. Woah, wouldn’t that be cool? To ride with the man himself, on an adventure.

Not hoping for much, I threw my hat in the ring for consideration. Didn’t think much of it.

A couple of weeks ago, while waiting to board a flight to Chicago, I heard the news – I was in! I called my wife instantly, and the scream of delight she let out, was heard by everyone standing in line waiting.

This September, I am flying to Marrakech, to spend 10 days, exploring and riding with Charley – Charley Boorman! still pinching myself

I am beyond excited, it truly is a trip of a life time and to be riding this with someone you admire and were inspired by, is something I can’t even put into words. I am now officially in training, as I ramp up to the expected miles that we will put on the clock in a very short space of time.

What is funny, for the last few months, I have been hunting for a BMW R GS 1250 to join my Suzuki V Strom. I will wait now and let my adventure be a like an extended test-ride; I may as well learn all about it from the best.

Life only comes around once and is not defined by that email you wrote, or that report you produced. It is about looking back when you are older and saying you have no regrets. I am about to give my older self something big to look back on.

Memory Making Mode = ON