I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before on the blog, but my brother has recently been talking about it and has re-sparked my interest.
In the late 60s my Dad, my Uncle, and a bunch of their friends went round the world in a double decker London bus. Yes, like Cliff Richard in Summer Holiday. They traveled through Europe, Asia, over to Australia, then finally through the USA before reaching home again.
Oh, and they paid their way partly by playing folk music to bemused locals. Bloody hippies.
My dad never actually made it all the way round. He met my mother in Oz and returned back home with her. It’s a lovely story, which to be fair, didn’t turn out to end happily ever after – but at least it resulted in the birth of a blogging genius (and two sub-human imbeciles).
Over on his blog my brother Sam is currently recounting some my Dad’s stories of the trip, including positing up some of the footage from the film they made on the journey. Seeing as though his blog is criminally undersubscribed I thought I’d post a video up here too.
I really should do a proper series of posts at some point about their journey, as it is well worth chronicling. However for now a few youtube posts and my brother’s jottings will have to do. I recommend watching the clip below as it really is fascinating. Even more so because the places they were traveling through would be completely impassible at the time.
For the record my Dad is the one playing the accordion near the beginning of the first video and my Uncle Clive is the chap with the guitar (I think).
On another note – If you have not already done so please consider heading over to the Bloggers For Haiti Justgiving page and donating whatever you can spare. All kudos go to those that have set this thing up.
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 12:33 am
How fracking cool is your Dad?
I’m off to lurk at your brother’s blog now :)
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Dan Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 8:59 am
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 12:33 am
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Dan Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Dan´s last blog ..Stealing my brother’s posts
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 1:03 am
What a great adventure, I don’t suppose that has anything to do with your plan to travel across to Russia in an A Team van, does it?
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Dan Reply:
January 18th, 2010 at 9:00 am
I still think it would be cool you know.
Dan´s last blog ..Stealing my brother’s posts
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 11:11 am
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Nota Bene´s last blog ..Can’t cook, won’t cook.
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:16 am
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:16 am
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:17 am
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:17 am
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 5:50 pm
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:18 am
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Sam Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Sam´s last blog ..A Hughes in Iran
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Why did they sing “Early Morning Rain” in folky-English finger-in-yer-ear accents when its a Gordon Lightfoot (Canadian) song ?
But it looks like an ace trip, I bet you could still do it today if you were stupid enough, stupidity gets you through all sorts of red tape, try “What do you mean I need a passport ?” it worked for my brother on more than one occasion.
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:19 am
I’m not convinced you could get through Iran and Afghanistan these days to be honest.
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Gary Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I can see that your father’s spirit of adventure has not been passed down on your side of the family, where is your care-free devil-may-care “We’re British and we’re coming through” spunk ?
If you turned up at the Iranian border in a London bus and just told them that you’re British and you’re coming through with or without a visa, nay with or without a passport, then they’d stand back let you.
Or kill you, one or the other.
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on Jan 18th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Brilliant, really.
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Dan Reply:
January 19th, 2010 at 1:19 am
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on Jan 19th, 2010 at 6:04 am
I don’t think you could get away with recreating that trip these days. Unfortunate.
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on Jan 19th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
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