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).
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This is brilliant stuff – I love the last shot on the second clip.
How fracking cool is your Dad?
I’m off to lurk at your brother’s blog now :)
MrsW´s last blog ..I AM in charge, I am too….
@MrsW, My brother’s blog is actually well worth reading, although don’t tell him I said that.
Dan´s last blog ..Stealing my brother’s posts
One thing I find hilarious is that they had a huge double decker bus AND they needed a trailer too? They must have had a lot of bongo drums and sleeping bags to take along.
JJ Daddy-O´s last blog ..My Favorite Picture
@JJ Daddy-O, I dunno – 9 men living on one bus. I think I can see the need for a trailer.
Dan´s last blog ..Stealing my brother’s posts
Those clips are fantastic; I could watch for hours.
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?
@Oli, no. that plan was purely inspired by the awesomeness of Mr BA Baracus.
I still think it would be cool you know.
Dan´s last blog ..Stealing my brother’s posts
These are brilliant! What a great thing to have done. I can see where you get it from, and I’m off to go and lurk on your brothers blog now to see what other Hughes similarities there are. Thanks for posting them up, I really enjoyed them.
Brit In Bosnia´s last blog ..January
Absolutely brilliant….and it couldn’t be done today…bet you used to steal your brother’s toys too!
Nota Bene´s last blog ..Can’t cook, won’t cook.
The interweb thing says I’ve commented twice….hopefully this proves it is fallible…Absolutely brilliant….and it couldn’t be done today…bet you used to steal your brother’s toys too!
Nota Bene´s last blog ..Can’t cook, won’t cook.
@Nota Bene, looks like you commented twice to me:)
What an awesome thing for your dad to have done! Best mine could summon up was organising coach trips to Lourdes. Music wasn’t anywhere near as good either.
Dad Who Writes´s last blog ..The Song From The 1980s Meme, Neil Young and the week before the Wall fell
@Dad Who Writes, I’m not sure I’d describe their music as “good” :)
you’re such a nice guy, calling your brother a genius blogger. Rightly so.
Arjan´s last blog ..Micmacs à tire la larigot
@Arjan, I think you may need to reconsider that Ajan. Just remember who’s team you are walking in this July.
Hang on, I’m sure that you on the clip with the chap doing some bartering. I’m nearly 100% sure thats you and not your Dad. You time travelling swine.
@Craig, it’s true. Me and Doc Brown have an arrangement
Wow, good stuff. Yes you should certainly chronicle the journey, I’d love to read that.
Kevin Spencer´s last blog ..Who You Gonna Call?
@Kevin Spencer, The problem is that there is a hell of a lot of journey to chronicle. Maybe i’ll cheat and just put up extracts from the film each week.
@Dan, Hang-on. This was my idea. Thief! Do you even have a copy?
Sam´s last blog ..A Hughes in Iran
Just one question.
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.
Gary´s last blog ..Pansy Smith, the mincing French Master
@Gary, I think it’s probably because they sung ,em>everthing in folky-English finger-in-yer-ear accents.
I’m not convinced you could get through Iran and Afghanistan these days to be honest.
@Dan,
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.
Gary´s last blog ..Fanny Hilton or “Why the nervous should not teach”
This is insanely brilliant. I kept looking for the joke or spoof.
Brilliant, really.
Martin´s last blog ..Life of luxury
@Martin, If you are really interested I could always send you a copy of the DVD.
Finally got around to watching this Dan. Awesome stuff.
I don’t think you could get away with recreating that trip these days. Unfortunate.
Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..LIAYF Turns 2, Refuses to Nap
Have you read Rory Maclean’s magic Bus? He is a travel writer who recently relived the the Hippie Trail to Kathmandu. He has a good website of people sharing memories of similar journeys. I know Rory and I bet he’d be really interested in this – try his web site on http://www.rorymaclean.com – there is link to his magic bus site too.