The Background

The Great Ocean Road

My name is Sam Francis and for as long as I can remember I have always wanted to travel the world. It may not be Jack Kerouac's 'On The Road' but this blog is a way for me to detail my travel plans of the year and note down all my experiences for all those who fancy a good read (anyone can be their own critic).





This isn't where I lay down some lame sob story about being a young lad 'from a small village and wanted to escape to live in the big city for the first time'. Truth be told I live in a place called Joydens Wood which is a 40 minute train journey outside London where I commute to every day for work.

I come from a family who are relatively well travelled but not in the way that I plan to travel. My Mum and Dad have recent turned the big 5 - 0 (which i'm sure they are thrilled about me saying) and decided to go to all the places they have wanted to. Slight difference between them and me is that they have been staying in 5 star hotels and flying first class - it's alright for some.

I also have two older sisters who have been about a bit - in strictly travelling terms. My eldest sister lived in Italy for a month as well as going island hoping through the Caribbean. Which I have always found slightly odd as she doesn't speak a word of Italian and has never planned on immigrating out their, it's amazing how long you can survive on the basics of 'uno margarita per favore'.


So as I said, travelling has always been something I have wanted to do since I was in school, but having two parents who were very dismissive of the idea of me having a gap year once I had finished my A - levels I have had to wait until the tender aged of 22 (and a half) before I can set off for shores further a field (literally).

Me (brown polo) and
Jimmy (blue polo)

The plan currently is that I head out to Melbourne, Australia in a little over a week (20th March 2013) and meet up with a close friend of mine that I lived with at university. He (James Alder, also know as Jim, Jimmy and Jimbo) is currently living out their playing some form of cricket - i'm told he's actually quite good which is annoying, and once we have been reunited and eventually stopped hugging each other, we are going to hit The Great Ocean Road up to Adelaide stay there for a bit, then head straight across from Adelaide, across the outback, and end up in Sydney.

From here I will then be getting a flight home for a bit before going to the other side of the world, The States, where I will be doing another road trip this time from New York to San Francisco with another mate from University, Alex Moore (Al, Big Al, Moorey). 

Me and Al (horrendous shirt)

Exciting right?

In this blog I will be updating my plans, itinerary, pictures and general comments. Probably the only person to read it will be my mum, but I think it'll be a pretty cool thing to look back on when I'm done and dusted. 

I hope you enjoy it mum (or any/everyone else).