The journey of former Mayor of St. Albans Salih Gaygusuz to Trabzon has begun, passing all of Europe from London, the capital of England.
The adventure of “Journey from London to Trabzon with a Motorcycle”, when the former Mayor of St. Albans, Salih Gaygusuz, passed through London, the capital of England, and reached Turkey throughout the whole of Europe. The last stop in Turkey will first be his hometown, Gümüşhane-Kelkit, and then Trabzon, where his house is located. Salih Gaygusuz’s journey from London to Trabzon by motorcycle adventure started on August 8, 2025, in front of his house in St. Albans. We start our series by saying good luck to Salih Gaygusuz, who moved his motorcycle after the farewell ceremony of his wife, children and grandchildren.
On August 8, 2025, after saying goodbye to his wife, children, and grandchildren, Salih Gaygusüz set off on a long solo motorcycle journey from St Albans to Trabzon. His final destination — his hometown Kelkit in Turkey’s Gümüshane province, and then on to Trabzon.
“I’m 70, but my work isn’t done,” says Salih. “I believe that while you can simply live and enjoy various hobbies, from time to time you need to give yourself an adventure. I became interested in photography as a child and have experienced many thrills — wingsuit flying, skydiving, scuba diving, long motorcycle trips. And this summer, I want to bring to life the idea of a solo London–Trabzon motor tour.”
Salih’s journey is not a spontaneous decision, but a carefully planned undertaking. Everything is prepared: a tent, cooking gear, drones, photo and video equipment, a tire repair kit, waterproof clothing, navigation devices, a spare battery, and maps. “I’ve got everything I need with me. I’m not the type who likes to travel light,” the traveler admits. His route will take him through Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, and the Balkans.
After completing all the necessary paperwork, he starts at 13:45, taking the ferry from Dover to France. “On the first day, I’ll explore France along A-category roads, then rest in Dijon. From there, I’ll head to the Great St Bernard Pass (on the Swiss–Italian border) and the Aosta Valley in Italy, spending a day or two reading a book by a stream,” Salih says of his plans.
It’s worth noting that Salih has already made three motorcycle trips along the London–Trabzon route. Usually, he rode his “trouble-free” 1992 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail: “Over three long rides, it never stalled or left me stranded. Just fill the tank and keep going.”
But this time, he decided to take a risk and chose a BMW R1250GS Adventure TE: “Maybe this is my last time riding this route, and I wanted to do it on a different bike. It’s louder, faster, and harder to handle. The worst part is that it’s fully electronic, and when it gets annoyed, it flashes errors on the screen. But so far, so good. Trabzon is still far ahead — we’ll see.”
For Salih, this journey is more than just a trip — it’s a cultural bridge between West and East, between London and Anatolia. Well, let’s wish him smooth roads and blue skies overhead. Follow his adventure — and perhaps you’ll be inspired to set out on one of your own.
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