Taunton resident Sam Donegan's updates from first part of epic motorcycle adventure

The 22-year-old, who grew up in the county town and attended Parkfield Primary and later The Castle School, set off on a ferry from Plymouth on May 6 to ride across Europe with the ultimate aim of making it to New Zealand.

He only passed his motorcyle test earlier this year but is keen to make use of as little air travel as possible on his trip, and plans to also ride through Asia over the coming months.

ONE MAN AND HIS BIKE: Sam Donegan

His highlights so far include...

• "Having to spend my very first day in Spain fixing my motorcycle after it had a massive oil leak on the ferry to Santander."
• "Twice having had to abandon the motorcycle and run for cover due to the close proximity of lightning in severe thunderstorms in both the south of France and Croatia."
• "Meeting my cousin and some of her friends for an impromptu sailing trip around the Dalmatian islands (I just happened to be in the right place at the right time)."
• "Stumbling upon a wine tasting in Croatia, befriending one of the wine makers, and later in the week visiting his island for a wine tasting event in an old Yugoslavian military bunker."
• "Bumping into John Sewell, an old sailor from Taunton who has spent the last 20 years living in Japan but is returning to Somerset for the first time in years next week for a reunion lunch with friends at The Vivary Arms, which just happens to be my local."
• "Spending a night in an old Albanian castle in the ancient town of Kruje."

GLORIOUS: Krka national park, Croatia

PICTURESQUE: Manarola, Cinque Terre (Italian fishing village)

IN CONTROL: Sam at the helm of the Antares

In the coming weeks, Sam plans to climb Mount Olympus with a school friend and surprise an old friend of my father’s in Athens.

To keep up to date with his progress and see more photos, visit www.samdtravels.wordpress.com.