As lovers of all things Ural I have been overjoyed to the point of obsessiveness this week to read about Alanna and Mike Clear and their 32,190km (20,000 miles in real money) trip from Alaska to the southernmost point of South America, Ushuaia.

They are bang right in the middle of their trip as you read this…and the point of it all?

Well, whilst we are very much of the school of motorcycling that doesn’t need a purpose aside from to be out there with the wind in our faces, and other such motorcycling cliches, Alanna and Mike do actually have a purpose…and that is to discover whilst on this trip if their marriage is doomed to failure or will stand the test of time. So, not the usual reasons then!

On their blog, which I am finding very entertaining, they tell us that they were married in 2008 after meeting three years earlier on a blind date. So intrigued, nay fascinated, are they by what it takes for a marriage to survive they have set out on this Pan American Highway odyssey to meet other couples and find out their secrets to a long and happy marriage.

For wedding presents the couple shunned the traditional china, toasters and flannelette sheets in favour of funds, in the form of motorcycle parts and hotel bookings, for their upcoming trip. Aside from these contributions there trip is entirely self-funded by re-mortgaging their house.

I like their style.

The couple both have a background in marketing and are rather cleverly turning their trip into a documentary. They have even gone as far as to wear matching Evel Knievel style jumpsuits and helmets which they say gives them a sense of purpose.

We are no strangers to what the couple describe as “The Wallace and Gromit effect” where complete strangers are drawn to you by the unusual nature of your motorcycle and sidecar.

Their Russian Ural Sidecar outfit (sadly un-named as far as we know) is a Tourist T, and despite their reputation of yore, it has been very reliable up until now – last reports were from Mexico City.

One thing that I particularly enjoyed from their website was The Ural Song or ‘Come Ural With Me’ penned by fellow motorcycle adventurers and enthusiasts Lois Pryce and Austin Vince….enjoy:

When the couple eventually arrive in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, in December, their families will be waiting to celebrate Christmas with them and depending on the results of a scientific test, about whether they will stay together for life or not, taken before they started their journey, the couple intend to renew their vows.

You can see more about their journey online at:

www.goingthedistance.org.uk/

http://twitter.com/TeamGTD

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85644114193

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39992487@N06/