Long Distance Ladies

Names like Ted Simon (solo around the world on a Triumph in the 1970s, immortalised in the classic Jupiter’s Travels) and Nick Sanders (at various times the record holder for circumnavigating the world on bicycle and motorcycle) are synonymous with long distance motorcycle adventure. Numerous women have engaged in such two-wheeled adventures, among them Mary Sievier (who rode a 175cc BSA Bantam round the world between 1967 and 1976 and whose achievement went largely forgotten for nearly five decades), Elspeth Beard (rode round the world between 1982 and 1984 on a BMW) and Steph Jeavons (who completed a four-year circumnavigation in 2018, having visited all seven continents on a 250cc Honda). These riders were not the first women to pursue long distance motorcycle adventures.

Miss E. Watson

The National Motor Museum’s extensive reference library holds a wealth of motorcycling content. A glance through the pages of Motorcycling magazine from 1912 reveals a series of articles written by Miss E.L.C. Watson who undertook a 1,500 mile journey across South Africa riding a 2.5hp, 290cc Motosacoche (a 1913 example of which may be found in the Museum’s motorcycle gallery).

Miss Watson’s journey began in Cape Town in mid February and followed a route through Kimberley, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ladysmith and Pietermarizburg to Durban, the first report appearing ten days after her departure. Her equipment for the journey is listed as a ‘small suitcase, two tins of petrol, a spare tyre, engine parts and an overcoat’. Apparently, after ‘much persuasion from friends’, Miss Watson also carried a revolver for her protection. The only provisions carried were ‘tea and sugar, and utensils for making tea’.

During the months that followed Miss Watson provided the magazine with regular updates on her progress and the various trials and tribulations  that she encountered crossing deserts, rivers and mountain ranges. It’s apparent that, whatever the hardship, she was always able to find willing help and support from those she met along her route, something often reported by modern motorcycle travellers. Her journey ended in August and in her last report, published 3rd September, she praised her chosen motorcycle highly, stating:

“I am completely pleased with my own Motosacoche … It is lightweight, and I may add on this much vexed point that, however much I may have sighed for a higher-powered machine to pull me through an extra yard or two of sand, I know now that such advantage would be vastly outweighed by the weary pushing through sand that South African roads inflict on all riders, no matter how powerful their mounts.”

Miss Watson’s travels were not over as in her closing comment she announced that she was “taking a little breath before starting for the Falls of Zambezi, but not by motor-bicycle!”

Gwendolyn Adams

A somewhat more sophisticated machine, a 350cc Model EW Douglas, was the choice of Miss Gwendolyn Adams for her 3,000 mile journey across Europe in September 1926. Starting from Ellesmere in Shropshire, she travelled to Southampton via the Douglas factory at Kingswood, Bristol. This was, apparently, the first knowledge that the manufacturer had of Miss Adams’ intentions, but they none the less immediately drew up a list of Douglas agents across Europe who might be able to assist her in times of difficulty. Clearly the company was so impressed with the adventure that, upon her return, they published her account in a booklet entitled ‘To Venice and back  – a journal of a motorcycliste’.

Crossing the English Channel to St Malo, Miss Adams’ journey continued south through France via Paris and on to Grenoble before reaching the Mediteranean at Nice, visiting both Cannes and Monte Carlo before crossing into Italy. She noted that “The Italians are much keener mechanics than the French. I was repeatedly surrounded by motorcyclists who asked many questions regarding my Douglas and I was therefore very proud of my mount, for neither France nor Italy can produce anything to equal it.” Adding that “it is not common in either country for a girl to ride a motorcycle and they were greatly surprised to hear how popular it is in England.”

Miss Adams’ journey took her through Milan and on to Venice. She spent just two days taking in the sights before heading back to Milan and then north through Switzerland via the Simplon Pass and Geneva. Her return to England was via Paris and Dieppe. At the end of her adventure Miss Adams reported “My only trouble throughout the entire trip was two punctures, and I am sure that in the future I shall have no qualms about undertaking a similar journey on the same machine”. With such an endorsement of their products it’s perhaps not so surprising that Douglas were so keen to publish the account of her journey.

Discover more from our The Drive for Change project, exploring the connection between motoring and the suffrage movement, and the emancipation of women in the broader context.