Emily Currie

“‘Happiness is only real when shared’: I think this counts for a whole spectrum of experiences and emotions—pain, hardship, excitement, joy, for instance—and explains why sharing an adventure or journey with a group makes it so very real!”

Who would have thought that growing up on a farm and a career in rural healthcare would prepare me for a job like my job at TDA? I always had the desire to travel and even though I thought working here would be too good to actually come true when I sent in my job application, here I am, six tours and 28 countries later. I’ve learned more about the world and myself then I ever expected.

With so many incredible memories—and so much food shared, so many friends made along the way—it will take me years to process everything I’ve experienced courtesy of TDA. Highlights of my travels so far include finishing the North American Epic (NAE) in Mexico City on the Day of the Dead, cycling Central Asia’s Pamir Highway, Abdul’s pilaf in the parking lot, Colombia, pan con chicharron, Patagonia, a massive thunder storm in Zambia, Hami melon, Madagascar, Samarkand, walnut and honey spread on fresh bread and topped with whipped yak cream, eaten in a warm yurt… and the list goes on! It’s amazing to realize that everything I experience with TDA will have an impact on my life long after these adventures are over.

One adventure I don’t expect to have again is the one I had in Mexico, when we discovered Hurricane Patricia was heading right straight at us. Monitoring the storm’s progress through the night—from stage 4 to stage 5—seemed so unreal. By 5:00 a.m., CNN was calling Patricia the strongest hurricane ever measured on planet earth. A few hours later, we loaded all bikes, riders, kit and crew onto an extra van and bus … and took off, tails between our legs, because Patricia was shaping up to be a beast! By nightfall we were safe and sound in the heart of tequila country, and, as Patricia lost most of her fury at landfall, the party at our lodgings ramped up.

There are so many wonderful aspects to working with TDA but key amongst them are travelling with purpose, meeting people from all over—and the food!

Yanez Novoa

Exited to be part of the team.

Jill Cohen

Hi Everyone! I'm looking forward to joining Magical Madagascar 2019 as your Tour Medic. Saddle sores happen--I'm here to help, and we'll get through it. :) A bit about me: I'm an ER Travel Nurse and Dance Teacher, currently on assignment in the lovely little Eastern Sierra mountain town of Bishop, California. I like running amok outside on a bike, a snowboard, a boat, or my own two feet. And I love expeditions, explorations, journeys, and discoveries. If you say "Hey wanna come visit me in Siberia," I am that person who will show up on your doorstep. This is more or less how I started working with TDA. Ok, see y'all soon!

Dehon Ninon Cedric Ainarime

Dehon ,26 years old,Tourist Guide. This is always what i wanted to do and I feel so blessed to be part of this trip again. I look forward to meet all of you and having great time in Madagascar

Mark Wambui

Mark Wambui is a Storyteller. I enjoy tackling new adventures that test my endurance and commitment because through each of those moments I learn a little bit more about myself.

Shaik Baba

Baba is a maestro in the art of cycle maintenance. He has close to 20 years of experience in the industry along with 10 years of travelling the length and breath of the country on cycle trips and camps. India is a highly diversified country with many languages. With five spoken languages under his belt, Baba is an asset to have on the team. Baba is a very friendly team person and ever willing to help & contribute in all aspects.

Elizabeth (Liz) Crago

There are so many interesting places to travel to, and I can't think of any better way to travel through anywhere, than by bike. I enjoy the challenge it brings and I look forward to going to the more out of the way locations and interacting with the locals. I enjoy seeing how different life is in new places and from other perspectives. I enjoy travel, and I love cycling so am looking forward to combining them both for this trip. What will make it even more enjoyable is that my partner and best friend, Steve Caithness, has decided to join me on this amazing adventure.

Stephen Owen

Cycling since school age chasing buses to school, and now aged 53, I have stepped up cycling in the last 7 years with weekend rides and endurance 300/500km rides in 24hrs, wisdom/body is now telling me that multi day riding more fun... More recently cycled across Atlas mountains North Africa and now across Sri Lanka. The Madagascar full trip will be the longest period for me, but love the challenge and expect to wrestle with inner daemons and dig deep for when the ride begins to bite; It always brings a smile to my face once I've sat down with coffee in hand and consider how lucky I am.

Rebecca (Becky) Lewis

I live in Steamboat Springs, CO. I do lots of outside activities in this mountain town, including hiking, biking (road and mountain), fishing, skiing, x-country skiing, show shoeing, and probably more I can't think of right now. I do a lot of volunteer work. I'm divorced and almost retired. I've traveled a lot of the world, and always wanted to go to Madagascar. Can't think of a better way to do it than this. I'm going with my neighbor and friend, Amy.

Amy Jenkins

I am so excited to join this ride! I have ridden in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Vietnam , Cambodia and across America. This is sure to be the coolest location yet! I am married and have 2 adult children, their spouses and a 6 year old grandson, all of whom are the light of my life! In addition to biking, I love everything outdoors including snow and water skiing and teach adaptive snow and waterskiing as well. Because I am retired, I spend my time volunteering for Hospice, for an adaptive sports program and at our local hospital with our therapy dog Mollie. Life is grand and I look forward to this wonderful adventure with all of you!

EVAN KENLEY

I have the wanderlust. What better way to do it than by bike? I have traveled extensively and recently did the SAE and Silk Route. What fun and challenging trips. I am hitting that sweet spot in age when the time, energy and desire are there to challenge myself to new adventures. I look forward to sharing this challenging experience with my fellow adventurers.

Tom Green

Steve Caithness

I'm brand new to cycling, thanks to my partner Liz for enticing me to join her on this amazing trip. I've been pretty active all my life, playing sports, fishing and diving, and especially enjoyed travelling to Truk Lagoon in 2011 and 2013 diving shipwrecks. So I am looking forward to a new challenge and enjoy meeting new people from different cultures and with different ways of life.

Alan Knight

I look forward to meeting and riding with all of you. This will be my second tour with TDA. I survived Cairo to Cape Town in 2013 and hope to survive Madagascar as well – and not get lost too many times. I retired about two years ago and currently live just outside of Geneva.

Hugh Green

Mechanical Engineer

Ellen Kurland

I'm a paramedic/firefighter in Washington DC who is looking forward to getting out of the city and politics of DC. Madagascar seemed as far away as I could go and still be on this planet. I am currently reading a book on a researcher who spent a lot of time in Madagascar studying Lemurs and I'm getting pretty excited about being there. I can only get enough time off of work to do the first section. Looking forward to meeting everyone and doing some cycling.

James Bowen

I am a plump 64 year old recently retired barrister who should know better

Freddie Kennedy

Rita Tellerman

Sonia Simard

Henry Gold

Founder, TDA Global Cycling

Niels van Dongen

Ruth Storm

Joining the Tour d’Afrique in 2007 was the beginning of my love of cycle touring. Since, I’ve cycled independently in Europe, New Zealand, Middle East, North America and TDA Silk Road 2016. I also sail, trek, climb and ski long distances and remotely. Looking forward to exploring with like-minded friends!

Julie Hunter

I’m a Kiwi living in the U.K. I got bitten by the cycling bug in 2014. with my kiwi riding buddy we’ve been doing independent cycling and camping trips in Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and this year Sicily. Madagascar is an exciting location, will be my first trip without loaded panniers, looking forward to meeting like minded people and seeing the Lemurs.

Jane Hartwell

I have wanted to travel to Madagascar for over 20 years, and am really excited to do so via bicycle! I really believe you see the world from different perspective from a bike. This will be my first time on a bicycle tour. I'm looking forward to meeting and riding with everyone else. I don't have any (non-work related) social media links!