The Longest Desert - Anthon Jackson's Cycling Expedition

The Expedition
Beginning in Casablanca, Morocco, I will cycle across North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia all the way to Beijing. The route will take me through the longest continuous stretch of desert landscapes in the world, spanning the Sahara, Arabian, Lut, Karakum, Taklamakan and Gobi Deserts. In the following order, I will pass through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and China. The planned start date is November 2010, with an enticipated finish approximately one year later in Beijing.

The Cyclist
I am a writer/photographer from the USA and have spent extended time in Jordan, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan and China, all of which fall along the route. I speak fluent Arabic and am currently cycling from Cairo to Damascus to train for the big trip. In September 2009 I completed a 9-month expedition called “20,000 Miles in Asia” to raise funds for the Deseret International Foundation (see www.adventurejourney.net/expeditions/20000). My most recent photos and writing can be found online at www.anthonjackson.com. I have now traveled to over 50 countries but am fully confident that this expedition will be the most extraordinary series of adventures to date. I am hoping its adventure appeal will attract enough support to make a sizable impact for good.

The Product
Along the entire route I will provide consant updates via Twitter, regular blog posts, high quality photo uploads, and video clips from the journey. All will appear on the expedition website. Cycling will allow ultimate freedom to stop and smell the roses along the way: photographing at any turn, getting a true feel for each desert and meeting the locals in each country and province. Such opportunities will be taken and reflected in the work I produce along the way.

The Cause
In spanning the world’s driest, hottest, most water-deficient landscapes, I hope to highlight the growing demand for clean water and bring attention to all valiant efforts to fight the problem. I hope to raise money for the Blue Planet Network, which can provide a person with lifetime access to safe water for just $30.

Costs/Sponsorship Needs
Since the expedition would involve just one cyclist, costs will be extremely minimal. In seeking sponsors the following costs must be considered: cycling gear (bicycle and bike-luggage), camping gear (tent, mat and sleeping bag), technology and communications gear (laptop, solar charger), occasional budget hostels, food, and finally: visa costs and special permits (certain regions in Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Tajikistan and Xinjiang). No support staff is necessary. With all the above costs considered, the entire tab for the year-long expedition would run to roughly $10,000.

Contact
Anthon Jackson
janthonjackson@gmail.com
www.anthonjackson.com