Living the dream on two wheels

ALL YOURS: Mike Britton and the Mongolian ranger who received his motorbike on last year's Rally for Rangers.

Mike Britton and Angela Bruce didn't miss too many chances to indulge their passion for two wheels when they were living in the Far North, but now, 23 years since they moved south (they now live in Hamilton), they've taken it to a whole new level.

They have developed their motorcycle events and tours to become a full-time business (Britton Adventures), organising events in New Zealand and overseas, in what Angela describes as an odd assortment of countries including Vietnam, Bolivia, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, Cuba and Indonesia.

"We have organised six tours in Mongolia, the first in 2007," she said.

FROM THE TRAIL: A selfie from Mike Britton and Angela Bruce, on the trail in Vietnam.

"Last year we became involved in an ecology project there that tied together our interest and experience with motorbikes and touring, and protecting the environment in a country that we have become very fond of. It was called the Blue Wave Rally for Rangers, a very worthwhile cause."

The riders arrived in Mongolia with a fleet of donated Yamaha AG200s, aimed at helping the local park rangers protect the country's pristine national parks, rangers using the machine to patrol the area in a bid to prevent illegal poaching, mining, logging and development.

Mike was among those who rode to Lake Hovsgol National Park, and donated 15 bikes. Each participant paid their own way, including the purchase of the bikes.

That were back again in June this year, this time with 20 bikes to give to rangers in two more two national parks that fall within the greater ecosystem of Lake Hovsgol (which holds up to 2 per cent f the world's fresh water, which is still clean enough to drink from directly).

-Go to www.adventurerides.co.nZ/bluewave/ for more.