You’re never to old to enjoy riding and travelling, so this story of Miquel Silvestre, a former lawyer who is spending 18 months travelling the world on his trusty BMW R1200GS had his mom join him as his pillion exploring Nepal and the Himalayas really captured our imagination.
Mercedes Silvestre is a very youthful and very limber 74-year old woman who is no stranger to motorcycles as it was it Miquel’s father who introduced to her to motorcycles more than forty years ago and her husband is still an avid biker at the age of 74.
“It was wonderful to see the Himalayas, but I’d like to join my son again, when he reaches Manila! I am so proud of my son because Miquel is happy doing what he believes.
He is following his own heart, has no boss to answer to and no fear.
The only problem is that he is so involved in what he is doing, that he may not always realise how lucky he is.
Very few people are free and he is one of them,” said Mercedes.
“Some people of 74 might think they’re too old for a big motorcycling trip like this and for some, it’s late in life to do this.
Being young at 74 is a hard task and it’s something you have to start when you are still young.
It’s about living healthily – eating small amounts of good food and taking exercise.
I think Miquel will still be riding at 74 like his father – they are both runners and sportsmen!”“My father gave me a gift of a small-size motorcycle when I was eight years old and I have ridden ever since.
I have learned from him – he says riding a motorbike is like taking your brain to the gym.
He says it’s important to keep your mind young, fast and healthy.
” says Miquel.
“Seeing my mother in Nepal was extraordinary, I was very happy to see her – it felt like she had crossed the world in a second.
Seeing my family when I have been on the road for so long was a wonderful feeling.
”Silvestre has already ridden through Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, India and a number of European countries and is currently in Thailand.
He’ll be travelling to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines and you can follow his adventures of rediscovering the routes of the Spanish explorers of the 15th century through his Youtube channel and Facebook page.