In early 1975, together with my then wife Gail, we left the UK in search of adventure in distant lands and cultures. Our intention was to drive "Ferdi", our VW Kombi (a converted Dutch postal van), overland across Europe and Asia and then to catch a boat for a new life in Oz.
Our planning was helped by the BIT Overland Guide to India, known as the 'Hippie Trail Bible'. Detailed road descriptions were obtained from the AA Route Planning Service in Basingstoke; these, together with informative descriptions on local conditions, made navigation easier and safer.
Possibly the most challenging roads were to be found in Iran's Great Salt Desert and the corrugated desert roads of Pakistan. The combined information from BIT and the AA enabled us to decide where to go, how to get there and who to trust on the way.