Anne-France Dhauteville

Paul Marx

Paul Marx

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Location
France
Our local old bike club invited Anne-France Dhauteville yesterday, to give a conference and have lunch with us.
Anne-France, now 78, is an amazing lady. She started motorcycling in Paris at the end of the 60s at a time when it just wasn't done. In 1973, she joined the first Raid Orion from Paris to Ispahan, riding a V7 Guzzi where she realised that she wanted to travel, alone and that she'd need a lighter bike. You can see a photo of her in an Iranian desert next to her fallen over V7 waiting for help. As she said, you don't want to be alone in certain places, particularly at night.
In 74, she was given a 100cc Kawasaki by a Paris dealer and set off around the world. Through Canada to Alaska, unfortunately, her film rolls were exposed. From there to Japan, then India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and back towards France via Greece and Yugoslavia.
To hear her relate her story is fascinating and the contact she had with people in countries where one would have thought women were at high risk. As she says, you have to know what not to do. There's some places in Paris where I would go alone at 11 pm.

Imagine in Pakistan, a rear puncture in the middle of nowhere. Take the wheel out and then a lorry pulls up and three men get out and come towards her. One goes behind her and holds her by the shoulders, the other two repair the puncture. They leave saying "very brave woman".
The lorry drivers at the bottom of the Khyber pass would say the same thing and they then let her set off in front.

She did a round Australia trip, 22 000 km in 1975 on a 750 BMW. I'd very much like to hear her recount that.
There are books which she wrote on her travels and as she says, she didn't even get royalties for the first ones.

A fascinating and beautiful woman.

Paul

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Interview Anne-France Dautheville

Anne-France Dautheville est la première femme à avoir fait un tour du monde seule à moto. Elle a sillonné la planète à la recherche de sensations enivrantes et de rencontres. Elle a nourri son âme de paysages, de plantes, et de découvertes pour ramener dans ses bagages des histoires incroyables...
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Awesome, Paul! I might have passed her out there somewhere in '75. It takes genuine courage for a woman to undertake such adventures. Reminds me of my partner's cousin who cycled from the US-Canadian border down through Central and S America solo. That was only 10-15 years ago - the '70s was a different story.
 
piranha-bro2 said:
Awesome, Paul! I might have passed her out there somewhere in '75. It takes genuine courage for a woman to undertake such adventures. Reminds me of my partner's cousin who cycled from the US-Canadian border down through Central and S America solo. That was only 10-15 years ago - the '70s was a different story.
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It took courage for a woman to ride a bike anywhere back then.
Anne-France recounts a couple of experiences in her interview in Paris.

My ex wife was regularly confronted with not only wolf whistles, but being spat on or chased by cars drivers sometimes trying to push her off the road. It's difficult for a woman anywhere.
Motor vehicles whatever the number of wheels are also perceived by some as a virile attribute that "normal" women cannot accede, hence, aggressivity.

Paul
 
I knew lots of women riders back then including my girlfriend, her friends, my sister etc and I don't remember them having any bother in the UK.
 
There is an old ABC Australia documentry called Breakaway where Anne rode through far north Queensland and over to Darwin,probably some of the most remote country in Australia.
If you get a chance watch it, apart from the fact she was such an adventurer and lovely person, it reminded me of a time when life was simple and getting lost on that highway of life was the thing to do.
There is lots of Australianism's amongst the narration so it may be difficult for non Aussies to pick up.
I would love to meet this person!!!!!!
 
Thanks for sharing, Paul! amazing what she did at that time.
During the pandemic I watched this German documentary, subtitles in English etc.
A woman retires not to long ago, has a drivers license that enables her to explore part of the world with a 125cc bike.
 
I remember she was covered by the Oz bike press at the time. Great inspiring woman.
Around the world on a Kwaka 125, fantastic. Lots of women did similar solo feats back then, I met one who did Australia on a Suzuki 100 ("I only fell off on the dirt once!")
 
mauricejota7604 said:
There is an old ABC Australia documentry called Breakaway where Anne rode through far north Queensland and over to Darwin,probably some of the most remote country in Australia.
If you get a chance watch it, apart from the fact she was such an adventurer and lovely person, it reminded me of a time when life was simple and getting lost on that highway of life was the thing to do.
There is lots of Australianism's amongst the narration so it may be difficult for non Aussies to pick up.
I would love to meet this person!!!!!!
Click to expand...
This one?
 
Paul Marx said:
Our local old bike club invited Anne-France Dhauteville yesterday, to give a conference and have lunch with us.
Anne-France, now 78, is an amazing lady. She started motorcycling in Paris at the end of the 60s at a time when it just wasn't done. In 1973, she joined the first Raid Orion from Paris to Ispahan, riding a V7 Guzzi where she realised that she wanted to travel, alone and that she'd need a lighter bike. You can see a photo of her in an Iranian desert next to her fallen over V7 waiting for help. As she said, you don't want to be alone in certain places, particularly at night.
In 74, she was given a 100cc Kawasaki by a Paris dealer and set off around the world. Through Canada to Alaska, unfortunately, her film rolls were exposed. From there to Japan, then India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and back towards France via Greece and Yugoslavia.
To hear her relate her story is fascinating and the contact she had with people in countries where one would have thought women were at high risk. As she says, you have to know what not to do. There's some places in Paris where I would go alone at 11 pm.

Imagine in Pakistan, a rear puncture in the middle of nowhere. Take the wheel out and then a lorry pulls up and three men get out and come towards her. One goes behind her and holds her by the shoulders, the other two repair the puncture. They leave saying "very brave woman".
The lorry drivers at the bottom of the Khyber pass would say the same thing and they then let her set off in front.

She did a round Australia trip, 22 000 km in 1975 on a 750 BMW. I'd very much like to hear her recount that.
There are books which she wrote on her travels and as she says, she didn't even get royalties for the first ones.
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A fascinating and beautiful woman.

Paul
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Anne-France Dhauteville seems like a fascinating and beautiful person, and it must have been a privilege to have her give a conference and share her incredible journey with your local old bike club.
 
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