Fixed links

If you tried to look at the Mongolian road links and they didn't work - I've fixed them now so take some time out to see what's in store for us aaaaarrrrrgggghhh!!

Crappy Doos

Crappy doos indeed ! The dawning of what we are about to undertake is just starting to hit home and my stomach is churning at the thought of being away from home for such a long time and I know that Gina is also beginning to ponder on the task ahead and how it will affect her at home.

I finally got the bike completed last Monday – the front Ohlins was fitted and then an oil and filter change, new spark plugs and front and rear brake pads – this means that the bike is ready. And talking of which, the bike goes down to Southampton Docks a week tomorrow, that’s Monday 28^th March.

We fly out the next Sunday (3^rd April) and I was busy a few minutes ago booking our seats on the Virgin Atlantic Airbus – two nice ones in business class. It is really lucky that we booked the more expensive tickets because we are allowed two 23kg bags of luggage plus our hand luggage (only one bag in economy). Just as well because my total payload is around the 28kg mark. This is pretty much everything that has to go on the bike – we are not allowed to put anything in the panniers when we ship the bikes by sea so we have to carry everything (including tools, motorcycle clothing, tents etc etc) in our air luggage. This also means that we have to lug it around America during the two weeks we are there waiting for the machines to arrive in Baltimore – life can be such a drag.

So there it is, crappy doos – I’m pooping myself. No turning back now. I shall really miss home but I am also really looking forward to this adventure, all on our own without backup. This is fine in the USA where the infrastructure is good enough to get us out of most trouble but when we get to Siberia and Mongolia we will have to use our brains and inner strength to get through. A guy called Oisin Hughes did Mongolia on bikes similar to ours last year - take a look at his first experience of entering Mongolia........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPbG5-KJX5U now you know why I've got butterflies. Of course, they are not all like this, some are better....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ise636-yu1k and we might even get lucky on our 1000 mile trek through the country and get a bit of the 87 miles of Tarmac !.

Next week I will begin to send out begging letters for my charity fundraising in the hope

that I can get close to my targets and then it’s countdown to 3^rd April when it all begins.

My next blog report will be Stateside and the journey for real will have begun so keep watching and wish us luck.

Things Are Coming Together

It’s been a hectic 10 days or so with everything starting to come together. The Russian visas were approved and I took time out last week to ride down to London to pick them up personally on the basis that they were too important to us to lose in the UK postal system. As it turned out the weather on the day I chose to ride was a fantastic dry sunny day – bonus !

We paid the balance on our shipping and flights and David Grist at HC Travel sent all the documents through so, as well as our Russian visas, we now have our shipping details and loading instructions plus our flight tickets and accommodation in New York all sorted.

Today I finalised our motorbike insurance for the States and Canada with Motorcycle Express in New York and our certificates were emailed to me just a few minutes ago.

I did treat myself during the week. I went shopping on the Motorworks website and bought a spare brake lever (Mark is buying a clutch lever), a K & N filter and some alloy guards for the brake & clutch reservoirs plus a guard for the throttle potentiometer. I also bought some extra large footpegs to take the pressure off my feet when we have to travel standing up over rough terrain – this is a much more stable way to travel off road and helps with keeping the bike going in the right direction.

We have had one setback though. The Ohlins did arrive but the heavy duty springs didn’t and we feel sadly let down by Ohlins. They have been promised for this Friday so, fingers crossed.

I’ve got some dollars and roubles from the bank so as soon a he Ohlins are fitted I’m ready. Woooo Hoooooo  !!!!