Number 5 - In perspective . . .

I’m feeling more reassured now, have seen James Cargo – the freight company I admit I hadn’t heard of before they were recommended to me and who are now shipping my bike – featured in several articles on “adventure motorcycling” in the big bike magazines. Feel a bit foolish too I guess recalling the naive questions I asked Dave at James Cargo and the “it’s no big deal” way he dealt with them.

And a road trip like this really is “no big deal. As one contributor put it, it’s really is like a long commute. Ok perhaps several hundred, possible thousands of the types of commutes I’ve made so far – all put together but as also said by someone else there must be an added thrill doing it on the bike I have used for those commutes.



My first, and hopefully last, 3 wheeler!


I have, as you might imagine, done a lot of reading about the trip and I am humbled by some of those who have undertaken all or part of it before me.  The real star and my main inspiration must be Ted Simon who wrote Jupiter’s Travels. He did his first round the world solo motorcycle trip in 1974 – well before lap tops, mobile phones and film crews in back up 4 x4s.  What’s more, he did it again in 2001 at the age of 69 just to see what had changed in the places he had visited the first time. I’ve just read about Simon Gandolfi who in 2006 at the age of 73 set of on an epic journey from Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico to Ushuaia, Terra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the Americas – some 16,000 miles.  He did it on a 125cc Honda – that’s 10 times smaller than my bike. I know size isn’t everything but really . . .  You noticed the theme yet, my subconscious concerns about my advancing years – well I did start young!

  When asked for advice for riders who feel “too old” to make their dream trip he said “You’re never too old to be a teenager. But if you are so old you think your balance isn’t up to it – buy a Morgan 3 Wheeler”.      Im not ready for that Morgan yet.   

Gandolfi wrote a book called Old Man on a Bike – so there’s the title of any literary aspirations I may have gone any way!

And just to move away from that group of grumpy old men who were possible partially motivated by a kick up the backside from a spouse equally eager for a “bit of peace and space”, lets mention Peggy Thomas who at the age of 26, started out from Liverpool, England in 1951 on her new BSA Bantam and rode over 14,000 miles across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

My 7991 miles should be a walk in the park . .  .

Number 4

Beginning to get slightly apprehensive. The more you read around the trip the more the issues which can arise seem to come along. At the moment it's wind! Just re-read part of Billy Connolly's Route 66 and he refers to the strong sidewinds but the more dramatic - and concerning - images have been those of the dustbowl in Oklahoma. That was  80 years ago and things have changed on the land  but surely the wind hasn't!!

Number 3

Started some physical preparation now though the paperwork and planning still go on. Sorted electrical connections for all the equipment I'll need and there is so much of it - satnav, phone, netbook, camera, tyre pump.... it goes on. Trouble is will I ever get it back together again.