How old is Too old? - Horizons Unlimited

**uk_vette** · #1 29 Aug 2008

Well, I was planning to drive from UK down to Cape Town, visit the rest of the family, not like we don't fly down a couple of times a year.
Then after spending a few weeks in Cape Town, drive back to UK, thought about selling the 'cruiser in Cape Town, for a handsome profit, as we both have SA residency, and a house there, or simply ship it back to UK / Norway.

All was going well, I got the Land Cruiser, started making some nice savings, bought a load of books, bought the maps, even bought the water purification tablets !
Then it all went pear shaped.

I ended up getting a job which gave me a 3 x normal salary increase.

Thats good and bad.

Good because I have the trip money right away.
Bad, because I just don't want to take so much time away from work, while having the good fortune to earn 3 x normal salary. As in "Buy another house in just 1 year" kind of salary. (Not boasting, please no bad stuff, that don't help)

I am 50 this year, fit and health, I would like to put this trip off for a couple of years, and build the bank balance up some what.

How old are other 4x4 overland travellers.?

I would expect that it would be some what easier in a nice comfortable, air conditioned Land Cruiser, than a 2 wheel beast.

I (we) really want to do this trip, and I know I can never just give up on it.

**cedar** · #2 29 Aug 2008

Hi Vette
I met a Kiwi woman in the Philippines who was mid 70s and said she would keep going as long as she could get her feet in the sink, and some Germans who had just crossed the Sahara, and they were all 70+, so no need to worry, you are as old as you act.
Rave on
Bruce

**mollydog** · #3 29 Aug 2008

Congrats on the big job.

**Redboots** · #4 29 Aug 2008

The simple answer is, as long as you have your health and fitness, no age is too old.
I did a 20 thousand km, (bike), trip last year and had my 59th birthday on the road.
60 now and looking forward to the next trip.

On the other hand, I actually know guys my age that will get the car out to drive 500m to buy fags!

John

**pbekkerh** · #5 29 Aug 2008

At 59 I went on my first bicycle trip. Bought a planeticket for Agadir, Morocco and cycled through Morocco to Malaga ,Spain.
At 60 I travelled by bicycle from Saigon to Singapore. No sweat (ahem, a lot of sweat actually, but no problems)
I'll probably be buying my first Offroadbike this year, if I get time to use it between my roadracing bike and my Hobiecat FxOne ;o))

Do as I, work a lot and fill all the money into your "toy and expedition account" and then maybe take some of the overtime out as compensation time. For the last ten years I've taken 8 weeks off every year, gone on kayak, bicycle, trekking divingtrips/expeditions in Greenland, Nepal, Tibet, China, Polynesia, Egypt, South East Asia.

I am already planning my retirement: at least 6 months on the road, somewhere in the world and no need to stop before _I_ feel like

))

Poul
"Old Enough To Know Better,Young Enough To Give Damn"

**oldbmw** · #6 29 Aug 2008

There is an old saying, 'Make hay while the sun shines'. So pocket the dosh and set it aside to do all those things you couldn't have done without it. Maybe invest in a house to let or something, then you will have an extra source of income forever ( and so will your kids, much better than a pension). If you look at it like a bonus or windfall, should it end you can leave happy knowing you made it whilst you could. I am considerably older than you and just did a trip to south of france and teh alps.. I made one mistake of travelling twice for about 9 hours non stop ( except for petrol), and I still get aches and pains from it. That though was my fault. I should have stuck to my original plans of taking my time, but I had a breakdown and was stuck for two days and tried to make up the time. Today I had another breakdown,,, a new ( two months old) tube failed. My wife asked me how often do you get punctures on a bike? My reply was the last time I had one was the winter of 1961/2, The BMW is completing my bike education, by giving me my first ever electrical breakdown ever, and I started riding Brit bikes back in 1961

Bring back Joe Lucas I say...

With luck, next year I will save my OAP and buy an Enfield

**Redboots** · #7 29 Aug 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldbmw

Bring back Joe Lucas I say...

Joe Lucas - Prince of Darkness

John

**Xander** · #8 30 Aug 2008

A few years back, on my normal comute home from work (this is in Hoobart Tasmania) I pulled in to a local park because the sunset was so nice. I noticed to classic Bonnie's (maybe '59), loaded to the gills with travel gear. I went and watched the sunset and looked around to see if I could see the Travelers... I saw no one but a pair of octagenarians. Oh well I though they the travelers parked and walked some where.. Returning to my bike the pair of octagenarians were looking at my bike. A conversation started durring which i found out that the pair of octagenarians (he was in late 80s she was early), had been traveling the world on thier bonnies for the late 15 or so years and intend to keep going... My heros!

So long as you are healthy.. two or 4 makes no difference..enjoy life, personally if you are HAPPY, take the extra 3 years. If you are not leave now..

**teflon** · #9 30 Aug 2008

I just take breathing as a really good sign and go from there.

**Matt Cartney** · #10 30 Aug 2008

Isn't Simongandolfini, who posts on here, well into his seventies and riding a (small!) motorbike round South America?

Matt

**Caminando** · #11 30 Aug 2008

You're never too old - but I had to hold back tears of self pity when two younger riding friends, meaning well, said that it was great to see a bloke of my age still riding around Northern/Eastern Europe. Well, faack me!

I nearly blubbed!!! I didnt know I was old till then!

And never mind the comforts of N. Europe, I want to go to Tashkent and West Africa etc.....

Boohoo!!!!

**oldbmw** · #12 30 Aug 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redboots

Joe Lucas - Prince of Darkness

John

Did you know that this expression dates back from teh late fifties in response to duff batch of switches? It caused Triumph and few others a lot of grief for years as the faulty ones were impossible to identify and ended up mixed in with other good ones in the distribution network.
If you want crap electrics, try Wipac

**oldbmw** · #13 30 Aug 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caminando

You're never too old - but I had to hold back tears of self pity when two younger riding friends, meaning well, said that it was great to see a bloke of my age still riding around Northern/Eastern Europe. Well, faack me!

I nearly blubbed!!! I didnt know I was old till then!

And never mind the comforts of N. Europe, I want to go to Tashkent and West Africa etc.....

Boohoo!!!!

When I was somewhat younger, our riding group were gathered in teh frothy coffe establishment chatting when a guy walked in. Whilst he got his coffee one of our group in hushed tones said
"see that guy there, that is Stuarts brother, he is 23 and -still- rides a motorbike".
I remember wondering how some one so old could still manage a bike. Shortly after we became great friends and rode all over the UK together. I on my Triumph 500 and he on a velocette 500cc MSS. These days of teh eight of us that used to ride together, just he and I remain.

Did you know a Velocette 500 still holds teh record for the fastest 500cc bike over 24 hours set in 1961? A little over 2400 miles in 24 hours. All done with Joe Lucas electrics , Amal carburettor, tubed wheels and straight 40 grade oil.

**Redboots** · #14 31 Aug 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldbmw

Did you know a Velocette 500 still holds teh record for the fastest 500cc bike over 24 hours .... All done with Joe Lucas electrics... and straight 40 grade oil.

Ahh, the great smell of "R"

John

**ChrisC** · #15 2 Sep 2008

IMHO you should stick with the job as long as you can - invest the money wisely, prob another property or properties.
Then when you have had enough, hit the road - you will have no financial worries and if you decide to give a little here or there, you can afford it.

Whatever you do enjoy it.