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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  #1  
Old 16 Jan 2007
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Japan to California
They haven't built a bridge on the pacific connecting the two lands so I have two land options:

1. Start in China and work through Mongolia and Russia into Eastern Europe and finally onto Barcelona, then fly to Los Angeles.

2. Fly To Australia, Fly to Chile, then work my way north until I reach home.

I'm currenty teaching English in Japan and have decided not to extend my contract. I'll be returning home in July and thought I'd make my return a memorable one. I hadn't realized biking was so popular and am glad I stumbled onto this BB.

I do not have a bike so I was wondering how difficult it would be to buy a bike once the journey began. I've just begun to brainstorm so I would appreciate any help that will start to narrow planning and get me prepared for the real deal. The Horizonsunlimited site can be a bit daunting at first so I figured I'd start out by communicating with those with experience first hand.

Thanks!
Scott
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  #2  
Old 16 Jan 2007
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Another "gaijin"....
Hi there Scott!

First of all welcome to the HUBB!!! So, you've had enough teaching over here and wanna go home. And the idea - GREAT!! I am sure you will find lots of useful information on Grant's site! If it was me (and who knows, probably some day it will be me!!) I'd buy a decent bike over here in Japan, take it to Korea or China and continue from there my tour via Russia to Europe. Used bukes are cheap (as you probably know) in Japan - just getting the extra equipment might be somewhat expensive. Lots of stuff that you might need can be ordered from Europe or the States and shipped over here - it will make you safe big $$$. I was/am playing with this idea since quite some time myself, but I still got a couple of years to go until I can really do it. There is a site somewhere here (can't find it right now) describing two Scottish (??) guys who did the trip on 2 used Honda Transalps a couple of years ago. As soon as I find the URL I will post it. Was great reading and packed with (hopefully) good information.

Well, many more will post their comments, so you definitely will have lots to read.

Take care, and CU around

Klaus (Ehime-ken, Shikoku)
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  #3  
Old 16 Jan 2007
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Hey Klaus!

Thanks for the response. So I guess you're another English teacher? Do you think I can be prepared by July/August? I suppose if I have to I can stay another year just to prepare for this bike trip.

What makes the Asia/Russia/Europe route better than the Americas? Who's going to have better weather and in general be safer? I'll see if I can find the Scottish tales but if you can find it that'd be great. Also, what's the other equipment that I will need but can't get in Japan? Are we talking GPS or specific bike accessories?

Thanks for helping me get the ball rolling.

-Scott (another gaijin)
Last edited by DearScotty; 16 Jan 2007 at 23:49.
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  #4  
Old 17 Jan 2007
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I found it!!!!
Scott,

this is the URL I was looking for. 2 guys on 2 Honda TAs (same like mine) on their trip from Tokyo to London. Great reading and (maybe??) some good info for you, too: http://www.tokyotolondon.com/

Take care and CU

Klaus
http://virtulanguage.com
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  #5  
Old 18 Jan 2007
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Another useful link....
...taken from the HUBB:

http://www.euras.co.jp/en/index.html

for getting your bike from Japan to Vladivostok - in case that's the way you want to go! Lots of ueseful information (as always).
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  #6  
Old 18 Jan 2007
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Thanks Klaus!

I would like to leave this July for the South to North American run but I'm starting to think I will need more time to prepare. I've downloaded Charlie and Ewan's Long Way Round. I think I'll need more experience on a touring bike so I figured I could see all of Japan as a practice run.

If I do want to leave this summer, is it possible to pack light and shoot straight to Los Angeles? I originally intended just to ride home only stopping at a few places, but seems like everyone tends to go onto some side road to check out a hidden lake or cabin.

Well, I'm off to read the links you sent, thanks again!

Scott
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  #7  
Old 19 Jan 2007
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Pack light and go....
...depends all on what you want to do! Sleeping in hotels will save you the outdoor stuff like tent, sleeping bag, stove, light and so on. Moneywise it will be quite expensive! I have not done that kind of touring myself until now, the longest I went was from Shikoku to Mt Fuji (roughly 3.000 km round trip) and I took lots of stuff with me (maybe too much??) as you can see on the pics here (http://virtulanguage.com/MtFuji2004.html). Going South America - California you should think about this: where to get the bike, if it's in Japan, shipping cost to SA. Crossing from S to N America (Darien Gap), and so on. If I were you I'd make a list of all the things I need (check what others used and got, what's necessary and what not), check the route possibilities, calculate what you have to pay for transport/shipping and go from there. Just don't take it too light!!! You have to plan something like this well in advance and get ready for the unexpected, too. For more, get with me...and I'll see what I come up with!!
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