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A trip is several years away...What can I do now? A trip is several years away...What can I do now?
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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 12 Jun 2003
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Location: Orlando, FL, USA
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A trip is several years away...What can I do now?
I am currently a Sophomore in college. My plan is to finish school, work for a year or 2 to save up money, and then go on a RTW trip.
I will be getting my motorcycle license later this summer and then a cheap bike to learn on in a year or 2.

Anyways, my point is that my trip is several years away.
What can I do now to both not lose interest, and to prepare myself for a RTW journey?

TIA for any advice/insight.

-Chris
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  #2  
Old 13 Jun 2003
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: San Francisco, USA
Posts: 222
Well, that's easy!

First, you can't have too much riding or mechanical or linguistic skill. I'd choose a bike, spend a lot of time learning how to disassemble it and repair it (you WILL have breakdowns) and how it all works, and spend as much time as you can learning how to ride safely and skillfully, since riding in other countries can be a truly terrifying endeavor. If this is your first bike, do a course with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Lastly, find some local classes where you can begin learning another language, if you haven't already. People really respond well to those who make an effort to speak the local language.

Wright
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  #3  
Old 17 Jun 2003
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 148
'If you love something, set it free...' etc etc

My theory is if something is really, deeply important to you, then you will not be able to 'forget' about it. I have been trying to forget about my desire for a RTW bike trip for several years - it's a costly exercise that means putting career/family/normal life on hold (not that this is a bad thing (!), just that it is a big committment).

I have been saying 'I will' then 'I won't' for many years. Every time I re-assess my life (not navel-gazing, I mean things like whether or not to go back to full-time study, moving countries, buying a new motorbike etc) the big trip is in my top three considerations every time. Sometimes I sigh and say, 'maybe when I'm old and rich', other times I say 'to hell with it all, I'm going to do it!'.

The point of all this is that the desire for a RTW trip has stayed with me for many years, despite my best efforts at times to shake it off. Follow Grant's advice, at the very least you'll have a language, some mechanical skills and loads of fun motorcycling. As for the rest: it will take care of itself.

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Barry
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  #4  
Old 18 Jun 2003
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Location: Orlando, FL, USA
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Thanks for the replies.

I'm hoping that by planning to go RTW soon after I get out of college it will be easier to more or less drop everything and take off...I would like to have a family someday

-Chris
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