Hey riders,
I'm planning a TDF ride from California in 2008. I have a trusty KLR650 and I'm looking for a riding partner for some or all of the trip. I hope to meet up with fellow HU members along the way. I have a lot of contacts in latin america from companies I do business with. I plan on riding at least 6 months and chilling out for another 6. Reply to this thread if your interested.

Oh yeah, I have a place to stay in San Diego for as long as we need to get the bikes prepared and to get the logistics solved.

Mike Callahan
Burlington, Vermont

When do you plan to start for TDF ??

Hey Z,
I'm thinking sometime next summer. Are you interested in a similar trip? What are you riding?

Mike

Hey Mike,

I am riding an R 1200GSA and I'll be going on a Eurotrip with my buddies to Nordkapp this summer.

Hopefully all goes smooth and by the end of September I'll be shipping my bike to Mexico City or LA, and from there to TDF.

Z Drive safe and happy

P.S.: Warming up to hit the trails up there?? Can't wait

Hey Z,
I'm in comunication with Nickthedesigner and Peer about this trip also, if you want to ship to LA, let me now. I can be of assistance I'm sure. See you on the road.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Maybe see you on the road, Debra and I plan to ride from Pudhoe Bay to TDF 2008. Should kick off mid May from Toronto, still making plans.

Steve

Hi mike !

I prepare similar trip from the end of july to ...(the time it will take) but I have a compagny that i need to be back for the snow season (need to be back around christmas) , I live in Québec city (not far from you I think). If I can, I want to spend few week in guatamala to ameliorate my spanish.

Do you have similar planing ?

(sorry my english isn't perfect , yes I'm a french Canadian)

you can write me; beaumontfrancois@hotmail.com

FranK

Hey Mike -

I'm planning on striking out from San Francisco in March. My understanding is that it will be raining in Central America for May through Sept. I live in NY and will be shipping my bike out - riding through CA as a shake-down leg.

I'm planning on spending 6 months touring through Central and South America, and may keep going after that. I'll be riding a new Vstrom. I have no connections but some experience - I travelled through Central America in the 90s with a friend in 93, and an 82 Yamaha Seca. Also planning on spending 2-4 weeks in a Spanish immersion program along the way, maybe Guatemala or Quito.

I'd love some company.

Hey all -

After reading some posts and doing a little re-plannning, I've decided to reschedule my trip to start south in Oct/Nov 2008 to hit TDF in Jan/Feb. I'd like to hear from anyone with similar plans.

Andy

Hey Andy

I am going to fly my bike to LA or Mexico probably the end of September and then ride my way to TDF.
Until what stage of planning you are??

Drive Safe and Happy

Z

Z -

That could work! I'm planning about the same. The only catch is that it's rainy season in Central America through October, so may be better to spend October in Mexico, Nov in Central America, then Dec/Jan/Feb riding to TDF.

Also I'm planning on riding from NY to Cali cross the US in Aug/Sept.

Looks like you're also in New York?

Andy

Hey Andy, Frank and Z,
It looks like we are all thinking that Sep/Oct looks like the best time to set out. That will give us some good time in California and Mexico to work out the bugs. I'm not opposed to riding in a group of three, any more than that, it would be hard to get decisions made. I also want to take a spanish refresher, I speak understandable spanish now, but I can always use a tune up. Nic. or Guat. would work for me.

I'm going to Peru next week for some R & R on the Amazon for two weeks. If you get a chance, check out Iquitos Peru, very cool place to chill. I will be in touch with all of you when I return. I would like to maybe chat with you off line, good idea to get to know someone you'll be riding with south of the border.

Andy, what part of NY are you, I'm in Burlington Vermont, perhaps not to far from you.

Frank, I know Montreal well as I only live 1:30 from there, maybe it will be possible to set up a meeting over the winter.

Z, where are you located??

If you folks are all planning the same trip as me, the I can only assume that you all must be in the same mindset. This is a big deal, it requires some planning and a lot of trust. I would feel comfortable, if you are serious, that we try to meet over the winter and see about starting some solid plans. I'm pretty good with logstics and trip planning as I travel extensively for work. My email is mcallahan@ttiglobal.com. Think about this and get back to me...Talk to you all soon.

Steve, we'll see you and Debra on the road.

I live in Astoria, NY and by the end of May i will finish my thesis, and eventually completing all my studies here in the US, having an incredible amount of time to plan for the US to TDF trip.

I will travel with my buddies to Nordkapp from Athens starting August 01 until mid September, back to Athens, prep my bike, probability of riding to Italy for the airplane, and off to LA.

Drive happy and safe

Z

Hi Mike & Co.

I'm on board for this! I'm 80% prepped to go now, and have been doing some route planning. I'm also inerested in doing a Spanish immersion course along the way. I live in Brooklyn, NY, but would be interested in meeting.

This is a big deal to me, and honestly if things go well, I may keep going - Africa, India, Southeast Asia....

Talk to y'all soon.

Andy

Hi All,

Read your discussion. I'm looking to do a similar trip. I plan on heading South from California starting sometime between March and May 2008. I want to get at least as far as Panama before I have to head back to the US (need to be back by August/Sept). I will be taking a Spanish course somewhere along the way. Will ride a KLR650. I'm 27, like outdoor stuff (beaches, mountains etc) and not opposed to knocking back a few s from time to time.

Let me know if my timing would work with any of you guys. Otherwise, see ya on the road!

-Clutch