Sundays meet
 

Hey Brian, Fizzyfish and Bjorn - how did the Sunday meeting go? Did you guys make any firm plans with routes dates for next years trip?
Mick Tharme, with his better half Colleen and I are definitely on for an early May 08 departure but route still to be confirmed. Have to be back early August for shipping Micks bike back to Aus.
See there's a parallel crew planning something similar from Belgium - if we have firm plans - could see if any of them fancy joining us for all/part of the journey.
Keep us posted with developments please.
Cheers
Paul

OK I seemed to have started something here!!!
 

When I posted way back I didn't expect so much interest!!!. I was unable to make the LOndon meet but have spoken to Brian and it seems quite a few people made it. My plan is still to "try" to get to Thailand via China, the European end I am flexible ...though I believe there has been more success in gaining entry to China through its borders with Khazackstan, so maybe uk to Khazackstan via whichever way suits ( though I would like to visit the Ukrainian Black sea areas Svestapol...I plan to .leave late May early June , if I am unsuccesfull in gaining entry to China a trip round the Baltic states might be a on instead. The bike will be an XT600 big tank lowred and as light as possible. If the basic time scale and route matches anyone let me know.

Hope to see a few at the next northern meeting....( I dont understand all these travelleres that can't meet except on their doorsteps lol.)

Ride safe, Jimmy

Hi Jimmy, Paul, Mick & Colleen, had the meeting. Basically its all still very flexible. Most are planning to depart late May early June.(Two leaving July ) Though Europe into Turkey, meet other guy there then east to stans. Some will head south Iran, Pakistan, India towards Thailand then RTW or ship home.
Others, stay north into other stans, Kasakstan possibly China. Mongolia,(eclipse, nice touch Fizzy) Siberia , Russia, Scandinavia, UK.
Bikes are BMW 650, 1200 and Yamaha XT600s.
Hope to see ya on the road. Brian

Thanks for the email Brian. At this stage, I might plan to see Mum early May after Colleen and I arrive, then start the trip maybe mid-May. If we do that we'll can the idea of the HUBB meeting (sorry guys, maybe next time).
Paul, we should start setting a route and time. Can you get me your suggestion of heading down to Turkey and the route?
I still need to have the bike back to the UK for early August for shipment back home. And also, can you confirm for me that I don't need a carnet for the countries you are suggesting?
Keep in touch
Regards
Mick and Colleen

To ......crazymanneil
 

Hi Neil

Thanks for your pm but I cant reply as I have only 1 post. Never mind though, my email is chris050@hotmail.co.uk if you want to send me a message. I'm not sure just what plans you have or how much you've looked into doing a long trip but I have to admit that I have just made the decision to go ....and apart from that I know nothing! Therefore I have all of the planning ahead of me. As far as I am able to tell I would be planning realistically to go around August/September 2008. I know it's a year away but it will fly in and I reckon it just might be enough time to plan the trip. But drop me an email and let me know what your thoughts are. If it's possible to team up then maybe we should have a look at it.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Chris

Hi Mick and Colleen, got your message and one from PaulM, seems no need for carnets on the route we are planning ie Europe, Turkey, Stans, Mongolia, Siberia Russia Scandinavia. No deffinate route or dates planned (though eclipse in Mongolia 1st August is a time and place to aim for), I think just look at maps and guides, find the places you want to see and join the dots. Trip will be about 12 weeks and 13000 miles so an easy 150 miles a day with time to stop and enjoy. What bike are you bringing, are you going two up? Send your ideas. Brian.

Routes
 

Hi Brian,
I'm working up a rough route and will share it once it is somewhere near completion. Using Lonely Planet guides for places of interest/to avoid.
The guide that I'm missing and isn't available for some months (out of stock) is the one through the Stans but have got ideas from other books that I've read.
The eclipse would be great but Mick has to be back in UK to ship his bike on the 7th August so would rule that out.
Cheers
Paul
PS I haven't been at my 'normal' works e-mail address - having a weeks holiday - decorating!!

Just a quick one guys.
We're two up - Colleen and me.
2005 1200GS with Jesse Panniers and top box plus Touratech tank bag with zip off side panniers (heaps of room, so Col and bring her hair dryer!!!!); ouch, that hurt :stormy:
We'll also have camping and cooking gear (Eureka tent, sleeping bags, thermarest) (MSR International stove etc). Also TomTom Rider with maps of Europe (I'll get the latest map at the last minute), mobile phone etc.
We're locked into picking our bike up between 9-10am on 5 May in Felixstowe. Must have it back on the morning of 7 August.
Other than that, we're ready to go now! Once the route is planned we'll start visa applications etc. My travel agent will get back to me by mid September with airfares for next year. We may get there early and spend time with Mum (Colwyn Bay, North Wales) before we go; or otherwise when we come back - we'll see how the itinerary pans out.
So, next phase is route planning.
See you all soon.
Regards
Mick and Colleen

Eclipse?
 

I seem to have missed hearing about this. We're setting off for China to oin 2008 and this might be enough to make me think about pulling the departure date forward a bit.

Oh and Fiat Panda 4x4 by the way, I know four wheels but.....

Great, a back-up vehicle :cool4:

Welcome mate, stay in touch.
This looks like becoming an expedition . . . . . .:clap:

Well I was kind of thinking you guys could be our back-up vehicles, I mean you know how small a Panda is after all.

Hi Alex, A Panda to China, kinda like your style, see ya on the road somewere. Brian.

Vienna to India
 

Hello folks,

I am also planning to leave Vienna in Spring 2008 and make my way to India (Goa). At the moment I have bought a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure with all the goodies for that trip (I hope it will not be too heavy - but "Long Way Round" did a worse trip with the old version which was even more heavy).

I am planning to stay in a hotel/motel every third day (approx.) - the rest should be camping under the stars in free nature :)

My route is not fixed yet - I think I will take the ferry from Italy to Turkey, then go to Iran - Pakistan - India - Nepal - ferry to Thailand - Cambodia - Laos and end up in Vietnam (then ship the bike back to europe and take a plane).

Timeframe is 6 months to get back to Vienna after all this.

My main interests are Virtual Reality Photographing (360x360° spheric pictures) and Paragliding (that´s why Nepal is a must).

Contact me when you are interested to ride side by side for some miles ;)

Keep in touch,
BR,
Vilijam

Route to India
 

Hi Vilijam,
Our route (that is still in the planning stage) will probably take us futher north than your planned route to India via Iran.
We will be sticking to the northern Black Sea coast to leave Turkey and enter Georgia on the same coast.
Hope your trip brings you everything you expect. Have a great journey - keep in touch with progress.
Cheers
Paul

good luck!
 

Hey jimmy,

If you made it to thailand overland all the way from europe; please let me know (Im sure all of us would love to hear frm you)
pm me when youre near malaysia!
we (malaysians) been wanting to do that,
but after riding till thailand/laos/cambodia, we had fly!
If only all the borders were open....:scooter: