Planning The Third Section (20th Nov 1997 to 16th May 1998)

Well its just a few days to departure for the third section through the Balkans, Spain, into North Africa and back up to Germany. Having more Harley dealers in this part of the world makes the planning a lot easier particularly with the spare parts I need to carry.

Harley-Davidsons are belt driven and normally the belt will last about 100 thousand klm. My motorcycle has now travelled about 77 thousand hard klm and the belt has a small hole. Not wanting to replace it (about $400A) and also not wanting to be caught on the roadside miles from nowhere I have fashioned a temporary replacement belt out of two broken belts. Following the idea of Harley's emergency belt, but having a wider belt, I cut two 16 tooth wedges and joined them with small bolts through the belt teeth. It will be interesting to see if I need it and if it works.

The catches on my top box have broken from overloading with a spare tire during the last trip and I have fashioned new stronger ones that extend further onto the lid of the top box.

Having my wife Kay travelling with me the whole time and not just flying in for a month as happened the last two trips, and needing to carry extra warm gear has created a 17 kg overweight problem for us. The motorcycle is designed with a maximum load of 536 kg and weighing 337 kg dry, leaves just 199 kg for everything. Petrol 20 kg, oils 6 kg, luggage 50 kg, my wife and I are 142 kg (combined to avoid embarrassment) gives excess baggage of 17 kg. Well it's either off with the weight or travel without enough spares or clothes. Well the spare tire (that's the one around the waist) goes, and we will still be a little overweight on the motorcycle. Why am I so concerned? Well nobody I know has completed a trip around the world two up and had the motorcycle survive. The roads out there aren't all highways.

Visa's
We only need three. Yugoslavia, Bosnia and a combined France/Spain visa. The Yugoslavian one causing the most problems as they changed the rules telling us at the last minute that we needed an invitation from someone within the country. A bit of fast talking and that requirement was overlooked. Three days later and five dollars each and we have our visas. Also Bosnia-Herzegovina didn't but now does need a visa. Just money and inconvenience. Again only three days to get, but unlike any other visa the date you state that you expect to arrive becomes the earliest date you can arrive. So we either get another visa ($26) or arrive after the 10 Dec. Australians also need a visa for France. I guess its because we abuse them for exploding nuclear weapons in our backyard. This one a bit dearer at $50.50.

What to do with the children (young adults) is always a worry. With one at university, one starting university and the third starting the last year at school, hopefully they will be able to survive without us. Probably better without us. Kay's mum will come and stay while we are away to supervise things.

Well a new edition to the plan of preparation was to find if any sponsors were prepared to test their product out on an extended journey around the world. So far five volunteers have come forth, for which we are very grateful. It ain't cheap to travel the world by motorcycle particularly now that the Australian dollar decided to lay down for a rest. The Dunlop Tyre Company will be supplying us with touring tires. I have always used Dunlop motorcycle tyres and approached them for sponsorship because I have been happy with their tyre's performance. Damart for our thermal underwear which I know we will need to keep warm in a European winter. Staintune have supplied us with high quality stainless steel mufflers. The previous chrome set rusted and needed repairs in Iran. This set should last the whole way to the U.S.A. in 2003. The Student Travel Association STA has provided us with discount travel insurance. A must for motorcycle travellers and the only one I know who will cover licensed motorcycle riders while riding overseas. Widder Lectric bike gear has supplied us both with electrically heated electric vests and gloves. With the gear they are supplying we hope to stay warm on the motorcycle in such places as Sareavo where the temperature is today -8 C to 4 C and will be colder when we arrive in December. Coming from Northern Australia I don't know what that means on a motorcycle but I bet it is bloody cold. They tell me this Widder gear is brilliant. I will let you know a bit later after a road test in Bosnia. If you want more info on any products supplied see the Sponsors and Supporters Page.

After a quick look at the weather page at the CNN site last week I discovered it is -8 to +4 degrees centigrade at the moment and snowing in most of the old Yugoslavia. This is a little colder and earlier snow than anticipated. Being cautious about getting stuck on the roadside overnight in this area it was thought best to make a set of snow chains for the motorcycle. Most bikes use studs for snow and ice, screwed into the nobby tread. This is ok for dirt bikes as they have nobby tires, but on a road bike with road tires it was decided to use chains. Harley's only have minimal clearance between the tire and the guard or drive belt. Less than one centimetre. I will let you know later if they work, and if they are needed.

 You can now move onto the first country of the third trip if you wish, Greece

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