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Dream V Reality
Hey folks!
So I have a chance of taking voluntary redundancy from work (I’ve applied for it and just waiting on confirmation whether I will get it or not) My wife and I have travelled many many times in Europe, we’ve been to North Africa and ridden the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We’ve shipped the bike into Iceland and travelled round the island for a couple of weeks and we’ve always dreamt of eventually giving it al up one day to go travelling “proper”. We’re not loaded with cash, but the funds from this redundancy can give us the finance to actually live the dream. Riding east from the UK through Europe and beyond, The Stans, Russia, Mongolia et al. Or more recently with thought about riding the Pan American Highway all the way down to Ushuaia. I’m also thinking that being the wrong side of 50, I’ve got a good job I enjoy, a decent pension and maybe thinking am I getting cold feet, now the dream is quite possibly a reality? Those of you who has packed it in and followed your dream, what made you take the plunge?? Any thoughts or advice appreciated! Thank you Gav & Jack |
Hey Gav and Jack
In a nutshell - my mom was 65, diagnosed with cancer, dead three weeks later. I am now 55 so thats only 10 yrs older than me now. :( Did the sums, renting our house out will comfortably pay for us to travel so today we finally decided to do it. Taking our daughters and heading OS later next year. We are not going to take a vehicle at this stage, but will have one prepared back home just in case we change our mind. A good friend is an immunologist and has concerns that the Covid mutations may shut everything down again so I want to be able to get out of dodge real quick. So monthly AirBnB’s and public transport - at least we will mingle with the locals :) Once that changes we may go vehicle based. Good luck. |
The biggest risk is not taking any risk.
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I have never met anyone who has done someting like that and regretted it, I can also think of several examples of people who had planned something like it later in life and had either not lived long enough, not been physically capable or just plain lost interest and said I wish I had done it when I was younger so I think if you have the opportunity take it.
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Do it while you can you don't have an eternity. And you don't need much If you are frugal and make right choices; friend of mine manages to travel on $500-800 a month using money from renting out his place. I don't know how he does I guess he doesn't put many miles I need $30-40 a day but I ride 10-14hr if I can. As for getting cold feet it's normal, I get jitters every time. Goes away quickly just stay positive and take one day a time. There will be good days and bad days but you know what? If every day was perfect how would you know it's good? |
Recently I signed up to a FB site for retired people from the service I was with.
They have a section for those who have passed. OMG there are lots in their 50’s and early 60’s. Time ticks… |
Hey Homers GSA sorry to hear about your Ma mate.
Thanks for the positive vibes you good folks! We spoke at length about it last night (travelling) and we kept coming back to the same, “yeah we have to do it” like one of you guys say, yes there’ll be bad days, but hopefully plenty of good days in between. We’ve got everything crossed now hoping I can be successful with my VR and we can make real in roads and get some things tied up ready for the off! Thanks again guys :mchappy::thumbup1: |
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I did decide to start, because it will get harder to do it any year. Career, Kids (or grandchildren), Income (who gets higher at age), Setting (close friends) Did start three times, with 2month / 6 month / 2 month We did discuss here about that topic recently: https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...t-ideal-101733 Was a very good discussion and should be a good read! Surfy |
I've done various kinds of moto trips for decades; never around the world, but all over North America, Mexico, and some of South America in 2 to 8 week stints. Always some apprehension a few weeks before departure, but that goes away after the first 10km are behind, or sooner. Just let the apprehension be there, knowing it will go away when you are on the road. It's totally worth it!
Here's why: Travel is good for your brain health; check this out: https://advrider.com/how-adventure-t...es-your-brain/ along with Rick Steves Ted Talk about traveling, on the same link. |
Mark Twain gave excellent advice :
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." |
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"...being the wrong side of 50, I’ve got a good job I enjoy, a decent pension….taking voluntary redundancy from work" I don't know what that means in your situation and country. Go for travelling, but if you have to come back and earn a living again, don't forget that. Only break bridges you don't need anymore or can build up again. sushi |
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Often it is not just the decision for doing an longterm trip. It is more an tradeoff between severall options in your life. I am disappointed in 20 years: - that I dont buy a flat/house - I didnt do more out of my career - I dont had kids - I dont did a longterm trip - I dont have good financial reserves No, a longterm trip dont avaid that you buy a house. But 60`000$ more or less can do the difference at the end at example. Correct is - you will regret when you did nothing :D Surfy |
Why ??
During a couple of years
* I had done 2 surgeries for Arthritis,. Both heaps. => 3-4 years in total as invalid. Sick, waiting for operation, Operation 1,operation 2, recovery... Time passed * I survived a heart attack. 25% does not survive the type of incident that I had * I was totally exhausted from the combination of work and bad health => Almost ended up with a mental collapse * My wife decide to leave and look for something fresher..... * Constant redundancy and reorganization at work. At the ago of 61, I got an "offer" for lay off including a "package" * My father got Parkinson's disease and never got any useful retirement. Died at 69 => I made a 3 year plan to prepare for travelling (The redundancy contract and other stuff had requirements so I could not just leave). But I did a trip to Nepal during these years. And a lot of smaller trips. The plan was to start with a 4-5 month trip in South America 2020. And to do smaller trips i Europe during the summer periods. But. When it was time to leave.... Covid 19.... + The knee stopped working. More arthritis ?. No, only a cracked meniscus. But.... queues to hospitals for "none urgent issues" during Covid19 times.... But surgery has been done and I am recovering again. I feel like Sisyfos..... But. Decision is made, Plans are done. Just waiting for opportunity. Hopefully next winter => Argentina and Chile. Or Vietnam, if it opens. Or Tibet ??? Time is running. I hope it opens while I still can travel. = So no long term trip so far. But I have during the last half year done: * Pilgrimage to Trondheim in Norway * Part of the Swedish TET * Touring the French and Italian alps * Riding N2 in Portugal * Touring Douro Valley in Portugal And done a huge amount of one day trips. => No RTW trip. But there is a lot to do and see anyhow. = My plan for Argentina is to buy a small local bike. No preparation needed to arrange shipping and stuff.. For Vietnam: rent for 4 weeks (30 days Visa was easy to get, pre Covid 19 times) = Travel requires * Money * Time * Health * That the borders are open.. I hope that all conditions will happen at the same time |
Being on the other side of fifty, my only suggestion is if you have the ability, is to buy a piece of property before you go OS.
Doesn’t matter what it is or its size, get it and get it rented out so it pays for itself. you are locked into the market for later. But each to their own of course. :) |
I'm 65 and planning to ride to Magadan and back by various routes next year. Actually I planned to do it in 2020 but, y'know.... Keeping an eye on the virus spread and border closures I'm not very optimistic of even that date, but we'll see. I left my travelling late because I did the career and house and kids thing. In some ways it's not ideal because it can be a tough trip for an old bloke, but at least I know I have something nice to come back to. No way could I have been one of the young guys who has a great time for years on the road then comes back to no home, no family and no job. The main thing is to always keep your dreams alive, hope for the best but plan for the worst. You're never too old until your body tells you so... your mind never will ;)
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That is what I did.I sold my house with garden and garage. Good to have for a family. But a lot of maintenance. And something you can't just leave. And bought an apartment in Portugal/Algarve. Very low monthly cost. That I can easily get covered by rented out. Just lock and leave...(A lot of apartments here are empty all winter) = |
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I have nothing left there to come home to. Total freedom. If not lock downs and state of emergencies due to Covid19. I also hope that the body will keep healthy enough until Covid19 is under control. |
Do you have a plan for after the trip ?
Do you own your house and have a pension that you can retire on ? Throwing in a good job and coming back skint and having to start fresh in your late 50's may not be the wisest move. |
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Some who start longterm travel travelling are running away from something; some are looking for something. Some will find something which gives their life a new direction; some will loose more and will have a big problem to return to "after travel life". Think it`s quite normal if you look back to your life that you will detect some wrong and right decissions you made. Your past will always be your lesson. Your motivation and your discipline will be your future. So why should I worry or regret about my past if I can`t change it anymore? I learned to live with my decissions equal if they later showed off as right or wrongs ones. |
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I just don’t want to wait until I’m 65(ish) and then go travelling as I may be too old/unable/unfit etc…. Thanks for all the comments guys, really appreciate the input. :thumbup1: |
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Retiring to France certainly seems like the way to go although the path isn't as easy post Brexit for Brits as it used to be. There's a lot more paperwork hoops to jump through. We bought a place in the mountains there about fifteen years ago and that's rented out (through a local agency) for about six months of the year (ski rental in the winter and cycling fanatics in the summer). The rental income just about pays the bills. The up side is that it hasn't cost us anything (except during Covid) and the place has risen in value through house prices going up and the pound going down. The down side is that even with a captive market for rental clients the yearly income hasn't been fantastic. That may be easier if you're living above the shop so to speak but if you're doing it yourself marketing costs and time are going to be considerable. Don't write off life post 65 quite yet :rofl: I know people vary in how age treats them and you can be unlucky with your share of the gene pool, but with a bit of care - diet / exercise/ not smoking etc, 65 is rapidly becoming the new 50. Not good news for the pensions industry as they have to pay out for longer but post retirement motorcycle gap years are perfectly feasible. My plans are based on it. |
Serenity
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But is equal important for everyone. Sober alcoholic or not. But much easier said than done Vaya con Dios == http://faith-seeking-understanding.o...ty-Prayer.jpeg |
happy retirement
Buying a place in a foreign land other than your own may sound like a good idea But if you dont know the language or customs sounds like a bad idea only if you like to rub shoulders with other property owners Its costly but may have benefits for your family that want to go on vacations.
I was in Cape Town a couple years ago my flight was the non stop from Amsterdam Packed to the brim of mostly Dutch for there January vacation. I was surprised when I rented a moto and went cruising along the coast the local beach towns.They were full of Dutch Nationals partying and having a good time , I thought family runs deep in this part of the world the Dutch had a strong hold in this place for many generations. Good for them what way to escape if you are living in Holland one of the most densely populated places on earth My thinking is if you want to retire or are close to retiring in a foreign place why not rent or lease this is what I do at 61 and have full privileges as a temporary foreigner pensioner in Colombia, I pay300 bucks a month for a modern apartment and 300 for all the food I could possible eat plus 300 a year for my moto to be legal the rest is a adventure |
I think it depends on what someone wants from retiring to another country - both me and my sister moved from the UK into Europe (her to Bavaria, me to Catalunya) while still "young" because we felt more comfortable fitting into these places; all but one of the English people I've met who live here are not about learning the language or customs ... it doesn't hold them back from life, though I couldn't live like that.
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I threw away many careers and spent all my savings throughout my 20's and 30s for travel. I Saved for 1-2 years then travelled for six months etc. On and on... Coming home from those trips penniless was almost suicidal. And incredibly difficult to adapt to, even though I had the benefit of youth, ignorance and boundless energy. The older I got the harder it became. To the point in my early 30's when I had to stop. The travel didn't justify the fallout. It ruined travel for me somewhat. And I had to start planning for my future and retirement. I've been static for ten years now and I'm close to being able to travel again without having to come back to nothing. I would never long term travel now without a surefooted exit strategy and return plan. Borrowing money is a huge stress. Looking for work is a huge stress. Will you be able to enjoy your trip if you're constantly worried about it ending ? Plan your return before you plan your trip. Have everything (almost) in place for your return. And then it can all be a great success. |
In January 2011, at the age of 33, I set off to travel the world on a motorcycle.
The dream: a quick one year circuit of the world and back to my career. The expectation: it will never work out. A few months and I'll be finished with travel, probably finished for life. The reality: more than a decade later I am still traveling the world. 3 years on the motorcycle through the Americas and Europe. Since then, traveling with a backpack. Planning to return to motorcycle travel once covid related border restrictions are less problematic, hopefully 2022. I admitted a few years ago that this lifestyle is permanent. I love my nomadic life. But I never could have planned this, never could have dreamed my current lifestyle. If you travel long term, meaning more than a few months, it will be nothing like you expect. Don't focus too much on the money. Long term travel is more about the choice to travel, not the amount of money in your bank account. And there certainly is no such thing as "the wrong side of 50!" Many of my best friends among long-term travelers are in their 60s and 70s. See you on the road! Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk |
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How do you travel without money on your bank account? Every trip costs a different amount of money for other people, but for all money is the mayor factor that enables to travel. sushi |
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And we need food and groceries every day and since we travel and ofte find ourselves in a new country/place we often dont know what gives good value for money as we do in our home place. We also need accomodation and its most often not free. Theres just so many places you can wildcamp for free….. Personally I think about money quite a lot, to be specific - where I can save money and where I can get a good deal. So its more about getting the money to last, not how to make as most as possible. I guess since you have travelled for almost 11 years continually you must have some kind of secure income? Because we all need money to live from day to day, and especially when travelling…. |
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I have seen many times that money has very little relation to how long a personal will travel. I'm not saying don't use money. You can of course, money is a wonderful tool! But if you truly have the drive to travel for years at a time, it will happen no matter your bank account balance. Over the past decade of travel I have run out of money twice and at times been unable to access money in my bank. Never occurred to me to stop traveling for such trivialities. You may find this blog post I wrote of interest. I talk about both dream vs reality and the choice to travel. https://seduc.in/blog/the-choice-to-travel-full/ End result to your original question: be creative! If you truly want to travel the world, you will find a way with or without money. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk |
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I rarely think about money. Instead, I seek to live a better quality life with less effort. In small ways, but focusing on those small things every day will add up over time. As close as I've ever come to thinking about money is to focus on how to make what I have in the bank last as long as possible. I used to use what I called the "three question budget": Would I rather spend this money or travel longer? Am I suffering because I am not spending money on luxuries? Is this luxury more important to me than travel? This probably makes it sound like I think about money a lot more than I actually do. My focus has always been to travel, not how I find money to travel. A story you might find interesting: Kindness One (Leon Logothetis). Riding a motorcycle around the world with no money. https://chrisguillebeau.com/leon-logothetis/ Accommodation is not free? I have been invited into more people's homes than I can count. Wild camping is limited? I wild camped only once, but setup my tent often on farms, parks, or yards; or spread out my sleeping bag on the floor of someone's house. Food costs money? In some countries, I have been offered so much free food that I rarely paid for a meal. The USA was one of those countries. Motorcycle repairs? I always have a skill I could trade for a part I need. Or a story I can share. Sometimes a bit of entertainment is more valuable to a person than money. A big one: If a motorcycle sounds too expensive to maintain during travel, try hitchhiking instead. It is a lot of fun and no less of an adventure than traveling by motorcycle. In the modern world we tend to view money as a necessity for survival yet this is artificial. Money is a convenience, not a necessity. |
That seems reductive, to say the least.
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So money will always be a necessity and drive hosts and their hospitality and as well all travelers equal how old the world is. Sometimes for shure less your money and more often money of others you run into and who are hospitable and generous to share their personal purchasing power with you as a traveller. And btw when I travel I like of course to recieve and to enjoy hospitality but I also like to be remembered as a guest, as a representative of my country who spends with a smile and fun his own money to demonstrate respect and thankfullness to hospitable people I met. So in my view money is still a necessity for traveling. :wink3: |
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Believe me or not as you like. I only share my own experience from travel. Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk |
Perhaps the real truth is something more along the lines of "There is always money involved." We can all probably think of people who traveled without money (or with very, very little): I've met people in Africa who traveled remarkable distances across multiple borders and cultural boundaries while absolutely penniless, and this was not uncommon just a few decades ago in the USA. This is generally made possible, however, by those who do possess either money or items of equivalent value--clothing, transport, food, shelter from inclement weather, etc.
There is room to debate the obligation of those of us with access to relative wealth--that's you, me, and probably everyone else on this thread--to those we encounter who lack such access. The debate seems particularly acute when we're accepting food, lodging, transport, entertainment, or goods from those others. Personally, I feel strongly obligated to give back in the forms available to me but not to them, and rather often this means money--not my stories or friendship, not rides on my bike for their children or photos of their families, and not even their own belief in the eternal rewards which accrue to those who help travelers. This is in part because it is largely by exploiting those others that my country and culture have made it possible for me to travel in the first place; that's where, in the final analysis, much of "my" money and power come from. Even if I never leave home, I owe them. I believe this holds true for all of us. Mark |
Yes, often people who don't have much are proud to extend their hospitality to others. If anyone is intentionally targeting them as a means to extend their travels for free, I would say it's exploitative.
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Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk |
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Bottom line, you can travel on your own money or sponging off others. It is also a mind-set, I travel to feel freedom, doesn't work for me if I have to look everyday for the next poor guy I can sponge off. Usually a backpacker thing, saw a lot of them while travelling, but have never connected with them and their mind-set. To be honest, they disgusted me. sushi |
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Clearly this forum has no interest in the perspective of real travel experience and only wants to misinterpret unexpected perspectives. So I shall bother all of you no more and return to my world wanderings. Enjoy your travels! Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk |
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I picked your own words from #31 Correct but I wanted to make clear that we as travellers couldn`t state that money isn`t an essential for travel. Often we as travellers benefit from a hospitaly and help of a foreign cultural behavior which is given to us from hosts despite their financial and life difficulties. These peoples only share and show the best and proud moments of their lives with us. Due to the traditional rituals of hospitality they never burden us with their every day problems - often they hide them carefully! I have this always in my mind and I try to be sensible and prudent in my perception of the given circumstances. Thats why I like to forget some money under the pillow or why I buy things for school or food or just toys for the kids. I like to give back in thankfulness with respect and a smile, to honor hospitaly as an ambassador of my country, to value the moments and insights given to me as a traveller suddenly jumping in other lives. It is a privilege and not a duty to give equal if you are host or traveller. And therfor money is always needed as a necessity from both sides. |
For me are two points often completely not named, for those longterm with less cash travellers. I`m NOT adress that to someone in that thread, too othalan seems to have to have a way to handle his trip at least for the cashflow.
Hospitality Personally I did always feel guilty, if people in the 2nd/3rd world did offer me free food - and I wasnt able to give something valuable back. They provide food for us travelers and are not able to travel themselves. Because they work to survive and pursue their modest goals. I dont feel comfortable to receyve, as someone who has so much more, as someone who can really earn cash at home. Selfishness If people are proud to travel longterm with less cash they are always a bit selfish for me, if he is between 25 and 65 years and is travelling longtherm. We in the 1st world have a pension system, we have health care, are proud of our social system for the disadvantaged. If you travel longterm, you dont spent cash for others, not for your own pension, not for your local health care. At age you arent able to pay your bills with your pension, you will need social assistance. if you get serous sick your health care has to pay cash, where you never give something back. Here I mean travelling from 3years upwards, where it starts to really hurt at our pension income at age. Alternatives Many did save bucks, travel with a bit cash, and are able to give the local economy something back like: visiting Restaurants, Hotels, Activities, Tours, Sightseeing from time to time. Are travelling with considering their whole lifespan, travelling 2-3 years. Others already have a plan B.) have calculated their pension and plan to live at age at the 2nd world. Others have a Plan C.) and will start a business out of their journey later, writing a book, offering tours and so on. Not to use a Smartphone and Tec during a journey looks a bit like a stone age advice. Currently I did watch a overlander girl, who lives out of their Social Media Income while travelling the world by 4x4. Guess she earns more than me and most of us here. Guess that Girl shows us, how we "travel hungry" should manage it. Personally I would always love to Vlog, but it was too much work (or too less travelling). Today, when looking back - I`m not shure, if that classification was the best one. Because it must be a dream to be able to travel anywhere as a kind of a own business. Even if it is really hard work. Surfy |
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Also it would be interesting to know how you get free fuel along the road, not to talk about tyres and chain/sprockets? Is it really so that if you just have a good story or some skills to share you can obtain such nececceties along the road? It must be some decent stories and or impressive skills… By all means - I also got hosted by some extremely friendly people for free during my RTW trip, especially in «western» countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Usa and Canada - places where decent accomodation would have taken a huge impact in my daily and monthly budget. And also I was given many a free meals - but I could never base my travel upon such freebies. I always have tried to give something back - buying a chocolate cake or something similar - and those few places I didnt get to do that I still feel a bit ashamed. Its all about take and give I guess, and if money isnt directly involved its certainly indirectly involved. |
Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I’ve just had confirmation that I won’t be getting VR, pretty gutted as I reckon I would’ve gone travelling early 2023. I’ve spoken to my gaffer and asked about the chances of a 12 month sabbatical. He said he can’t see it being a problem, so I revert to plan B!
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I loved this thread, it's pretty deep! As to the original question, to go or not go, I think your at the most difficult stage, making the decision to go, Thats the hardest part of any trip, making that decision as so many things appear to be huge issues. Once you decide to go, all those huge issues get downgraded to logistical problems to solve or just go around. Once you do decide to go, everything else changes to a "how" question, How do I ship here, How do I ask for Petrol in Spanish etc. Sarah and I decided to roll in 2011 (at a Hubb meeting in Enskillen), and we were on a ferry and rolling by the end of 2011. We lived on the road in a 4x4 camper till mid 2014 when we decided to call it quits for a while. We went back to Ireland. We were in late 40's at that stage, and got working again, and are currently saving + planning for the next trip. Bloody Covid makes it very hard to plan anything. We're not wondering if we can afford to go again, we're wondering HOW we can afford to go again. Our financial plan involves what we did with our garage at our house, we had a double garage which we converted into a little apartment, and we plan that this will be our future home base while we come and go on our travels, and we will rent out our house as our travel income. We got this plan from others that we met on the road, and it's going to work out well. The wee apartment is is done, and rented out to help our savings fund build up. It's a weird having a neighbour in our garage, but it's working out just fine. Just means I've to keep the bike in a shed :-) |
Brilliant! Where there's a will there's a way. Good luck in the next chapter.
I've put a fair bit of thought into the situation I've been in recently and realistically we will not be able to go travelling until the beginning of 2025 after I turn 50, I'll get a wedge of my pension from a previous employer and I'll be in a much better place financially whereas we should be able to rent out the house which like you will put coffers in the kitty while we're away on the road. Some great comments and advice from the good folks on here. :thumbup1: |
Not that easy
With conditions as of now, it is not as easy that you just make a decision and go.
There has been and will probably been closed borders and lock down. Many countries in South America had complete lock down. Where it was illegal to even leave the apartment. People have been lock in for 6 months or more. Not lacking ideas and willingness. Just because they would go to jail if they tried to move. Visa and TIP had expired. In the beginning, the mood was OK. Better to wait out the storm there than in Europe. But that changed as time passed. I have followed the situation rather carefully. (Some examples that you can watch are Itchy boots in Peru, Pablo Viajero and Pedro Mota in Argentina. (Pablo had to spend more than ½ year in Ushuaia.) I made the decision to travel in South America. Did all preparation. The schedule was to start in Chile September 2020. Than everything was locked down. I am sad that I could not go. But happy that I was not prisoner in SA. => the situation is that you can't just decide. Governments decide. We can hope for better times. But one thing is for sure. All predictions have failed. And I am still ready to go. As soon as it is possible. September 2021 ?? But so far, most of my plans and expectations in life has failed. So it is probably better to stop dreaming, Since everything anyhow ends up in a mess/hell.( Not related to travelling, but to life in general) |
What an interesting discussion,
I have wanted to travel longer term for awhile, but life,kids,business make this always a big hurdle that when looked at seems taller than everest. A few years back my dad had a stroke, he is no longer the gentleman I once knew,very frail,many health issues,and though he did enjoy much of his later life as he slowed down, he was never able to "retire" fully,before the stroke made him. That issue scares the living s**t out of me! Could that happen to me? If id did, I would be absolutely pissed! what was the point of working to "death"? to leave it to others? So I started to plan to do a few "epic" trips,noting like some of the folks here, but something greater than a 2 week holiday. COVID. Maybe this was the world telling me,"hey stupid, dont wait or plan to far ahead!" I was able to keep working during this time, I acquired one of my competitors,saved some more money, bought some more rental property (part of my master plan to one day travel and have regular monies coming in) and in general kept my head down. But im not happy. I sit here in Canada where for the better part of this entire month of January it has been constantly between -15 and -30 C ,all month! I dream everyday of sunshine and waves,sand dunes and mountain passes, I check on here(and various news outlets) to see whats open(borders) and where I can head to. Its still bloody unstable,but its getting better (I think), so im hopeful. For the last 2 years I have saved money religiously, all in a goal to be able to get out and start travelling (at least how I think I want to travel based on my "plan"). But I know that my "first" trip will likely be less than a month,I still have way to many things I do on a daily basis that I cant offload onto anyone else,but I am hoping that this "trip" will be the catalyst to put in place what needs to be done. I would love to sell my business and take my knowledge of aircraft repair and overhaul and consult freelance all over the world (for me consulting is not "work", but sharing your knowledge that people pay you for,huge win in my book!) or not.But it would be my choice. No employee's, just me. I still feel like the hamster in the wheel, but im more hopeful than I was yesterday,and the day before that,because at the end of the day all we may have is our hope for tomorrow. And so I think that the dreams vs reality is the constant struggle that every single person on the planet struggles with everyday,some for travel and others simply for a better tomorrow. Paulo |
One way
I have a friend from Finland.
Here is his story (I am only typing his words. So no point in arguing with me) Take it for what it is. == I sold everything I had. Both a gun. I put the gun in the bottom of my luggage. And the money over it. And then I will ride until I am out of money. And when that happens, I do not have to worry. The final solution is there. == Finish Sisu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu |
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Not like his story. In a thread "dream vs reality" this seems to be too short to explain anything?! Surfy |
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A gun makes no sense at all. Better using the cash for travelling. You can buy a overdosed heroin shot world near wide for below of 30$, if you plan to leave. The abusing peoples are so easy to discover... Less stress at border crossings without a gun.. Leaving with a smile. :hang: Or you can travelling to switzerland. Here you can join Exit a kind of society who gives you the last poisen jab and accompany you at leaving. Completely legal. Will cost you between 1100 and 3700$. Not much more than a really god gun. And much better than cause a trauma at strangers, if they find your body somewhere. Surfy |
dreamer
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I dont know you survived the pandemic in aviation maintenance It is lousy wages for most and uncertainty in Canada to make a living without a pandemic it has put my life on hold since April 2020 But I am fat and Happy in Colombia on my f700gs |
Shorter trip is also wonderful
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Before Covid19 times I went to a tour in Nepal. https://www.asiabiketours.com/nepal-...mountains.html That was the time I could take of at that moment. The year after, I was little late with planning. But I tried o get a trip to Tibet. Incl North Base camp of Mount Everest. https://www.asiabiketours.com/tibet-...t-everest.html But... one tour was full. Next cancelled due to too few participants. It is still on my wish list. As well as a trip in Vietnam. To start in one end. Renting a bike. And ride to the other end. Spending just under a month. Before Covid times, you could get 30 days Visa easy. This is also still on my wish list.. after Covid. But time is running and..... I think it is better to have realistic plans, that can be done. Than dreams that are unrealistic. And the difference between the two types are very different for each person. Let us hope that things will get back to more normal. |
I'd say go for it.
If you have travelled through life in general as a pair and indeed as your post suggests have already travelled overland together, you have the trust and strength to get through any challenges a trip of this nature could throw at you.
If you are teetering on the edge of 'am I fit enough' this IS absolutely the time to go as days riding will soon toughen your body composition and your appetite for adventure will likely grow daily too. I agree with a prior posts point - if you are able to secure a property - no matter how small - with some of the funds you have, and can lease this while you travel, you are guaranteed a lump sum and a toe on the property ladder when you return. But other than this... Go go go! I'm just reading your post after posting my own. It's taken 12 years and a lot of headaches to get to my departure point. Although a little younger than you, I've had my own 'is it too late' thoughts... but to hell with it - were off soon! And I sincerely hope you will be too. Dream big then go fulfil those dreams. Maybe we'll see you in the Americas (we too started with the overland from Europe plan but have changed to airfreight to Alaska instead!) Safe travels. Braddan & Shona. |
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Thank you for your kind words they kind of made me feel a tad fuzzy inside. I hope you are well into your big adventure (I’ll go check out other posts to try and find your progress), stay safe and enjoy. |
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My bike is stored for winter in Magadan as it got snowed in at the beginning of September, and since TIP expires in June I will have to take it out the country by then. The closest crossable border is with Mongolia, so here we come Sent from my BV4900Pro which I haven't managed to drown yet |
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