Board? Are there other surfers on this little excursion?

Sorry for delay - I just returned from riding the continental devide route in the western US. Absolutely phenomenal! I have 2 weeks to get the bike ship shape and ship her out. she gets a fresh chain, sprockets, tires, air filter, and valve check.

Joren - Yes, I already have my flight for Sept 29th, but may try to make it a few days earlier.

No bike disassemble - roll on roll off. I arrive the morning of the 29th, so ideally I get out of there the same day, don't know how likely that is though. I'll don't have anything booked to get to Calais yet, but I'll keep you posted here when I figure it out. Unless I move my flight forward, sounds like I may be a bit behind some folks.

Whoops.
 

Sorry my mistake, I've been jumping in and out of this thread and lost track of who the players are. Seems like I have Paul and Gary confused...

Not much in the way of swells around here in SL, small beach breaks of maximum 2' on the Freetown Peninsular. Have to wait until Robertsport, Liberia before something worth remembering. There's ride-able waves on some of the city beaches in Dakar conditions permitting. You might see something on the coast road down through Morocco/West Sahara.

Maybe see you guys in the few months here in Freetown. Should've stopped raining by then.

lets all bring boards anyway :clap:

cool -thanks for the lowdown Cam. I've gotten some cracking waves in Morrocco in the past and heard about some great but fickle surf in Senegal, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Got to go check it out!

hi guys,

My wife and I are starting out in Zambia, December 1st, 2013 and heading out towards Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt, then crossing into Turkey. Anyone heading that way around that time, we would be glad to join up. We live in Africa for the past 20 years, although we are Canadians.
We would be happy to meet and join other bikers/travellers up north. The more the merrier.

F*cking broken wrist.
 

Hello, Guy’s.

I've got some bad news, I've broken a little piece of bone in my wrist, it is a carpal bone of my thumb, it normally takes a long time to recover. Of course I told the doctor already that the gypsum brace had to be off when I’m leaving, otherwise I would break it off myself. He asked: Why? I told him about the trip and he understood. In about 6 weeks they take it off and make another photo to see if its good(maybe it will be good enough by then, but those where high hopes, the doctor said)

So I've been operating and ordering lots of stuff since I can’t ride and prepare my bike anymore, my mate is helping me sometimes, preparing the bike, if he has some time for it. So apart from some chrashbars and panniers it will be all that’s done. But I've got time to order lots of spare’s, so… :D

Paul: So if I’m recovered by 6 weeks, they will take it off the 3th of September, which means that the next day I can bring my tires over to Calais to throw them in the Land-Rover. If I’m not recovered by then I can’t, maybe I can try to fix my parents car with driver then, but do not know for sure. I will send my phone-number to you guys by private E-mail anyway.

Gary: I believe that train is going several times a day, so I guess you’ll make it in France the same day, then I’ll be waiting for you there, of course I’ll send my phone-number to you too, by private E-mail.

I think the rest of all is done now, only small things like making hundreds of photocopies of documents, and fix some better travel insurance, and things like that.

Kind regards,

Jeroen.

Status Update
 

Sorry to hear that news Joren. Approaching a big trip the inconvenience of things like a broken body part or broken bike are truly magnified.

My Update:
Returned from a two week ride circling the western US on dirt roads and tracks rode part of the great divide route - it was epic! Some pics here: Instagram

I've been working ceaselessly to rehabilitate my bludgeoned motorbike ever since: Installed new cables, tires, sprockets, chain, oil changed, carb cleaned and needle replaced, valves checked, various bits bent back to shape, top box and surf rack installed, tools and spares are nearly assembled. Bike gets on the boat next week :eek3:

Vaccinations completed - yellow fever, typhoid, meningitis, measels, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, hepatitis, etc....etc..

Carnet is being processed now..

Finally broke down and bought some proper motorcycle pants as I realized that I may as well look like moto man all that time as it provides an obvious explanation of my persistent covering of dirt.

Tools and spares just about all assembled to send with the bike.

Hi, guys.

I am slowly recovering from my broken wrist, I’ll go to the hospital the 3th of September again and take a picture, than I hear if I need another week in the gypsum brace or not.

Paul: If not then I’ll call you Paul the next minute letting you know I will be in Calais next day(4th September) to meet you and drop some tires off, to be taken in the truck, as you agree.

Gary: Your flight ticket of the 29th of September. I've read that your trying to get an earlier flight, which is a good thing as it is a 2.500 km riding up to Gibraltar, but if you succeed please let me know as soon as possible as my employer really wants to know. If the 29th is definitive than let me know also, because I said it can chance.

Motomon: From which place or direction will you ride up to Gibraltar by that time, cause then we can ride along, maybe?


I’m sending my telephone number to you guys. I’m even suggesting to buy some cheap tablet. (I hate electronics), but I want to keep up a Blog as well, so…
Kind regards,
Jeroen.

Dropped my bike off with the shipper last Friday. I miss her already. :(

Joren - I'll call today or tomorrow to check on possible flight changes - keep ya posted. The reason that I'd like to come earlier is that I have friends in Madrid and Granada that I'd like to stop in and see on the way to Gibraltar.

I have a feeling that I'm going to end up slower than others pretty quickly as I'll be stopping at some spots in morocco for waves.

tech
 

I'm going to have an 11'' Macbook air and have an iphone too.

Hi guys,

Some questions again.

When I arrive in Accra, Ghana half December, I'll crate the bike and take it with me while I'm flying home.

First: Who knows things about freighting motorbikes by passenger plane? Things like prices?(is it cheaper or more expensive than your own ticket).
Is it possible to fix your ticket plus your extremely rare and bulky baggage in a couple of days, or is this a weeks operation, which has to be planned in advance?
Are there any difficult paperwork before freighting? Or any other things that I should know before.
I do know how to crate my bike (never done, but read about it) also I do have a carpenter in Ghana so he will help me.

Second: When is the group planning to arrive in Accra? I'm planning to be there at begin or half December as my girlfriend comes over to have a little holiday than in Ghana while I'm crating and planning my, her and Mr. Ténéré's flight home. The maximum date I can stay if necessary is 2nd of January as my employer is already complaining about my plaster arm now.

Gary: Are you planning to take tires with you while riding down to southern Spain? Because I've planned to throw them in the truck with Paul, because the are awkward and bulky to take with you on the motorbike, as you are looking up to 3000 km of European (boring) highway. I saw you where also considering to take a surfboard(XD), so I barely dare to ask, but if you like, you can throw them in too, if you send them to me, or Paul himself of course.

Kind regards,
Jeroen.

Hey all,

My bike is currently sitting at the port on Oakland, CA waiting to get on the boat for arrival at the Thamesport, UK scheduled for Sept. 19. I'm rather anxious about the timing of everything working out alright, but I suppose that I'm simply not yet in the traveling mindset of taking things as they come.

Joroen: I have a more street oriented tire mounted on the bike and only a spare rear mefo explorer. A pain to carry to be sure, but I fear that I will delay in morocco hunting for waves longer than some others of the group. I think that I have my surfboard mount dialed in well enough, but we will see. Thanks for pointing out some options tho..

http://bugsonmyboard.org/wp-content/...rf-670x493.jpg

Bike shipping
 

Jeroen,
I've shipped bikes by air a couple of times and it's usually not a difficult operation, but it depends on the airline and the airport. Once in Addis, they had a bunch of motorcycle pallets lying around and were happy for me to use one for free, super handy as I could prep the bike right next to the scales and no need to handle it again until I went to collect it from the fright forwarder in Rotterdam. No box needed just a pallet gaffer tape and tie downs.

One thing to remember that airlines charge by volumetric weight. That means you have to try to get the bike in it's smallest 'package', minimizing the volume it takes up. See here for an over-explanation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimensional_weight

The way the airlines look at it is that a tonne of lead takes up a lot less space than a tonne of feather pillows for example.

By removing the front wheel, handlebars and dropping the rear shock I can actually get my bike volumetric weight less than actual weight including panniers (also removed). Good luck.

Gary how did you fix the Pelican case to the rack? Just drilled it? I'm doing exactly the same and wondered if you have any tips.

Cheers
Cam.

Thank you Cam, that’s some helpful information.

Gary: still nothing chanced of your departure date from London, Right?

Kind regards,
Jeroen.

Hey guys,

Joren - Yep, my arrival date is still Sept 29.

Cam - yep, just drill thru the pelican case - they are super tough. Some m8 or m10 button head allen bolts, with big washers and thin rubber washers to seal it up. A metal plate underneath the rack with holes drilled to match the case holes can keep it from moving around on the rack

I like these bungee buddy things that are really easy to put on the pelican too: Bungee Loops :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear

Yahoo - my bike is on the boat headed for London! :clap:

Holy Crap Gary, that thing must be like a sail in a cross wind!! :)

Its less trouble than you might guess from the look of it. I haven't encountered anything really extreme, but in normal moderately windy days I hardly know that its there. It does tend to attract plenty of attention tho..

Tank
 

Gary - I see you still have the small stock tank. You don't feel constrained by having to find petrol so often? Or do you carry an extra tank. I have the big IMS tank and carry an extra gallon. If you don't have an extra tank, then you can use my extra tank's fuel, and I'll even carry it for you. :thumbup1:

very generous of you to offer motomon! I've got the Acerbis 5.5 gallon tank mounted now - much better :-D

hy, guys,

I've a 23 litre tank originally on my Ténéré and an extra feul bladder of another 12 litre, together i have a range of 550 to 600 km so if anyone needs some gas, maybe I've some spare.

kind regards,
Jeroen.

I really wish that the Acerbis tank for the DR650 was just a bit bigger than 20L. thinking that I'll use a 1L metal bottle strapped to the back as an emergency reserve

Hi All,
Weve got 40 litres extra fuel in the Landrover for the bikes, and Ive got an extra 5 on the back of my bike so shouldnt have any problems, even on the really long stretches, assuming we can find the fuel in the first place.
Reise Know How maps show the locations of petrol stations, hopefully they are reasonably accurate :)

I have 2 x 1l MSR stove bottles to use as emergency reserve should the 24l tank not be enough. I'm hoping to be smug and match Paul tank for tank - though his is 30% bigger... :mchappy:

If we need a longer range, either a thimble of fuel from the landy's unleaded store, or locally sources bottles should see me through.

holy crap less than 3 weeks to blast off for me... :eek3:

hope the bike makes it to London soon...

Hi Guys Gals
I sold my K1200GT Nov 2012 and am seriously looking at the r1200 gs
And yes Africa via Southern Europe
HOWEVER
I cannot find a way to insure, I could buy in De or Fr but have Au licence
I have a cuppla passports, NZ and Uk
The USA TRIP was ok but freeway drivers are poor, even the police do not signal
Only my millions of driving miles in 53 lands kept me alive
San Fran to Pensacola suggestions please - I-BMW.com
so if anyone can point me to insurance I would be so grateful
best
Stu

Hey Stu

Alessie is specialized in this sort of thing.
have a go, let us know if they accept kiwi/blightey passport. :rofl:

grtz

Hi, all.

Yeah, just less than three weeks of last preparations like: final upgrades of my motorbike, and getting some little things, and waiting for the last ordered thing. And then: OFF WE GO!

here is my girl all loaded up - due in to Thamesport near London Sept 19!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A...o/IMG_0429.JPG

meeting up
 

Hey, Gary.

Can you please send me your email address or your telephone number as we really have to plan a meeting point in France, something like coordinates or something.

Hope to hear soon from you.

Kind regards,
Jeroen.

See your private messages for my email by the way.

Hi Joren,

Just sent you a message. Hopefully I can get my bike on the 29th and we can arrange a meeting point in Calias somewhere near the tunnel

Perhaps meet at the Ibis Calais Hotel, right near the channel tunnel:

https://maps.google.com/maps?expflag...=A&gl=US&hl=en


Gar

Yes, but where is your board?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, Gary, I'm also missing something that's big, yelow and does float. XD

Were in southern Spain. Looking forward to meeting up with y'all.

Steve

Carrying the board with me on the flight - thought it might get squished in the container.

You guys can borrow mine :thumbup1:

Finally let the cat out of the bag at home and can't wait to get on the road now..

Southern Spain
 

I am in Seville. Where are you? Planning to leave for Morocco in 3-4 days.
Chris

I'll get to Sevilla tomorrow for a night, before heading to Gibraltar, a motorcycle service and then the boat across on the 24th.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

Everyone:

I leave London for Fez on Thursday. Staying a few days and then on to Agadir and Dakhla. If anyone needs any support drivers or helpers, please let me know. I don't have a bike, I would love to meet up and head to Mauritania, Mali and eastward.

David

Jeroen, Gary

What time/where are you leaving from? Long story short, joining the adventure and planning to leave the UK early next week. Can you let me know your numbers? Cheers Jonathan

Any update on progress from the field?

Mark, Paul, Tony, Emily and myself are in Marrakesh. We've come down via Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca. Emily will be flying home and the rest of us are hoping to leave tomorrow towards Mauritania.

I hope to be back in Sierra Leone late November, I'd like to catch up with you guys if you are still in the region. I'm heading to East Africa via DRC (thats the plan at the moment) via the southern DRC route. I'll be on a KLR that is already in Freetown 90% ready to go.

We'll be heading through Sierra Leone to DRC, then south. The timings look close to ours, so will keep you posted and keep us updated with yours.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

Myself and Jaybee (Jonathan) will be bringing up the rear - we are still in southern Spain and will make for Gibraltar and the ferry crossing tomorrow.

Thinking to head to Rabat pretty quickly to get the Mauritania visa sorted quickly. Can anyone tell me how long the visa is good for after issue?

Mauritanian Visa
 

Hi All,
Mauritanian visa is valid for one month but you can post date when it starts from which is handy :)
Costs 340 dhirams, try to have the right money on you when you get it, the guy in the office isnt too keen to hand out change. Also dont turn up to collect it at 3.55pm like we did, he doesnt like that either, we were lucky to get ours the same day, he had already locked up!!

thanks for the update Paul!

Hey guys, Jonathan and I are in Rabat - going to get the Mauri visa this morning and then off to Casablanca...

we're headed out somewhere today - is the rest if the crew still in Marrakech? if so, we'll head there. if not, where is everyone headed today?

Expect to see you in Marrakech...
 

Depends on what you mean the rest of the crew!

Paul and Mark are camping near Tantan N28 29.789' W11 20.171' :Beach:

I'm with Tony and Jeroen in Marrakesh waiting for our carnets. Hopefully tomorrow! Get to N31 37.643 W7 59.609 and SMS me (Jonathan has my number) - we'll come and find you and guide you in. Were in Hostel Waka Waka N31 37.655 W7 59.549 - 60 to 80 MAD/night.

See you later
Steve

Hey guys, where is everyone?
CJ

Most of is are in Dakar getting visas

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

Jon and I are in taghazout, morocco getting our surf on.. ill be sticking around here for a couple of weeks still

Were now at Big Milly's Backyard, just outside Accra, Ghana. Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire were great, though pleased to be back on tarmac.

Africa
 

Hi Guys,

If you are in South Africa and near OR Thambo or JHB and need accomodation please feel free to contact me. We are in Potchefstroom and is situated approx 120 Km west from Johannesburg.:welcome:

Tony and I have made it to Angola after a tough few weeks getting across the terrible roads of the 2 Congo's. People have been very friendly and a couple of days rest at Hippocampe in Brazzaville was a welcome break.