Long trips require careful
preparation and determined planning. The problem is that Gin Tonic
and red wine with good company is much more fun, so the really big
planning has somehow failed.
Hæggis in front of SOME of the equipment to brought along for the ride.
However, I was well on my way with preparation, when a "friend" announced his arrival, infected lungs and airways, gave me fever, cough and "cotton head" and placed me firmly in the couch at my mothers. Normally it would be nice to be sick at home cared over by my mom, but fate (or some other evil force) would have it so that her trip to Gran Canaria coincided very well with my viral infection. So I was pretty much in solitary majestic uselessness watching Desmo (my cool dog) bored to death. A trip to the doctor last Monday resulted in little respiratory medicine, so now everything is much better. The end of the show was almost eighteen days lost in a sea of gore.
Yet it must be pointed out that in some ways it was luck that I got sick and delayed in the first place, otherwise I'd probably lie in a tent in Morocco and coughing my guts out over a nearby clementine grove.
Back to the preparations...
I soon discovered that there was a lot I hadn't thought of. Like a Green Card for the insurance, any visa requirements, not to mention a new passport. Amazingly enough, even these things can be arranged very quickly if you complain your despair, but I do not recommend waiting until the last minute.
What was worse soon came apparent as I began to think about what I needed to get Astrid as clear as my own psyche.
The poor lady has had an incontinence problem for some time, since a specially-shaped O-ring seal for water pump had seen its better days and then some. The good Lowen himself at Lowen Yamaha Centre instantly sent me the needed parts in a letter. (I must remember to pay the bill before I leave)
Due to the beforementioned viruses, she had yet to be potty trained and continent, but it turned out later that it was not her biggest problem, her brakes are actually so poorly maintained by the previous owner that I almost cried, and the main pump was simply not functioning due to brake fluid that had morfed into som gelly formed mass mixed with aqueous fluid. Ugly and a terrible job to get well. After a complete disassembly and cleaning the pump works fine, but still with an arguing piston.
The pistons MUST come out, so the calipers can get proper treatment, since the state they are in now is NOT sufficient. Even a three year old understands that it is not good enough for long trips, so there is still some work to be done here.
But it doesn't stop with this. it struck me that the fork oil might not be completely on line either, and a little investigating confirmed all my worst suspicions, out came a water like, dead black liquid that smelled bad and tasted worse ...
New fresh oil got purchased, and the legs have now drained out empty and fine. Whether they should have the same amount of oil as the original springs indicated, is not known, for here there are extra-long progressive springs installed.
Hæggis in front of SOME of the equipment to brought along for the ride.
However, I was well on my way with preparation, when a "friend" announced his arrival, infected lungs and airways, gave me fever, cough and "cotton head" and placed me firmly in the couch at my mothers. Normally it would be nice to be sick at home cared over by my mom, but fate (or some other evil force) would have it so that her trip to Gran Canaria coincided very well with my viral infection. So I was pretty much in solitary majestic uselessness watching Desmo (my cool dog) bored to death. A trip to the doctor last Monday resulted in little respiratory medicine, so now everything is much better. The end of the show was almost eighteen days lost in a sea of gore.
Yet it must be pointed out that in some ways it was luck that I got sick and delayed in the first place, otherwise I'd probably lie in a tent in Morocco and coughing my guts out over a nearby clementine grove.
Back to the preparations...
I soon discovered that there was a lot I hadn't thought of. Like a Green Card for the insurance, any visa requirements, not to mention a new passport. Amazingly enough, even these things can be arranged very quickly if you complain your despair, but I do not recommend waiting until the last minute.
What was worse soon came apparent as I began to think about what I needed to get Astrid as clear as my own psyche.
The poor lady has had an incontinence problem for some time, since a specially-shaped O-ring seal for water pump had seen its better days and then some. The good Lowen himself at Lowen Yamaha Centre instantly sent me the needed parts in a letter. (I must remember to pay the bill before I leave)
Due to the beforementioned viruses, she had yet to be potty trained and continent, but it turned out later that it was not her biggest problem, her brakes are actually so poorly maintained by the previous owner that I almost cried, and the main pump was simply not functioning due to brake fluid that had morfed into som gelly formed mass mixed with aqueous fluid. Ugly and a terrible job to get well. After a complete disassembly and cleaning the pump works fine, but still with an arguing piston.
The pistons MUST come out, so the calipers can get proper treatment, since the state they are in now is NOT sufficient. Even a three year old understands that it is not good enough for long trips, so there is still some work to be done here.
But it doesn't stop with this. it struck me that the fork oil might not be completely on line either, and a little investigating confirmed all my worst suspicions, out came a water like, dead black liquid that smelled bad and tasted worse ...
New fresh oil got purchased, and the legs have now drained out empty and fine. Whether they should have the same amount of oil as the original springs indicated, is not known, for here there are extra-long progressive springs installed.
The engine oil I have changed
once before, but I'll just as well - the other factors taken into
account – run her good and hot and change it again. The rest of her
I guess is fine.
And then the soles... She is already set on fresh Continental TKC80, but I do not think there is much left of them when I arrive at Morocco with 3000 km motorway driving behind them, so I'll sneak in a set of Michelin Anakee. The rear tire I already have an unusedspecimen lying prepared but the front ordered from dekkonline.com is still on hold. Estimated date of arrival is 18. January, so it's probably here soon. I hope.
And then the soles... She is already set on fresh Continental TKC80, but I do not think there is much left of them when I arrive at Morocco with 3000 km motorway driving behind them, so I'll sneak in a set of Michelin Anakee. The rear tire I already have an unusedspecimen lying prepared but the front ordered from dekkonline.com is still on hold. Estimated date of arrival is 18. January, so it's probably here soon. I hope.
Anyway, this is not enough. One will surely want both some security and comfort, so the hardware store was visited, and extra tubes, tire change equipment, solid control bars, new bushings and some other minor edits were purchased. I also have a small socket wrench set, a selection of spanners with ratchet and my trusty Leatherman and a sturdy cutting pliers and a powerful piano plier.
By past experience I know that if everything goes as planned, this preparation claims no more than one day's work, but again; it's this minor detail of "as planned", again. Thursday will be dedicated to the ship-shaping of the old lady, so we'll see.
Despite that everything so far mentioned might seem like enough to keep track of, it is more. Much more. If you're going on a long trip you have to bring some stuff.
Since I will be writing blog and take pictures and make movies and stuff, I'll need to bring some tech stuff.
And I like gadgets, so I'll bring a lot.
Gadgets
One thing is the Carbon Look-PC my editor has bought for me, but I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab with built-in GPS, WiFi, GSM, camera, ground-to-air missiles, laser sight and a kettle. And then I got an iPod from a friend (got the Galaxy of him too), and has assembled a set of Koss elements in my helmet, so I can hear my noisy music along the way. A small battery operated iPod docking station, so I have music in the tent at night, will also be squeezed in. Proper images requires proper camera, so I'll travel with a Canon EOS350D with an extra tele lens, and I got to buy a GoPro Hero shit cheap trough the forum, so films can be produced. This is the minimum requirements for a succesfull trip.
But all that is high-tech stuff. A long journey also requires some low-tech needs covered, so I bought a two-man tent that is ridiculously small packed down, a mini-mini-sleeping bag, a powerful self inflating sleeping mat, aluminiumsfoil to prevent soil frost, a light tarp to buckle over both bike and tent so I'll have a "cave" to sit in, and some old military food preparing utencils.
In addition, I got me a little multi thingy with saw, ax, shovel or knife as, so I can dig myself out of obscurity if things get difficult.
As if this is not enough, my faithful Primus Cup (it has followed me for twelve years soon) is included. An indestructible pot which anyone who has met me has seen. I love that cup. Even a collapsible brandy glass has the honor of traveling around Europe with me!
Although I am stupid in most contexts, I have never taken security lightly. One thing is preventive, but I'll pack me a wide selection first-aid kit that I hope I never need to extract. (I KNOW better, but hope is bright purple or something as "they" say).
But the important thing is to be secured BEFORE you need any of this, and when we come to run the equipment.
I have bought a set of "shock pants" from the shop, I always use the full "armor" and hard plastic protectors for knees and legs. And we continue with two jackets. One with a H2Out membrane, leather reinforcements and heat con, and one lightweight enduro jacket with lots of opening opportunities and detachable sleeves. The trousers are a well-worn enduro pants that can be converted into shorts, and supplemented with heat con and / or membrane from rain. I also have an Outlast jacket that will help the good if it gets cool. Two sets of boots, a pair of racing boots with Gore-Tex and a set of cross boots. And then the hand protection. I will be traveling with no less than FIVE sets! One set of warm ones with Gore-tex, two sets of cross / enduro, one set of racing leather gloves, and finally a pair of water resistant and a bit warm enduro gloves. It's propably enough, but experience shows that gloves are something you NEVER get enough of. Never.
Finally, the protection of the skull. I have an unused cross helmet ready for the mission, styled by all rules of art, so it suits me. And of course a wide range of buffs, thin, long, thick, waterproof, etc.
As if all this weren't enough, I'm dressing very warm with Helly-Hansen oilskins over everything else, which I plan to exchange for fresh fish at the docks in Portugal.
But one should not only dress in riding gear, so I actually, believe it or not, thought carefully about what clothes I should bring. Two T-shirts (one from the bike.no and one from the Mcsiden.no), two thin wool shirt with long sleeves, three boxers in viscoses, a long woolen winter below, a thin tube under, a sweater with a hood, a bathing shorts, a lightweight shorts ( knee), two pairs of wool socks, two pairs of cotton socks and finally two short sleeve silk shirts. (Silk is a point, because it stops UV radiation better and is fluffier than, say, cotton and I have an old burn scar all over my back that does not tolerate the sun very well and consequently I can not go bare-chested). Finally, I also included a pair of sneakers with terrain sole.
How to get everything?
The observant reader will at this point be asking the question about where all this will be packed, and I will explain. First of all, I have a spacious Givi top box. They swallow a lot of stuff, but is high up, so there will be mainly clothes, sleeping bag and some food and stuff in it. Tank bag with transparent lid pocket for the Galaxy in GPS mode, to keep first aid supplies, gloves, lunch, water bottle, etc. Tent and tarpaulin attached to the front, just below the headlights with straps. A set of solid side bags in leather (type terrible old), will carry most of the heavy weights on each side behind; tools, parts, stove, etc. In addition to them, I've got a pair of small textile side bags to be on either side of the tank, where more clothing and equipment will be stowed.
Right behind me on the saddle, a 37-liter waterproof SW-Motech has been given the honor of protecting all Tech assessories from the weather. Underneath that I'll squeeze in the boots I do not use, stuffed inside one another, and seal them with gaffa. On top of the waterproof bag, the mattress will rest. Can I find space, I'll bring a folding chair as well, but a second set of tires comes before it on the priority list, where they will be throning on top of the top rear. A small backpack to carry with me the most valuable if I am going away from the bike is also included.
At the very end I will tell
how smart I am, I have a worn wallet, with a range of different
notes, some coins, an expired credit cards, some photos and the like,
so that if I get robbed, they'll have it, not the one with all the
REAL stuff. But with the worn-out look that both Astrid and I have,
the question is if robbers really will invest in us rather than some
more prosperous-looking traveler. When parking I have a little
placard on the tank bag where it in four languages will read:
"What you see here is everything I own, please let me keep what
little I have"
And when all is well stowed in place, I'll go. I'M ready as an aeroplane, now there is only Astrid, a tyre and a persistent virus that's keeping me still ...
It all sounds pretty simple, and should be quickly done.
We who live in the real world, knows that plans are there to collapse in a chaotic inferno, so I'll update soon about how big a fiasco my departure planning actually was ...
And when all is well stowed in place, I'll go. I'M ready as an aeroplane, now there is only Astrid, a tyre and a persistent virus that's keeping me still ...
It all sounds pretty simple, and should be quickly done.
We who live in the real world, knows that plans are there to collapse in a chaotic inferno, so I'll update soon about how big a fiasco my departure planning actually was ...
