4th June 1998.
Well we decided to head off into the end of Europe's summer and travel through the rest of Western Europe before heading to central Italy and store the motorcycle there in November. That will get us ready for North Africa, across the Middle East and Eastern Europe starting in January 1999.

Our new flight lands us in Amsterdam on the 16/7/98 after which we head north through Denmark and will probably continue north into Sweden and across to Finland arriving at Nordkapp around 10/8/98. Then head south through Norway and Sweden arriving back in Denmark to meet the ferry for Faroe Island and Iceland about 22/8/98. Back to the mainland on 3/9/98 to see Northern Germany then across to Great Britain about 15/9/98, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Heading south to Finish in Italy about the 15/11/98 after visiting San Marino and the Vatican City thus having visited all the countries of Western Europe.

With the Australian dollar at a 12 year low against international currencies a big part of the decision to go now rather than later. If we don't go in summer we can't camp and the costs of hotels or even hostels would be prohibitive.

24th June 1998
Three weeks to go till departure and we have bought everything needed to be under way. Two self inflating sleeping mats, two small pillows (sliced off a normal pillow), a three man tent (not expecting any extra bodies but it might be nice to store things out of the rain), a stove that runs on unleaded petrol or kerosene and cooking pots (with an extra tap fitted to the motorcycle fuel line for easy filling), sheepskin seat covers (the old seat a little soft after too many miles of my bum), enough oils for a service, a few spares like new grip rubbers, brake pads, fork oil, plugs, etc. repaked the helmet with new foam as either my head has shrunk or the old foam has compressed. All packed into a refugee bag (those large striped bags for a couple of dollars that you throw away when you arrive).

10th July 1998
This is the last update until we are underway. We have included a complete list of what we are taking on this trip right down to the undies. The total weight will be about 50 kg with cold weather and camping gear. Because of the bulkier gear we will need to lower the rear number plate bracket and sling the tent under the top box. The internet is great for travellers as I have mentioned before. We booked our trip to the Faroe Island and Iceland (leaving Bergen on the 11/8/98 returning 1/9/98) over the net direct with the ferry company. We will be staying with two people (one in England and one in Germany) who we have never met other than via email, a first for us. Well as usual we will have taken too much and probably the wrong things and left behind at least something we should have taken. It doesn't matter how often you travel it remains thus.

You can now move onto the first country of the fourth trip if you wish. Start Travelling

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