So after the health issues last year with my sight that delayed my departure, I reset and aiming for April 2015 - which in the end has been something of blessing as it allowed me to be slightly better prepared and more confident in my plans..

Due to recent world events I will stay away from middle eastern routes and head north...

Now heading from the UK at the end of April
<edit>

> Germany / Austria / Italy - Until the end of May
> Greece / Turkey - Until first week of July
> Georgia / Azerbaijan / - middle of July
> Baku to Aktau ferry ... Another Ferry link / - middle of July Kazakhstan until middle of August - 3+ weeks?
> Russian Border - Mongolia? - > back into Russia
> Russia - to Vladivostok by end of first week in September
> South Korea Until early October
- Ship the bike direct to Australia - to be delivered by late November - Korea shipping link
- Travel Philippines / Malaysia / Indonesia without the bike - October to end of 3rd week of November

> Australia end of November - Melbourne by Christmas
> New Zealand - January
- Ship Bike to USA west coast by mid February
- bikes abroad link
- GetRouted link
- Cruise People link
- motorcycleexpress.com

> USA west coast / USA East coast by early April
- Ship bike back to UK Dynamic freight link
> UK by mid April


I hope to be able to arrange most Visa's en route so that I'm not stuck to being at certain borders by certain dates, but will look more into that over the next couple of weeks.
Would definitely like to sort out the Visas up to Russia as that shouldn't be too difficult I hope.

My brother is moving to South Korea so will spend a little time mooching around there while I sort out shipping the bike directly to Aus.. Lots of shipping agency links that seem to suggest that is entirely feasible.. It frees me up for a little bit of R&R off the bike to travel through the south china sea / pacific islands before getting myself to Aus.

I then plan to travel down the east coast of Australia - despite advice from a friends who emigrated to Aus a couple of years back that December isn't the best time to be in northern territory.. To visit him on Melbourne by Christmas

Then I want to get to NZ before shipping to the USA to cross west to east and head back to the UK

easy !

anyway -

The bike is prepped - apart from fitting a set of new tyres before I depart - I have all the kit I need (and probably more - but that will sort itself out as I travel)
<edit> and fitting a sump guard

Money situation is good - I don't envisage many issues

Still got to sort out renting the house out for 12 months.. Will look at that early January 2015 - hopefully renting shouldn't be too difficult to sort out - available from beginning of May.

Carnet - should be little bit cheaper by missing out Indonesia

Can't think of anything else off the top of my head right now.. will add more as I think of it

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Visa:
Quick glance at the Thevisamachine - prices are from VM site including their charge

Turkey - evisa
Georgia - not required
Azerbaijan - 15 day visa £90
Kazakhstan - not required up to 15 days - £90 for 30 days (£35 @ Embassy) (Real Russia for Visas) probably needed if I cant "race across" Kaz
Russia - 30 day transit visa + Invite £166 (Embassy £82 + invite cost) - now need biometrics during the applciation
Mongolia (maybe) £0.00 (will need double entry Russian visa)

South Korea - No visa required
Philippines - £53 (£22 @ Embassy - sort out in South Korea)
Indonesia - on arrival
Australia - 12 month £15 (£0 at embassy ? - sort out en route)
USA - ?? sort out in Australia


Carnet:
Looking ta the RAC site..
I reckon that will cost somewhere in the region of :-

Step 1:
Cost of the Carnet de Passage document (non refundable)
5 pages - £215

Step 2:
RAC deposit (for Private vehicle applications only and is 100% refundable on receipt of the correctly discharged Carnet and within the timelines set out in our Terms & Conditions)
£350

Step 3:
Country specific payment (50% refundable on discharge of your Carnet as detailed above) Vehicle value x Security Risk Rate x 10.6%
(Only needed for Australia at 150%)
Valued at £1000 * 150% = £1500 / 10.6% = £159

Total: £724 - (£429.5 refundable on return) total cost £294


Seems I only really need CDP for Australia
wikipedia link

HUBB CDP info

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Im in India now and will mossy on up to the Balkans then back through turkey to Georgia and on to Vladivostok where ill ship my bike back to Australia at hopefully about that time too, May catch ya along the way somewhere

Quick change of thought about crossing from Azerbaijan - Ferry from Baku to Aktau in Kazakhstan - saves on visa costs at least...

Makes a bit more sense to me.

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Learning some basic Russian

Getting started learning the Russian language

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

I'll be looking to share some of the shipping costs to Aus if I can.. Can't imagine it will be cheap! but My brother will be in Korea in 2015, so I hope I can get some shipping information from him .. The ferry still runs from Vlad to South Korea as far as I can see from internet searches.

So shipping from Korea makes sense and should (I hope) be easier to organise than in Russia

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

just seen this on Real Russia

Following the presidental order, as of 10th December 2014 all applicants over 12 years of age applying for their Russian visas in the UK, Denmark, Myanmar and Namibia are required to provide their biometric data at the time of having their visa documents submitted for processing at the consulate. Whilst we can still support, advise and assist you with preparing and completing all your paperwork, lodge your visa application pack to the Russian consulate on your behalf and pay for it, you will have to visit the Russian Visa Application Centre in person in order to give your fingerprints.

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

So first week of the new year I intend to put the paperwork in place.. carnet and visa applications will go in the post and I will kick start the whole process.

will have to make a "special" trip down to London for biometrics as part of the Russian visa application - thanks Vladimir !

and so it starts!

An early "happy new year" to all

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

And the first European Games happen in Baku the month before I arrive in Azerbaijan.. will be interesting to see what effect that has on the infrastructure and transport

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

so visa applications gone in... yet to be finalised

I've got the carnet quote back from the RAC, which despite the ongoing discussions about the RAC and their handling of the process so far has ben very positive for me

They phoned within a day of the original application and the quote arrived a couple of days ago which is valid for 90 days

Quotation RAC Carnets

1 x 5 page Carnet de Passage £215.00
Your vehicle is valued at: £1,000.00
Multiplied by Security Risk: 200%
Country specific payment £212.00
(based on 10.6% of value x security risk)
(50% refund on discharge of carnet)

Refundable Cash Deposit payable: £350

Carnet required for: Turkey > Australia & New Zealand Total: £777.00

On receipt of your returned carnet within 3 months of its expiry and providing it has been correctly stamped in and out of every country visited, your approx refund will be: £456.00

Total cost after refund £321


I've already had hep a and hep b vaccinations. I had the first of 3 rabies jabs today (£134 for the pleasure) and TBE and japanese encephalitis to come (total £270) before I leave - not cheap, but better than the alternatives I think !

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

update:

Visa applications in.. paid for:

Russian visa waiting on IDP arrival and travel insurance documents *sorted today
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Visa applications ongoing

I can recommend Alpha Travel Insurance - Simple and Straightforward Cover on cost an accepting pre existing medical conditions.

Carnet quote accepted, but as its dated from the day of despatch from the RAC I am waiting on that for the moment

Rabies Jabs 2/3 done (£134)
other jabs upto date
Tick borne and Japanese Encephalitis jabs booked for February (£270 total)

Red tape and paperwork

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Check out russian site- волна памяти 2015. It's biker rally through Russia and merge pritty close with your schadule. To stick with them would be best option for you to avoid all possible issues in Siberia.

19 days to go ...

Visas all in place -
Carnet paid - waiting on delivery
Still some house keeping tasks to do - utilities etc

bike to service when I get a couple of days off... getting ready !

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

A few steps along the road and planning well ahead but investigating possibility of Air Canada motorcycle freight from Auckland to Vancouver via Honolulu

http://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/eS...re_we_fly.html

__________________
Mark
http://chasingdreams2014.blogspot.co.uk/

Good luck! Already signed up for updates from your website blog and can't wait to see how you get on and your experiences.