22/6/00 With the motorcycle having completed almost 200,000 km fully loaded and through 90 plus countries there are obviously some components that need repair. We feel that it is time to look at the replacement of any component that is worn so that hopefully we will be able to travel the next 200,000 km with as little trouble as we have had so far. H-D parts are expensive so with that in mind and a considerable list of components we have approached both the local importers at Morgan and Wackers and Harley-davidson of the US to sponsor us for the upgrade to worn components. The engine needs some work as it is original (except for the cam and bearing) and now burns one litre of oil every 1000 km. The steering head bearings are also original as are the front fork seals and rear shock absorbers. Front and rear drive sprockets have never been changed and we need a new drive belt having used the spare one last trip. The usual maintenance items of brake pads, oils, filters, spark plugs etc. plus o'rings and gaskets are needed. And last but not least the seat has been bounced on on rough dirt and frozen to cracking many times and would be a great comfort to our rear ends to get a replacement. We await a response from H-D.South Africa , Mozambique , Zimbabwe , Botswana , Namibia , Zambia , Tanzania , Uganda , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Central African Republic , Cameroon , Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , Nigeria , Chad , Niger , Benin , Togo , Ghana , Cote d'Ivoire , Mali , Burkina Faso , Liberia , Sierra Leone , Guinea , Guinea-Bissau , The Gambia , Senegal , Mauritania , Morocco , United States Of America and Canada
11/8/00 The response was a little slow in coming, and after the Australian rep for H-D ran it past the Harley Owners Club (HOG) in the USA and suggested that the Harley Davidson Motor Company gets many requests for sponsorship and would be unlikely to assist us we had almost given up any hope for success. However the local Australian importers, Mark and Brad Wacker of Morgan and Wacker pleasantly surprised us by taking on the complete sponsorship of every part on our wish list. Within a week a large box of spares, enough to bring the H-D almost back to original, should arrive in Townsville for us to take to South Africa and fit to the motorcycle. This should hopefully allow us another 150,000 to 200,000 km of relatively problem free riding and get us, and the motorcycle, to the 2003, 100th anniversary bash in the USA. The seat? well it's coming but won't be here before our departure. The old one will have to last another trip with the new one fitted in the USA.
Visas again a problem. With 31 countries to visit this trip, including 23 new countries, not only will our patience be fractured but also our pockets. Most we will have to arrange at embassies along the way or they will expire before we arrive. Also many smaller African countries don't have consulates in Australia. But occasionally we get lucky like at the Cameroon Consulate. Here they issue a three month visa valid between any dates you choose. The same is also true for the Tanzanian Embassy. The USA will issue a multi entry five year visa, thankfully as we will be passing in and out of there for a few years. On the negative side the Nigerian Embassy will only issue visas in your home country for up to six months. Not sufficient time for us to get through there after leaving Australia. So we have to leave our second passports behind with all the necessary paperwork in triplicate to be processed at a later time and air freighted to us somewhere in Africa.
| Clothes - Peter | long shirtsx2 | Tshirts x 2 | bandana | jeans | cargo pants | shorts |
| blue jacket | socks x 5 | undies x 5 | boot laces x 1 | money belt | belt | |
| umbrella | leather gloves | T-shirt tube | helmet & visor | boots/hikers | thongs | |
| rain pants | rain jacket | cap | spare glasses | calico clothes bag | small bag | |
| boot/glove overs | ||||||
| Clothes - Kay | long T shirt | long shirtx3 | T shirt | sweater | cotton pants | jeans |
| undies x 5 | Damart socksx1 | thin socks x 3 | parka | sarong | thongs | |
| boots/hikers | T-shirt tube | umbrella | rain jacket | rain pants | tampons | |
| pads | brush | nail file | gloves | boot/glove overs | cross stitch | |
| diary book | spare glasses | boot laces x 1 | helmet & visor | calico clothes bag | scarf | |
| sun hat | belt | novel | coin purse | |||
| Toiletries | soap x 3 | toothpaste | toothbrush x 2 | dental floss | vaseline | deodorant |
| soap dish | insect repellent | scissors | nail brush | nail clippers | comb | |
| toilet paper | 2-in-1shampoo | sunblock | chamois towel | needle & thread | tissues | |
| tweezers | ||||||
| Camping | sheetsx2 | sleeping bagsx2 | small pillowsx2 | pillow casesx2 | 3 man, 3.5kg tent | |
| self inflating mattresses x 2 | ground sheet | spare shock cord | ||||
| Cooking | cook potsx2 | multi fuel stove | fuel bottle | 2 tin mugs | tin platesx2 | knivesx2 |
| forksx2 | 2 spoons | garbage bags | freezer bags | tea towelsx2 | scourer | |
| tea bags | vegemite | pot handle | hand towels x 2 | FREDx2 | lighter | |
| detergent | knife | sponges | ||||
| Medical kit | bandages | sticking plaster | dressings | cotton buds | elastic bandages | burn cream |
| ear plugs | itch cream | antihistamine | bandaids | Betadine | Rennies | |
| Panadol | aspirin | antibiotics | anti diarrhoea tablets | anti fungal cream | 1st Aid book | |
| syringes and needles | thermometer | antiseptic powder | anti malarial tablets | |||
| General | tank bag | surgical gloves | paint pen | short wave radio | torch & batteries | torch bulbs |
| maps | stickers | vinyl | business cards | rubber bands | binoculars | |
| calculator | 2 cameras | 10 films (36's) | multimeter | alarm/meter battery | pens | |
| pegs | ockey straps | air thermometer | highlighters | LP guide books | Araldite glue | |
| polish cloths | mosquito net | water bag | green garbage bags | camping seats | tidy bags | |
| clothes line | day back pack | wash powder | sheepskins | canvas water filter | ||
| Dubbins | fuel injector cleaner | light tie downs | ||||
| Paperwork | passports | tickets | money | optical scripts | rego | budget |
| addresses | insurance | Carnet | passport photos | drivers license | credit cards | |
| writing pads | note books | internet disks | travellers cheques | document copies | ||
| International license | HOG mileage form | |||||
| Bike Spares & | bike cover | clutch cable | throttle cable | speedo cable | clutch lever | cable ties |
| Bits | fuel hose | bearing seals | wheel bearings | spare belt | belt screws | new belt |
| oil hose | headlight bulb | brakelight bulb | stand springs | top box catches | oil filter | |
| spark plugsx4 | speedo driver | rear brake pads | front brake pads | front fork seals | fuses | |
| regulator | thrust race bearing | carbi jets | silicon grease | tyre gauge | ||
| Gaskets --> | speedo driver | primary cover | inspection cover | air filter | float bowl | |
| fork oil | primary oil | brake fluid | bicycle pump | heat shrink plastic | tie wire | |
| grease | electrical wire | electrical connectors | washers/nuts/bolts | duct tape | ||
| manual | chamois cloth | gasket silicon | puncture kit & glue | thread repair kit | WD40 | |
| O rings | auto wash | polish | front disc lock | rear wheel D lock | switches | |
| alarm remote | sandpaper | bike tie downs | fork oil bottle | Loctite | plastic tube | |
| funnel | hacksaw blades | bash plate | hose clamps | pannier rubbers | toothbrush | |
| spare keys | machine oil | scourer pad | electrical tape | tyre valve stem | ||
| Tools | alan key set | multi grips | torx set | screwdriver set | 3/8 torque wrench | pliers |
| shifter, small | shifter, large | hacksaw | long screw/dr. | Stanley knifex2 | round file | |
| triangle file | black file | valve remover | drill bits | electrical crimper | ||
| Sockets --> | 7mm, 13mm, 16mm, | |||||
| 3/16, 7/32, 1/4, | 9/32, 5/16, | 11/32, 3/8, 13/32, | 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, | 5/8, 11/16, | ||
| 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, | 1 3/16, 1 1/2 | 3/8-1/2 adaptor | 3/8-1/4 adaptor | 3/8 elbow | ||
| 1/2-3/4 driver | 3/8 extension | open spanners | 10-11, 12-13, | 14-15mm, 5/16-3/8in | ||
| ring spanners | 14-15mm |
You can now move onto the first country of the seventh trip if you wish. Start Travelling
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Story and photos copyright Peter and Kay Forwood, 1996-
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