I’d been visiting Jordan on a regular basis after securing a teaching job. My daily commute would see me travelling down the desert highway looking at trails left and right which seemed to disappear into the unknown. My thoughts were always the same, I wished I had my motorcycle with me, which at the time was a GS 1250adv.
But then something changed my world, the whole world, COVID!
Instead of flying in for a couple of weeks at a time and being a total foreigner, I was there, stuck, no flights home and listening to the nightly sirens and announcements warning the residents of Amman to to their homes and stay indoors during the strict curfew.
So, it began, the next 7 months I found Itchy boots, on her Bike also the long way up was just kicking off these were my daily soap operas. It felt like a cold winter at home watching Judith Chalmers on the holiday show just wishing you were there.
I really needed a motorcycle I needed to explore this country properly on two wheels, but it wasn’t that simple. You see motorcycling in Jordan is still a relatively new activity. It was only in early 2000 that you were allowed to ride anything above 150cc. once you turn 25 you can apply for your motorcycle licence which involves strict security checks once you have your test you can ride any motorcycle but you still cant own one. To own one, you have to show that you are financially comfortable and apply to the minister of internal affairs to approve your ownership (as a bike dealer told me it’s easier to buy a missile than own a bike in Jordan). Bottom line I couldn’t purchase or rent!
A plan was hatched, I knew the big GS would be too big so a change to the Yamaha T7 rally, some modifications to the suspension and now it is definitely the bike to tackle the desert.
Soon I was in Heathrow at James cargo, bike crated next stop queen Alia airport Amman.
After 3 days in customs getting stamp after stamp my bike was released and i was now riding through the crazy traffic of the city with a smile that hurt my face and a giddy roller coaster feeling in my stomach.
This trip so far is only a taster, I decided to sell everything back home, move to Jordan and start my RTW once I finish work in July 2022.
Thanks to covid I realised that time, age, and the world closing down were the catalyst for my lifelong dream.
As my carnet ran out last month I had to ride my bike to Jerusalem to avoid the daily fines and then return to jordan to sort a few things. tomorrow I will be reunited with my bike to explore Israel/Palestine before shipping to Cyprus and then on to turkey.
Jordan Is an amazing place to ride, from the endless off road trails to the mountain passes, the Jordan valley to the craziness of the city. But most of all the friendliest people I have ever met, if the rest of the world is as good I cant wait.
my summer is going to be spent in turkey before heading back to Jordan then on to Saudi Arabia, Qatar for some small football event, back to Saudi to follow the Dakar before shipping from Dubai to India.

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Cool photos, we wish you a GREAT trip!

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
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