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23 Aug 2017
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Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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Just a few blocks from the hostel there was a restaurant that looked like it could be at home! Good drinks and food. It must get wild here they have an impressive set of DO NOT do rules.
 Ornek Bishkek-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Ornek Bishkek-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Ornek Bishkek-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
There is also a pretty nice bazaar here where you can buy just about anything.
 Ornek Bishkek-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Ornek Bishkek-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Ornek Bishkek-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Ornek Bishkek-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Ornek Bishkek-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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23 Aug 2017
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Contributing Member
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Hostels can be a bit sketchy and several of the kids where ill here and it is probably from the food. We ended up here 4 days as several of us were sick especially Daniel. He was well enough to go by July 27, which is good as we need to get across Kazakhstan for our Russian Visas. The rear shock on the 800 has been squeaking and we are worried it will blow. There is a KTM shop in Almaty and so we will make a detour there.
We are all leaving Kyrgyzstan today and are headed to Kazakhstan. We are going to Almaty to the KTM. It is 240 km and mostly a back track. The other guys will start heading north directly to Astana as Orvar has a service booked there July 31.
 Screen Shot 2017-07-27 at 19.33.13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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23 Aug 2017
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Contributing Member
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The ride to the border is 26 km. We left just before 8 and it was 29 degrees. It was 34 by the time we reached the border. You pull up to the control gate and they let 3-4 vehicles in at a time. When you go thru the gate you pull up to passport control and they give you an exit stamp. One guy asked us to open the luggage, but his colleague told him to forget it. Done in 15 min.
 Almaty by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
You then proceed 200 m to the next control gate. here they also let a few people in at a time. You ride ahead 200 m to the border zone. Here there are dogs sniffing. You hand over your passport, and bike registration and they want you to fill in a tourist “card” and a small slip of paper with your bike brand, model, and Plate number. All of these get stamps. Then you ride 100 metres and turn left and then 200 meters to “the scanner”. Basically you ride into the customs building. here they stamp your small scrap of paper after looking at your papers and passport. They sort of looked in Dan’s luggage. They were more interested in how long we were married and why we had no children. All done out and in in under an hour.
 Almaty-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
We then had 209 km to go and it was 39 degrees. There is nothing to see but flatness and haze.
 Almaty-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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24 Aug 2017
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There are some rough sections and deep grooves occasionally. On one of these sections the 650s speed sensor warning light was on again! We checked seems intact. It is not mission critical so we pressed on. It was 38-40 all day and we had the wind against us, which made for terrible gas milage. Also we had been told how the police here were the worst and pulled you over for any excuse. We did the speed limit especially when signed to be 40-50. We saw some police, but none paid us any attention.
 Priozersk-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Priozersk-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Priozersk-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
Salt lakes
 Priozersk-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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24 Aug 2017
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By 4 pm it was gusting crosswind and very strong. There was a gas station with 95 after 300 km and so we filled up. The GPS had a place listed there, but it looked sketch. The next one in 47 km did not look mush better. We know the guys stayed in Priozersk last night by their spot and we did see one guest house on bookings there. So we had another 80 km in strong wind to deal with. We checked the maps.me for the guest house, but it did not look like much when we got there so we headed down the main road. The main square was blocked off and so we pulled over to the right to ask a taxi driver parked there where we could find a hotel. The police pulled in next and asked if they could help. They escorted us to the hotel! Great secure parking. Small apartment with aircon and wifi for 24$. SCORE!! It is the 61 st birthday of this army town and there is a carnival on. There are all sorts of vendors, bouncy castles, singers and dancers. The evening was capped off with a fire works display.
 Priozersk-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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24 Aug 2017
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There is the odd gas station or truck stop. We did stop at an abandoned station to hide in the shade. Trevor left the station and turned left, when we were going right….it took him 8 km to stop and wait for us before he realized he had gone the wrong way…too funny. Just goes to tell you it is a lot of nothing out here. We stopped for some food about 120 km from Karagandy, but none of us really feels all that hungry in general. Karagandy is a surprisingly big place in the middle of no where. The hotel we had in the GPS and saw on bookings was the Ozz. This turns out to be a very chic. The town itself is nothing to see, but we did a bit of a walk to find something to eat…Donar as usual.
 Kazakstan_-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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25 Aug 2017
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Astana is the capital and it is only 213 Km. It is still over the mostly flat steppe with little of interest.
 Screen Shot 2017-07-29 at 20.43.23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
The road the whole way is 4 lanes under construction and they are for unknown reason mostly only using 2 lanes on one side and you switch sides every 30-40 km. It is humid and 29 as well and so we are all not feeling that great.
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25 Aug 2017
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Astana is a very expensive city and we are lucky to get a hotel for 65$USD, which is quite nice. The “Expo” is on here for “Future Energy” and our hotel is on the free shuttle route if we need it. We did take a taxi down to the centre where it is a bit disney-ish. There is the Bayterek tower and singing fountains.
 Kazakstan Astana-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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25 Aug 2017
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Contributing Member
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It is much better after dark with all the lights. We walked to the main street and a few guys were waiting there as “taxi’s” they however wanted double the real rate and we said forget it. We walked 2 blocks over to the Hilton garden inn , where the concierge kindly booked us a driver for the normal price (6$).
 Astana-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan Astana-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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25 Aug 2017
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Today Orvar headed over to “BMW” where they said they were ready for his service. This is not a motored dealer, they do not service bikes, and they do not have any parts. HMMMM. Well I guess it is a day at the Astana Expo 2017 for us. We grabbed a cab over there since the supposed free shuttle never arrived here. In fact the guys at the desk despite the huge banner sign in the lobby were a bit stunned when we asked about it (the sign was gone the next morning). Well 45 min ride was 3$ in a cab. The entry was 4000 T (12USD). The huge ball in the centre that looks like the death star is the Kazakstan pavilion.
 Kazakstan_-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Kazakstan_-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
 Astana-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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