Thanks Grant! The first HU I came to I met Peter and Kay Forwood which really cemented in my mind the idea of continuing to use my first bike. Having dinner that night at the same table as yourself and Susan and the Forwoods is what really got me hooked on the HU community side of things

Thanks! Hope to see you on the road too. How are you coming into India/Pakistan given that Iran has the 250cc problem or are you coming through China?

I'll take this opportunity to give some background on my riding/travel-riding and how I've slowly worked upto this particular trip

When backpacking in Asia around 2009, I saw a motorcycle rental place in Chiang Mai, Northern Thaliand and decided to see where I could head on an overnight trip. So with my work backpack bungee-d to the back, I did an overnighter to Pai. An awesome stretch of road! Still wasn't aware of the concept of long-distance motorcycle travel though



Back in Asia on another trip in 2010, this time I decided to venture further past Pai and do the 'Mae Hong Son Loop' which was even more amazing than the ride to Pai. Still no proper luggage but armed with a paper map of the loop this time. What really sparked my interest this time was seeing another bike parked at a guesthouse along the way with Australian plates. Ever since then I've had a fascination of seeing my bikes number plates in far off places where it shouldn't be.





Once back home, I had now gone from being a weekend road-rider to being addicted to track days with a count of 14 in the space of 12 months ... till I lowsided and trashed my precious GSXR; my first bike besides my dad's RG125 that I had learnt on







Since it was no big deal to get a few scratches on it now, I figured I may as well explore my own backyard and did two local rides. The first over the course of a week down through the Southern Alpine region of Australia (with a borrowed tailpack and road atlas) and the next up through the outback to North Queensland and back down the coast (with my first piece of luggage, a tail mounted Kriega bag) ... which also taught me how boring the inner reaches of this country actually are.







In 2013, my uncle living in India proposed riding the Himalayas region of India, well known for its mountain passes such as Chang La and Khardung La. Although I was already traveling in Brasil, it was an opportunity too good to pass up, especially as he was giving me full use of his baby-KTM







All this while, I had still been backpacking through Asia, Middle East, South & Central America but I wanted more. So I embarked on my first 'big' overseas ride in 2014 with 8 weeks through the South-West of USA. The idea had initially been coast to coast after a week in Vegas but I decided to focus on the one region more so as to really get the most out of my time there rather than just miles under my belt. - Half assed ride report here, however over on ADVRider, excuse the lack of one here









In 2015, my brother who had been studying in Holland was thinking of a ride after his semester wrapped up so it was over to Holland to ride to Turkey and back on yet another GSXR (Yet another incomplete ride report here ... again on ADVRider

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Exploring the world by GSXR; www.7days1shower.com

So, it looks like I'm already a month behind from my first post stating I was going to be better at this! As we speak, I am in a hostel in Seoul, South Korea feeling like I am way too old to be in a hostel now. It reminds me that the last time I backpacked was in 2012 when I was 24 and even then I felt too old.

Anyway, all in the name of cheap accommodation!

So since, I last posted, my feelings of fear and trepidation kept playing on my mind. It's all well and good to talk about I'm going to do this and that but when it's actually happening it's a bit unnerving.

A shortlist of fears
- I've really chosen a terrible bike
- How can I carry the right mix of spares, tools, and things I need to survive
- Do I really need camping gear, it takes up so much space and how often am I really going to camp?
- I really hope I don't screw up bad... when I had always dreamt of this trip all the way up to 2017 where I had to cancel 2 weeks out from leaving, I was single. I got married earlier this year and as cheesy as it sounds, I really would think it'd be nice to come back in one piece

On Friday 14th June I drove my bike from my home to Matzen Cargo near Sydney Airport who would be sending the bike to South Korea for me via air freight.

In order to save on freight costs, the bike needed to be sent without a battery or fuel. I thought I'd try and be smart and ride it there with low fuel.

So, twice in a 50km journey the bike cut out due to running out of fuel on the highway. Luckily, my wife followed me with a jerry can. Now I know how the bike responds when it runs dry but fingers crossed its not an experience I'll be repeating

After dropping off the bike, removing the battery and running it dry, it was off to the customs house to get the carnet stamped. Once that was dine, that was it, the bike was officially out of the country; on paper at least

Before I'd even reached home, the bike was packed....next time I'd see it would be mainland Russia



Helmet and jacket sticky taped onto the seat...I hope that tape holds





I can pretend to be riding a big BMW with the other overlanders I'm bound to meet on the ferry over from South Korea to Russia... at least till the box is opened and they shun me

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Exploring the world by GSXR; www.7days1shower.com

So after 2 nights in Seoul, I am now on the Eastern coast of South Korea in a small town named Samcheok about 6km from the Donghae ferry port (and also where my beloved bike is!)

I have to say, Seoul was just supposed to be a couple of nights to check out something different but I've thoroughly enjoyed the city, its people and its food!

A couple of photos from my last 2 days before I venture out to find some dinner for tonight and rest up before tomorrows ferry...which I just realised I dont actually know the departure time of. Should probably check that out...

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The ferry from Donghae, Korea to Vladivostok takes roughly 23 hours and actually comes from Sakaminato, Japan first.

After crossing immigration and boarding the ferry into my 2nd class room, my first thought was, ok, what am I going to do for the next 23 hours with nothing but 3 meal coupons to keep me company in the form of looking forward to the next meal time

It wasn't long till I spotted a guy sitting in a common area whom I had seen walking around the port in what seemed to be bike gear.

From there on, it was all about some of the amazing people on board and the stories they had to share



On the left, Taka, from Japan holding a sign in Russian stating that he is travelling across the world with his traditional Okinawan instrument. Not begging but any donations to an artist are appreciated! He also has a bicycle but doesn't consider himself a cyclist as he will be using other forms of transport as well

On the right, Mehmet, orginally from Turkey but living in Wellington, NZ for the past 30 years. Not his first ride on his well worn old BMW but this time he plans to go to Turkey via Mongolia and the Stans via a route quite similar to myself so we had plenty to discuss!



Shoi - A 70yr old Japanese man travelling with his wife who unfortunately is heavily disabled.

They have been riding from Japan to Europe and back every year for the past 7 years with Shois current bike having 480,000kms on it! His previous bike, a GPX250 had 300,000km for a combined total of nearly 800,000kms over 20 years!

This trip is a little different though. Nana had a big stroke in March and doctors told her she would need to spend her remaining time in hospital but they were determined to ride on



On the right is Okita from Japan. I saw him in my room but didn't get a chance to speak to him till we were nearly at the end of our journey. However the term speak is very loose as he barely speaks a word of English!

He had also done something strange where his bike was sent on some other ship and not the ferry we were on! Also riding the same bike as Shoi, hats off to the guy for going through without any English or Russian!



Straight off the ferry and right to the walking strip in Vladivostok; Taka with his instrument



Shoi with his trusty Kawasaki 650



2nd class room on the ferry



A nightclub on the ferry that I didn't quite get to check out



Coming into Vladivostok, I guess I missed a memo somewhere about Russian flag coloured tracksuits

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Exploring the world by GSXR; www.7days1shower.com