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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #16  
Old 28 Aug 2012
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What are you qualified to do?
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  #17  
Old 28 Aug 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dajg View Post
this might be a longshot... is there an equivalent of "harvest trail" in europe or the UK?

Harvest Trail - Harvest jobs - Australian JobSearch

when you're paid by weight, hard work = good coin.

or, visit australia... the $ is ridiculously high against the major currencies. you might even go home with more in the pocket than you started with.

if you can repair small engines or use mechanised equipment you can rock up on a farm, let it be known to the owner that you have skills, and you'll quickly be out of the field and tinkering in the shed, or sitting on an air-con john deere with MP3 player (summer is coming).

Visa Options - Working Holiday - Visas & Immigration
Unfortunately, I'm too old for a working holiday Visa and Australia is way too expensive to travel and not work in. For me anyway.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bushman_uk View Post
rent your home, sell your house or even buy a house sounds mad, but find the right property in the right area chop the place up to create more small rooms and rent to students , with the right place you could clear the mortgage and have a little left .
Go to an overseas employment agency, or contact one of the international charity's, see if there's some work there ??
The lottery or the 3.15 at haydock park !!!
I have chosen to put my house up for sale , so just sitting back and waiting now
When I said I only had my bike and £500, I was being serious

Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Yellow Tractor View Post
Ted, there are ways but I think you need luck to be on your side. Let me tell you a little story..........

A mate of my Brother's went on a tourist holiday to Thailand a few years back. He quickly got the dog with the resort so he got on a bus intending to do a day-trip. He ended up getting on another few buses and doing a bit of hitching. Eventually he arrived at a little village with nice beach and decided to stay for a few days. While he was there, he fixed a fisherman's outboard motor.
A couple of days later, another chap brought him a couple of "dead" outboards and he managed to get one running, keeping the dead one. As the weeks went by, he built up a stock of wrecked motors and started buying, selling and fixing all manner of stuff.
After a few months, he got permission from the village to build his own house and employed a couple of local lads to help him out with the build and the business.
Inspiring. I've been waiting for something like that to happen for years. I suppose you have to make these things happen yourself though.

Quote:
Originally Posted by barothi View Post
Europe sucks for starting a business on a small budget. Been there, done that and I am glad that I only lost 2500 euros on it. There are too many regulations and laws here. Asia and Africa is a much better place in this respect.

For the OP: You could try teaching English or something. I've heard there are jobs in Denmark and Belgium... maybe someone here can tell more about that.
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Originally Posted by chris View Post
Sell a kidney? Become a male escort?
I already sold one and my girlfriend said I'm not allowed (There's always one spoil sport)

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Originally Posted by McCrankpin View Post
Brainstorming - how about this? But not up your street maybe.

I've known one or two people who have been drivers of those overland adventure trucks (Dragoman and similar).

As far as I know, there's a constant, if not very high, demand for drivers. And the main qualification seems to be "I've been there, and there, and there."
And, "I can mend that, and that."

Again as far as I know, most drivers only do the job for a while, maybe one season, another reason for the ongoing demand for new drivers.

So maybe a possibility for a year of earning? You'd be travelling, but on 6 or 8 wheels instead of 2.
And you must have tons of experience to offer.
Yup... Seen and talked to many of these people while on the road. Some of them love it and some hate it. I think it depends on your tolerance of 'GAP YAAARS'

That's a good shout actually. I wouldn't really be travelling anywhere I wanted to travel though. hmmmmmmmm
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  #18  
Old 28 Aug 2012
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Originally Posted by dave ett View Post
What are you qualified to do?
Originally in IT and Software QA zzzzzzzzzzz

Got all my Motorcycle Tech C&G's and IMI's and worked a lot with motorcycle sales.

Also done a little freelance journalism which I'm hoping to push a little further outside of the U.K.

I'm going back to college next month to qualify in Fabrication/Welding techniques so hoping that will lead somewhere.

I'm seriously thinking of starting my own motorcycle based fabrication and Overland Customising business since I have a large kitted out and importantly 'rent free' workshop already.
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  #19  
Old 28 Aug 2012
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I'm seriously thinking of starting my own motorcycle based fabrication and Overland Customising business since I have a large kitted out and importantly 'rent free' workshop already.
Nice idea, pursue what you love and all that.

The biggest problem though is that there is plently of others that want to do the same thing. Competition drives the margins low, volumes are low, sales sporadic. The business plan is a bit murky, sorry to say.

If you are keen on the idea, start it up as a sideline business, keep your overhead low and let it organically grow without the burden of it having to support you. That way at least the business has a fighting chance of success. You can be certain, that if it actually becomes successful after a few years of hard work, it will pull you into it full time. In the meantime, some boring work to pay the bills will keep the pints full.
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  #20  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Originally Posted by MountainMan View Post
Nice idea, pursue what you love and all that.

The biggest problem though is that there is plently of others that want to do the same thing. Competition drives the margins low, volumes are low, sales sporadic. The business plan is a bit murky, sorry to say.

If you are keen on the idea, start it up as a sideline business, keep your overhead low and let it organically grow without the burden of it having to support you. That way at least the business has a fighting chance of success. You can be certain, that if it actually becomes successful after a few years of hard work, it will pull you into it full time. In the meantime, some boring work to pay the bills will keep the pints full.
My expectations exactly. I will hopefully doing other projects along side it.
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  #21  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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The problem with your plan is if you become a good fabricator, your customers won't let you go Ideally there would be two good mechanics in a business... one is traveling, the other one is at home working.
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  #22  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Ted unfortunately I think your options are limited if, as it sounds you want to take of sooner rather than later.
Starting a small business takes start up capital and usually requires long hours and little return beyond pouring any capital straight back into the business for a good period of time.
To get to the point where its profitable to fund a trip, pay employees, cover costs and you can put in a manager you could possibly trust would most probably take years.

Given your too old for most work visa programs any work in a foreign country is most likely low paid, under the table, with maybe food and board thrown in.
You could get enough for an airfare and maybe a months living costs and volunteer on an organic farm, work in a hostel(sounds lame but say if it was a cool place with lots to do it might be a place to spend 3-6 months with minimal costs) or similar.
If your not able to save in this situation to at least get you to the next situation where you can repeat the above then I think your options are limited.
I would probably just work any jobs I could find doing multiple jobs if required to get the hours up, stacking supermarket shelves late night, whatever it takes. The key is obviously keeping your costs down with free or minimal rent and commuting costs. Can you move in with your parents, family, friends while you work your butt off?
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  #23  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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If you can repair big bikes,change parts and like İstanbul, I will talk to my friends who has workshops and services here..But its very hard to get a working and residence permit so can be during your visa period...I guess same laws everywhere..So all work offers will be illegal and adventure on this part of the world...
My personal idea is whatever you can do is better in home country and lands..
Wish you all the best...
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  #24  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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IT contracting is pretty well paid, no?

Stories of contractors earning a £1000 per day are not uncommon..... don't need to work too many days to save up a good chunk of money on those rates.....

Most well paid jobs are pretty dull.
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  #25  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2499 View Post
Sell your triumph and get a cheap 250 or another scrap bike . Then you should have plenty left for a good tour.
Thats what i wanted to write as well...to travel 9 months around Southamerica was only 2500 Euro including bying a small bike:

Motorbike trip around Southamerica: Chile and Argentina part 1

Travel save, Tobi
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  #26  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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How may kilometers have you ridden in total in those 9 months Tobi?
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  #27  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Hi,

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
How may kilometers have you ridden in total in those 9 months Tobi?
Around southamerica 28.000 km wildcamping and couchsurfing this way i met so many new friends that i will be back very soon

Petrol in Venezuela was free and very cheap in Equador and Bolivia (not paying the tourist price) and riding a local bike is not only cheap but you also get in contact with the local people more easy and can find parts if needet...

cu, Tobi
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  #28  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Crikey! that is some tight budgeting! so tight imho that it must squeak!!
That works that out roughly to be €400 for fuel give or take, you said €700 for your honda 125 bike so that leaves you an average of only approx €5,2 or so a day to live on!
Pfffew! amazing!
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  #29  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
Crikey! that is some tight budgeting! so tight imho that it must squeak!!
That works that out roughly to be €400 for fuel give or take, you said €700 for your honda 125 bike so that leaves you an average of only approx €5,2 or so a day to live on!
Pfffew! amazing!
That is very impressive. I spent more than that on Beer per day while in South America
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  #30  
Old 29 Aug 2012
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Originally Posted by Docsherlock View Post
IT contracting is pretty well paid, no?

Stories of contractors earning a £1000 per day are not uncommon..... don't need to work too many days to save up a good chunk of money on those rates.....

Most well paid jobs are pretty dull.
I think you will find that they are stories, you sometimes get the exceptional person who can command it, but that is rare.

Unless you know different ????

Current rates are less than 50% that (at least for the PS work I do which is very ad-hoc). (and then I still have to take care of tax and expenses). But at least I can get to travel more this way.
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