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Photo by Mark Newton, Mexican camping

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


Photo by Mark Newton,
Camping in the Mexican desert



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  #31  
Old 20 Aug 2019
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Originally Posted by Jay_Benson View Post
My rationale for using the Irish passport is that it reduces the level of investment I need to make to visit a country that has a magnificent reputation in welcoming visitors at the “Joe Public” level and has some interesting, to me at least, architecture and history. If I were to travel on my British passport I would firstly have to pay to have a guide and be limited to where I were to stay - they get to choose the hotels, etc.

As you say whatever the reality of your political / religious beliefs you are likely to be viewed through a particular lens by host nations political infrastructure based on your nationality - hence choosing use the lower profile nationality as it is likely to lead to less formal contact with the powers that be.

There have been few, if any reports, of non-Iranian nationals getting hassle from Iranian authorities that I am aware of. Please note that I am aware of a couple of dual nationality British-Iranians that have fallen foul of the Iranian authorities and I do not make light of their plight (unlike the pillock that is currently the British Prime Minister who single handedly managed to double the prison sentence for a British-Iranian woman). The biggest problem is that Iran does not recognise the second nationality of a dual national and so does not allow consular visits etc.
I see your perspective objectively. I mentioned this on a form on ADV today when I was answering a question, but I will mention it here because it is applicable in my opinion and may help build perspective. People use to tell me "Why would did you want to be operational in war zones, jump out of planes, ride a motorcycle, etc?". They think I have a death wish, which I definitely do not. They ask as they live with their illusion of safety with their predictable patterns as if it is going to give them eternal life or something. They just exist in a perpetual state of consuming resources to a predictable end state, they don't "live". I tell them that you don't have control, there are an infinite amount of variables we can't quantify in our environment at any given time. You don't control those variables, you influence them with your inherent characteristics to increase or decrease your probability of survival or successes. My point in telling you is that if you feel so passionate rationally about going to Iran with your Irish passport, then do it. You influence your probability of success with checking the political climate at the time you decide to go and take a calculated risk on your execution. You could just as easily die at any given time, we always think we have forever, but we are only guaranteed the present. I feel in the end you don't have anything to lose if it is your passion to see places like this. We don't take our possessions or our anything for that matter with us, we are here and then we are not (My opinion). If you are passionate about this, you will regret not doing it later in life when you are at the twilight of your life and no longer have the vitality to do so and see the end of your life approaching you. I always used what I called the "Rocking chair method" when making a big decision in life. I imagine myself as an old man, sitting on my rocking chair in my home at the end of my life. I imagine how I would emotionally feel having not done the action I am currently deciding on at that moment. Do I feel regret imagining myself at that moment as the older version of myself not committing to that action? That gives me my answer.
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  #32  
Old 30 Aug 2019
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The only advice i can give you is try not to over analyze......the questions will NEVER stop and the world will leave you sitting on your ass until your old as f%$k.......get the basic weather pattern and the countries you can travel without issue,pack the bike and go.
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  #33  
Old 4 Sep 2019
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Originally Posted by brian p View Post
The only advice i can give you is try not to over analyze......the questions will NEVER stop and the world will leave you sitting on your ass until your old as f%$k.......get the basic weather pattern and the countries you can travel without issue,pack the bike and go.
You are 100% right, my strength is my analytical nature, but it can be a weakness too. I’m doing what you are saying though, my timeline is definitely set, I have the bike, and I’m gone when my timeline hits. You are right and I know from experience you can have the best plan, but it’s just a framework, everything changes when you get into each situation. You do the best you can to prepare and you go off into the unknown, that adventure of the unknown is what I like so much. Life that is completely predictable is boring and lifeless.
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  #34  
Old 4 Sep 2019
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Hey vagabond2020
Have to agree with brian p. Take a hint from Nike and just do it. I'm 60+, just spend 8mths riding and working around Australia on a Transalp. Now I've bought another in Germany and heading for a few years exploration of Africa. No idea of a set route, timeframe, budget. Wing it is a frequently used phrase.
If its of use to you:
Pack the minimum you think you can get away with. First couple of weeks you'll ditch the unnecessary crap you thought was essential.
Make stuff up as you need to i.e. be resourceful and adaptive - like making a broken clutch cable repair with stainless fishing braid. Hey - got me to Perth.
Change your plans - A LOT! The great plan today is often impossible tomorrow or gets superceded by a much better plan.
Yes - walk with your eyes open, but also have faith that most people in the world are humans too (many Governments excluded from this though!). A genuine handshake and gidday mate go a long way.
If everything goes according to plan - its a pretty shit adventure. Best stories come from getting yourself out of deep doo doo. (aka rear shock self dismantling about 500km from closest civilization in 50+C heat on the gnarliest corrugated dirt roads)

All just encouragement mate to open the throttle and just go.

Adventure motorcycling is the most expensive way to live like a homeless person
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  #35  
Old 5 Sep 2019
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Originally Posted by kiwiwannafly View Post
Hey vagabond2020
Have to agree with brian p. Take a hint from Nike and just do it. I'm 60+, just spend 8mths riding and working around Australia on a Transalp. Now I've bought another in Germany and heading for a few years exploration of Africa. No idea of a set route, timeframe, budget. Wing it is a frequently used phrase.
If its of use to you:
Pack the minimum you think you can get away with. First couple of weeks you'll ditch the unnecessary crap you thought was essential.
Make stuff up as you need to i.e. be resourceful and adaptive - like making a broken clutch cable repair with stainless fishing braid. Hey - got me to Perth.
Change your plans - A LOT! The great plan today is often impossible tomorrow or gets superceded by a much better plan.
Yes - walk with your eyes open, but also have faith that most people in the world are humans too (many Governments excluded from this though!). A genuine handshake and gidday mate go a long way.
If everything goes according to plan - its a pretty shit adventure. Best stories come from getting yourself out of deep doo doo. (aka rear shock self dismantling about 500km from closest civilization in 50+C heat on the gnarliest corrugated dirt roads)

All just encouragement mate to open the throttle and just go.

Adventure motorcycling is the most expensive way to live like a homeless person

Thank you for your reply, you are an inspiration. Most people any age, let alone beyond their later 60's would do something like this.

I am 100% on board, I have fully committed and as you said I am "just doing it". I moved out of my house I was renting, a lot of my possessions have been sold and the rest in a storage unit all ready. Doing this at this point is my reality and motivation on a day to to day basis. I already have my timeline set in stone and everything else is just unfolding. I agree about not over planning, I have a generic plan for the administrative side, but rather than that I am letting the adventurous spirit be what it is. I can't wait to see everything, I am going to take my time.

Yes, you are right, I will be spending a lot of money to be homeless
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