RTW travelers bike stolen in Amsterdam

[jkrijt]

Today I read in some newspapers the news about Jeffrey Polnaja, a RTW traveler.
His bike was stolen while visiting Amsterdam. He was "riding for peace" as you vcan read on his website http://rideforpeace.net/

Some articles about itsorry, in Dutch)
http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/80646/po...gestolen-motor
http://www.nu.nl/binnenland/2803324/...-gestolen.html
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/1...estolen__.html
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1041/Amsterda...gestolen.dhtml

Some pictures of the bike:
http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/80588/mo...peace-gestolen

If you are in the Netherlands and see this bike, call the police !
I hope Jeffrey gets his bike back but I doubt it. I'm afraid it will be in parts right now.

[2aroundtheworld]

Very sad news. Hopefully they can find it before it's too late.

[colebatch]

I know from first hand experience that you can ride around the world with no problems only to have your bike stolen first night in NL.

It must be like a major hotspot for bike theft.

[2aroundtheworld]

I drove from Cape Town to London and got my SLR camera/lens/hard-drive/etc stolen when I arrived in Quebec 45 km from my house. Worst feeling ever. Luckily they found it back 1 month later.

[mika]

Hello all,

yes I also know from first hand experience how it feels to lose your bike to thieves .... it did not happen in Holland, but it could happen anywhere.

any more news from Jeffrey Polnaja ? Does he use the HUBB ?

what do you guys think about setting up a fund for him to get him another BMW?

Saludos de Salta Argentina
mika

[rjb]

Hope someone helps find it. I can vouch first hand that the cops here are ferkin useless and couldnt give a damn about finding stolen bikes. Bike/scooter/bicycle theft is almost a national past time.

[Wind Rider]

Dear all fellow rider and my friends all around the world, many thanks to concern to my plight, I really apprecited it....

My Stolen Bike has gone... He has many histories and memories... we spent good time and bad time together... hand by hand we crossed 72 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe... Suffering and happiness is apart of our trip... Still very hard to believed that he was gone but I have to release and let it go...

Now, "SILVER LINE", name code of my new R1150GS Adventure 2005, will be my new companion to continue my "Ride For Peace" journey...

I will start on 25 June 2012, from 'the city of love' Paris riding back to Jakarta, Indonesia.

I will crossing Siberia, Alaska, North, Central and South America, New Zealand, Australia and back home in 2015...

Any fellow rider close with this starting point are invited, I will start at 09.00am from Paris heading to Brussel, Den Haag, Berlin, Warsaw, Minks, Moscow to Vladivostok....

Once again, MANY THANKS for the Ideas, Sympathies, Big Spirit and Helping Hand...

Wish to see you somewhere in this planet...

The Road May End but Not the Spirit of Adventure and Peace...

Cheers,

Jeffrey Polnaja


HUBB Stories :

Jeffrey Polnaja (Kang JJ), in Afghanistan, R1150GS,

"Nobody encouraged me when I decided to enter Afghanistan, the region where the conflict is still going on. Everybody tried to change my mind. However, as my adventurous spirit whipped up and with the enthusiasm and strong will, Ride For Peace had to visit Afghanistan.

The Afghan visa application process in Afghanistan's mission in New Delhi was not as complicated as I thought before. It only took 2 days to get the visa. Starting from New Delhi, I passed through Wagha Border to cities in Pakistan: Lahore and Islamabad. After several days relaxing in Islamabad, the journey continued to Peshawar, last town in Pakistan before reaching Khyber Pass, the way to Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Torkham. This legendary and famous pass has been used in centuries. According to the story, this pass was used by Alexander the Great to enter southern Asia from central Asia and Europe.

Khyber Pass is known as an unsafe area for foreigners. The area is controlled by Warlords who have their own troops and rules. To pass through this area, one should be careful since the condition of nature with bare hills and the sinuous and very quiet road. Nobody can guarantee your safety in this area. As a foreigner, I need to apply for the permit to enter the area in Home Secretary of NWFP (North West Frontier Province) Office. The officers were very helpful, however they could not hide their surprise at my intention to pass the area on motorcycle. Then, with the permit I had to pass the process in National Security of Khyber Rifles. Finally, escorted by a Khyber Rifle troop, I rode passing through Khyber Pass heading to the border of Pakistan-Afghan in Torkham.

I arrived safely in Torkham in the afternoon. The border troops were amazed with my motorcycle and made them more surprised when they knew my intention to go to Jalalabad and Kabul in Afghanistan. As from the beginning, they suggested me to be better not to enter Afghanistan. Knowing my strong intention to go to Afghanistan, they promised to have a celebration party when I could return safely in Torkham. They proved their promise when I came back 1 week later in Torkham. They applauded me and welcomed me back to Pakistan with 'chai' (tea) and 'chapatti' (bread). Later on I knew that they made my journey as a bet since they had experiences that many people who crossed the border, didn't return back safely.

Experiencing once is much better than hearing hundred times. The heat of the dessert, the freeze of snowy mountains become good friends and give big spirit to explore this planet more and more…. Happy adventure & have a good trail..."


Follow my trip at : Photo | rideforpeace.net -

[Fern]

So sorry to hear of your news but glad you have a new ride.

Fellow travellers on my China leg had people eyeing up their F800GS in Amsterdam only a few weeks ago. They only got as far as giving it the wiggle test to see if it was alarmed and if the steering lock was on, then the owners moved it to a secure car park.

Amsterdam/London seem the place to have your bike stolen.

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

I'm very sorry for the loss of your bike, Wind Rider, I hope that the money those bastards will make from your bike will go into medicines and serious medical exams...

[windrider]

Thanks Fern and Knight of the Holy Graal, they can steal our motor, but they can not steal our spirit of adventure... The show has to go on... I am in Vancouver right now, waiting for my motorbike fly from South Korea... Start from Paris on June, crossed TRANS SIBERIA, to JAPAN via SAKHALIN and stuck in South Korea...

Next week, hopefully my bike will come and I will start riding to New York, USA (78th country), need to go fast before the weather getting to cold here...

If there is any fellow rider stay along the road, just let me know...

All the best and hope to see you somewhere in this planet !!