Dont focus too much on the money you say. Although I in many ways agree with you and belive that far too many people spend far too much time and energy making money - when we travel we need money. Especially when we travel on a motorbike. The bike needs fuel (and fuel prices are rising painfully the last months…) it needs new oil and filters now and then, new tyres, new chain and sprockets, new brake pads and other wear parts. It also need some repair now then…. Then it needs insurances, it needs freight/shipping from time to time.
And we need food and groceries every day and since we travel and ofte find ourselves in a new country/place we often dont know what gives good value for money as we do in our home place.
We also need accomodation and its most often not free. Theres just so many places you can wildcamp for free…..

Personally I think about money quite a lot, to be specific - where I can save money and where I can get a good deal. So its more about getting the money to last, not how to make as most as possible.

I guess since you have travelled for almost 11 years continually you must have some kind of secure income? Because we all need money to live from day to day, and especially when travelling….

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I have income now, that has often not been the case. If I had no money I would still travel. Perhaps even by motorcycle.

I rarely think about money. Instead, I seek to live a better quality life with less effort. In small ways, but focusing on those small things every day will add up over time. As close as I've ever come to thinking about money is to focus on how to make what I have in the bank last as long as possible. I used to use what I called the "three question budget": Would I rather spend this money or travel longer? Am I suffering because I am not spending money on luxuries? Is this luxury more important to me than travel? This probably makes it sound like I think about money a lot more than I actually do. My focus has always been to travel, not how I find money to travel.

A story you might find interesting: Kindness One (Leon Logothetis). Riding a motorcycle around the world with no money.

https://chrisguillebeau.com/leon-logothetis/

Accommodation is not free? I have been invited into more people's homes than I can count. Wild camping is limited? I wild camped only once, but setup my tent often on farms, parks, or yards; or spread out my sleeping bag on the floor of someone's house. Food costs money? In some countries, I have been offered so much free food that I rarely paid for a meal. The USA was one of those countries. Motorcycle repairs? I always have a skill I could trade for a part I need. Or a story I can share. Sometimes a bit of entertainment is more valuable to a person than money.

A big one: If a motorcycle sounds too expensive to maintain during travel, try hitchhiking instead. It is a lot of fun and no less of an adventure than traveling by motorcycle.

In the modern world we tend to view money as a necessity for survival yet this is artificial. Money is a convenience, not a necessity.

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

That seems reductive, to say the least.

The one important thing you forget or you suppress in your statement of a modern world is that you are only able to travel your way because you personally benefit from money or financial power of your hosts.

So money will always be a necessity and drive hosts and their hospitality and as well all travelers equal how old the world is. Sometimes for shure less your money and more often money of others you run into and who are hospitable and generous to share their personal purchasing power with you as a traveller.

And btw when I travel I like of course to recieve and to enjoy hospitality but I also like to be remembered as a guest, as a representative of my country who spends with a smile and fun his own money to demonstrate respect and thankfullness to hospitable people I met. So in my view money is still a necessity for traveling.

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In my experience, the most welcoming and helpful hosts have the least money. I don't know what you mean by the "modern world", but I have never traveled because of the "financial power" of a host. We exchange things of value. At times that involves money, other times it does not.

Believe me or not as you like. I only share my own experience from travel.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

If you have travelled through life in general as a pair and indeed as your post suggests have already travelled overland together, you have the trust and strength to get through any challenges a trip of this nature could throw at you.

If you are teetering on the edge of 'am I fit enough' this IS absolutely the time to go as days riding will soon toughen your body composition and your appetite for adventure will likely grow daily too.

I agree with a prior posts point - if you are able to secure a property - no matter how small - with some of the funds you have, and can lease this while you travel, you are guaranteed a lump sum and a toe on the property ladder when you return. But other than this...

Go go go!

I'm just reading your post after posting my own. It's taken 12 years and a lot of headaches to get to my departure point. Although a little younger than you, I've had my own 'is it too late' thoughts... but to hell with it - were off soon!

And I sincerely hope you will be too.

Dream big then go fulfil those dreams.
Maybe we'll see you in the Americas (we too started with the overland from Europe plan but have changed to airfreight to Alaska instead!)

Safe travels.

Braddan & Shona.

Just catching up with this thread as we are currently in the process of planning now for 2025, 90% certain to ship the bike into South America, the other 10% is a Mongolian itch I’ve had for some years, saying that with the current situation in Russia twinned with the fact I would have to get a CDP for the bike whereas South America we would not need one.

Thank you for your kind words they kind of made me feel a tad fuzzy inside. I hope you are well into your big adventure (I’ll go check out other posts to try and find your progress), stay safe and enjoy.

Good luck on your trip, whatever choice you make.

My bike is stored for winter in Magadan as it got snowed in at the beginning of September, and since TIP expires in June I will have to take it out the country by then. The closest crossable border is with Mongolia, so here we come



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