I'm in the final planning stage of my trip. I leave in July but before I go I'm running a workshop at the UK HUBB meeting in June.

I went to the UK HUBB meeting last year and it was excellent. Lots and lots of good spaekers all with great tales of their travels. However, it was clear to me that there was something missing. For those of us who are planning a trip it would be great to hear more about the pitfalls and problems of this, the most crucial stage of the trip, the planning.

What to take? What to leave?
Paperwork
Insurance
Preparation of bike, body and mind.

All of this (and more) is crucial and scares the hell out of me as I go through it but I'm sure that once I'm on my trip I'll forget all about it. Next year I'll be able to give presentations of my "year off" travelling around the world but I will have forgotten what it was like BEFORE I set off and I'll have forgotten what advice to give people who are planning a trip. Seasoned travelers forget what it was like "before the first time" and can sometimes be a bit blase "Oh, I just bought a bike and a map and set" NO THEY DIDN'T!

So, if anyone out there has any advise they would like to pass on though my workshop please post it there. It could be advise you wish you had before you went, or you could be in the planning stage and have come up with a great idea that would make the process easier. Are you planning a trip and have anything you want to say to people?

I think the main thrust of my workshop will be to try to deal with the whole process and all the paperwork that is needed before you even set off. Hopefully, having just gone through the process I can save some people some time but explaining what I did and what they do/don't have to do.

If you are coming to the UK HUBB meeting and are planning any trip then please come along. I'm planning on it being more of a discussion rather than a lecture. We can all compare notes, share advise and hopefully benefit from it. Equally, if you've been on a trip then please come along and share your advise.

If you're in USA/Canada, then I'm also running this in Canada in August - three weeks into my RTW trip.

Cheers

Dom

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I learnt the VERY hard way...



ALWAYS KEEP YOUR PASSPORT, DOCUMENTS & WALLET IN A WATERPROOF HOLDER IN YOUR JACKET AND NEVER LET IT OUT OF YOUR SIGHT.

Also, always keep an emergency credit card and cash hidden on the bike as well as copies of important documents.



They are probably the most important thing you can ever need while on the road. You can lose everything else but these !!

Laugh at me here [url=http://www.touringted.com/2008/01]Touring Ted

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

IMHO, the key is to bear in mind that most of what you fret and stew about before leaving doesn't really matter much in the end. There's way too much to do anyway, and unless you're superhuman in a variety of respects (organizational skills, multipath tracking of issues and information, methodical resolution of an endless list of tasks) you'll never get it all done....or alternatively you'll never actually leave because you're not yet ready.

You're never fully ready. In the end, you just leave.

I fully intended to have a GPS on my bike for this trip (after getting lost in various Italian cities in the dark during rush hour on my last trip, looking for hostels which I hardly ever found). I didn't get around to it. Everyone riding my model of bike says you can't possibly survive without suspension upgrades; I never got around to this, either, and am still on my original shock and spring at 80,000 miles. People said the same thing about the seat, and in the end I agreed--so I bought an Airhawk in Europe and have used it for the past 55,000 miles.

In other words, do what you can and/or feel like, then take off without regrets. It'll be fine. Most of it doesn't really matter--it just seems to matter when all you've got to occupy your time is hanging out on websites with lots of people who think it matters.

One contrary note: there are a few things which actually do matter. On my bike, the doohickey is one such item. Concentrate on these sorts of issues as a first priority, because unlike improved brakes, re-jetting for marginal increases in horsepower, or specifics of tire choice or clothing brands (or whatever), they can ruin your trip.

Hope that's helpful. I'd hate to be thought of as one of those people who "forget what it was like "before the first time" and can sometimes be a bit blase...." I haven't forgotten; I'm just smarter now than then, and I'd like others to benefit.

Mark

(from steamy Belem, soon to cross the Amazon on my way homeward)

He's right ya know !! Well said Mark.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

As someone preparing for my own RTW trip, what would be most useful is information about preparations which either (a) increase the chance of a successful trip or (b) must be made in advance.

For example on the later point, I know that Russia requires significant advance planning if you want to visit Mongolia, because you need a double-entry visa. Are there other countries which require such advance planning?

Personally I plan primarily for the catastrophic (e.g. health issues, safety, bike breakdowns, how to get into various countries, etc.) and leave the day to day stuff to work out itself as I go along (e.g. where I am going, when I arrive, etc.).

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

Dom....look forward to seeing/hearing you in Nakusp this summer.

Don't know that I have a top tip but I do know that I've a tendency to probably spend too much time 'on' the bike on my various trips and maybe not enough time 'in' the various places and communities. That may be related to the usual time constraints that my trips seem to often be under (maybe not a prob for the RTW folks who have no fixed times).

I've actually had lots of great experiences when through circumstance or bike issues, I've been 'forced' to slow down or stop. Kinda paradoxical - (travel's best when you don't) - so now I do try to conciously stop more often take a few more pics etc.

I try to remember that you can never do a trip for the first time ever again.

Let me know if you need a place to stay for a couple of days in Red Deer.

Stephen

I think the answer to this topic is different for each individual. An example being a conversation I had with a friend in north east Pakistan, my wife had fallen off and broken her arm, he needed to leave and sort his visa in Islamabad for India, we had to ship her bike to Goa and fly her there as well and I had to ride solo to meet her in Goa.
The morning he left to ride 600k down the KKH it was if he was off on a Sunday morning ride around Buckinghamshire, no preparation, just start bike and ride off saying "cya in India" as did I a week later.
My point being that I spent 18 months crossing t's and doting i's(but not the above problem) looking back most of it really didn't matter, it comes down to the individuals frame of mind, the only thing we came across that could of stopped us was paperwork issues at borders or the weather but we were determined to succeed.
Most people don't plan each year they live at home in advance and trying to do it for a trip is always going to be a balancing act, you just live on the road and not at home and solve problems as they appear.
As a foot note thou we didn't really go anywhere uninhabited, if there are people living nearby problems can be sorted.

Cheers
Pete

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Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand 2016
Buenos Aires to NYC 2012-2013: www.facebook.com/curryhunt
India and back 2009-2010:

IMHO what's most important is what is in your head. I used to load the bike with half the TT catalogue in the hope that I'd actually sleep the night before I set off. Once moving there will be times when carrying (in my case) a spare coil will save the day. There are other times when that coil is just so much junk that reduces fuel consumption and makes the bike harder to push when you missed a fuel stop. Knowing that Triumph use garbage coils and there won't be another fuel station in a few miles in Finland are the sort of things you can only really learn but might keep in mind. (Tales of dodgy coils on the net however get swamped in tales of broken drive shafts and ring antennas and all the other rubbish, so I still think you have to learn for yourself).

A weekend in the Lake District, a tour of Nothern France and a tyre and oil change with the exact stuff you'll use on the big trip is IMHO a much better use of your planning time and money that a hundred parcels from the shiney catalogue people and days trawling the net.

Andy

Great thread this , especially for some one who has decided recently its time to stop thinking about it and just do it. It feels fairly daunting at first but i am working my way through things slowly just hoping that I get it fairly right, if not ill deal with it on the road.

Its so early in planning for me I am not sure even of the route I want to take or how long but I think finances will dictate this and I am thinking a year to start with. I have the bikes now (better half is going as well) two xt600e's and have started to prep them still cant decide whether to go for hard or soft luggage, lets not discuss that here (leaning towards soft today). I guess for me the part I am not looking forward to is the paperwork so this thread will hopefully help with some good tips. I think, for what its worth, that sometimes the questions that come up for me would be laughed at by the seasoned RTW travellers so i tend to sit back and read the threads here,many books etc trying to gain as much info as possible. For instance when I first thought about this trip I had no idea what a carnet was let alone that I had to have one or where to get it, thankfully i now know.

I guess what I am getting at is that we all have to start somewhere and this site/thread is as good as any place.....

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

My 2p worth

* do the in-depth, turn-by-turn planning by all means but recognise that a lot of that will go out the window when you get underway. And rightly so - that's the point of an adventure.

* keep stuff simple with a degree of redundancy but don't over do it. Overlanding isn't like defusing a bomb, you get plenty of chances to evolve your strategies along the way so mapping systems to pack your panniers etc..may change on route. Leave space for that loaf of bread or bag of crisps (chips) - this isn't an arctic expedition where space is critical.

* key failure points of your bike. Good to know - the reg-rec went on my AfricaTwin and we had bought another one along. Can you cover all eventualities? No and besides your bike will be heavier and wallet lighter from buying all the what-if replacement parts!

* Furthermore, regular service items should take preference over what-if repair parts. Take that spare oil filter. Take that front sprocket, i.e the stuff that's likely to be needed. Leave behind that spare fuelpump that weighs 1kg and only broke for "some bloke called Jim off the forum" etc..

* Research where the places you want to see are - drill a little deeper than just the town or the area. Travelling is tiring and exploring towns is time consuming - plan that now before you go rather than when you're tired and feeling like skipping on to the next place.

Choose some good tactics but above all else, do it your way!

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Find out details of my 2011 trip to Siberia on a lightweight dirtbike:
www.brighton2expeditions.co.uk

1 tip if there is 2 of you travelling as a couple on 2 bikes, (and this is embarrassing because it took us 6 months to figure out :-)
We had a bag for dirty laundry, mine and the wifes, so some days it was full and other days it was empty but it was always in my pannier. Some days I could hardly close the lid, other days stuff was rattling around.
So the moral of the story is carry your own dirty laundry and your pannier contents never changes!

Pete

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Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand 2016
Buenos Aires to NYC 2012-2013: www.facebook.com/curryhunt
India and back 2009-2010:

The biggest and most important part of your plan should be to be able to change and adapt your plan. Once you've managed that, you should be on your way.

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www.seeyouwhenwegetthere.com

markharf is right. you are never ever ready....you do just have to leave.
We had a date set to leave..May 18th 2003. we were not ready. we thought about leaving it for another month..but we knew that once that was up another would be needed and so on.
so we just left.

we had the basics covered. visa for Russia (BTW a multi-entry visa for Russia is no longer the problem it once was - use Stantours), POA (Power of Attorney) sorted out should one or both of us die and for all the other things that need to be sorted and re-sorted despite all of the prep and visits to banks and solicitors etc. something is always needed AFTER you have left!
We also wrote a will.
Copies both hard and electronic of all your documents to leave with someone at home. plus also to take with you.
Basic preventative measures on your vehicle of choice. if you have done a little research it will be well documented as to the weak elements/points of your chosen vehicle. (despite what is said, every bike/car/4x4 etc has some!) Make sure these issues are covered as best as poss before getting on the road. However, alterations will be made whilst on the road and these will be some of the best you will do!

the best advice I can give after 2 years of prep before leaving and 7 continuous years on the road is:
be flexible.

have a rough route, an idea but do not panic if you are forced to alter it.
don't rush. take time, enjoy. you have put hell of a lot of effort into doing a RTW - make the most of it.

some parts will always take longer than you have imagined or estimated. make sure you have a buffer zone for these 'times'. there will be many!
keep up to date with current issues in the countries you are gong to visit but don't get paranoid.

try to keep everything in the same place in your bags and panniers. this means that you will be able to pack and unpack in the dark if necessary and also means that its easy to pack as everything has its 'home'.

I know this following comment may not go down well and its not directed at anyone in particular but just what we have noticed by being on the road for so long.....leave behind the arrogant and demanding attitude that most of the inhabitants of the western 'civilized' countries have. We do not realize we have it but we do. It comes from a lack of time and stacks of pressure in our normal day to day lives...take a deep breath and 'chill'. things will get done and if you have a smile on your face and a handshake at the ready (rather than $$ always at the ready!) it will make for a wonderful time.

OK - lecture over.

final point - allow yourself time to get excited rather than too stressed about what is to come......

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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

Reading an interesting book, ´Breakfast with Socrates´. It highlights the link between preparation and adventure, as stated in the title.

One thing I would do though, take spare sprockets but no chain. The chain will weigh too much and is easily purchased everywhere. And sprockets can be zip tied to the frame. All this assuming you need a chain!

I´m just finishing my first RTW, and next time I wouldn´t take any spares other than throttle cable, clutch cable, sprockets, and credit card for the rest. Unless your bike has a specific weakness for say a water pump. Then one weeks worth of clothes, a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat. Although tent isn´t really required if you do a tiny bit of planning each day, but does offer more flexibility.

Mark, are you already in Belem!? I´m heading back to Lima for, ahem, sprockets. Wish I´d packed some... Anyway, will probably catch you in Colombia.

Is that because you mostly use Hotels ??????

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.