Hello Nicola,

OK, you've grabbed my interest in a trek going east.
I understand you're based in Melbourne (Aus), just over the water a few km from where I am, the north of Tasmania.

I just came back again from spending three months mostly in France, mid May to mid August, where I have bought myself a bike and have it in storage until I go there end of next May 2013 for my next adventure for another three months, where I would like to go through Italy and into Slovenia, then up through Austria.

But for 2014 I like your idea of heading more into eastern block countries.

Coolblackbird's trip looks good too, and is in fact pretty well what I had in mind at this stage,
I have my bike stored in the north west of France, up near Angers, and it takes me around two or three days to get myself down to the south east in the Drome area (Rhone-Alpes) where I have a family home I stay at sometimes.

The bike I have is Yamaha TDM 850 twin, all set up for touring.
But I thought if I were to be more adventurous I could look at moving to a different moto. My TDM has served pretyy well on all the roads and tracks I have riden this year. My French assurance (we call insurance) is with AXA and I can pretty well go anywhere in Europe, Russia included.

So, yep, I would be interested to be in the loop and start discussing ideas.

Keep us posted,
Paul

__________________

Hi Paul
I am going on a short one next year around europe a bit of a tester of bike and equipment fine tuning for big one look at my 3 weeks around europe page.
we could meet up somewhere on our trip next year.
information is the big thing for me europe is easy.
I am going to put up as much information on this page i can to head of problems i like ted simons way of dealing with travel chilled out but prepared

Happy biking i am Paddy by the way

hi everyone

Motorcyclists Touring info EUROPEAN 10 COUNTRY TOURING
What is a Carnet?
Maps, Travel Books, Guides and Travel Information - Stanfords
ultimate ear | Ear Plugs | Hearing and Ear Protection London UK | Soundear
James Cargo Services IATA, AATA, IPATA and DEFRA approved Cargo Agent
http://www.youtube.com/spotarchive?v=TFVl_HMEblw&lr=1
http://www.rac.co.uk/travel/driving-...et-de-passage/
just some i found if anyone has better links please post
Happy biking

You guys all sound like you have similar routes planned ive just done all these countries and continue to do so if you need any info or would like to look at some pics feel free to check out my blog, all I can say is the people in the balkans states are very friendly alot speak English so thats no problem and the scenary is absolutely stunning, you will never regret riding down this way its amazing. Tip ride the whole way down the E65 along the croatian coast and beyond its an amazing ride.

Sheldon

www.rideforsmiles.com

Hi Sheldon
just been looking at your blog very good. I 've got a question how much per day are you averaging, i am trying to work with £30 to £35 a day is that realistic or can it be done cheaper of coarse it does depend on which country
Happy biking
Paddy

b eerbie r

Hi Paddy,
Thanks for the info, I checked out your thread for the 3 week trip for next this comming year (2013). Sounds like a nice trip, albeit a little fast for my way of travelling.

I'm pretty keen to ride further east for 2013, and am currently looking at going back up and over and around the French Alps, do a bit more hiking while there. Then head over through Italy and east to Slovenia, more hiking. Then I'm thinking it might be nice to go further east still and ride on to Croatia and Bulgaria and see if it might be possible to to get to Turkey. I have plenty of time, I normally go over for three months.

So, my 2013 trip would be a nice little teaser for the trip as outlined by Nicola for the following year. Also, I can do any extra mods or work to my TDM 850 and make it as ready for 2014 as I am able, if I choose to keep it for furture trips. I'll be making up some new wiring harnesses for some of my electronics while back here in Aussie-land before I head back.

I head back over there late June 2013, I am already feeling the need to get moving on getting ready......

From the great land down under,
Paul

__________________

Hi Paul
the hiking sounds a blast in the alps. the trip for 2014 is looking good from my side just one thing trying to tell the missis that i want to go for 3 months or more is harder then the trip itself ha ha the look on her face but she knows i have the bug. life is all about new adventures. On your electronics have any tips on good cameras and other stuff to bring or not
Happy biking
Paddy

I'm sure you'll be able to keep up no problem at all, I don't go too fast, well, not all the time. I like to look about and to get off and walk in the villages. Then like I say, set up a base camp for a few days and do some more extensive walks in the mountains.

Yep, Tassie has some top roads, if it didn't I wouldn't have need for a bike I guess. Then too, the big island above me where you are has go some awesome roads up through the Victorian Alps.

Nicola, what are your plans regarding a bike over there, would you ship a bike from Oz, or do you have or would you get a bike over there for the trip?

What sort of wheels are you contemplating on having for this trip?

Hey there Paddy, well I'm still sorting that out. Actually it seems I'm always sorting this issues of electronics out. I like my electronic gadgets. Essentially, I enjoy photography, and for that I have a Nikon D90 with a few stock lenses. It's built pretty tough and has toured with me this year through the Alps for near bang on 10000 km, (not sure if you work with the old imperial or the metric system).
The other stuff, well I like to have lots of music, so carry a few mp3 players. I also do sound recording and squeeze in my sound recording gear. Then I carry a laptop with me, this year just one, last year I took two, but then I was driving a car so I had the room. Then all the cords and cables that go with all that gear. You should watch them when I go through security at airports, they can make no sense of me and really question what I do.

The thing I am wanting to try to do is to make a purpose built electronic power supply / charging system for all my gadgets, so I can charge from the bike, instead of trying to always find a safe place to charge my gear in camp ground toilet / shower blocks. It has worked well thus far.

Anyhow I hope to have it down to a fine art his coming trip.
Don't worry Nicola, it might help slow me down, having all this gear.

Anyhow, Paddy, I think you found me on another thread talking tents, another thing I am looking to renewing for the coming trip as well.

Paul

__________________

At this stage I'm considering starting in Cork, Ireland where a gentleman on the HUBB (alias 'Wheatwacker') offers a service where he assists riders in buying a bike and sorting out the papers and providing an address at which the bike can be registered. Failing that, just picking one up myself in Ireland... Ireland seems more straightforward than the UK and I'm also an Irish citizen (which doesn't make much difference actually). There are some issues with me finishing the ride in Nepal as I can't leave the bike there, or sell it, so I might need to ship it somewhere (home?).

At the moment I'm thinking a 250cc dual purpose something. A Yam TTR250 (rare as hens teeth in Europe) or XT250 or Honda XR125/250 or a Yam WR250R.... something like that. I want something comfortable that doesn't write off the possibility of offroading.

Interesting to hear of your gadgets!! I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible in that regard but of course it's difficult. Also a photographer I'd like to take my old D40. Going to try and take only a tiny laptop and my iPhone to double as a GPS.

I am a broke long-term-student-come-Arts-worker. The less things that can break on me, the better!!!

Can't wait to hear how your trip goes in 2013. Sometimes 2014 seems so far away but I know it will come up quickly.

Hi nicola
if you like ill keep an eye out for bike here in the uk on ebay and if i find something ill send link and if something comes up you like and can buy i can store in my garage if you want
Paddy
happy biking

Hi paul
do you know the output of your alternator on your bike my xc800 has 645w oil cooled which they say can cope with all types of electronics. I am going to give it a good test in the new year so ill let you know how good.
I see nicola is hoping to buy her bike in Ireland the old country i like the idea of Irish plates on my bike i wonder can i re reg bike in Ireland haha as for tent love new one garage for the bike love it
Paddy
happy biking

Hi rockwallaby/Paul, nice to meet you here!
Sounds great. Sounds like we could maybe get a group together to cross Iran and Pakistan. Am trying to get to Nepal in about about October 2014. I might not be able to keep up with you if you're on an 850cc haha!
Would love to hear more about your 2013 trip when you go on it, hopefully you'll be able to do a ride report, sounds fantastic.
P.S. Tassie is so beautiful, need to get a bike down there and ride sometime when I have the dollars. Also New Zealand.