G2K Glasgow to Kathmandu. Leaving Glasgow George Square Sat 27 Sep at 09.00

[AshaBlue]

Well what am I waiting for?

I have got the visas for Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal.

Inoculations are up to date and I have travel insurance.

Flat is rented out.

Handover job on Monday.

Carnet will arrive by Wednesday.

So I am coming up from London next week then leaving for my big trip on Saturday 27 September at 09.00 from George Square, Glasgow.

I aim to get to Durbar Square Kathmandu by the second week in November.

I am raising money for Child Welfare Services Nepal who help disadvantaged children. You can get more info at Child Welfare Scheme - Welcome to CWS.

I will be riding my sky blue Triumph Bonneville called Asha. Asha means luck and hope in Hindi.

You need a lot of luck and hope to ride bikes around South Asia!

My route is down to Dover, across the channel to France, Switzerland, Italy, over the Adriatic to Greece.

Through Greece to Istanbul, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, then to Nepal.

I will have a blog set up by next week and will write it up as and when I can.

If anyone has questions about the journey so far: carnets, bike preparation, India, and Nepal....Don't hesitate to ask.

I was trying to start from the HUGS weekend, but I couldn't get away from work. Please accept my apologies.

We hope to see you on the road,

Ferg & AshaBlue

PS One week to go and I feel like I am going on my first date: excited, nervous, into the unknown...Wonderful!

[Die Lange]

Hi Ferg,
We'll be leaving oct 18th for Kathmandu from the Netherlands. Planning to go through Germany, Austria, Hungary, Roemenia, Bulgary, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India. So, roughly the same route. Not sure if the timing is right but would love to meet you.
Have a save trip and maybe til somewhere in Iran or Pakistan.
Rgeards,
Marcel

[AshaBlue]

Hi Marcel,

Thanks for the reply. I will email when I get to Istanbul, and maybe we can meet up.

Hope to see you on the road.

Fergus

[mcgiggle]

Hope you are able to write a few blogs, we will look forward to reading as my wife and I are doing the same trip next year leaving 2nd week of August.
The only this that we seem unsure about is the climate/weather during the trip so will be good to se how you get on.
Have a fantastic trip, if you are having a stop over on route to Dover we are just off J14 M1 and have a sofa and secure parking if you need to get your head down.

Pete & Caf

[Billy Bunter]

Hey Fergus, well done for getting everything together and taking the plunge, did this trip in 02/03, it was fantastic and i am sure you will have a fantastic time. Well done for raising money too, which i didnt! take care, ride safely and enjoy it all. Lucky you...

[AshaBlue]

Hi Pete & Caf,

I would love to stay the night with you!

I was going to B&B in Dover then ferry across to Calais.

I want to start on the Continent for around 9am then ride for about 250 miles or when my bum tells me that I am not going any further.

I aim to get to Ancona in three days.

Yea, the reason I am going at this time of the year is because the weather is cooler and the monsoon is finished in northern India and Nepal. By the way, I have lived in Nepal off-and-on for the last 16 years.

I rode down to Kerala from Delhi on an Enfield 350 January to March 2000. It didn't rain once!

I then put the original Asha on the train for three days and two nights to Gorakhpur 90ks short of the Nepali border.

Rode up to Kathmandu. Then in the July I hooked up with an American outfit, flew to Lhasa in Tibet then rode back on a Enfield 500 to Kathmandu.

Could life have been better? I don't think so.

I aim to be at Dover next Sunday night. Send me an email to ashablue@live.co.uk and we can chat more.

Hope to see you both next Sunday.

Ferg & AshaBlue

[Roamer]

Ferg it sounds like a great trip and i'll look forward to your blog as i may do something similar next year.

If i can i'll head over to Glasgow next saturday to see you off.

Euan