My own RTW ride is planned to start from Germany in May 2003. The general route and time is roughly as follows: south to Portugal, then north to Hammerfest, head southeast to Moscow and Irkustz, Ulan Bator, loop back north to Russia, then south through central Asia, taking advantage of the autumn months of September and October, then though the Middle East to East Africa, down south to South Africa, head north through central Africa to north Africa, trying as best as possible to avoid summer heat and tropical rains.

From north Africa or Europe, fly to eastern United States, cross to Alaska reaching Inuvik but with a stopover for a week's canoeing at the Boundary Waters near Minnesota. From Alaska head south to Central America, South America from where I'll hop over to first New Zealand and then Australia.

Then I'll either wend my way through the Indonesian islands from Darwin or fly to Japan and then try to "do" China.

From either routes, I will slowly and hopefully surely find my way home to Malaysia.

Phew! Just imagining the extent of the plan has spun my head.

Well, as somebody once said, might as well let your hand reach for the sky even if the original intention was only to pat the top of your pate!

I am 90 per cent sure I'll be riding a KTM bike, either the 640 or 950 Adventure. I'll make my final choice after I have probefahrt them in Germany.

I hope this advance notice will perk the interest of some of you and if our routes meet at any point it may serve as an ice breaker or a basis for recognition.

I'm 90 per cent sure I'll be alone, but if your route and timing overlap mine, we may want to ride together for whatever reasons, not least we are HU subscribers!

Hi Zaharan,

This is a very cool plan. You can check your route with the average rainfall on www.worldclimate.com They have the figures from the past 50 years. Very helpfull.

Hope to see you on the road. Enjoy it.

Maarten

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