Guys,

Alex how's your home-made pannier doing?

Jimmy remember if you hit Malaysia let me know Im in KL.

Lenny, I have your Indonesia Travel book waiting

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"man without beard is like porridge without salt": Ned Kelly

Hello All, I was just wondering how this trip went ? I was the guy who organised the first meeting in the Convent Garden pub with about 10 possible riders. Not sure how many made the trip, I didn't due to f*cking my knee (cartledge and ligaments in October '07), an opertation in Febuary and 10 months off work.
Now I've got itchy feet again, a garage full off bikes kitted and ready (well I had to do something with my enforced leisure) XT600z, XRV650 and R100gs.
So slightly delayed I'm thinking of doing the UK-Stans-Mongolia-Russia-UK route or part of it. So any of you who did the trip do get in touch, it'd be good to hear what I missed out on.
Brian..

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rust & dust

I didn't make it. Went straight to India, gave up trying to get my bike shipped from Australia to Delhi and bought an Enfield 350 in Nepal. I was in India and Nepal for 4 months and it was great, but it wore me out. India's a hard place to do alone. I got back 12 days ago and need to save up for my next trip.

-Dave

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Thanks for that, I think there were about 20 going at one stage, various routes, would be good to hear who made it across the Chanel. I,ve noticed that Bjorn has posted a Mytube video of Kazakstan route on here, but other than that no idea where they got to.

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rust & dust

Brian, 3 of us are still on the road to Oz. Len, Bjorn and myself - though I started off from France. Separately we did the iran, central asia, china, kk route. Can confirm china is a pain to get in and out, and kk makes the china hassle worthwhile. May meet-up with Len somewhere Thailand in January.

Sheen
By Bike to Malaysia

Hi Guy's,
I met up with some of you guy's in Manchester and seen several of you on the road, I'm currently in Hampi in India, moving on to Nepal in March, then the rest of the world going east!
Love, peace and happiness to you all!
Graham

Hi Guys ...

Have just clicked onto this thread after months and amazed to see it's still going. For those of you who are interested and still check Jimmy's thread out on occasions, along with a few of the original contributors have managed to make it as far as Thailand.

I've missed out meeting with Sheen so far, but still hopeful we might meet in Malaysia before I head off for Indonesia. I spent a few months with Bjorn travelling through the Stans (tough conditions too), but with different routes for India we decided to go our separate ways in Pakistan.

Jimmy didn't get to do the overland thing, but it sounds like he's having fun up in the North of the country somewhere anyway. Good on ya Jimmy for starting things off, it's been a hell of a ride so far!

India was hard! The road conditions were at times difficult, but it was the traffic that had me in near constant fear of my life. I'd frequently get to the end of a days riding feeling I was lucky to be alive. No, seriously! I jest not!!! An hour of fighting the city traffic Chennai left me in as much of a mess as if I'd done 5 rounds with Mike Tyson. Maybe I'm a bigger wimp than I thought, as I don't think I'd take on an extended tour of that country again. Loved the food though ...

The Stans were tough, but mostly road conditions and extreme temperatures. As an example the temperatures in Turkmenistan were often hitting mid 40's with we believe getting close to a searing 50 degrees for our desert ride north to Uzbekistan. I remember many difficult days (as Bjorn will testify who had to put up with my frequent whinging) in that part of the world, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

One genuine highlight was the first few days in Tajikistan, after meeting up with a group of Polish bikers. We had a great time together, the result of which was the U-tube vid' that Bjorn posted.

Iran. What can I say? Some of the most hospitable people who would invite you to their homes at the drop of a hat. But then I thought the Tajik's were incredibly generous too and had a night's stopover with one family, the memory of which will stay with me for the rest of my life. They had very little, but gave us the best of what they had. It was a very humbling experience.

There is so much more ... But will have to save it for my travel writing. Anyone who's interested in reading more, then ava'squizz at UK to Oz overland ...

Be warned though, it's both wordy and way, way behind showing me to be still back in Central Asia. It seems a lifetime ago ...

To close here; this is turning out to be a trip of so many dimensions, with me encountering things i could never have expected. It's not always been exotic and good fun, and sometimes as with India had me digging deep to find the will to go on. But having said that am so glad I made the decision to pull the plug on my old life in the UK. I really don't know what the coming year will bring, but this journey has become a true adventure. So thanks to the HUBB members who have given me such support, help and advice. Until I discovered the Horizon's Unlimited website, I thought I was a lone lunatic who wanted to ride half way around the world. Turns out I'm far from alone ...

Anyway ... anyone in southern Thailand, Malaysia or Indoesia get in touch and maybe we meet up for a coldie. Lenzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hello Len, glad to hear you had a good time out there. I think I received a few email blogs of your trip, thanks. I'm gutted I never got to go, knackered knee !! out of interest, roughly how much did the trip UK -Stans cost ? I'm still looking to head that way sometime. All the best to ya..

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rust & dust

Hi Len

I've been following ur blog and waiting for it to get upto date....hint hint !