Hi All, Shall we make it 3pm Sunday 29th July at The Sussex pub in Long Acre Convent Garden, junction with St Martins Lane, its opposite Stanfords map shop so we can dash in there to check the route on their big maps. Let me know if this is ok for you. PaulM & Jimmy ive sent a message. Brian.

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Sounds good to me. There's enough space around Covent Garden for bike parking, and those who come without bike can have a pint or three instead of a coffee...
I'll bring an atlas and some printed out maps that I got of the web (particuarly "The Stans"). I don't think detailed maps (i.e. at Stanfords) are important for an early planning stage, though... for me it's more about what each country has to offer. For example, I had a kind of fixed idea about going the southern route through Iran and Pakistan, until I saw some truly spectacular images of the Stans.
Best would probably be if one could switch of any steaming-hot weather and monsoon-season and take a chilled-out 2-year-zig-zag course through Asia, just to make sure not to miss any country and its people & landscapes

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Hi Bjorn and All, yeah seems the stans look ok. Had a message from PaulM, who is going that way. No carnets for stans, so saves £ and paperwork. Looks like there are various final destinations amoungst those on this thread, north, south, china, mongolia so all very open to routes. See ya 29th. Brian

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great, we'll see you guys there

One to consider at the Covent Garden meeting is the chances of Russia not issuing visas following the Litvinenko affair. This could restrict routes. Could you guys please keep both Mick Tharme from Aus and I informed of planned routes and developments.
Have fun.
Paul

Hi paul, Russian visa situation is something we shall have to keep an eye on, its many months away till the trip, so not sure what the situation will be. Brian.

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Whilst you guys are having your meet; please ask if anyone is coming back to the UK for the HUBB meeting. I've been to the one in OZ and it was great. Be nice to attend your one.
The only time restriction on me is that I will be picking my bike up from Felixstowe on 5 May and must have it back by 7 August. I also got to fit in time to see my Mum in North Wales sometime along the way. Otherwise, we're open to any suggestions. Nothing's set in concrete at this time.
Cheers
Mick and Colleen

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Guys

Amazing work gettign this organised - have been following this post since it started!!

Good Luck on Sunday!!!!

Hey Ashmax, no glory yet, only set up a pint and chat in a pub so far. The big work starts next, but thanks for the encouragement. Brian.

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Hi Mick & Colleen, Shall keep you in touch with what happens, are you still planning on going for an 8 week trip east then heading back to UK for the HU meeting? I think the trip will be very flexible, some heading via the stans others heading more south, perhaps an attempt to enter China, though we all seem to want to depart in May June, hope you can join us on the road somewhere. Brian.

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G'day Brian
You got us over there between 5 May and 7 August.
Everything else is very flexible.
We're up for some adventure, a few cold ones, more adventure and heaps more cold ones . . . what else matters when you're on the road with a bunch of like-minded friends . . . .
See ya soon
Regards
Mick and Colleen

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Hi Bjorn & Fizzyfish, just checking you ok for Sunday, did you get my phone number, any problems let me know, other wise see you Sunday. Brian

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yup, looking forward to it!

couldn't PM you back as apparently i haven't got enough posts yet! not like me to be so quiet...

Hello folks, this is my first time on this site, but now I know what I want to do I reckon it's the best place to be. I've travelled on my bike in Europe so far but now I want to do the Full Monty....or something similar.

I don't want to be a quaking 80 year old on a zimmer wishing I had taken the bull by the horns and gone farther afield on a bike, so now I have made the decision to head towards Oz or NZ and see where life takes me afterwards. Timewise I'm thinking of August or September 2008 (primarily because I reckon you neen a lot of time to plan, and secondly, because I need time to get the cash together!) But my decision is made and that's pretty final as far as I am concerned.

At present I ride an 03 Triumph Trophy 1200 but I feel something like an Africa Twin will do the job nicely so this is something I need to sort out. As a very youthful 41 year old I'm determined to see this through to the end, so if any of you are interested in living the dream for real then you've already got a companion in me.

Anything goes as far as I am concerned. The route is largely irrelevant as long as I end up in the Far East somewhere, be it Bangkok, Thailand, Hong Kong, Oz or NZ. I'm not a picky person and am very easy to get along with.....and I sure as hell plan to have a lot of fun along the way....so if you're interested just let me know.

Chris

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"Life is too short to drink cheap wine!"

hi Chris, congrats on making the decision to go! From chatting to some of the others today I think most of us are planning to be heading East out of Turkey late Spring/early Summer, so may be a bit ahead of you. Keep in touch though as you never know...

Nice to see you guys today btw, and thanks for the tips! Here's a heads up in return - there's a solar eclipse in Russia/Kazakhstan/China on 1 August 2008:

Total Solar eclipse of Friday 1 August 2008

Got to be worth a detour if you're in the area!!