Early Planning for August 2004 Departure from Southern California

<blockquote>I plan to hop on my F650GS and head north to the Arctic Circle through California, Oregon & Washington. Then circle back through BC, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona then through Mexico, Central America and South America. Then shipping bike to Africa and continuing through Africa, Europe etc. </blockquote>

Anyone interested in such a journey or in the midst of planning let's chat. Perhaps we'll find some synergies and make some if not all of the journey together. --- smile

[This message has been edited by DigitalTavern (edited 03 August 2003).]

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I am interseted in your world trip. Can you send me more details such as expected duration and likely cost.

Thanks

Hey there - The trip planning is in its infancy so I'm scant with details other than I'm planning on leaving on August 1, 2004 and have planned just over 12 months returning by September 2005. The first part of the journey will be through California, Pacific Northwest then into Canada to the Arctic circle via the Dempster Highway.

From here to Alaska where the destination is Haines to catch the daytime Ferry to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. From here we'll head through British Collumbia, Vancouver et. al. and cross the border back to the states in Montana at Glacier National Park. From there head through Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and eventually back into California to enter Mexico in Baja. Mexico and South America to where we'll end up in Rio to have the bikes shipped to South Africa. I'm still working on the Africa part of hte trip as well as more details with South America. But the diea would be to end up in Morocco to then take on Europe by Early Spring 2005.

Europe is still up for discussion, but I am excited about it and then making it to Pakistan and Nepal where in Kathmandu shipping bikes to Bangkok for the Southeast Asia leg.

Then through Indonesia, Irian Jaya, New Zealand and Austalia where we'll ship the bikes back home. The only concern is that I have nothing planned for Russia (other than perhaps some of the baltics during the Europe leg) and China. So as the planning and education continues there may be a consideration for China. Or, that can wait till 2006!

As for cost, I'm clueless and have started penciling costs. I can imagine that a budget of $100/day not including cost of bike, gear and mods is at least a starting point. I'm sure others who've been on similar journey can chime in with a reality check. Obviosly shipping costs and airfare for the non-overland segements will be significant. Europe and USA will likely be the more expensive legs.

I hope this helps. I'm currently gaining more traction daily as I continue my research and education. I'm sure I'll find some folks who will join on certain legs; and I'm hoping to get input from people who've experienced travel in these regions to provide insight and ideas. Let me know your thoughts....

As for

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Hey, thanks for your interest. As you can imagine, this is an exciting trip and will require just about a year to plan fully. So the details I've sketched as my "straw man" outline are as follows:

Leave August 1, 2004
Plan on 13 months returning by end of August 2005.
Estimated cost? I've got no idea but not including bike, bike mods, gear I'm penciling out a rough number of $100 USD/day as a starting point.
Certainly shipping costs and non-overland air travel will be significant.

Leaving Southern California in August, I plan to journey through the best of California's natural wonders and into the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, Washington and heading to the Arctic Circle via the Dempster Highway in the NW Territory. From here head to Alaska with the destination of Haines where I will catch the Ferry to Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Exploring British Columbia, Vancouver and eventually crossing the border back into the States in Montana and Glacier National Park. Exploring Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Arizona and the amazing deserts of the Western United states will cross the border into Mexico to tour Baja. Then Mexico, Central America, South America to Tierra del Fuego and up to Rio where in Rio ship the bikes to South Africa.

Africa is a wild card at this time as I'm reading more and more. But the goal is to enter Europe via Morocco to the Iberian peninsula in early Spring 2005. Europe is up for discussion. But I want to plan this carefully so that I can enter Pakistan and then head to Nepal. From Kathmandu ship the bike to Bangkok or India. Tour parts of India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Irian Jaya and then New Zealand and Australia, Shipping the bike back home from down under.

The only sorry part is nothing planned for Russia other than touching some of the baltics possibly on the European leg. Nor China. So pending time and budget China could be thrown in or a small part of it. Otherwise China and Russia could wait for 2006.

As you can see it's still a straw man. I'm hoping that I'll have takers who will join me on certain segments or legs of the tour. And that experienced travelers in some of these parts will chime in with exciting and/or scary reasons to do or not do certain areas. Particularly Africa and India are questions for me.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have ideas or concerns. I've got a scant 12 months to plan. So long. Yet so short.



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Tip:

13 months isn't long enough for your plans.

Forget "exploring" the USA and Canada - it will still be there in future years for leisurely touring from home any time - get on down to South America and Africa and spend your time and money there - you won't regret it.

China costs silly money - you have to have a guide ALL the way and pay for their vehicle, accommodation etc - and is a huge pain to get visas for - take's months, sometimes a year. Skip it.

Keep riding the site, and especially the Travellers Stories for info.

Biggest tip: set a date, get the bike ready and go.

Our "plans" for our last trip were minimal. We were in England, and a friend said he was going to the Shetlands for the midnight sun. "Cool" said we - and decided that Norway was even better. So we headed north for the Arctic circle and ended up at Nordkapp. Only one direction from there - south.

Somewhere in Namibia Susan grumbled about having to head home soon - and I said "South America is on the way - why not ride up?" So we did.

Got to the bottom, and Antarctica was just a little ways away, lots of boats going there - so we did. Then once again, only one direction left - north. So we did - all the way to Alaska. Plan? Wuzzat? See our story at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/johnson/

Don't overplan or overprepare - it's too easy to "Marry the plan" and when things go wrong, or serendipity moves in, it's becomes hard to change. Things will change, you'll change, you'll hear about interesting places, and get new and unplanned opportunities - be flexible, and go for it!



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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

thanks, Grant. There's a method to my madness. As this is a first trip the warm up was up to Alaska and back through the states. Then in US I could tweak, adjust and otherwise prepare further based on the first leg. But I know 13 mos. is pushing it.

I figured as much. But it was just back of mind thinking.

This site is so friggin' excellent. I've already read tons of stories, emailed a bunch of folks and learned more than I can imagine. Kudos to you and Susan for the initiative and committment to what is absolutely fantastic. I'm a big fan and hope to continue to contribute as I make my journey.

Agreed. My date is set in stone. August 1, 2004. That is departure. I'm working hard on planning. But not too concrete. More of my planning is educating myself of geography, climate and history. I want to know as much as possible. I'll be ready to switch and be sponteneous. As a writer and creative I've already got a publisher lined up for a book I plan to write. It's different than just a journey or "trip" book. But more on that later. I also have a few sponsors I'm hoping to secure to help susidize some things. All good. I love your story and way put it hear. Only one way to go. Twice. Damn. I'd love to go to Antarctica. That sounds so cool. So I'm reading, planning and will be participating her on HUBB as I keep things moving. Gotta keep the traction. And I'll be ready. August 1, 2004

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Hey there-

Shoot me your email as I am not sure if you got my previous mailer...
So when are you thinking about slipping across the Mexican Border...I leave NYC Nov 1st give take, are we on target?

Xavier (see NYC-Arg-NYC section)

I plan on crossing the border into Mexico likely mid September 2004. That's the plan now. Could be later. Since it's early planning I'm remaining flexible. But I have in my head a August 1, 2004 departure from Southern California. Anyone looking to hook up for any portion of this journey, drop a note here w/email...

[This message has been edited by DigitalTavern (edited 26 August 2003).]

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