Hi from the Netherlands!

[smeagol]

Hi 2 ya all! My name is Sander (born in 1976) and I'm from the Netherlands. Me and my girlfriend (Marianne) are currently working on some serious plans for a RTW trip. Which should start somewhere between now and 2 years at max. But first we will have to sell a house and increase our funds.

In 1987 my parents and I did a trip to Africa (Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa), which had a big impact on me. In the story book we had to do for school I wrote that in the future I would travel the world in a 4x4. The means of transportation changed a bit, the the idea remains the same.

When I first bought my own motorcycle, I always wanted to travel. But being a 650 chopper (with 2 up) we only did some weekends and a week at most in the BeNeLux. After about one year I upgraded to the 1100 version. A little better, but still...

RTW trips got fired up after seeing "Long way round" on television. Which made me decide to buy a R1150GS Adventure. Last year I took it to Scotland and this year my girlfriend and I visited Norway (Nordkapp). On the Lofoten I crashed my bike.. Lots of damage (many things bent) and injuries in the face (broken teeth & scratches). However no doubt about quiting motorcycling.
Though, it made me decide to face the world together instead of alone.

So here we are... prepping for our next big thing..
I've been reading the 'adventure motorcycling handbook' and we've been watching the DVD series I ordered here. Both very valuable!!

Right now we're having some headaches about what bike we should pick for our RTW. My heart goes to the BMW R100GS I bought for offroading. As it is very simple and I almost know every nut and bolt. I Recently changed the gaskets.
However my girlfriend didn't seem very confident on the bike. On a Transalp she looked more confident. So we still have to work some things out..

So hope to see you somewhere on the road!