2nd October 2008,
Europe at a slow pace.Well, I finally manged to set off from the UK after so much faffing about, getting the bike ready, quitting the job in Iraq and leaving the loved ones behind. Setting off with a lump in my throat to the adventure ahead. I'm a month into my trip and have only managed to get an internet cafe that'll allow uploading of pictures, But, the pictures are too big, Aaargh! Next time.
I'm hopefully going around the World from the UK via the west coast of Africa, across to South America continuing to Alaska and finding someway across to Russia and back to the UK! Sounds easier to say it now but it'll take a least a year, if not two. I only hope my finances and work opportunities allow it to happen. As a break in phase I went to the HU meeting in Malaga. What a good crack that was!
I've spent the last 4 years working for the security industry in Iraq and did a few years in the Army before that so have decided I needed a break from all of it and go do something completely different. Well I think I found it and biking around the world is a little different. I've previously ridden to Morocco and Norway and ridden around India and Nepal which was a blast!
I'm on a Yamaha XT 600E, a 2003 bike bought from a member of Horizons Unlimited and just so happens he was the guy who'd puirchased my extra centre stand for the bike. So not only did I get a good bike for 1250 quid but my centre stand back! Cheers Len!
I prepped the bike as best I could with a set of Touratech Panniers, Acerbis 23ltr tank, Sump Guard, tool box, spares and a set of Knobblies, 2 rear and 1 front. The rest of the bike had been looked after by the previous owner. I did paint the tank after taking advice that it was possible, only to find out that it wasn't to be and in a few weeks it looked like it had some weird disease as all the paint bubbled off!! Bummer.

Having a good send off from Edinburgh, my adopted home town from the HU, Edinburgh Community was excellent and the ride out was fun. With the obligatory cheesy photos in view of the castle. Brilliant! Thanks guys!! I even had a member of the public enquire and after telling him about the RTW on the bike, he looked at me strangely and said 'On that.....!?! Good luck pal!' Erm, Thanks mate....

After setting off from the ferry at Santander, Spain with a couple of riding buddies, we headed off for the meet in Malaga, Mike with his XT600e and Dai with his BMW1150GS.
Knowing it was going to take a few days to get there as we had a week spare we went to the 'Peakos De Europe' a nice park in Northern Spain to have our first camping and for me, the first time I'd set up my tent! (I'd just bought it the day before!) with a new anthemn for the trip coming from Dai of 'Shuuuut the F*****k UP!' to a local family gassing ALL night. Oh, That welsh accent, ha ha ha! Now I know why they sing so much!
Getting kicked off the pc in the caff, be back later..