Fast forward to 2003, trying to come to terms with a divorce from a woman I truly miss. Now I was the owner of a honda vfr 800 vtec touring europe again, after a 30 year gap from bikes starting to think i would like to go further afield.
In 1969 i took a Norton 650 ss 2 up wih camping gear on tour of Austria/Switzerland/germany and france over a 2 week period, it was hard work and slow going but i was bitten by the touring bug.
A tour to vienna followed the next year on the same bike followed the next year with a trip to rome
By now friends are thinking I'm insane. Everything is now ready for the 1st sept when I will be leaving Portsmouth for Spain and Africa. Oh by the way my right knee is giving some pain as the consultant warned me it would but when i'm on the bike it does not hurt - answer stay riding the bike. A Moral to this entry - never give up on your dreams, it's always achievable if you try!
I prefer to travel on my own, meeting the odd person along the way. I always think it makes you master of your own destiny and you're not stuck with some pillock who is a pain in the butt.
A concerted effort at the gym saw me back on the bike in 3 months albeit a tad weaker down the left side and other side effects.
A tour of the balkens followed in 2007 on the vfr 800 a super touring bike 70k, which never missed a beat.
I decided in aug 2007 to buy a 98 600 honda transalp and fettle to my spec and set off for india via iran/pakistan in sept 2008.
Aha may 2008 saw my left knee start to disintegrate due to ostio arthitis. By june I was on crutches, at which time I told the consultant I planned to do a long distance trip, he just smiled
planing has been kept to a minimum as being retired with no ties i can take as little or long as i want.
basically i leave portsmouth for santander in spain on sept 1st. Having toured all europe except spain i intend to tour spain until 18th sept then at last a ferry from algerciras to cueta on the moroccan mainland from there touring moroc to rabat to get mauri and mali visas from there daily planning until mali-bukini faso and then on to ghana /togoland flexibility is the key word
I could fill pages about the bike but i will be brief 98 transalp all except engine and gearbox rebuilt including new bearings throughout, new alloy wheels, new clutch ,new hagon shock, K&N air filter, Iridium plugs, rebuilt lower seat with gell insert. Scott oiler. Folding gear lever,Headlight guard Side pannier racks.Arrow exhaust, secoundary fuel filter,side stand larger foot.
Miles at start of trip 43K.
Spares nearly all electrical plus plugs and K&N oil filters, brake pads inner tubes.
Spare cables.Spare spokes
At last i am on my way the journey to portsmouth proved uneventful baring a last english cloud burst to see me on my way.I arrived at portsmouth 2 hours early a shame really as jackie furnue had arranged a few HU members to see me off which i missed being early.
The ferry went as any ferry journeys do boring.
I did have the pleasure to talk to a couple on the heading back to their home in the Algave(I think) having enjured two months of rain on and off. A most delightful couple
Muaritania proved to be pretty hard i did say in my original bog how great the country and scenery of marocco were do not believe the crap they say about getting into maro or the hassle i can only asssume they have never been here the german and french bikers come here in droves what about seeing a few more brits. Even the police are nice and its pretty cheap
Not much funIn noouakchott at the Mali embassy we met Georgie a canadian lawyer and very expreience africa biker we agreed to travel as 3 to Bamako Mali
It was on paper going to be an easy first day 163 miles to Aleg Mauritania across the souhern sahara It was until Aleg what a shit hole the two lane highway became one in the town due to rubbish we decided to press on We filled up wth petrol
Segou proved to be a haven in africa set on the side of the Niger it had quiet tranquillity good food increadabe Malian music, even a cheap streetside eatery run by one lovely smilling malian who even did a 3 coarse plat de jour and wait for it turned the telly to english league football on my secound trip to segou i watched man u v blackburn something i would never do in the uk Man u won of coarse.
someone gave me a sticker of drogber for the bike who does he play for.
for bent cops their world champsLeaving Bamako was a pleasant early morning ride 6.30 start the road goes up the hills to the north of Bamako past the presidential palace thru empty roads on the mali savaneh towards the mauri border at diema turn left to Kayes , all this is tarmac in good condition
sorry for delay on blog update as my mother used to say when i travelled in my twenties I know when your having good time as you only write when you are bored A worried night was spent prior to heading for Rosso an irish guy sorry terriable on names was to very kindly travel to the rosso crossroads to try and take the attention of me at roadblock thanks mate your a true traveller, it partley worked they didnt ask for parrsavent but did me 20 euros for missing mirror You corrupt gits eventually at the rosso crossroads this great guy headed back for zebrabar hope cops didnt steal from him on