There and Back Again - Introducing the Trusty Steed

Hi all.

On to part three..

Since the only reason I bought a bike was so I didn’t have to sell the car, I was presented with a slight technical hitch if I were to follow through with my shiny new plan.
I needed a shiny new licence.

I’d love to say that I flew through each part of the test with ease, but that would be just slightly stretching the truth, and I did get to know the route to the Test Centre by heart.
Suffice to say that the test is now in the rear view mirror, and I’ll never again have to turn around in a constrained space without putting my feet on the floor.

Then came the next fly in the ointment, and this proved to be a fly the size of a rhinoceros.
I was planning to set off in 2020, but no-one reckoned with the Coronavirus.
It seemed like just another health crisis on the far side of the world, but every day the news broadcasts brought it closer to home until a case appeared in my country, and then in my town, and then on my street.
Things quickly spiralled and the international death toll spiralled right alongside.
Then came the Lockdowns..

It felt like we were living out the script of a horror movie.
Needless to say, all plans were put on a semi-permanent hold.
For me, an inconvenience, but we should never forget the daily numbers on the news broadcasts, and the horrific scenes from across the globe.
For all too many, the inconvenience was to prove permanent.
My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones, while I thank God that none of my friends or family appeared on that tragic list.

In the breathing space between lockdowns, I was able to secure a new bike.
I opted for a Royal Enfield Himalayan, which seemed built to handle less-than-perfect roads, didn’t appear too tough to work on, and fell within the price bracket for the meagre resources available.
A good riding position and not too heavy.
Useful, since I expect to be picking myself off the floor at least once or twice.
Plus it was built in India which is where I hope to spend the most time, so parts and expertise should be available for what will likely be a much needed service.

Seems to be customary to name a Himalayan when you buy one, so without further ado, let me introduce you to my companion for this adventure…

Traveller.

I’m really not much of a technical person.
I thought that ‘Bushes’ were what you look for when you get ‘caught short’ on a long journey with no lavatory for miles, and ‘Re-bore’ meant to bore you a second time.
Without going into depth, here are just a couple of the modifications done by the guys at ‘Cooperb Motorcycles’ in Bozeat near Wellingborough…
https://www.cooperbmotorcycles.co.uk/
I had some guards and plates fitted to protect some of the more vulnerable areas and fitted an additional fuel filter around the pump, as well as another for the neck of the tank, for those areas where the fuel quality might be slightly less than desirable.
The guys also fitted spare throttle and clutch cables running in tandem with the existing ones, so if I have a mishap in the middle of nowhere, I should be able to simply swap the ends over.
I also had an ‘On-Off’ switch fitted for the ABS.
No real mechanical benefit here.
Just so that I can have a little more fun and kick a little more dirt when off-roading.

In the following months I kitted her out with luggage, spares, tools, …everything but the kitchen sink.
When I realised she now probably weighed more than my car, I took it all off and started again until I figured I had compromised my way down to a bike that I could actually ride..
This ‘Re-thinking of the load’ proved to be a never ending task, and I’m presently on my fourth or fifth re-assessment of what I ‘really can’t do without’.
The stove, complete with pots and pans can stay at home.
The ‘Just in case’ tools can also sit this one out.
After all, I have to make room for the hammock!
Well at least I didn’t pack the Beer Cooler…
Hmmmm. I wonder….

https://cruzincooler.com/

Mustn’t forget of course, that I plan on hauling a guitar half way round the world as well.
A little 'Martin', like the one Ed Sheeran uses.

The guitar won over the Beer Cooler.

Just..

There were of course other hitches and hurdles, like a military coup in Myanmar, and of course Ukraine, but, by and large, preparations continued.

That largely brings me up to date.

I reached a major landmark last Monday when I picked up the Carnet, which is a document I have to get stamped on the way in and out of each country by Border Officials, and have now started looking to secure visas.

This does bring home, how close it is to D-Day.
There is so much preparation involved that I sometimes forget that there’s actually a journey at the end of all this.

Visas seem to be a challenge in themselves, but they are my next, and nearly last, tasks to complete before I can finally set off, so my next blog, and I do hope you stick with me as I try my utmost not to ‘Re-bore’ you, will let you know how that’s going, as well as looking at the route itself.

www.pinterest.co.uk/odsbodikins

Take care, one and all.

Ride Cheerfully.