Tuesday 29 May 2012

Official count down starts today - 2 weeks until wheels hit tarmac!

It's official, time is running away from me and it will be just a week on Saturday that I fly out to Boston to start the trip and 2 days later on the 12th that I hit the road.  I remember 2 years ago planning the initial stages - that seems like no time either! 

So last weekend,  I met up with kind and patient Stu at Jack Lilleys Triumph to go through some prepatory stuff to basically put my mind to rest and not waste time or worries over in America.


The chain which I was paranoid about, I think I'm OK with now - taking the right spanners and practice with Seb. Next was to make sure I knew my way around the new T100 I'll be riding to check about fitting the luggage with appropriate straps tied under the seat or side bars - don't want that Armani dress flying away in the wind!  Taking my own chain oil and engine oil so self sufficient not needing to find any on the way. Apparently I'll need to lub the chain every c.300 miles so probably every day and keep an eye on the oil - a 1 litre bottle should do the +4 000 miles. 

The house is also now looking like a Tsunami has just hit it with all the bits and pieces I'll be taking over the place -  and the serious packing and unpacking to make sure it all fits into just one small bag will start this weekend.

I've decided that the side bags I've been promised I'll get will be used for the tools and bike stuff on one side and the other for stuff I immediately need to grab like glasses, suntan lotion (yes I am allowed to say I'm having a holiday and will try and get a bronze tan - at least on part of the unhelmeted face and gloved arms!) and the whole array of maps I've bought - I'm still pretty adamant that I dont want satnav - everyone says it creates more of a problem and hey, I want to do a bit of work and the routes probably won't be direct anyway.

....
y he visto hoy que aqui en mi blog tengo muchos amigos de Espana - hola !

Sunday 20 May 2012

Really just a small world

Been getting to grips with twittering since last weekend and just can't believe how many similar minded people are out there trying to have the adventure and do their little bit back to society - thought the idea of creating some cards for the Bonneville and Amazon Fund to take with me and give out before I leave would be a good idea.

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Amazin Amazon "Go or Bust" Fund

Thought long and hard about setting up a special charity fund for contributions while I'm on the road, to push me to finish and to promote what I strongly believe in - conserving the Amazon Rainforest.

The Nature Conservancy "Protecting nature. Preserving life"
After a lot of research, this seems like the perfect charity.  Click on the jaguar opposite.
It tells my story about my time and adventure spent in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest and what I saw to make me strongly believe we need to do something to save it.  Or click on ...
All contributions and messages in the guest book greatly appreciated.
And by pure coincidence, there's an even stronger link, I'll be meeting the person who helps run it on the last leg of my trip - more to follow!

p.s. and now just 1 month to go !  Touch down in the US of A on the 8th June!
Saw the Bob Marley film yesterday .... a truly amazing life journey ...
"Life is one big road with lots of signs.
So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind.
Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy.
Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality .
Wake Up and Live!"