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Simply jaw dropping.
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great pictures, looks like a great trip!
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Fantastic pictures that tells a story in every one.:icon_cool:
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I'm going riding again...actually i have already left...more RTW
time for lots more photos :Photos_3NT5BI::Photos_3NT5BI: |
Round the World on a Thumper�Adventure before Dementia
This all started around 18 months ago on a ride from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay then east to Newfoundland, south to Key West and then to my new home in Louisiana, the trip was 38,000 miles and six months long�see below http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/RTW/i...XL/2011-XL.jpg In early 2008 I sold my business and everything was looking good, soon after, I got in a motorcycle wreck (hit by someone else from behind) and my right leg was busted into about fifty pieces and my ankle snapped in two. While I was recuperating the buyer of my business who still had his final payment to make to me�the big one�decided as I couldn�t move he would not pay, he then started to steal from my business and my customers, take stolen credit cards and do charge backs against my account, then worst of all steal my identity, he even stole two of my motorcycles and sold them !!!! Needless to say it ended up in court and was a very stressful time, so much to the point I had a mild stroke and went blind for about twenty minutes and then I was partially blind for about 8 weeks � from then on my life changed�. I lost virtually everything including my wife (amicable divorce thankfully), my business that I had built up over a great number of years, my house and just as an extra kick in the balls my father died around the same time of cancer, basically all I had left was a few motorcycles and some tools and machines and a pending settlement from the prick that hit me in the accident I moved from Nevada to Washington State (offer from a friend of a cheap place to stay) but it wasn�t working for me so at very short notice I decided to join a group who were riding from Ushuaia northwards, as I didn�t have time to plan a long distance personally, I just sold some of my stuff, bought a bike and had it shipped to Ushuaia as the group had a container heading there, hopped on a plane and joined them, the thinking here was it would clear my head to get away and I could come back and get a new start That ride report is here �Off the grid for a while� The group was 20+ strong, it was an experience but not what I was looking for, from Northern Mexico I split from the group after about 11,000 miles of riding with them and then rode another 27,000 miles solo�that�s when the fun happens It created scenes like this though http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/some-.../SAM0094-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/some-.../SAM2372-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/some-.../1010222-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/some-.../IMG2293-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/u.../SAM0325-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/u.../SAM0384-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/u.../SAM0711-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/a.../SAM3443-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/c.../SAM4467-M.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/c.../SAM4696-M.jpg I relocated to Louisiana with a job offer but if you have done a long distance ride before the road calls you�anyone agree with that????? Having done other long rides over the years, a 19,000 mile, 12,500 mile a few 10,000 or so and about a dozen 3 � 7000 mile rides, and riding most days the road calls to me pretty strong. Not long after being Louisiana, I was dreaming of the next trip, I figured a round the world was due, but how and in what direction (planning is free)�the first plan was to fly me and the bike to Iceland, I even got a quote, if you�re interested its $1500 from JFK to Reykjav�k, ride there and ferry to Denmark ride north to Nordkapp and then south Cape Town, South Africa taking the western route, well now that whole area is FUBAR, so I was a little hesitant having lived in Africa twice and being attacked at gun point twice before. Then� I got an email from Al Jesse www.jesseluggage.com and he wanted my bike (Yamaha XT660Z Tenere � the one that never got here) he needed it to make welding jigs for other customers, possibility? � 100% yes!!! Then one from Captain Ludwig, of the Stahlratte (Steel Rat) the boat that�s takes all of us fools from Panama to Columbia and back about an opening on the December 2012 sailing south bound�was I interested � YES�and then a second email, as I was going to be in Columbia/ Venezuela would I like to get back on a month later and go to ride my bike around Cuba for 3 weeks, HELL YES!!! So now this portion begins � lets call it part two �and I just looked at a map and this part of my trip is from basically from Trinidad (Colorado) to Trinidad (Cuba) � initially heading west then back to Louisiana to ride home with a friend and then north east, then south�blue line is return portion and will kind of look like this http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...-2012GIF-L.jpg Plan � the following really has been determined mainly by others and not me because of set dates I have to be at set places, everything in between those dates is all me, so right now it goes like this: Ride with a friend, a quick 5000 mile adventure for 3 weeks thru CO, UT, NV, OR, CA back thru NV, UT, AZ, CO (his annual vacation) he is doing a ride report here HU meeting in NC Sept. 7-9 HU meeting Toronto Sept. 20-23 (there is a reason for both, it will all become clear shortly) a little language school in Guatemala on the way down because http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...3715531n-M.jpg Be in Panama December 8th Be in back in Cartagena on January 25th 2013 to sail to Cuba Arrive in Cuba and smoke a few cigars �and if you need a visual I�ll be going from this � http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/l...IMG8595-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/l...IMG8628-XL.jpg To this amazing sites like this � http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...300x225-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...ESCO-00-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...smoking-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...ar-2-lr-XL.jpg and hopefully lots of this!!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/Other/cuba-...ba-chick-L.jpg So prepare yourselves, this is going to be like a �Mobuis trip on STEROIDS � Long intro I know, but I needed to bring you up to speed as I hadn�t planned on doing a RTW for another year, and now I�m leaving in SEVEN days��������.FܩK!!! |
For those of you wondering how I can do this all again so soon, because this question always comes up sooner or later, so this is how �
I did get that pay off from the accident, not a large amount but I invested it and got lucky and beat the market. So while I can still see (did you read the third paragraph in the first post) I�m doing a RTW on a very tight budget and I�ll deal with �real life� later Now a question to you???? If you live anywhere on my �kinda� route drop me a PM if you have tent space, it would be greatly appreciated Or if you have suggestions of places to ride thru/ see in your area that I might miss if I didn�t know they were there�let me know So what am I riding? 2009 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere�yes the one that never got here http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-gG...gGfFTT5-XL.jpg With the Jesse luggage http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-S3...S3XwK3F-XL.jpg the first 7000 miles or so I am using Wolfman Luggage and then I will ride back to Louisiana to swap back to the Jesses for the rest I found a few issues when I stripped the bike down, I had bought a chain in South America last year and rode with it for a while, as I couldn�t find an O ring or X ring anywhere, I had to take a standard 520 chain and it stretched after only about 1000 miles and even though I was making adjustments almost daily it was hitting the swingarm. On top of this by the time I was riding in Alaska my shock was starting to fail on rough road even on the stiffest setting I would still bottom out of severe bumps, so the two main issues I had to deal with were a swingarm replacement and a new rear shock Beside that not really any problems, most was just upgrades and enhancements (so that would be farkles then!!!) From a strip down onwards - a few teaser photos http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Mp...Mp8HPNm-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-GH...GHkQKfP-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-cM...cMnVSvs-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-2G...2GmXQKk-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-BD...BDCqhrN-XL.jpg The old swingarm on the right and the new one on the left http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-6Z...6Z5qHwc-XL.jpg the finished article http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-gG...gGfFTT5-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Dz...Dz9kFDc-XL.jpg This is the list Renthal twin wall bars heavy duty risers dual garmin gps set up high out put spot lamps from monster ADV front turn signal relocation crash bars SW Motech barkbusters exhaust MTC front suspension Hyperpro rear suspension Ohlins side stand foot enlarger - ME center stand foot enlargers - ME chain guard - ME cush drive -ME kev fuel mod new swingarm swingarm bearings new hard luggage Jesse Luggage chain roller All Balls Racing chain and sprockets � JT Sprockets quick fuel disconnect valve adjustment brake and clutch levers headlight protector � ME new 12 volt socket mini rear turn signals new license plate There is a full report of all the mods that I did after the bike hit 50,000 miles - read it here |
leaving in about three hours to drive through the night...this part of my RTW is the scouting ride for
www.5000mileadventures.com - it will turn into about 7000 miles just because of checking things out, not including the drive to Trinidad
Drive to Trinidad??? Well the original plan was just ride of course (solo)...but then a friend 'wikedhd' asked if he could tag along, only issue there was he has 20 days vacation so to be able to ride from Louisiana all the way across texas at the start and again at the end wasn't an option, so the bikes are going in his truck for the trip thru Texas and the trip back what is www.5000mileadventures.com - have a look at the website...but in short, when i have been on the road i bump into a lot of people who say the same thing wish i could do what you do i only have 3 weeks off a year i have the wrong type of bike arranging everything would be difficult, i wouldn't know where to go etc. etc. etc. i'm sure most of you have heard this before in one form or another? so it got me to thinking, set up an adventure company, supply the bikes, gas, accommodation, tents if required, correct luggage, food, a route with lots of off road, back roads, logging roads, single track, go places the big companies don't go, just do one route and do it great....all you would need to do is bring your riding gear, a camera and a sleeping bag ...but why...well after being on the road for 38,000 miles last year the kindness and generosity of people just astounded me and i wanted to pay it back, as i'm not in one location normally too long, tent space wasn't an option, so i'm setting this up keeping the price very realistic and hopefully someone out there might be interested...BTW only four riders per 5000 miles so only about 20-24 riders a year, only runs in the summer and the route will probably vary a little dependent on the weather - no crazy big groups, done that personally and it sucks even though the website shows the starting point to be Trinidad, it will most likely change to Las Vegas, easier to get to, better to party when the ride is completed and the wife's girlfriends who don't ride can spend your money while you are gone :lol3:lol3:lol3 anyway back to the ride.... here's what's in the soft bags for this trip...not including clothes http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-7F...7Fc77V8-XL.jpg yes i know its a lot of tools but having owned a motorcycle shop, if i can, i will fix everything on the two bikes myself packs down to this http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-9j...9jbHDV7-XL.jpg sleeping gear and tent...yes i am sponsored by Big Agnes!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-vm...vmG5dXR-XL.jpg tank bag http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-xQ...xQDqsSg-XL.jpg bikes loaded photos in the next post riding gear http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-H9...H9xTGq5-XL.jpg the bikes http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Rd...RddGqRw-XL.jpg wikedhd is riding a 2008 Honda XR650L - it only has 600 miles on it, this is his first ADV ride :clap:clap:lol3:lol3 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-K5...K5h3RDn-XL.jpg and me i'm on a 2009 Yamaha XT660Z with 54,000 miles on it!!! :eek1:huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-nL...nLqxBDr-XL.jpg ...and the basic route according to the geeks at google...of course it isn't exact but it gives you a good idea, more details as we ride http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Rb...RbJTz7K-XL.jpg time to go load the truck and get eaten by mosquitoes before it rains again!!!! more later, stay tuned... |
heading out 10pm, best way to see cross Texas at night get out of the heat and the traffic....
loading in the dark http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-34...345zBqw-XL.jpg but with a little help from 6400 ISO i can make it daylight :rofl http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-p9...p9NmpjF-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-RD...RD34pn4-XL.jpg big thanks to dusty and the guys at www.wolfmanluggage.com for hooking us up, but once packed it all looked the same so a few distinguishing marks :lol3 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-XH...XHFF7C8-XL.jpg |
long 16 hour drive at night thru texas mainly in the dark...found the biggest Texan we could to inspect the bikes...
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-mb...mbM95pC-XL.jpg he looked at them from a few angles... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Cr...CrCgBkQ-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-3G...3GttzhG-XL.jpg wikedhd thought he had eyes for his XR so he held him back http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-4P...4Pzbqxr-XL.jpg then a few miles down the road its the Cadillac Ranch...not a patch on the Chicken Ranch but colorful anyhow http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-5m...5mj9HW7-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-JJ...JJQQbNV-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-dw...dwxGg8f-XL.jpg then a little of this... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-3h...3hVbGVF-XL.jpg then as the comedian Bill Engvall would say - here's your sign!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-p9...p9QMnfx-XL.jpg time to get to Trinidad and unload the bikes and get ready for tomorrow and the start unloaded the bikes and here's proof that we're not lying on the beach in Hawaii (directed at wikedhdwifey) but actually in Trinidad...read the sign!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Jd...Jdfb2BK-XL.jpg ...but for now, got a room in the Trails End Motel ($49) and heading out now for some food a few beers and then a good nights sleep and the ride starts tomorrow come rain or shine http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-J9...J9dpNjG-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/photos/i-Pk...PkG5LRs-XL.jpg |
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