The Geriatrics are off again....This time for 6 months!

Micky

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The geriatrics are off again, eight weeks and counting :D

Sue (Gracie on here) and myself set off from Rainbow Motorcycles 1st August for our 'Long Way Home II' adventure :thumb

We ride overland to Turkey, through Iran, Pakistan and then head for Nepal, Bhutan and the Himalyas :eek:

The return journey is top secret ... it's so secret that even Sue and myself have absolutely no idea how we're going to get back. Unlike our 'Long Way Home' trip in 2005, we have no time constraints, no visa's ticking away and no wedding to return for (Sue's son Ian to Ann) Our aim is to get in to the Himalyas and worry about how to get home once there. Could be a boat to ...... ;)

We should be away for six months minimum, maybe up to ten months max. We only fell out once on the six month Mongolia trip in 2005... March 26th to August 27th :comfort

Fancying from Pakistan through the Karakorums/Hindu Kush Afghanistan and into Tajikistan :eek:

We'll both be over sixty years of age, both on pension and both 'barking' mad :eek:

Wunderlich are supplying lotsa goodies once again! There are piccies of the F650GS's used in 2005 in their current catalogue :cool:

Sue will be using her Yamaha TTR250 purchased just for the occasion. Now fitted with a larger 23L Acerbis tank, we're still getting it prepared. Need to sort a chain and sprockets which will give it 'longer legs' for the journey. Sue now busy with the paperwork, visa's, carnets etc.

I'm using the F800GS which although just 12 months old already has 24,000 miles on the clock :eek: I'm now busy fitting Wunderlich bits :p and preparing both 'bikes :beer:

Thanks so far go to Rainbow Motorcycles for all their help, to Wunderlich for supply of 'goodies'.... and special thanks also to The Celt for generous donation of maps and Rupee's ... cheers Joe :beer:

We'll try to keep you lot informed, but we might be busy enjoying ourselves :eek:

:beerjug:
 

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Well done Micky and Sue... huge respect to you both :bow:bow:bow

Looking forward to seeing the photos and write up :thumb2
 
You lucky people - very jealous :D
Sounds a trip of a lifetime - bring loads of photos back :thumb2
 
Don't forget the incontinence pads Micky;)

Have a cracking time and keep safe :thumb2

:kissy2
 
It sounds great, have a good trip and take loads of pics to make us jealous :thumb2

Stewart
 
Have a great trip Micky and Sue. Ride safe and keep us informed: I look forward to reading your reports. :clap :beerjug:
 
Micky.....don't forget to post a comprehensive list of bits that fall off the 800.:thumb

That way I can get mine sorted at very little inconvenience to me......:D

Have a great trip, the pair of you.
 
Sue & Micky - sounds like a fabulous trip!

Forgive to teach you to suck eggs, but I will never forgive myself if I don't say this and something happens...

I'm out here at the moment working in Pakistan and the situation in NWFP and the border with Afganistan is literally a war zone. Mingora and Bunar have been in parts completely destroyed by military action. Not sure about the road to the KKH along the Kush to Gilgit or the Sost Pass to Dih and further North - not much intell about that area I am afraid - but I'll ask my driver who is from SWAT if you want? You will know that there are literally millions of refugees from NWFP in camps North of Islamabad. Peshawar is out of bounds as is the road form there to Chitral where not even armed conveys can get through at times.

Many of the roads are blocked and curfews with shoot to kill in place. It really is not a nice place to be in - and I can't stress that enough.

Four French tourist were kidnapped last week in Peshawar trying to travel independently to Iran - and that's just normal in these areas. And just about everyday there are suicide bombings in the major Cities apart from Karachi so far.

You have probably read this, it's a little over cautious, but very up to date:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling...ravel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/pakistan

If you must do the KKH it, try and arrange and heavily armed escort beforehand. Maybe by Aug, things will have died down a bit, but reports suggest that the Pak army are building up for a huge offensive in NWFP and Balochistan (basically the whole frontier with Afganistan) and the army are not exactly surgical in their methods and prefer wholesale bombardment before going into the the towns.

Your choice....and good luck.
 
Have a great adventure, stay safe, and see you when you're back.

Make sure you keep a diary and take plenty of photos!
 
tuition in sucking eggs?

Mike, thanks for the post - and you're not - teaching us to suck eggs that is!
All front line info is more than welcome.
Despite Micky's outward gung ho attitude to life, he has a canny attitude to self preservation :rolleyes: He puts me in front! The good part of this is he has to follow and I don't do war zones :mmmm
Horizons Unlimited and the travellers on the road at the moment post the current situation, we keep an eye on it and will have no hesitation in heading off in the opposite direction if need be.
Sam Manicom did an article in May's Motorcycle Sport and Leisure about the madness of overlanding, everything he says is true and yes, I am scared! Leave room in those king size panniers Micky for some nappies!
 
Don't forget the incontinence pads Micky;)

Sooo sorry Bill, but you've just rekindled a reccuring nightmare :eek:

Did I talk in my sleep or poo misen? Send a pm regarding the cleaning bill and I'll settle immediately :eek:

Gracie darlin' .... I'll not forget the nappies, you know I need them at times like this ;)

Thanks everyone :thumb

:beerjug:
 
Have a Great trip!! I love riding in the Himalayas ,you just feel so remote and away from everything. try and get to Sangla +Spitti valley,those places are awesome.Met a couple of Germans out there who had done a similar trip to yours,but came through Saudi and Iran and Afganistan. They found it straightforward ,and the nicest people were in Iran. Get plent of Photos!! you see very few BMW's out there!!:thumb2
 

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Have a great trip Dad, and you too Sue. Hope Im doing the same as you when Im your age :rob

p.s. Can I look after your camper while you are away?
 
Have a great trip Dad, and you too Sue. Hope Im doing the same as you when Im your age :rob

p.s. Can I look after your camper while you are away?

No, but thanks for asking, it'll be away being painted :p

You've been missing the fun son :eek:

Three parcels courtesy of Wunderlich two weeks since, suspension courtesy of Wilbers arrived today, lots of spannering to do. Sue applying for visa's and carnets now... ooooooooh so busy ;)

Bar-B-Q at my house Saturday 18th July, any UKGSer's reading this welcome, for heap big send off with heap big booz up :thumb

:beerjug:
 

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Now this is what I call living it to the full, hope you have a great trip and like others, looking forward to the regular ride report... :thumb

Doing it at 60, I couldn't do it at 40:eek:

Be safe.....:)
 
Now this is what I call living it to the full, hope you have a great trip and like others, looking forward to the regular ride report... :thumb

Doing it at 60, I couldn't do it at 40:eek:

Be safe.....:)

Cheers Deeley ... if it's of any help we couldn't have done it at 40 neither :eek:

1) We didn't know each other back then :)
2) In any case my wife wouldn't have approved :eek:
3) I had a wife, career and mortgage :blast

Busy week... fitted the Wilbers suspension unit and front fork springs. What a revelation :thumb2 The standard suspension was very good, but we're now in magic carpet territory :D

Sue and misen went to Bradford today, Pakistan Embassy, warm welcome and good craic with total strangers, staff helpful and smiling, four hours and we come away with our Visa's :D

Six weeks to kick off :JB

:beerjug:
 

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