Final Preparation

Well I finally finished what I could in the UK and after the birthday party for Claire’s Dad at the weekend, last Tuesday set off for France.


Claire's Dad & Sister Lorna


Doing well for 90!!

Not a bad run down to Folkstone and the Channel Tunnel and a surprise as I filled up at a fuel station just before the train to find Mick McDonald and the whole of this years compass expedition on their first day out. Mick was as surprised to see me and when he asked me where I was going it was nice to be able to say “Same as you mate, Magadan!!” We were going to talk more on the train but I checked in quicker than their large party and I was pushed onto an earlier train. Maybe I’ll catch up with them later on in Mongolia or Siberia?

So I’m now at home number two. Fantastic to be with my wife again and life isn’t slowing down. Yesterday I went to the Mongolian Embassy to put the visa application in. What a mad ride that was. The inner peripherique around Paris is always a bit of a bun fight but first thing in the morning when everyone is trying to get to work it’s madness. I slowed with the rest of the cars and then all the bikes started to wiz past me, a lot of scooters but also Goldwings and big BMW’s!! The trick apparently is to put your hazard lights on and just go down between the outside and middle lanes of cars (at fairly high speed). Most cars will move over and those that obviously do, you thank. You just have to watch the taxis changing lanes and anything else that just isn’t paying attention. It’s pretty frightening.

When I finally got there roads were blocked and traffic crawling as the Embassy was right opposite Roland Garros. The French open starts next week!! Ah well………

The new seat on the bike is good and should be beneficial to us both for comfort. Unfortunately it has caused another problem. Asa it is firmer it does not compress as much when I sit on it. Also it’s wider which spreads my little legs and makes it even more difficult to reach the ground. The result is while the bike is actually no higher it appears to be and I can’t reach the ground with both feet. The side stand is also still too long and has resulted in one topple off the other side in a French service station, much to the amusement of the van drivers who were watching me. Nice that they helped me pick the bike up and jump back on quickly albeit red faced! So I have cut another 12mm off the stand and the foot is being welded back on today.






Hotels are now booked in Basil and Innsbruck, and the Ferry from Tallinn to St Petersburg is now booked. I’ve written to Dean in Russia to ask if he can supply me with knobbly Tyres for Mongolia (which will make the bike even higher!!) And after the BBQ this weekend we can start to seriously think about what we can pack. Next report should be on the road.