Oct. 20th tips for the trip from a great adventurer Charly (Sinewan) and Anto´s Africa Trip

Yesterday was a great day. My friend Anto invited us to his house for the presentation of the trip he and some friends (Nacho, Alvaro, Jose Antonio, Erenesto,...) are preparing to cross Africa from Cape Town to Morocco by the West Coast. It was also really great and helpful to have in that meeting Charly www.sinewan.com great overlander and adventurer who shared some of his experiences with us. Check his web page and videos you will get many tips for your trip but you will also enjoy his videos and pictures.
There are three really good web pages from Spaniards travelling around the world you shouldn´t miss if you like bikes, adventure and people: www.sinewan.com Charly,  www.unmillondepiedras.com Miquel Silvestre (don´t miss his book: un millon de piedras; In my opinion, one of the best books about motorcycle trips, I really like Miquel´s straightforward way of communication) and http://www.lavueltaalmundoenmoto.com/ from Fernando Quemada. Thank you guys for this really good webpages.

Others: about my trip: Now solving visa issues= Iran I just asked for Iran visa number at www.iranianvisa.com and I plan to get the visa in Istambul, India = already in process, and finally Pakistan.
Monday: Carnet de passage, insurence, luggage.   If you want to have more info on how to prepare the trip check www.sinewan.com and www.lavueltaelmundoenmoto.com   Other good webpage to get info for bike overlanders = http://www.horizonsunlimited.com

Rgs

Alvaro

October 10th. 2012 Now a more serious movement starts. Today I have recevied some camping staff I bouught from Louis  (louis.de): a tent, motorcycle first aid kit, headlamp, roll bag and an air mattress. Well I´ve been playing aroung to fix the tent, some small issues didn´t work properly (I must admint I´m a bit useless for these things), anyhow, the equipment I have just received seems to be ok.

Next steps: solve spare parts issues (brake pads, clutch lever, 2 oil and air filters, new spark plags, transmission kit (I wont change it now but during the trip), I will try to use the current tires up to Turckey (continental Trailattck, with 8,000 km still in good shape. I think they will last up to Turckey as I will use a ferry, see next paragraph).

Trip up to Turkey:  Guadalajara (small town close to Madrid)- Barcelona. In Barcelona I will ship the bike and myself up to Italy in a ferry; Why? well, I dont want to spend my time paying expensive highways, gasoline and hotels to cross France. Better go straightforward Italy, Barcelona-Liborno, then driving to Ancona and from there to Zadar. I will drive to Croatia and there I will meet an old school friend who is living there.

Other relevant things still to be solved: Visas, Vaccines (lets check what I need in Carlos III hospital in Madrid) and some other small things.

Departure date: Not closed yet, but probably Nov. 15th.

Details on dates, stops,....  Well my plan is not to plan too much (this is not work, this is fun / live)

Why this trip?. I start a new professional adventure in Thailand but before that I want to have a break = 2-3 months travelling. I am sepecially interested in Iran, Pakistan and India (I already know parts of Turckey and I must say it´s a great country, I of course also want to enjoy this country again).

Do I want to demonstrate something?, not really, this is a let´s say selfish trip, I mean this trip is for me, but if I can give a message with this trip, it will be that most of the world is beautiful and safe and full of great people willing to enjoy life and help when needed. World is not all we see on TV or read in newspaper, world is a much better place (well, I hope I can go on thinking the same after my trip :-) )

Only negative side of this trip, I will miss Arancha (my wife) and my 2 children: Pipo and Bella (2 small dogs).

Rgs

Alvaro