Cntrl Alt Del

Whooo can I carry your bags ??? - pleeeze
Go for it bub, f##kin' go for it, I am as green as a pea pod

I hitched around Europe for the summers between 66 & 68, even behind the "iron curtain" (another story). Working on farms & whatever we could find for food & small change, making friends some of whom are still in touch. What a blast

Unfortunately I am also a nearly man & have regretted it ever since, so you just gotta do this
I nearly hitched to Australia, 3 friends did it taking 18 months. 1 is still there, he made a fortune & is now retired on the Gold Coast with a spread as big as a small county in UK.
I nearly rode a bike ride around the coast route from Mombasa to Cape Town, I have since done it in small parts, but never in 1 hit. What bike do you intend to take. My last trip in 2003 was a BMW 1150, head & shoulders above all the others I have used.

I see you are a bean counter (no disrespect) but life will never be the same again.

Go for it , enjoy, I don't think there is a more educational thing to do than travel.

Thanks for the support. I'll be riding my KTM 950 Superenduro for this trip but have a lot of miles on BMW 1150 GS's.

I rode an Enfield single through the Indian Himalayas in September 2009 and I think it was then I realized I needed to make a change with work life.

I'm fortunate to have a supportive wife who encourages me to grow.

I just got the new Gopro HD video camera so I plan to shoot a lot of video. What fun..

Bloody Basin Ride

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:
I rode an Enfield single through the Indian Himalayas

I've been to Enfield - I think that's about as adventurous as it gets for me.

Jon!

You came to Hereford, and for a Southerner that is fairly adventurous!

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:
Thanks for the support. I'll be riding my KTM 950 Superenduro for this trip but have a lot of miles on BMW 1150 GS's.

I rode an Enfield single through the Indian Himalayas in September 2009 and I think it was then I realized I needed to make a change with work life.

I'm fortunate to have a supportive wife who encourages me to grow.

I just got the new Gopro HD video camera so I plan to shoot a lot of video. What fun..

Bloody Basin Ride

Where is the video? Southwestern US?

The video above is me on Bloody Basin north of Phoenix off of Seven Springs Road.

I recall you talking about Chile and Argentina in my moto thread that was closed.

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Jon!

You came to Hereford, and for a Southerner that is fairly adventurous!

ATB from George

Indeed I did, George. And these days I find myself visiting all manner of places in my seemingly never-ending quest (to get home from work).

Go find yourself.

Then come back and set up your own business. Being an employee can be a very stifling thing, especially in a Fortune 500 company.

novelty - a video of part of Apache Trail would be interesting especially around Fish Creek Hill where the road drops 1500 feet in 3 miles and at the bottom you see the cars that have tumbled off the road.

quote:

Originally posted by jon honeyball:
Go find yourself.

Then come back and set up your own business. Being an employee can be a very stifling thing, especially in a Fortune 500 company.

This is pretty much where I'm coming down. The money is just not worth it if the work has little meaning. I hope to find a more meaningful pursuit when I return from my trip.

quote:

Originally posted by Derek Wright:
novelty - a video of part of Apache Trail would be interesting especially around Fish Creek Hill where the road drops 1500 feet in 3 miles and at the bottom you see the cars that have tumbled off the road.

I've ridden that road many times. I moved here from Chicago and my riding buddies all grew up here so they've shown me a ton of of the beaten path rides that would just amaze you in the beauty. More spectacular than the Apache Trail if you can imagine. There's no desert like the Sonoran, I truly love it here.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Go for it , enjoy, I don't think there is a more educational thing to do than travel.

What about going to school that's pretty educational.

Anyways, novelty enjoy yourself - I admire you. I wish I had the courage, but I'll continue living in Inertia, pop 3000 and has been for years. I'd love to go to Argentina, but don't suppose I ever will.

Here we are getting the bike prepped for the trek.

Renewing chain and sprockets (my friend pictured)





The big Safari Tank for more distance, 7.9 Gal





My friend not happy with me for some reason i can't recall



All finished



With luggage

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Go for it , enjoy, I don't think there is a more educational thing to do than travel.

What about going to school that's pretty educational.

Anyways, novelty enjoy yourself - I admire you. I wish I had the courage, but I'll continue living in Inertia, pop 3000 and has been for years. I'd love to go to Argentina, but don't suppose I ever will.

I haven't ruled out school at some point but I'm in need of less structure for now.

Thanks for the well wishes.

and let me wish you well also.

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance has a lot to answer for.


SJB

This track always makes me want to leave my job. In fact, I did exactly that a few years back. I was planning to travel for a year or two but a buddy convinced me to go to back to school instead. It was great break from work, and changed my career and life-path significantly, and for the better..

REM - Find The River

"Hey now, little speedyhead,
The read on the speedometer says
You have to go to task in the city
Where people drown and people serve
Don't be shy. Your just dessert
Is only just light years to go

Me, my thoughts are flower strewn
Ocean storm, bayberry moon
I have got to leave to find my way
Watch the road and memorize
This life that pass before my eyes
Nothing is going my way

The ocean is the river's goal,
A need to leave the water knows
We're closer now than light years to go

I have got to find the river,
Bergamot and vetiver
Run through my head and fall away
Leave the road and memorize
This life that pass before my eyes
Nothing is going my way

There's no one left to take the lead,
But I tell you and you can see
We're closer now than light years to go
Pick up here and chase the ride
The river empties to the tide
Fall into the ocean

The river to the ocean goes,
A fortune for the undertow
None of this is going my way
There is nothing left to throw
Of ginger, lemon, indigo,
Coriander stem and rows of hay
Strength and courage overrides
The privileged and weary eyes
Of river poet search naivete
Pick up here and chase the ride
The river empties to the tide
All of this is coming your way"

Novelty, I'd highly recommend taking a DSLR like a Canon Rebel. Your vid camera will capture one side of the story but a stills camera can really capture emotion.

I'm envious that I don't have the courage do undertake such an adventure !

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
This track always makes me want to leave my job. In fact, I did exactly that a few years back. I was planning to travel for a year or two but a buddy convinced me to go to back to school instead. It was great break from work, and changed my career and life-path significantly, and for the better..

REM - Find The River

I have that CD and don't listen to it much b/c I favor their older material, i'll give it a listen. Thanks for the recommendation.

I put myself through undergrad and it took years to pay off the debt. My company paid for my MBA at Univeristy of Chicago and I didn't finish the program as the 60 hour work weeks and course load were too much and I didn't feel like I was learning anything I didn't already know. My undergrad was quite good. The thought of racking up loads of debt again for school is just not appealing to me right now.

And if given the choice of spending $40k in savings on a hiatus or school I'm going with the hiatus at this time.

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:
This track always makes me want to leave my job. In fact, I did exactly that a few years back. I was planning to travel for a year or two but a buddy convinced me to go to back to school instead. It was great break from work, and changed my career and life-path significantly, and for the better..

REM - Find The River

I have that CD and don't listen to it much b/c I favor their older material, i'll give it a listen. Thanks for the recommendation.

I put myself through undergrad and it took years to pay off the debt. My company paid for my MBA at Univeristy of Chicago and I didn't finish the program as the 60 hour work weeks and course load were too much and I didn't feel like I was learning anything I didn't already know. My undergrad was quite good. The thought of racking up loads of debt again for school is just not appealing to me right now.

And if given the choice of spending $40k in savings on a hiatus or school I'm going with the hiatus at this time.

The part-time MBA wasn't an option for me. I couldn't stand the thought of wrecking 3 years of my life. Much more appealing was the idea of a complete year off from work, even if I was studying pretty hard. Coming from Australia, I did the MBA in the UK at Oxford, so there was a change of country/scenery at the same time. Great experience and it all worked out pretty well.

I'm convinced I need to try my hand at self employment. I'm tired of spending my better years for the benefit of someone else's bottom line. School is not a priority for me, I've had enough, at least for now.

The reality of my trip set in when I pulled the plug on the kit and boxed it up.

Here is the bike the morning of my departure.



Getting some pesos after crossing the border.



I found a nice little hotel in Hermosillo after my first day of riding.



And they let me put the bike in the room, a must in MX.



The food and beer were excellent. Why does Negro Modelo taste better in MX?



I would have more pictures but the heat is oppressive and I'm just moving on through. I'll be in Mazatlan tonight to stay with a friend who has a nice beach house. It'll be good to relax and not ride for a couple days.

Then it's on to Zacatecas and much needed cooler temps for some language school.

I will say, I've never used iTunes on my macbook pro and have been very pleased with the sound quality. Having my music with me is a big plus.

Good luck with it all. Check your oil. Keep your chain adjusted. Keep the rubber side down. Keep us posted.

(My bold prediction is that you will soon learn that you don't need as much stuff. You'll send some home, or give it away. )

Yes, please keep us posted.