Guys, thanks to you all for coming!!! I can’t even dream about that when sit alone at 18-30 :)

I always wondered why don’t people describe their preparations for overland journeys. It could be useful for someone  to take the experience of others.

Now I understand why is that. There comes so much of thoughts, worries, emotions so mind just fading out to “safe mode”. So much of preparations, decisions, movements so sometimes you just want to “sit on a bike and ride away like it was in movies”. But unfortunately it’s not movie :) And any describing loses it sense. No one could understand that hurricane of different feelings and deeds. When I hear most popular question “how’s your preparations?” I dial a deep breath, concentrate and… just wave a hand and answer “that’s okay, thanks”. Like friend of mine said once: “you just have to endure this week and that is all”.

Last day I received a letter from US Counsil. United States’ visa system encounters technical difficulties with visa database for a whole world, so my appointment with council has been shifted to June 29. That’s pretty much close to departure date. And they take passport for visa stamp and that’s not for a couple of days too. “First call” I thought, “I will see what comes next”. Main problem was ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm – Polinochka presented me a ticket for 7th of July.

I was contemplating about all this situation (maybe go for plan B – ride to Africa right after Europe, not the best plan, but realizable…) when I got the “Second call”. BMWCats (spare parts internet shop) encounters problems with delivering parts for my bike. And delivering time shifted too. For dates in between 1…8 of July… I could refuse order for this parts, but I decided that it’s enough “calls” and wrote to Polinochka for tickets date changing.

Thereby, start date delayed until July 11 instead of July 4.

Stay tuned!

When you roll out for vacation for couple of weeks – you can plan everything on your way. Stick to this plan, ride as it describes (though I don’t like planning actually).
When you preparing for overland journey – there is no sense in planning. Some drafts, key waypoints, approximate directions – that’s all. You can’t predict future.

You can disassemble your bike till the last bolt and nut, you can get all that fancy brand new quipment gear, you can surround yourself with gadgets, maps, routes – but all of this actions will lose it sense sooner or later. Sooner or later everything can happens. Broken motorcycle, worn out gear, failed gadget. It may happens in comfortable circumstances. Or it may not. No matter of your plans. Therefore the more you spent on preparations…the less you spend on preparations. Exceptions are only with paper works – sometime you need to sit tight and do some calculations\filling\formalizations etc.

But what is get some serious pressure – your nerves. A lot of bustle, dealings, thoughts, stresses. A step from your own comfortable world into total strangeness… It bothers. I can’t remember when I’ve had last deep sleep.