Two weeks before the bike ships out and I thought I would have the bike "checked out"... Bugger the pin holding the rear brake pads in is stuck, the front wheel retaining clamp has a buggered thread, and the rear wheel bearings are shot - or in Honda's opinion the rear wheel hub is buggered....
I will have to swap the wheels off Herman the German for the trip.... And get the rear wheel rebuilt... The only good news is that the wheels off of Herman are tubeless. Just what I needed now.... But better than it all going tits-up in the middle of nowhere (if there is such a place in the USA!!! )
Bugger again....
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Monday, 21 March 2016
Ace Cafe - Adventure Bike Day
On a very cold Sunday morning we set off to the Ace Cafe in London... By the time we arrived I was chilled to the bone.. So lots of hot mugs of tea. I met with lots of old faces and friends - it is so good meet them. Had a good look around and only purchased one book. Picture below to prove I was there and that Colin still has a bike !!! David was on the other side of the camera.
I met up with the guys from Motofreight that are moving Madiba to the USA and back.... Slight change of plans - it is flying out and then coming back via a ship from Houston TX..... Money saved there. Will need to look at the map again and plan accordingly.... Looks like I will either hire a car to get from Houston to Orlando or even take an internal flight (cheaper option).
I also met with fiends that are going to be at the HU Event in Virginia in late April and others that are going to be at the Adventure Expo in Flagstaff Arizona in May...
I have now got the paperwork to temporarily import the bike into the US and also the instructions on what I can and cannot include in the bike panniers etc... Unpack and repack .... Again
Still planning to spend a week of so the in the area of Flagstaff and then travel up to Montana and turn right.... Maybe even getting into Canada early and going over the lakes towards Montreal etc etc....
Just two weeks before the bike get delivered and just 3 weeks before I fly... Oops.. Running out of time .... Good job I've retired lol
Sunday, 13 March 2016
.. And now the difficult bit.....
All on schedule... Just awaiting the temporary import documents from the US Customs.
I have had a preliminary pack of kit and I have exactly one quarter too much... Bugger which quarter....
I need the get it sorted in the next 3 weeks..... As I need to deliver the bike loaded to the freight company.. Also with my full riding gear on board - and that weighs a lot - jacket, pants, boots and helmet. I will need to pack yet another bag that I am taking in the flight and hope that when put it all together at the other end that it all fits.... Plus I also need to leave room for all the stuff I have to buy in the US on arrival - food, water and possibly Gas canisters if I go gas instead of a petrol stove....
I have been looking photos of 'Packed' bikes on the interweb... he he
