Technology

I think I'm a sucker for technology. Not neccessarily the latest, flashest mobile phone (although the Iphone does look tempting if a little overpriced and hyped) but anything to tinker around with.

I've just gotten myself a HP Netbook from work today, courtesy of an unnamed employee who had been hoarding it following a refund because the daft woman who bought it didnt realise it had linux and thus doesnt run windows programs. I've just installed a Windows 7 Beta and plan to also put a Linux Mint build on and I now have a working blog machine and Wifi stealer for a very reasonable price. My previous plan was to use my old Windows Mobile 5 based smart phone but after ordering a GPS device - another little technological treat I'll mention in a minute. I though that a windows based Netbook would allow me to update maps and get all manner of other gadgets for it on the road rather than relying on potentialy virus ridden internet cafes. Linux would also be handy allowing me to potentially hack wifi networks with my (very) limited L337 skillz!

My new GPS device, when it arrives, is a Garmin Etrex Vista HCx. I have always been against the great clunky idiot guiding car type GPS devices for two reasons. Firstly I like to get lost. Some of the best roads I've found on the bike will probably never be ridden again because I have no idea where the hell they were. Secondly, people seem to rely on them too much. I have had conversations with people in the past have an unhealthy reliance upon their 'Sat Nav' to get to the same location every day. A prime example of this was a woman who came in with a broken TomTom once, complaining that it had stopped working. She looked exceedingly worried when I told her she needed to contact TomTom and get it sent away for repair. 'But I need it to get to work everyday!' It was almost as funny as the people who return a broken TV and expect a replacement whilst theirs is fixed 'Our house is without a TV now!' - So? is ussually my reply. GO OUTSIDE!

Anyways I've had one too few beers and am sat in the garden nattering away to the 3 subscribers to this blog. Roll on graduation, delivery of new toys and departure!

Ready To Race

There is a reason why KTM have won the last few Paris-Dakar rallies. Their bikes are just designed and built to fly over pretty much any terrain. Even with my limited, almost non existent off-road skills, after a quick blast tonight down some local dirt and gravel tracks, at speeds that would be uncomfortable in a car, i feel pretty confident - even when the back wheel is skidding all over the place. Of course it will probably be a completely different story when fully loaded with luggage in 40 degree heat in a foreign country... but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

I've also had to plan a new route since I have been declined an Iranian visa, probably on the grounds that I'm an evil foreign spy. Thus I have a couple of alternative options.

1) Bum around Turkey for a couple of weeks until the end of August then fly myself and the bike directly to India.

2)Divert through Georgia to Russia, then onto Kazakhstan and fly to India.

3)Divert through Georgia, Azerbaijan, ship to Turkemenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, through China - very expensive and time consuming paperwork, then on into Pakistan and India.

4)Divert through Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and then fly from Dubai to India.

Either way I will sadly miss out on a country I was looking forward to visiting. Decisions Decisions...

Confidence

After a good run of only about 60 miles at the weekend on the KTM with Oli. It didn't break down, despite my servicing attempts.

I think the biggest problem with having studied engineering is my innate ability to wonder whether mechanical items are running at their optimum or are wearing or under too much stress. Even though the KTM vibrates like you're being humped by a bear, it rides pretty sweetly with enough grunt to keep up with most other bikes on the road. I now have renewed confidence about getting at least to Turkey before my next scheduled service stop.

Everything is slowly coming together, my Carnet de Passage en Douane has been applied for, my Iranian visa has been applied for. I have a couple of travel insurance quotes which will even cover me for riding a bike in case I get appendicitis in the middle of Bagdhad! I've just written my notice for work. I've cancelled my mobile contract. I have all the spares and tools I can conceivably think of and fit into the panniers. I need a few extra camping bits and then I'm good to go.... roll on exam results and graduation!

Spaggetti Junction

WE HAVE POWER!!!

After 3 hours of pulling, probing, poking and soldering, my electrical gremlins have disappeared. The bike fires up, the indicators work, the alarm shatters ear drums and all without the smoke and flash of sparking electricity. Hoozah! It appears that this black magic can be tamed after all!

A quick test ride round the block whilst loaded up with half my luggage and all is good. Providing I can get on It's quite nice to ride and very easy to balance, even with luggage. My doubts about making it to the end of the road have been proven wrong. The only problem is getting on and off since I only have short fat hairy legs and there is a limited possibility of a wall being present to lean on every time I want to get off. I'm sure I'll adapt somehow.

I also seem to do a pretty good glow in the dark power ranger impression!

Evil Electrics

Hello to anyone who might read this cacophony of rambling thoughts and musings. I've never thought anyone would be interested in my life, mainly because I'm not that much, but I've decided to create this blog with the aim of providing some enlightenment to ... well... anyone who reads it. Reading other folks blogs about their trips across the world has provided me with quite a bit of entertainment, so I thought I might repay the debt.

The bike, a 2006 KTM 640 Adventure runs, until the alarm decides to activate, then it blows a fuse and half the electrics die. I hate electrics. They're fantastic on paper when you design some amazing looking circuit diagram, but when you try and build whatever it is, it never works first time. Then the fun begins trying to troubleshoot the problem. It's not like an oil leak where you can physically see what is wrong. This mystical force flowing through the wires provides me with endless torment.

Anyways, I shall aim to update this blog regularly for anyone who reads this. If nobody does read this I'll at least have kept my small ego happy.