Part 2

Picture a world map, now imagine yourself in Johannesburg-South Africa and then directly east around 12 000 kilometers is Turriff, Victoria Australia or 'Home' to me, now to get there you will ride a motorbike north up East Africa until Russia then head south to Australia, alone......hard to imagine??well even for me it is but for the next 12 months that's what lays ahead. Nervous I am, but also very excited.

Having just completed a trans African crossing down the west coast, which is meant to be one of the most challenging routes in the world one would think that the next leg will be a breeze, but the thought of riding home is unthinkable but one thing I have learnt is to take one day at a time, one country at a time, one bloody puncture at a time! One has to have a desire to do such a thing and really want to do it and love it because if you don't the unknown, the tough times, the AK47 wielding bribing soldier would simply be to much.

So what does lay ahead?....from here in South Africa on October 16th I will ride to Mozambique and head up the East coast of Africa through Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and say a farewell to the African Continent from Djibouti on the horn of Africa. Then skirt the coast of Yemen, Oman and UAE to cross over to Iran by means of ferry. North to Russia through the 'Stan's' hoping that the snow and ice will have melted upon my arrival. When for the last time I will head the mother ship south, Mongolia and China first, China still poses to be a huge hurdle not allowing people to move through their country on/in private vehicles-but that's to worry about later, have to get there first. If I do get in it will be onto Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, island hope across Indonesia and one final ferry to Darwin, Australia.....and this time it will be alone.

I have checked the stead over time after time, replenished spares such things as tubes, patches and pain killers, the trip will have a different feel to it than the last part, as having another rider is very comforting for safety factors and also sharing day to day burdens that this kind of adventure entails. So going alone will be a real test of the mind, patience, adaptability and character, I cant wait.

I would like to thank everyone that has left a comment on my blog or sent me an email, times do get tough from time to time and the words of encouragement or reminder of what normal life is like are a huge help, keep them coming, cheers.