Long time in the planning.

In the beginning.

Walking away from a career spanning thirty five years is not to be done lightly. Somehow intuitively I know it is time to move on and write another chapter in my life's story. This move is not retirement, as such, but more a chance to re-energise and seek out adventure. My savings are modest so I cannot travel endlessly and employment in the future is a definite. Just what I'll be doing I am not sure.

My wife, Shirley, came home with a fridge magnet that states "Retirement is More husband Less money". The jury is still out as to whether 'more husband' is a good thing. My wife has her own thoughts on that issue - no doubt. 'Less money' can never be a good thing - can it?

Fortunately we both have reasonable health and our children have embarked on their own independent journeys. Time to undertake activities that give pleasure and challenge us.

About three months ago I made the decision to plan for a solo motorcycle trip. Shirley was encouraged and invited to join me but declined. The prospect of hours sitting on a pillion seat was not to her liking. Being a caring person Shirley gave her consent for me to travel alone.

Australia to England overland was a reasonable goal to set myself. That goal was set, perhaps naively, while sitting in the comfort of my lounge chair and perusing the pages of an old school atlas. The magnitude of the task slowly but inevitably gained a foothold.

Quite some journey but I felt certain I could handle the hardship and enjoy myself. To complete even part of the trip would be an achievement. The route, visa obligations, customs and border requirements were straight forward enough for Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. China was the stumbling block.

China has opened itself to the rest of the world and must be admired for its progress in that regard. Chinese authorities will allow an Australian to enter the country with his/her own vehicle. There are three requirements that must be met before that permission is given.

1. The vehicle must be inspected and then receive Chinese registration.
   


2. The driver, or in my case rider, must then undergo a competency test and receive a Chinese licence.
   


3. The visitor must be accompanied by a guide while at all times while travelling through the country. The route taken is subject to daily review and change by the guide. The expenses of that guide was to be met by me.

The first two requirements seemed reasonable. The third requirement stopped me dead. There was no way I could afford to pay for the guide.

Alternative overland routes involved travelling through countries that involved dangers that I am not prepared to risk.

Searching the Internet for ways to get around this barrier I found a website - 'Globe Rider'. The site offered places for riders to join a small group ( 10 ) riding from United Kingdom to China. The ride commences on the 7th August, 2009. Apparently some of the riders in that group are considering the option to continue the ride into south east Asia and then Australia. The cost of the Chinese guide, that I found so prohibitive, is going to be shared between the ten riders. I am seriously considering that trip. It would achieve my goal but the trip would be with a group and in the opposite direction. There are still places on that tour available.

Plans moved in a different direction.

Shirley and I watched a movie called the "Bucket List" one night. The movie involved the seriously ill characters making a list of things they would like to do before they 'kick the bucket'. After the movie we discussed what we would include in our bucket lists. Shirley's list included visiting Mayan, Inca, Aztec and Toltec archaeological sites. Of special interest to her was Machu Picchu and the Pyramid of the Sun ( third biggest pyramid in the world ). The former is in Peru and the latter is in Mexico - several thousand miles apart.

"Go and have a look?" was my suggestion. To my surprise the answer was in the affirmative. In a subsequent conversation with Shirley's sister she expressed the wish to do same. Before there was any changing of minds I purchased airline tickets for both of them. They leave on the 24th January, 2009.

Meanwhile the Australian dollar (AUD) was performing very well against the American dollar (USD) and was approaching parity. The exchange rate made the purchase of a motorcycle in US cheaper than buying at home. That is when I hatched the plan to buy a bike, leave Australia a month earlier than the girls, travel through Mexico, Central and South America to Lima, Peru, and meet up with them for a week together in the Andes. When the girls fly out I would continue with the trip but at a more leisurely pace.

Unfortunately the AUD collapsed against the USD. From a high of 97c to a low of 60c ( 38.15%). That ended my aspirations of buying a cheap bike. If anything the bikes in US are now relatively expensive.

The thought of riding through Mexico and Central America still had enormous appeal. So I started to explore the option of getting a bike from AU to USA.

How that exploration has turned out will be the subject of my next post.