The trip is about 3500 km on the GPS, which means about 4000 km with detours, getting fuel, meals etc. Not one major town and all are bypassed by a huge distance. Im planning on leaving about the 3rd of January, when all the normal people are back at work so that the roads are empty and accomodation is available with no booking. Also everyone is back then so it is easy to get someone else to fill my slot on the security patrol roster.
It is hard to plan exact days as the weather and road conditions play havoc with the route and distances. I have until the 15th latest to be back. I still need to plan where I stop for one day to do laundry ( I cant carry enough clothes), wash the salt and sweat out of the bike kit, strip the chain clean of sand and mud, and generally let my body recover from the hammering of all the bad roads and no proper meals. 400 km of rough dirt each day is bruising to bike and body.
Knobblie tyres on that can last the trip, chain and sprockets are almost new, brake pads, fuel filter all new and OK, firearm stripped and cleaned, first aid kit stocked, new batteries for the torch. Just need to check oil, water and tyre pressure the day before departure.
I don't get as excited like I used to. But a solo adventure trip is necessary for the mindset, and to keep feeling like a free white man that can survive alone in remote places. If you don't do it you end up as a fat lazy tame house cat.
Arriving on a dirty bike in some small town and chatting to the locals sure picks up women
