Events - Historical
Events which have passed are archived here.......
May 2002
Illinois - New York.
Arrive back in US 17th May.
|
April 2002
|
March 2002
|
California
|
Jan - Feb 2002
|
2001 July - December
NORTH AMERICA SCHEDULE 2001
|
April 2001
|
April 28th, 2001
A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois
Glenn Maker's American Legion #1160
South Suburban Chapter is holding a fund-raiser
USA 708-422-1165 or 708-499-3790 or
|
Hi Friends, Simon speaking from Japan here.
First let me say thank you all for coming tonight, ABATE South Suburban and the individuals like Marcia and Ed for organising it all. Not forgetting Jean (formerly Comtois) who is now basking in married life. All togther now, ahhhh. Well, that's one thing I may get on my way round, I had one marriage proposal in Cairo and had my pick from thousands in Asia. But there's no need to rush, right?
Anyway, I'm now in Japan, which is the 28th country after 16 months on the road. I've covered 60,000km through Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Australia and SE Asia. In May I'll cross to Siberia, follow the tran-Siberian railway for a few thousand km before turning right to the north. Those rickety Russian aeroplanes sound a bit dodgey, but anyway some ABATE friends in Alaska are expecting me in mid July. I expect to reach Illinois at the start of October, after the Meeting of the Minds.
Right now in Japan I'm trying to persuade the bikers to form a riders' rights organisation. What with globalisation and all that, we need the Japs with us. There is no bikers rights movement here, even though they cannot carry passengers on their equivalent of Interstates (the bureaucrats dumbly say the roads are too twisty since it is hard to balance with a passenger, can you believe it?!), and they have the strictest bike test requirements in the world with a full licence costing $2000. Hmph. We wouldn't accept that in the EU and I know you wouldn't over there. Can I persuade them to move their arses in the five weeks I'm here? Who knows, it's out the with photocopies, round to the dealers, on the phone with bike magazines, accosting bikers in the street, and trying any which way to make my presence and message felt. All done with the right etiquette, of course, but I'm not too good at that, it's one reason why I like dealing with Americans Ha Ha!
So far, including the efforts of Marcia and co., we're raised about $20,000.
I'd like the funds raised tonight to go to our new "Health for All" project on the Indonesian island of Flores. Basically the idea is to use motorcycles for health delivery in poor out of reach regions. The concept has worked very well in Africa and this is the first time the idea is used in Asia in a structured manner - the potential for motorcycles to save lives in this part of the world is staggering. Well, I like doing charity work and if we can mix it with motorcycles so much the better!
My own bike is doing fine. I just love the pounding of the 600cc single cylinder Rotax engine (a la ATK) and my handmade frame has withstood countless crashes. In fact the other party usually comes off worse, it's broken someone's leg and ripped parts of a variety off other vehicles. I've had only one speeding ticket (Turkey), but four potentially serious accidents including going over the bars twice in the Australian Outback and riding the wrong way off a jungle bridge in Laos (heading upstream!) The bike looks much older than two years old. By the time I reach Illinois I guess it will look alot older still, pre-war even, well there has been one or two of those en route too.
My heartfelt thanks and love to you all, have a great party and down a few for me!
Yours in biking
Simon Milward
December 15th 2000
October 15th 2000
January 2000
November 1999
August 1999
July 1999
May 1999
 |
 |