Diary & Travel Reports by Simon Milward
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things fall into place
99/05/04 Sometimes things fall into place real nicely. Unbeknown to me, John Rushworth, who has been advising me on electronic gadgetry, happened to buy a CCM with a Rotax 604 engine at the same time as I got mine. He put me onto Sportax (a company specialising in Rotax tuning) and Mick Keogh the owner has offered to fettle the engine 'just so'. Mick knows the bike builder John from 18 years ago and lives only a short way down the A38 in Devon! On the down side the Chinese Embassy in Brussels doesn't want to know about my Visa application "too much trouble". I'll have to see what the reaction of London is. On a more positive note, a boat from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Iran is certainly possible (I'm taking the south route East as it's mid-Winter) costing 200$ - there are two sailings a week. But the Saudi Arabia visa can only be got from Egypt or Jordan, if you have an onward ticket. I hope I don't have to spend the 200$ before I can be sure of getting the Saudi transit visa. Sadly it looks like I may have to by-pass Australia due to time constraints. This is a big decision. But all those who know the subject have told me it is impossible to do it with all the other countries too: my sabbatical is only 21 months, not 21 years. It reminds me of a riding holiday back in the 80s on my hardtail Triumph: Exeter-Venice and back, with only enough time in Venice for a pizza and beer before turning round! This is definitely not the way to travel. Thankfully the BMF have offered the use of their credit card terminal to make it easier for people to donate (and be entitled to their badge and en route email updates). MAG Netherlands are printing an appeal in their magazine, and KNMV have offered some free off-road riding practice. Most of my off-road riding so far has been on grass verges, through hedges and a few rally sites! Another sponsor showing an interest is Devil exhausts. The money is not yet coming in for humanitarian aid very fast. If you can help in this regard please get in touch! |
99/04/10 TV and the first jabs |
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