Diary & Travel Reports by Simon Milward

1299 I'm outa here Sun, 26 Dec 1999 14:55:10 +0000 From: simon @ millennium-ride.com To: sponsors @ millennium-ride.com   FEMA secretary Simon Milward on his round the world motorcycle at British departure 3 December 99. He is raising funds for charity and invites everyone to join him. Photo credit: Pete Southwood. Other picture sizes: [jpg 74 kB 633x450] [jpg 439 kB 2172x1564 300 DPI]		99/12/26 Tracker info 99/12/23 Yes I'm still alive ... 99/10/ Hello Sponsors 99/09/23 Millennium Motorcycle emerges as a Sponsor Monster 99/09/06 Medical 99/07/28 Engine swopping 99/07/17 Tea-table survival & Gambia 99/07/11 Note to Sponsors with pin badge 99/06/12 Bike moves & Budget 99/05/04 things fall into place 99/04/10 TV and the first jabs
Hi Everyone The sun is shining in Brussels on 26 December, a sure sign that this is the day to go (at last). It's quite difficult to put thoughts into words, to leave behind one's total life to enter an experience that, well, that's the unknown bit. Spiritually and mentally it's an upheaval and I wonder what I have let myself in for...better get going before I change my mind ha ha. Giles Chichester MEP sponsors Millennium Ride - Dec 99 - picture by Tim Caldwell. Other size: [jpg 316 kB 1564x2137 300 DPI]   The departure receptions etc went very well both in the UK and Brussels. Giles Chichester MEP attended the first at Bridge Motorcycles in Exeter and directly afterwards we took the Overlander to a off-road cycle track for the BBC. Great fun and the main TV News showed me nearly falling off after a particularly high jump and very muddy landing!. All part of test-riding you know! MAG Exeter was very supportive and the farewell family Sunday lunch was quite touching. Bike The John T Overlander. Handmade in the UK. To complete the test-riding I threw it down the road at 100km/h and we made a few last-minute modifications. Parts sponsors (about 30 and they all have been great) are definitely in for a run for their money! One of the last additions to the bike was a Scottoiler automatic chain lubrication system. Some consumable parts (oil filters, timing belts, sprockets and suchlike) will be sent to me at Harley dealers around the world. Communications Route, Simon, Psion, Bike. Other size: [jpg 752 kB 1188x1742 300 DPI] If all goes to plan you are in for quite a journey largely thanks to the efforts of Mike, Uschla, John and Christina. Here we have a totally unique initiative. As well as www.millennium-ride.com, these regular updates, an easy system for people to donate to the international medical aid appeal, the European tracker system is ready to roll! The Tracker system uses a satellite called Argos, backing from the European Commission and expertise of French company ThomsonCLS. It brings you my real-time position on the internet. See separate email on Tracker. Motorola donated a tri-band phone covering all the world's gsm networks on infrared connection to Computech's Psion 5mx. But the gsm network does not cover most of Africa nor South America. Worldcoms or worldcons? Considering profit margins of telecom providers I'm being ripped off. BTCellnet is charging me full wack for substandard global service. What is a RTW traveller to do? Just letting off steam. Does anyone have a satellite phone to lend? The phone and psion can run off the bike courtesy of two Red Top 2 Grand Prix racing batteries from DMS Technologies. Two batteries because I never was very lucky with electrics. I was undecided about taking the digital camera because of the communications costs of sending them back to the website (3 minutes per pic at international call rates). But I shall, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I'll try to keep tabs on the costs. If its too expensive, and I start using the cash meant for petrol in South America and Africa, I'll just use the camera as currency.

[788 kB 1757x1200]

 
Destinations

Europe - missed Iberian tour. Going straight to the boat at Marseilles for the 1/1/2000 crossing to Tunisia.

North Africa/Middle East - Egypt Cairo - hopefully see end of Paris Dakar Rally. Jordan - Petra & dead sea. Saudi - Harley Davidson Damman helping enormously. UAE - shipping Co. Oasis providing assistance through mother company in Tehran (Iran).

Indian sub-continent & SE Asia - have not yet sorted the best way from India to Singapore. No good news on China entry - could always stick the bike on a train and cross China like that, if I'm determined to ride up to Siberia via Mongolia. Meeting in Japan with bike producers confirmed.

North America - Marcia and Jean in Illinois are arranging for me to stay at people's houses and raising cash. South America - I have an impressive list of invitations already and my brother Mark is planning join me for this continent in Bogota Columbia.

Africa - likely to be the most difficult (physically and politically) is left till last and seems like a lifetime away.

Sponsors Out of the 70 corporates (all on web page) the largest are: Newton Motorcycles MAG Insurance Services Harley Davidson JAMA (Japanese Automobile Manufactures Association) Honda Chris & Marty cartoons Metzeler Tyres Talon Engineering European Commission (tracker related items provided that Thomson-CLS include it in the current budget) Money It's cost me 9000 Euro upto now including 4000 bike, 2000 communications/photo, 1100 documentation, 360 medical, 150 books & maps and 260 camp gear. Charity We have raised about 7000 Euro for the charities Medecins sans Frontieres and the Riders for Health Gambia Appeal (you can now sponsor your own bike there with your name on, see www.millennium-ride.com). All donations will go now to the charities and the target of 100,000 Euro/US$ is certainly achievable. If there is anyway you can help promote the website or raise cash it would be brilliant. Press Regular articles will appear in Reise Motorrad, MotorradFahrer, Back Street Heroes, International Dealer News and Bikers Advice Bureau's Horizon. Streetbiker is carrying detailed updates, Kicxstart will do some, plus I hope many more besides! I'm off to see what the world has to offer, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Simon Milward

it flies quite well! Picture by apex. Other size: [jpg 457 kB 1608x2337 300 DPI]

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