Countdown Blog 4

Counting down to number 4 and all eyes (well, at least the two I have) are now on the Christmas break.  This trip planning is not only great fun and informative, but it is also doing wonders for my advance planning skills.  Would you believe it, by early December all prezzies were bought, paid for, and waiting to be packed.  Nice!

But you are probably not that interested in my humble attempts at playing Santa, and more so in what I’ve been up to since I last scribbled some notes on these pages.  Lots of bits and pieces is the short answer. 

My ongoing reading about similar trips and the countries to be visited continues, alongside taking notes in a little book I plan to carry with me.  I’ve also been pulling together all my documents, including an international driving permit, to take some good quality colour copies which I hope to use mostly in place of the originals (which will be carried with me separately and securely).  I’ll get a new supply of passport photos done as soon as I can be bothered to shave!

Picking up from earlier research, I’ve been in touch again with shipping agents for ‘Idris’ to confirm their requirements (it’s a long way for a dragon to travel – even a Welsh one!).  And I’ve been checking airline options to Buenos Aires to get me there a few days before Idris flies into view.  I’ll have all that lot booked before next month’s instalment.  I’ve been reviewing notes about insurance, both for my travel – including some really good medivac coverage just in case – and the requirements of each of the countries to be visited.  I won’t be booking any insurances until nearer the date, but it is good to have the ground work done.  I’ll post up details under The Admin once final choices have been made.

I’ve also been turning my mind to what spare parts Idris might need during the run, and which of those I should carry with me.  It seems that Idris is a rare breed in the Americas, so many of the bike specific parts may be difficult to come by.  I’ll be carrying spare inner tubes, of course, along with the associated puncture repair kit, replacement valves, a mini compressor and so on.  That will be supplemented by a good set of tools and the usual ABR bits and bobs, selected for the necessary maintenance Idris will require (no point taking tools I won’t use).  But what other spare parts should I carry?  A spark plug, set of light bulbs and fuses pretty much choose themselves, and I’ll be supplementing that with a chain and sprocket set, oil filter and spare chain links.  I’ll also be tagging spare cables to Idris’ existing ones, though I don’t anticipate having a problem in that area. 

I’ll start updating The Bike section of this site with the full details of what I’ll be carrying over the Christmas break - but if you can think of anything I clearly need, feel free to give me a nudge.  Things will start to move along pretty quickly once the New Year drinks are out of the way (only three more countdown blogs to go before I hit the road!).

All I need to do for now is sit back and wait for Santa to fill my panniers with more of that lovely ABR gear.  I think I’ve been a good boy this year, and Mrs Pat is nodding in the background so it must be true!  So until next time... ho ho ho  Merry Christmas.

Countdown Blog 5

I blink and another month has gone!  It is now less than 5 months before I hit the road.  So, what have I managed to progress in my preparations since I last wrote?  Well, to be honest I’ve not done a huge amount of work on the trip over the last 4 weeks.  I managed to bury myself under a very large rock... you know, one of those work ones... worst kind...  and had to pry myself from under it just to pen these few words.  You know what it’s like - when the business end of life calls, and domestic duties echo, the time for other stuff just gets squeezed.  Can’t grumble though, my special / annual leave approvals came through, so I’m free to go.  Yey!  There is definitely an upside to working for a cool employer!

So aside from earning the bucks and getting a few more holes shot in my arm to keep away the nasties, I did manage some time a couple of weeks back to do a few more farkles on the bike.  So why not spend a little time now to talk about Idris.

I faffed!  I hate to admit it, but I did.  I spend over a year researching and testing a whole range of bikes which I thought might fit the bill; reading up on the trials and tribulations of fellow overlanders who have been and done on various machines.  There was a point when I could more than gainfully hold my own with the best salesmen about the relative merits and drawbacks of a particular model or make.  I looked at GS1200s, GS800s, GS650s, V-stroms, XTs, Transalps and Africa Twins.  I looked at different Tigers, Varaderos, Stelvios, and Multistradas.  I even looked at Harleys, touring bikes, even my trusty 800 Intruder.  And could I decide?  Could I heck!  But at the end of the day, I also looked at my bank balance!

I came to the conclusion that all of the bikes I looked at could do the trip, just some more easily than others.  But I also decided that whatever bike I chose I would keep.  I have images of my tottering out to the garage when old and grey, dragging the dust sheet off the bike, and sitting there looking at the scrapes and stickers as I probe the no longer functioning memory cells to try and relive the best moments of the journey.  So with that romantic moment in mind (and yes, it is possible to have a romantic moment with a bike... just so long as it doesn’t get physical!) I decided that I would get a machine that could do the trip and be of use to me for some light off roading / green laning on my return.  I also concluded that since I’ll likely be travelling solo, it would be a good idea if I chose a bike that was both easy to repair and pick up when I fall off (and I have no doubt that I will).

Time was running out.  I knew that it would be a good idea to give the chosen one a good run before hand, just to iron out details and check it would do what I needed.  I also knew that this test run would have to take place during this summer, as annual leave would be at a premium in the run up to the trip.  That timescale would also give me space to rebuild the bike in line with my thinking, or swop it out for something else if it proved a real dog!

So off I went to see a G650GS single – it was sold!  Then a GS650 twin – it didn’t grab me.  Then a GS650 Dakar – great bike, and with ‘Dakar’ in its name, how cool is that?  Well, it would have been, but it had sold.  So then I went to have another look at an XT660Z Tenere that I had seen before – 18 months old with only 600 miles.  It was still for sale (after 6 months sitting idle) so a deal was struck and Idris found a new home.  Nice!

The Bike page on this blog sets out all Idris’ various modifications, so I won’t repeat them.  Needless to say I managed to bag a sound machine, with enough left over in me back pocket to set Idris up for the trip.  This month I did manage to start on some homemade farkles which should aid on the road, and to give Idris’ sheepskin seat a haircut!  One does have standards don’t you know!  I now need to sort out connections for my heated gear and swap the tyres out for something chunkier, and it’ll be ready to go.     

One other little detail done this month was plotting the planned route on Google Earth.  I’ve not figured out how to link the live document to this blog yet, but my plan is to also track my actual route so you can see the trip unfold.  What I have done is taken a snapshot of the planned route as a photo on the globe – and you are welcome to visit The Route page of the blog to see the result.  I think it really brings home the enormity of the journey – almost from end to end – and may inspire some of you to donate to my adopted charity – nudge, nudge.  See the link on the top right of this blog, and please give what you can.  Thanks.

Countdown Blog 6

Blimey it’s October already, so less than 6 months to go before I hop a plane. Time is really flying, and Idris and I will also be taking to the sky soon as the X’s are gathering in number on the calendar. I’ve decided to spend a bit of time this month sharing some thoughts on the route – well as much as I can anyway. My overall approach will see me planning actual roads to be ridden around a week in advance as I progress north. That said, I do have some particular bits in mind, so here goes.

The start in Buenos Aires will see me motoring south on Ruta 3 after a few days getting sorted and visiting the city’s sights. That week long Atlantic route south will take me past some impressive marine sights and through the Welsh communities around the coastal side of the Chubut valley. Yep, there really are Welsh speakers outside of Wales, so would be rude for Idris and I not to pop by for tea and a chat. Though the chat in my case will have to be restricted to Spanish, which by far outstrips my Welsh!


I digress, but while I do that, I’m still heading south for Tierra del Fuego and, weather permitting, a short turnaround at Ushuaia, one of the most southerly of cities, before the on setting winter chases our tail north again. That will see me tackling the winds and wilderness of Patagonia’s Ruta 40 – with side tracks to visit the Torres del Paine national park, the Perrito Morreno glacier, and more Welsh at the Andes end of the Chubut valley.


Subject to surviving that, I’ll be heading wheel first into wine country, which will present a whole new set of challenges as I continue to weave in and out of Andean mountain trails (hic) with a distinct chance of me opting to run a stretch of the Carratera Austral in Chile. Fab – but we’ll see. Skipping many days riding, and we’re already into Bolivia and the outstanding Altaplano which is famous for, well, not standing out really - it being pretty flat and all that. Spectacular nevertheless – and should prove to be one of the highlights.  


Bolivia into Peru along with Lake Titicaca (yep, it is a real place) and on through Cuzco and down the most excellent, I am told, ruta 26 to Nazca (yep the desert place with all that ancient graffiti – and no, not those US car races!). Then it’s hot work north through Ecuador into Columbia, where I should be rewarded with lush greenery, great roads, and wonderful people.  


Then it’s Central America packed with diverse cultures and challenging accents (well at least for me!). Panama will quickly run into Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras – which is where the options return, depending on whether I am running in advance or behind my overall schedule. I’d like to spend time in Honduras before passing into Guatemala; but if the clock doesn't favour, there might be need for a quick run through El Salvador instead. Again, my reading on Guatemala has sparked interest, so it would be great if I could also cross this country into Belize, before heading into the Calakmul area of Mexico. If I have been particularly tardy in the southern land it will mean a straighter run to Mexico, missing out Belize, which would be a shame.  


So to Mexico, another big land with mucho to see, which will probably have me hovering around the Caribbean coast as I continue to peer upwards. Choices about crossing into the USA are numerous, so we’ll see how that goes, but I am minded to run from Arizona through to Montana avoiding the major conurbations and focussing on the many wondrous national parks (pretty much a guiding feature of the whole trip really).  


Then it’s Canada and big bear country – so call me a girl’s blouse, but I think I’ll avoid camping from here on! Which leaves Alaska, where I would dearly love to ride the Dalton Highway into the Arctic Circle, weather permitting, and where I would also like to visit a town at the edge of nowhere called McCarthy (it’s my surname you see) before calling it a day at Anchorage. But even that is not yet set in stone, as I have yet to get confirmation about the return transport for the bike from the Alaskan capital.  


Quite a trek I think you’ll agree, and I'll be passing through some of the friendliest countries in the world and seeing some of the most spectacular scenery. That said, I'll also be riding some of the world's most dangerous roads possibly in extreme weather conditions - so time to take a few deep gulps! Many people have completed this journey by motorbike; some have tried and failed... 


As I’ve said before, I'm doing this for my own reasons, but when times get tough (and I'm assured that they will by those who have both been and done) it would be good to know that my trails along the route have inspired some of you to help out those less fortunate. Your support will help me keep going, but more importantly, it will help many young people globally to realise their ambitions as they battle through their own life trials. Take time out now to click on the link at the top right of this blog and make a difference – go on, do it now before life gets in the way again as it so often does!

Countdown Blog 7

7 months to go and all’s well! In fact I’m starting to get a real buzz in anticipation. Over the last few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to meet up with various like (or should that be ‘bike’) minded loons, a number of which can boast a whole wardrobe full of t-shirts when it comes to riding the Americas.

Many of these individuals have taken the time to write books, prepare presentations, edit film, and generally hang around freely passing on pearls of wisdom. If you happen to be thinking of something similar, I can’t recommend enough you taking the time to track them down, ply them with beer, and extract every ounce of relevant info. Speaking to those who have ridden those very roads, and who are prepared to be so generous with their time sharing such hard earned knowledge, has been invaluable. So a big thanks to all from ABR and Horizons Unlimited who suffered my questions without complaint – you know who you are, and hats are being doffed to you as I type. Fab. Brill. Top notch. See, I said I was getting excited!

So what else have I been doing to progress preparations as the daily X’s gather in number on the calendar? Well, my return shakedown trip on the XTZ back home to Spain went well. Lots of little issues with the bike identified, and many already rectified – including the rectifier! More on that in a later issue once all the work is completed, but in short I am happy with my choice of wheels. Clearly this bike can do what I want it to do, and more in some aspects. I’m even thinking of giving it a name! How does 'Idris' sound?

E-mails are being fired off to various companies regarding travel insurance, bike insurance (I can but dream!), and transporting the bike across the bits of deep water I’m going to encounter – not least the Atlantic! The links on the right have again proved to be a font of knowledge in helping track these down – and the replies coming in seem to be covering the ground. I’ve also had a look at the investments I plan to fund the trip, and that all seems to be in order too. I alerted my employer to the plan a while back, which fits well with changes to my work cycle, and the application for special (read ‘unpaid’) leave is being prepared. The online USA visa thing got sorted for about 8 quid, and the requirements of other countries I’m passing through checked again, just in case things have changed.

Local health workers seem to delight in making holes in my arm, as they arm me against the nasties I may encounter along the way. After taking the time to run through my plans, the more worldly nurse advised if I “don’t dip my wick where I shouldn’t” then I’ll be OK – which sparked a raised eyebrow that even Spock would have been proud of. Clearly she was unaware of my devotion to Mrs Pat! The younger nurses, however, offered such valuable contributions as ‘wow, that’s really cool that”. But it is though, isn’t it!

More next month.

Countdown Blog 8

Eight Months to go before I head off on Pat Around the Americas and I’m already having a blast. Some say you shouldn’t over-plan, but take things in the moment and go with the flow. Others like to have all the details pinned down, a clear schedule to hand, and a fixed approach to follow no matter what. I’m finding out that I’ve got a foot in both camps, and it’s not as painful as it sounds. 

Over the last year or so I’ve spent countless hours (or perhaps Mrs Pat has indeed been counting them?) reading about countries to be travelled, making notes, researching bits of kit and, importantly, motorbikes. With genuine thanks to family and friends I’ve been able to renew my camp gear, ‘adventure’ clothing and other stuff. Also with thanks to, well... me really, I’ve also purchased the beast of burden for the trip, a very nice looking XT660Z, on which I have already spent more of those countable hours happily farkling away. 

Now, for those of you not into motorcycling and have grudgingly arrived at this site because I’ve nagged you into it, farkling or ‘to farkle’ (v) is the process of messing around with your bike through the application of aftermarket parts and accessories. This can result in the machine becoming much heavier and more difficult to control, and indeed often has a similar affect on your credit card statement! It does, however, enable you to fix all those little issues about the bike that mere amateurs, such as the original manufactures, were unable to sort out before handing it over to you. And most importantly, farkling provides endless opportunities for hours of talk with like minded ABRs (Adventure Bike Riders) while, of course, also staring at the bike – mugs of tea / bottles of beer also required. See you’re picking up the speak already!

So, eight months to go before Pat Around the Americas officially kicks off, and I plan to do a monthly countdown blog covering aspects of my preparations before the white hankies are waved at the dockside, and then discretely used to, you know, remove that bit of dust from your eye. For those who have managed to survive this far, I thought I’d tell you about the planned trip and who I am. The rest does come with some warnings, however. 

My name is Pat; aka Barcelona Pat on the ABR forum (and others) because, well... my name is Pat and I live in Barcelona. That should give you some insight to the depth of my imagination! I’m just turning 45, and have been riding motorbikes pretty much all my adult life. Before anyone says – 45? Pat Around the Americas must be his response to a mid-life crisis! I should point out that I have a long list of bonkers things behind me, stemming right back to childhood, so perhaps this should be viewed as just another of Pat’s things. That said, if it was a mid-life crisis at 45, that means I’m on for a 90 year run – bonus! I should note that I am supported in all this nonsense by the very wonderful, and gorgeous, Mrs Pat – who thinks I’m a proper loon for doing what I do – but who, nevertheless, chips in her very valued contributions to allow such indulgences. I did say she was wonderful, didn’t I!

There was talk of warnings somewhere above, so here they are: I am doing this for myself; not for a TV show, book deal, self-promotion, or charitable works (though you can donate to my charity pleeeease - see link on the right). Credible motivations as these are, for me it is something more personal that is the driver behind this particular trip – and I’m not sure yet whether I will share such thoughts through this blog. Therefore, given that Pat Around the Americas is a selfish undertaking, it won’t come as a surprise to learn that my motives in putting together this blog are of a similar vein. Great if you enjoy or take something from these rambles – and please feel free to post comments – but for me this is a means to record my trip, my experiences, with my bike, on my own. And, of course, share some of it all with my family and friends. See it is all about my... (cough) ...me! 

To wrap up this first blog, I should say something about the trip. No doubt an experienced writer would have put this up front, but I have a further 7 countdown blogs to bore you with before I go, so lots more to come. From 1 April 2012 I’ll be taking 4 months off work to ride from Tierra de Fuego in the south of Argentina up to the north of Alaska, crossing South, Central and North America. Those ABRs reading this will know the TDF-Alaska run is a well trodden route, with many a bike rider having completed it. Indeed, while I’ll be heading off solo, I very much hope that I’ll have the opportunity to meet up with like minded travellers on the way. That said, it is not without its challenges, and will likely represent a greater number of miles than some land routes travelled around the world. 

That’s all for now. Future blogs to follow with more detail on issues such as: route, the bike, gear, documentation, health, communications and financing.