I did something I’d been putting off for 20 years at the weekend. I changed a tyre!!

Going such a long way, so far from civilisation means having to be able to change a tyre. This isn’t something I normally do. I usually take pride on the fact I can do any garage job, but tyres I always contact out.

Flat tyre? New tyre? Just ride to the nearest tyre shop and have a man do it. Easy. It’s just not with £10 to do it yourself. Never has been.

So with some trepidation I set to with the tyre levers, talc, soapy water and a beer. The new tyre is still on and the air is still in, so I’m calling it a success!!!

OK, so I used a car jack and all of my tools. Not quite and emergency repair, but I know I can do it which is a huge step forward. Do I get the rosy glow of self pride I usually get from my garage exploits?

Nope. It’s still a shit job, it was always a shit job and it’ll always be a shit job. I’ll do it only when absolutely necessary.

So on Wednesday I went to my first Russian Language lesson. Quite intimidating as it’s like nothing I’ve done before, very strange as there’s no frame of reference. About 20 people on the course so it’s a big group, but I suspect some won’t last the distance. I don’t think I’m a natural, but I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. I overheard a fellow student talking to her friend on the phone as we left….

“It’s like leaning a whole ‘nother language”

Well, er, yes!

Those who remember the Cockburns Port adverts will get that.

Anyway, I’m living without a Passport at the moment while mine gets renewed. It’ll take around 4-6 weeks if all goes to plan, when I’ll have a brand new passport valid for 10 years. For some visas and entry to some countries, they like you to have more than 6 months left on your passport before it expires. For the big trip I’ll have… exactly 6 months left, so I thought it was worth renewing.

For some strange reason, the original goes to the British Consul in Sydney. It’s then shipped to the UK for renewal before being returned via New Zealand. (I asked why, but didn’t get an answer!). The original is returned first, the new valid passport then arrives a few weeks later. Let’s hope that goes to plan, as I need to get it stamped almost immediately when it arrives so I can prove I’ve been a resident of Australia for 6 months. (Part of the Russian Visa requirements).

When you think about it, it’s not that far away from a planning perspective. Some things need to happen now…..

So I can “come from Moscock!”

Not specifically related to riding to the UK, but a good cause and a great laugh. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in Melbourne was a great success today. Part of a worldwide ride to raise money for prostate cancer.

The weather played ball and it was a hoot. But more than that, it’s amazing how many smiles a plastic skeleton can generate. Every home should have one!

The other day while purchasing a new stove, I spied a bargain that was to good miss! I needed a new sleeping bag as the one I have is rubbish. There on the shelf was a synthetic bag rated for -5°C, under 50 bucks!!

Unfortunately I omitted to read the label properly. It’s way to small!! It doesn’t actually say “child’s” on it, but no grown up I know would fit in it! Too proud to admit I’m an idiot, back to the shop I went, this time for a longer affair.

Having more time to shop this time around, I was a bit more extravagant and went for a duck down job. A small package that opens up to one with plenty of length and warmth. Next dilemma I’d whether to try a hammock on place of a tent..

Hmm….

So I finally took the plunge and purchased a stove. The camping I’ve done to date usually revolves around a pub or venue with food, and I’ve never really been bothered cooking my own.

I’ve used trangias in the past and they’re pretty neat, but slow. I looked at the gas offerings, jet boils look good but you need to reliably be able to get gas. In the end I plumped for a multi fuel job.

The optimus runs on anything, diesel, petrol and kerosene. If you have fuel for the bike, you have fuel for the stove. (And with that 36l tank I can afford to burn a few sausages!).

Tested this weekend to great effect, even if I did only manage to make hot drinks. Being petrol driven I didn’t even need a lighter, just a spark. Very useful. Just one little thing on the huge list of being prepared, but keep ticking them off….

I’ve been a little tardy with the blogging lately, but that’s becuase I’ve been riding around Australia and having a ball! I covered 6123kms in 13 days as a mini-break and to trial run the bike. Here’s the tail end of the Oodnadatta Track, a 600kms dirt track following the disused Ghant railway. The bike did the dirt with no real issues, just two broken bolds on the luggage rack. Other than that, the KLR just didn’t care! I didn’t do too badly either, averaging 500kms a day is really the top end of achievability. (Wouldn’t like to try that in the wet).

Oh, and look. A GREEN long range safari tank. (More on that later!).

The last couple of weeks have seen emails off to various freight companies, visa “agencies” and travel companies. It’s a time consuming and often fruitless pursuit, but it needs to be done as time is marching on.

This weekend was a welcome break from that, in the form of a spot of sidecar racing! Bernie finally got his finger out and the race outfit was ready to race. (Beautifully turned out too). A mis-fire dogged our chances, but a brilliant last race against another team with tyres on the way out made for some very close racing.

I have a trip to Alice Srpings next month, so the long range tank will get fitted and tested as soon as it arrives.
And the colour I chose?
you’ll just have to wait and see!!

Under great, great, great deliberation and debate is a replacement tank. The one I put a big ding in is driving me nuts, and if I’m replacing it I might as well go for one of the long range alternatives. There’s a mob in the US making huge tanks which look impressive, and they contain a lift pump to get the fuel from the far corners up above the carb. My reservation here is that if the pump fails there’s unavailable fuel, and a possible breakdown waiting to happen.

I had a log talk to Robin, the guy who makes the Safari tanks here in Oz. They don’t have a lift pump but rely on forward acceleration to wash fuel into a sump above the carb. It makes sense, and apart from motorway (freeway) riding normal stop/start riding will ensure the sump stays full as the fuel gets drained. It’s quite a price but I’m going to go for it. The tank weighs less than the standard and carries the fuel lower down, so if I put the “normal” amount of fuel in around the town it’ll be a more nimble machine.

It’s also a little more protection for the radiators than the standard plastic panels. The most important (and it’s killing me) debate is what colour. Translucent green or Black. Black will disappear into the bike, keeping the hard look and remaining anonymous. Green means I end up with a coloured bike (never had a green bike before), plus I will be able to see how much fuel is in there just by looking. That could be very useful indeed! But, but, but……

Decisions Decisions! Black or Green….

In the midst of planning an adventure, I managed to get away for a Dyno day with the cafe racer. Results were disappointing, so the quest for more power begins!

Taking the head off was a nightmare, lots of hitting with wood but no sign of movement. A friend suggested I blow the head off by starting the motor. I thought I’d give it a go.

BAAAAAANG!

Ringing ears and 4 car alarms later, it’s off! Now let’s see what’s inside….