Mongolia trip

[Nath]

I'm not exactly an active user of this forum anymore, but I thought I would put up a link to my now finished blog from last years trip to Mongolia. It's now in a writeup format and I rewrote much of it, and put up a shed load more photographs. It's probably a bit long winded to read unless you've got an overlanding obsession, but hopefully it will provide some inspiration for anyone wanting to get 'out there' on their bike.

https://nath-in-russia.blogspot.com

The first section now includes the story of the first days of the trip with forum member Leon, and to be honest it might sound a bit harsh on him. But I wrote what happened and how I interpretated it. He made it to Vladivostok in the end so well done to him, I hope he enjoyed his trip as much as I did mine.

A few of the photos that you can find on the site:

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/kaz.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/7.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/12.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/15.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/18.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/25.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/29.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/32.jpg

https://homepage.ntlworld.com/steven.coy/images/rbz/rus/40.jpg
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[Ben_m]

Cheers Nath, I think I will read it now while I enjoy a nice cold can of lager.

Ps, who's the chick?

[Sparks!]

Just read the whole thing, awesome! Makes me want to keep my XR400 for some off road touring trips, albeit not to the extent of yours.. hmmm tempting!
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Clanger]

Some excellent photo's...thanks for sharing...
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[ms51ves3]

Bookmarked. I'll read through it later on

[NickD]

Bloody good read that. Cheers!
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I enjoyed the previous version. The one without all the personal jibes.
Still its completely up to the writer what they write isn't it.

Again, i am in awe of anyone who gets on their bike and goes for it.


Pat
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[Darth]

Awesome stuff. I had nothing to do today so finally got round to watching long way round and now read your blog from start to finish too. You get the style points for lonestarring it, not having any backup, drinking copiously, managing to pull a hot russian girl and staring death in the face, literally....

https://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/darthpalmer/ist-2.jpg
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[ms51ves3]

Excellent

I enjoyed every second I spent reading that. I kept looking across to a picture of my TZR on my other monitor thinking 'I could do it on that'

Nice to see you met Colebatch. I've just finished reading his write up of riding the BAM road in Siberia.

Russia is a place I really want to travel across on a motorbike. It'll happen, one day.

[Imonster]

Really enjoyable read - cheers

And Eva is one of the most beautiful creatures I've seen in my life
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

[Phoenix]

https://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g82/darthpalmer/ist-2.jpg https://www.geeksaresexy.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/spoon.jpg

I saw that picture and was also a bit disturbed.


I flicked through at the pics and captions earlier today and read it later on, it's a great write up and good photos. I think the personal stuff at the start is perfectly justified seeing as Itchy didn't hold back, however it was unnecessary as I think everyone could draw accurate conclusions after reading his blog (before the post tantrum deletion).

So when are you moving to St Petersburg?

[Alexio]

You are amazingly brave to set forth across part of this world with no civilisation like that with only the sun and a compass as your guide. If your bike had broken down it might really have been the end

Fantastic adventure
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G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?

[.....]

Excellent read, just read it from beginning to end - truly inspirational

Love the relative lack of planning and the way when confronted with a problem how things just seem to sort themselves out with a stroke of luck or a friendly local, which seems so often the way from reading these ride reports.

I hope to do a similar trip one day and reading about yours just nudges me that bit more towards doing it.

[silky666]

Brilliant read ... there needs to be an 'uber karma' option.

However, makes me regret not having done this when I was your age ... instead of the lazy australasia backpacking route.
Just need the kids to reach Uni age and I will be off again
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[silky666]

[Steve H]

[Clanger]

[Tonka]

Been out this weekend and just found out that I've been included as 'an invite' for a Mongolia trip next year

I am now going to read your write up and find out what I'm letting myself in for!! It will be awesome, but not as unplanned and solitary as your trip, for which you deserve a large
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
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[Will87]

Fair play, that is simply amazing!

[Charlie]

[ms51ves3]

[Nath]

I hope the main thing that comes across from my story that it is very easy to travel this way. All you need is to save some money, to be able to suspend any family or work ties at home, and the self-motivation to set off in the first place.

I'd never ridden off road before buying the dr about 8 months before the start of the trip, and my riding practise was out green laning on my own in Derbyshire. I don't have any language skills, and I didn't put in any real time researching the places I went to. I obviously didn't use any special equipment, and the bike was 14 years old and cost less than 800 quid off eBay (though admittedly I ended up replacing the crank, cylinder and piston - but that was just bad luck buying a lemon).


I've spent a fair bit of time touring Europe on my own, but now I find it a bit too lonely. It's great when you're riding, but whenever you need to stop I miss not having anyone to talk to. I was very very lucky to chance upon Eva and ride the second half of the trip with her. I'm not sure what I would have done otherwise.


I originally wasn't going to describe the start of the trip about Leon (and I didn't previously). My decision to do this was due to the randomness of those couple of days, not to make him look like an idiot. Lots of strange random things happened happened on the trip, and no matter how bad they may have seemed everything worked out for the best in the long run. If I hadn't broken down in Belgium we probably would have ridden together for a few weeks and eventually fallen out properly. This trip heavily reinforced views I had on life and fate. (Though I am not religous by the way). It seems that over a long enough timeline everything always turns out to be to your own benefit. Though it's often hard to remember this if you break your leg, lose your job, or go through a spell of feeling down.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[ms51ves3]

[WildGoose]

Cracking write up, i'd read bits and pieces of it before you revised it, but in its now complete form its a damn good read.

Certainly has provided some food for thought about my views on travelling. Though its one thing to read about it and quite another to actually go and do it, hats off to you.

If the comment about the Army still stands, I personally think you would be wasted there having read a little about you and your outlook on things. Just my opinion of course, taken with as much of a pinch of salt as you wish.

I assume its to do with having another kind of experience. I would be keen to hear your motivations for it, purely out of interest.

Best of luck for whatever you do next
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[oriel dave]

Just read through all of that - awesome read. Looks like an amazing trip and fair play for the lack of equipment and planning.
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Europe Trip 2009