Intro.
Winding our way north westward, a couple of days from the Mongolian/Russian border we’d developed a reasonably fast technique of riding our heavy bikes through the sand and loose stone over the past four weeks, our main problem being the occasional big dip or hole catching us unaware.
I checked my mirror for Baz, who’d been riding behind me. He’s not there. A few moments later a young man gallops toward me, his horse’s hooves leaving a trail of dust. Soon he indicates there’s a problem and a motorcycle has crashed.
Riding quickly back, followed by Pete and fearing the worst, we’re relieved to see Baz on his feet surrounded by a small group of Mongolians and his machine upright.
But something wasn’t right, the rear of his bike had collapsed after hitting a big dip, the paralever was snapped where the rear suspension mounts. I knew immediately we couldn’t repair it and there were only three days of our visa in Mongolia left.
I do believe there was a tear in Baz’s eye.
Eight days later we’re in Almaty, Kazakhstan and I finish putting his bike back together. Baz is jubilant. Another tear?
Anyone who has read the first page of Ted Simon’s ‘bible’ of motorcycle travel, Jupiter’s Travels will understand the philosophy that many problems on the road will work themselves out given a bit of time, thought and luck...
Luck. Where would we all be without it?
Winding our way north westward, a couple of days from the Mongolian/Russian border we’d developed a reasonably fast technique of riding our heavy bikes through the sand and loose stone over the past four weeks, our main problem being the occasional big dip or hole catching us unaware.
I checked my mirror for Baz, who’d been riding behind me. He’s not there. A few moments later a young man gallops toward me, his horse’s hooves leaving a trail of dust. Soon he indicates there’s a problem and a motorcycle has crashed.
Riding quickly back, followed by Pete and fearing the worst, we’re relieved to see Baz on his feet surrounded by a small group of Mongolians and his machine upright.
But something wasn’t right, the rear of his bike had collapsed after hitting a big dip, the paralever was snapped where the rear suspension mounts. I knew immediately we couldn’t repair it and there were only three days of our visa in Mongolia left.
I do believe there was a tear in Baz’s eye.
Eight days later we’re in Almaty, Kazakhstan and I finish putting his bike back together. Baz is jubilant. Another tear?
Anyone who has read the first page of Ted Simon’s ‘bible’ of motorcycle travel, Jupiter’s Travels will understand the philosophy that many problems on the road will work themselves out given a bit of time, thought and luck...
Luck. Where would we all be without it?
