Visa diversions

Russian visa sorted! 
Nothing like starting on a positive.. I day trip to London for a brief 20 minute application process. On the flip side it gave me chance to run the bike down the M1 and back at a mildly chilly 6 - 8 degrees C ... No such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes, but fortunately I am well equipped.. and with the benefit of heated grips its was a breeze. I got in and out of Londinium with no issues at all. 

So while I wait for the postman to delivery the passport with all required stamps in place, I have time to sort out some bike servicing. As one thing I discovered on return home from London was one of the the new brake lines I installed had been rubbing against the front wheel, which fortunately failed just as I pulled onto the drive at home.. oops! - oh well better there than earlier or later !

So what's left to do?
Spending more money it seems!

Signed up for a rental management with a local agent.. Sleeping that increases costs it does give me piece of mind.. Basically I can go and not worry about sorting out any rental issues. 

Renting my house or comes with several expenses that I could do without.. Landlord insurance, energy performance certificates, gas safety certificates.. And the wonderful fee for the mortgage company for then to say yes I can rent it which comes to more than one months mortgage payment!! WTF!! 

So all that aside I'm in a pretty good place and want to just settle my mind to the actual fact of leaving and changing my life for the next 12 months. 
With a mix of excitement and trepidation I need to find a comfort zone to deal with the last few weeks leading up to departure. 

Near the end of ...

February.. and plans coming together. 

Up with the sun, gone with the wind
She always said I was lazy
Leavin' my home, leavin' my friends
Runnin' when things get too crazy
Out to the road, out 'neath the stars
Feelin' the breeze, passin' the cars

Visa applications are in.. I have no passport at the moment - wont get far then - need that back with the required stamps inserted. time tide and Russian visa applications wait for no man it seems. 

I'm hanging on for the carnet payment as the RAC date it from the date it is posted from their office, so end of March I'll pay up and wait for delivery. 

Whats left? - the list is getting shorter. 

Still got to service the bike but that’s a days job.. a warmer days job.
Still icy cold up here in the peak district. 

Still got a few house re-decorations to finish... but then I've always had a few house re-decorations to do in the 10 years I have lived in it.. It has always "done the job" for me - other more interesting things to do or buy that silk finish paint and wallpaper or new carpets. Its been warm(ish) with a somewhere to fix the bikes and park the car off road with music, and a bed - what more do i need? - except it now has to be more respectable cos no one wants to live in the mess I would leave behind. Not that I dislike decorating, Its quite a satisfying task when its all done. 

So with road beckoning.. a couple of places booked en route initially its getting close. 

Everyone I see asks me how long to go, but I’m not counting the days as it all went wrong last year.. but an eye checkup confirmed its all good. No issues expected over the next few years (cataract expected following the eye surgery last year) but its not developed and not expected to until I get older (more old than I am) 

in the meantime, I've been having a life clear-out - I have been amazed at how much "stuff" I have gathered over the last 10 years in this house. I've never been a hoarder, but then I've never lived in one place for this long, so perhaps haven't had the opportunity to not throw stuff away. 
Well now I have.. The local charity shops have benefited from a few donations and do I really need a dog eared 2005 British Grand Prix programme? - Nope guess not, but it was nice to read through it before it went in the recycling :o)

So sit back and let i happen - no point stressing - other people can do that for me ..

Moving on...

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time.

January 2015

Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say.


I have - lots more to say before a lifetime slips by ... Its a relative thing I know, but the years are definitely shorter to me than they used to be. I passed another birthday and my grandson (Noah) was born. its like standing on the pavement staring at the TV sets in the shop window without being in there. I want to be the swashbuckling adventurous star of my own series. I want to get going.. 

So plans...

Carnet application is going in the post this week.. With further investigations I only need it for Australia. I will value the bike at £1000 and see what happens, in the end its not far off the actual value. 

Visa applications : - ongoing and I will get those moving in the next week as well. I plan to get Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russian visa's before traveling, which does to a certain extent tie me down to a couple of fairly specific dates but that can't be helped .
One issue is that I now have to provide biometrics for the Russian application which will require a personal visit to the application office in London. 

I will take the ship from Baku in Azerbaijan to Aktau in Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea and I have found that the first European Games will happen in Baku just before I arrive. 
I wonder if the famed ex soviet shipping will improve? 

So things are moving .. the clock is ticking ...

 

That dam reset button

So after the health issues last year with my sight that delayed my departure, I reset and aiming for April 2015 - which in the end has been something of blessing as it allowed me to be slightly better prepared and more confident in my plans..

Due to recent world events I will stay away from middle eastern routes and head north...
Now heading from the UK at the end of April

> Germany / Austria / Italy - Until the end of May
> Greece / Turkey - Until first week of July
> Georgia / Azerbaijan / - middle of July

> Kazakhstan - August
> Russia - to Vladivostok by middle of September
> South Korea Until middle of October

- Ship the bike direct to Australia - Korea shipping link - Travel Philippines / Malaysia / Indonesia without the bike

- End of October to end of November

> Australia end of November - Melbourne by Christmas
> New Zealand - January - Ship Bike to USA west coast by mid February
- bikes abroad link
- GetRouted link
- Cruise People link

> USA west coast / USA East coast by early April
 - Ship bike back to UK Dynamic freight link

> UK by mid April

I hope to be able to arrange most Visa's en route so that I'm not stuck to being at certain borders by certain dates, but will look more into that over the next couple of weeks.

Would definitely like to sort out the Visas up to Russia as that shouldn't be too difficult I hope.

My brother is moving to South Korea so will spend a little time mooching around there while I sort out shipping the bike directly to Aus.. Lots of shipping agency links that seem to suggest that is entirely feasible.. It frees me up for a little bit of R&R off the bike to travel through the south china sea / pacific islands before getting myself to Aus.

I then plan to travel down the east coast of Australia - despite advice from a friends who emigrated to Aus a couple of years back that December isn't the best time to be in northern territory.. To visit him on Melbourne by Christmas

Then I want to get to NZ before shipping to the USA to cross west to east and head back to the UK easy ! anyway - The bike is prepped - apart from fitting a set of new tyres before I depart

- I have all the kit I need (and probably more - but that will sort itself out as I travel) and fitting a sump guard 

Money situation is good - I don't envisage many issues Still got to sort out renting the house out for 12 months.. 
Will look at that early January 2015 - hopefully renting shouldn't be too difficult to sort out - available from beginning of May. 

Carnet - should be little bit cheaper by missing out Indonesia.


  

Visa: 
Quick glance at the Thevisamachine - 
prices are from VM site including their charge 

Turkey - eVisa 
Georgia - not required 
Azerbaijan - 15 day visa £90 
Turkmenistan - 30 day visa £100 (£50 @ Embassy) 
Uzbekistan - 7 day visa £119 (£79 at Embassy) 
Kazakhstan - not required up to 15 days - £90 for 30 days (£35 @ Embassy) 
Russia - 30 day transit visa + Invite £166 (Embassy £82 + invite cost) 

South Korea ?? 
Philippines - £53 (£22 @ Embassy) 
Indonesia - on arrival 
Australia - 12 month £15 (£0 at embassy ?) 

Carnet:
Looking ta the RAC site.. I reckon that will cost somewhere in the region of :- 

Step 1: Cost of the Carnet de Passage document (non refundable) 5 pages - £215 

Step 2: RAC deposit (for Private vehicle applications only and is 100% refundable on receipt of the correctly discharged Carnet and within the timelines set out in our Terms & Conditions) £350 

Step 3: Country specific payment (50% refundable on discharge of your Carnet as detailed above) Vehicle value x Security Risk Rate x 10.6% (Assuming highest rate for far east -South Korea @200%- otherwise Australia at 150%) Valued at £1000 * 200% = £2000 / 10.6% = £212 

Total: £777 - (£456 refundable on return) total cost £321