Africa by MotorcyclePre trip planning
During the trip I had a tracking app running on my mobile phone. I have now analysed the logs and:
Total distance travelled was 17,877km (11,502 miles)
This includes distance travelled while exploring and travelling in cities, getting lost and backtracking etc. It is higher than I estimated because it includes the bends in the road.
Maximum speed was 131km/h.
I took a Coleman 2 man mummy style tent that I have had for years and still is going strong, a trangia muti fuel cooker with kettle, plates, cutlery etc. hammock, tarpaulin, water carrier and some other bits and pieces.
Since I took the bike for a swim in Sierra Leone the instrument cluster only displays in Klingon.
This means I have no idea what speed I am doing, I have no fuel guage, and the odometer and trip distance counters are not usable.
Final day at home so I have been packing and repacking the bike.
I have finally found a configuration that works and is as balanced as I can make it.
The spare tyres were a big problem and at one stage I decided to leave them
behind. But I eventuality decided it was worth the hassle for a week or two through Europe. I will probably change them in Southern Morocco.
My old school mate Pete has been in West Wales this weekend. As well as catching up and socialising, he helped me service the bike and have some tips on removing tyres etc.
We changed oil and brake fluids, new brake pads on the back, cleaned the brake calipers, removed the rear wheel to clean the chain and guides, removed and replaced the rear tyre, Removed and replaced the tank, put on a new aluminium sump guard to replace the standard plastic one, new spark plug, new K&N washable air filter, new oil filter and gasket.
As well as doing work that was needed, we did some jobs i am likely to have to do on the road. This means I have more confidence but also means I have the tools I will need. Pete has lent me his tyre levers and a spanner I had pretty much everything needed except a large Allen key needed to remove the front wheel. I need to pick one up, strangly it was not in the Yamaha kit provided with the bike.
I spoke to Emma of Street Child today and it looks like it may be safe to travel through the Ebola hit countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. This is great news as I may be able to visit some of the projects they have in those countries.
Only one week until the start of my trip and everything is in place. This weekend my old school mate Pete is coming up to help my service the bike and give it a final check. Pete is a bike mechanic so his expert opinion will be reassuring. Next Tuesday I am visiting Draiglas Explorer Scouts as the first Scouts meeting on my trip, I hope to meet many more before I finish.
A big thank you to Central Wheel Components for donating 10 front and 10 rear wheel spokes that I can take as spares.
I had an email from Britanny Ferries today. My ferry has a stabiliser fault and has been taken out of service. I am rebooked on the Portsmouth Caenes route the following day.
I am booked on the Portsmouth to Le Havre ferry for the 25th March. Other things done include getting an International drivers permit (£5) and applying for a Visa to the Democratic Republic of Congo by post (£150).
The Cambrian News printed an article about the trip.
http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/i/45685/