Striking Viking bumming the world (On the road again)

Keep those wheels spinning brother.

Safe journey to Kabul. I'm on the edge of my seat. Be careful.

In case you bump into them in Kabul....based in Camp Warehouse.

Be safe and remain travel-wise as you have proven to be. Enjoy

Thank you Glen for taking us along with you. Your posts are like little keyhole views of the middle east and I feel lucky to get a peek. With what's going on in the world today, the timing of your ride is incredible. Follow your instincts, they seem to have taken care of you so far.

Good luck man . . . Chris

This is a few years old, but it may be of interest. This guy broke down, Taliban met up with him, end of story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orfeo_Bartolini

Tribal permit


Letter of recommendation

Good luck Glen.

It's eight in the morning here and I'm scheduled to meet my escorts at nine. In ten minutes, I'll call the RSO for last advice. If there is the slightest hassle, I'll turn around and head for India. My main concern at this point is that everyone knows I'm coming. Forty five klicks is a long way today.
Thanks for that article, it just scared the piss out of me and that is a good thing at the moment. May come down to a coin toss.

Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you, big man.

I just got off the phone with the RSO after asking for unofficial man to man advice. He said it was questionable at best yesterday but since they all know that I'm coming today, it's certain disaster. The Viking will head for in India this morning instead.

I realize most people don't understand my reasoning, but this was an extremely difficult decision to make. My guts are churning. It will likely haunt me for a long time.

Not going was the right decision. At the best of times it is a dangerious place with all the warring factions. Since 9/11 with OBL on the running around it is near suicide without some serious backup ie military etc. Going would have been crossing the line from hard ass to dumb ass IMHO. Enjoy India.

It'll just give you a reason to go back someday - you know you will.
Best to live to ride another day, my friend.

indeed, this article suggests its a very unstable place. also mentions the italian who was shot in april 2003...
http://outside.away.com/outside/news/200312/200312_kabul_4.html

me thinks you've made the right choice.

Kudo's glen, remember that we support you in which ever direction you take.

James.

Good call IMO. Chances of you getting FUBAR seem genuinely high, after all those dudes don't mess around, they're the "shoot first ask questions later" type. Actually, probably more like "shoot first, there are no questions" type. Besides, if you got killed, we get no more trip updates and that is unacceptable!

Glen,


Glad to see that you know to when to listen to you inner guts...as you know and a few others on AdvRider that it is at times the best survival tool... i too would love to journey along with you via the net since i am stuck in a job currently...

but loosing you to very irrational and vilonent individuals would be a greater loose than not seeing the images you post.

the best adventure is when the adventuror returns someday to tell the story in person...

best with the roads to the east... keep it up for all

Best of luck with the ongoing adventures in India.

Sounds like a good choice, hard to right when your perforated or missing extremities.

Ride on Glen!

-MM

You took a hard and wise decision.....besides: India is like a world on its own, you could spend years riding there and not absorb even half of it's taste....

Live to ride for another day to Kabul....best reason to come back on day.
Enjoy!

Glen, I have come to belive that suprize is one of our best defences as a traveler, would you agree with that? If they don't know that you are coming they will not have the advantage of planing ahead. When traveling in a potentioally dangerous area I choose to provide very little information about my travel plans for this reason. While appearing without advance warning may not "protect" us, I think it helps even up the odds a little.

James.

Glen, don't let this end like Easy Rider!

India is a trip! Enjoy. Wish I could do it again...