The Summer of Stupid: 7400+ miles of 2up - OBCDR, CDT, TAT West and more...

[canuk_guy]

... still one of the best ride reports on ADV. I was thinking I would have to start from the beginning again.

Cheers, Guy
aka canuk_guy

[keenerkeen]

thankyou, for a great adventure to share with everyone , especially on a cold winters night up here in Alberta .. HAPPY NEW YEAR WAN,s

[Yorkybar]

Thanks Little Wan/Big Wan for such an interesting RR. I am comeing over to the States in May and will be riding from New York to Astoria OR. I would so like to be able to ride like you both but unfortunatly I am not fisicaly able to do so. To be able to ride a bike like Big Wan is still only and will stay a dream,he has extraordanary skills that I envy. I have been riding bikes now for over 45 years but have never tried anything like what you have achieved, brilliant. Big Wan said in one of his replies that he shipped a bike from SF to Germany can you send me any info i.e. cost, time, and shipper. The reason is that I have bought a bike in New York and might want to ship it back to Germany. I shall be doing one of my childhood dreams to ride east to west in the US. I thank you once again for your remarkable report and perhaps I could meet you on the way through.

God bless you

and a happy new year

Eddie

[LittleWan]

Hey Guys!
Thanks for the sweet comments! Glad you're still reading

Originally Posted by Yorkybar

Big Wan said in one of his replies that he shipped a bike from SF to Germany can you send me any info i.e. cost, time, and shipper.

Hi Eddie,
Wow, how exciting! I'm so happy for you - making a dream come true!

First of all - this was about a million years ago (okay, 18 years), back in 1993, so none of our info is going to be of much use to you.
You guys were still using Deutsche Marks!


I don't have the shipper name, but we dropped the bike off in San Francisco and picked it up in Bremerhaven.
It was 8 weeks from drop off to pick up, but that includes 2 delays.
We were notified of the 1st delay in time to change our travel plans.
Second delay happened while we were in Europe, so we took a last minute trip to Prague.
Actual time on the ship was 6 weeks.

We paid $539 when we dropped off the bike (and crated trailer).
The bike went into a container with other vehicles (no crate - I think this is known as "roll on/roll off" or "RO RO").
We had to give them the keys and pink slip (ownership papers), too!
It took a lot of faith.
We had been assured that everything was paid, in full.

Unfortunately, when we got to Bremerhaven, we found out that it was only paid on the US end.
The German office required another $317 for customs, tourist fees and a 15% tax.
Not sure what your costs would be, as a German.

Since most of my info is completely useless to you, I have some linkies that might help:
I asked my best friend, Google, to find some information:
This website might be useful...
http://shippinginternational.com/automobiles.htm

I did an advanced search for ADV using "Ship bike to Germany" and sifted through some threads...

This shipper has been used with success:
http://www.2wglobal.com/www/customer...cars/index.jsp

As has this one (website is in German):
http://www.interfracht.de/

If I were you, I'd start with Interfracht.
Anyway, hope that helps!
Keep us posted as your trip progresses
(Maybe we'll manage to meet up someplace?)



In other news...
Do you guys remember this?:

Originally Posted by LittleWan

Aha! Seeing the nice metal box that houses the guest book, I knew this was the perfect spot in which to leave my first ADV mascot.



I totally forgot to take a photo of the guy, but it was a safety cone.
Any of you TAT vets see your info there?
We signed, but the wind blew the pages around before I could snap the pic.



A few days later, when I saw this post in the “TransAmerica Trail 2010 - who’s doing it?” thread, I just assumed that AUtiger86 had been talking about the cone I left in Nevada (the one larryboy found).

Now I’m thinking it must have been this one, here at the cabin.
Maybe AUtiger86 will sign in and tell us...?

I just heard form AUtiger86 - the safety cone is snug as a bug in Alabama and, yes, it was the one from Swasey Cabin.
AUtiger86 intends to pass the cone along to another FF at some point - keep your eyes peeled!

So - that's 3 out of 4 accounted for.
If anyone finds out what happened to the last safety cone in Port Orford, Oregon (left it on the Welcome sign), let me know!

It's probably HERE.



Anyway,
Happy New Year!

[WOXOF]

Happy New Year Little Wan


Another resource may be Horizons Unlimited - Trip Planning - Transport

Their main website: Horizons Unlimited

[Ramv]

Ok, Awesome report, I am only to page 28 but working dilligently!


My wife saw it and said absolutely not, we are staying on road!

A few quick thoughts:

My great Grandfather was a blacksmith in Bannack. Cool you made it there.

There is better food then McDs in Jackson. (The Mexican joint comes to mind).

Chinese in Pinedale is as good as anything except breakfast at the Stockmans.

The rigs are are actually natural gas rigs. Pinedale Basin is one of the most prolific basins in the Rockies for natural gas. It's very dry, no liquids (oil). Currently QEP, Ultra, and Shell are the main operators in the area. Encana operates NW of Farson in the Jonah field. It is one of the largest gas fields in the word.

I am glad you got the ice cream! Only reason to visit Farson in my opinion. First time I was there it was -40 between Eden and Farson. No ice cream that day!

Cool report, I am going to keep reading!

(and planning our next adventure).

[LittleWan]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the HU info, WOXOF!


Hi Ramv -
I've been trying to respond to comments via PM, but I see that you're a super n00b and this is your very first post!
First of all, thanks for taking the time to sign up and leave a comment.
Glad you're enjoying the report.
You must be a WY local!

Originally Posted by Ramv

There is better food then McDs in Jackson. (The Mexican joint comes to mind).
Cool report, I am going to keep reading!
(and planning our next adventure).

Yeah, we know there's better food in Jackson - but I don't like to wait around just to get something decent.
I like to eat whatever is fast and hassle-free and then get back on the road.


Anyway, thanks again for reading! Glad you found some inspiration in this mess, haha.
I sent you a PM - look at the upper right hand corner of the page.
See where it says, "WOZZUPPP Ramv"?
click where it says "Private Messages: Unread 1"
Congratulations! Your first PM


And, lucky you - I just went through and fixed a bunch of broken links. So many of those videos have been removed
Anyway, as of yesterday, every link was working. It won't last long.


You know I can't post without sharing something fun...
Here's a really cool stop action short:




Isn't that awesome?




Anyway, I'll be on a little ADV break for a while. I've subscribed to this thread, so I'll try and keep track of it.
Might be a while before I get back to any comments or PMs, but you'll hear from me eventually.

Thanks again for reading - it would have been pointless without all of you!

P.S. I don't know if you're still reading this, BluePOOF, but I'm so sorry I repeatedly f'ed up your name.
When I was checking linkies, I saw that I got it wrong over and over. And over. In PMs, too.

sigh. What can I say, except:
"I'm a unitard!"

[Nixels]

LittleWan - thanks for that really cool animation video.

Ya'll have fun on your travels.

[-W-]

Took forever to read this RR through, but damn it was sooo nice to read!
Thanks for LittleWan for a huge effort to write it down - and also in a very unique and most amusing way too!

Then just one quick queastion for the school bus driver - which front springs did you have in the bus while this trip? Rear spring was standart (or?), but the front ones were stiffer like was said at some point (what rate?). Just curious..

[Ramv]

Finally finished! Great ride report, I realized I wasn't logged in though (hence no PM).

The ride looks tremendous, but the report was epic! Great work.

I do have one question, where is the Spot mount from? I don't have a good GPS yet, (old Legend is about it), so I am considering the new spot or just a new GPS.

Thanks, keep up the great report!

[PYG RYDR]

Thank you Wans!!!

Enjoyed your adventure immensely!

Just totally awesome RR and the animations and videos are superb!

[LittleWan]

Hola!
long time, no see...
Well, hope you're all thawing out and starting to think about riding...
I've already answered these comments via PM, but I might as well post the info while I'm here.

Originally Posted by -W-

Then just one quick queastion for the school bus driver - which front springs did you have in the bus while this trip? Rear spring was standart (or?), but the front ones were stiffer like was said at some point (what rate?). Just curious..

Hey -W-,
Regarding springs:
front - .54 spring rate
rear - standard spring, 140.

Bike felt plush with those springs, but we probably could use increased spring rate for rougher terrain when fully loaded.

Originally Posted by Ramv

I do have one question, where is the Spot mount from? I don't have a good GPS yet, (old Legend is about it), so I am considering the new spot or just a new GPS.

Thanks, keep up the great report!

Hi Ramv - our SPOT mount is a home made dealie. BigWan put that together on his own, sorry!
Ram-mount makes some:
http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts...2/Default.aspx
Hope that helps.

And, gediehl4, glad you enjoyed the report !


Wow, I see that this old thing is still generating views
Thanks to all of you for the sweet comments and PMs, too. It's always nice to hear from you guys.


Anyhoo, the real reason I'm here -
I just got an email from Victor. Remember Victor? We met him in Lake City, then again in Moab.
The latest issue of the Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly features the boys and the 2nd leg of their TransAmerica Trail ride (OK, CO, UT)!
woo hoo!

read all about it, here: http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/2...feature128.htm

I'm sure that all of you are starting to think about this summer's riding and the TAT is at the top of the list.
Go enjoy Victor's tale and get inspired!
(I'm talkin' to you, themansfield )



take care!
little wan

[canuk_guy]

2nd full read through. More entertaining the second time, laugh before some sections just knowing the stupid to come.

Excellent read ... great RR.

Thanks again to Little Wan and Big Wan.

Cheers, Guy
aka canuk_guy

[nevermind]

I'm jonesing for more antics and gnarley escapades from B&L Wan!!! What's up next, you two???

[LittleWan]

Howdy!
long time no see...

Wow, ADV looks totally different!

Originally Posted by canuk_guy

2nd full read through.

Thanks, Guy, glad you enjoyed the 2nd read (glutton for punishment, eh?)!

Originally Posted by nevermind

What's up next, you two???

Hi nevermind! Thanks for asking...


Nope, for those of you wondering, we haven't died in a firey wreck! (yet)

I'm sorry to say that BigWan and I squandered our summer this year - no big ride.
Instead of being stupid in the dirt, we've been stupid on the water.



We sailed our little boat from Mexico to Hawaii, and from Hawaii to San Francisco.





We just sailed in under the Golden Gate bridge on friday (at 2:30 am)!
The ocean is a scary place and we're happy to be home in one piece.
It's nice to be back on the internets, getting caught up with ADV

Thanks for the PMs and inquiries about our plans, and I'm flattered you guys want more Stupidity reports!
Maybe we'll make it out to Idaho next summer (2up Tour of Idaho anyone? ), but until then... it's back to work

Hope you're all having a wonderful summer!
take care,
kelly