It would seem that my luck is running out…
I am here in Alexandria, Egypt, waiting for either my Libyan visa to come through (which might take another week!) or the ferry that will take me to Venice, Italy…
I am already more than three weeks behind the original schedule I planned for myself… I was hoping to get into Spain from Morocco by the end of June 2010.
There was supposed to be a ferry sailing from Alexandria to Venice this coming Monday the 28th, but some silly sod has canceled it !! The next ferry will only sail to Venice from here on Monday the 5th of July… About the time I expect to get word from Tripoli…
I can wait here, where there is very little to do except take the occasional dip in the Med and gorge myself on KFC and Pizza, or, I can ride on through Jordan and Syria, and all the way around to Turkey, and then through Greece and Italy, and along the French coast to Spain and Portugal, before turning north and heading for Sweden and Norway… If I do this however, I am not certain that I will beat the bad weather that descends on that part of the world in late August…
I could also ride directly up through Russia, or Eastern Europe, through Finland to the top of Norway, and then work my way back through Scandinavia and central Europe, down to Spain and then ride along the Med back to Turkey. In order to get into Iran, I have to start out in Turkey, so either way, Turkey is where I need to be by late November…
If I do the long ride around, it will also mean that I will not get to ride through Algeria (something very few people have managed to do…) and Morocco, one of the best biking destinations in the world…!!
What to do, what to do…??
Any thoughts out there to help me make a decision ??
Let’s put it to the vote !!
A – I wait for my Libyan visa to come through and stick to the original plan,
B – I take the ferry to Italy regardless of whether I get the Libyan visa or not, and begin my ride through Europe,
C – I ride to Turkey and directly up through Russia to Norway…
Voting closes tomorrow night, Sunday the 27th June…
Get typing, Dudes…!!
Been there, done that !! Won't be needing this one any longer...!!
Hi Ronnie – I hate it when you’re not on your bike – need my daily Dark Destroyer fix!! -My vote says head up through to Russia ASAP and do the Scandinavian thing while the sun is still shining and then come back down through central Europe to Spain, along the Med to Turkey. The Czech republic is hosting Moto GP on 15 August at Brno (just a thought)…..I would bin the idea of waiting for Tripoli because as a result you might end up hating your trip in the far north during brass-ball weather. Treat Algeria/Morocco as ‘unfinished business’ – gives you an excuse to do it all again one day :-))))
Hi there, ok I want to say come back to Cairo and help me irritate the Egyptians, but I would vote for going through Turkey and then up to Russia. And like Mike says – not doing Algeria and Morocco gives you the excuse to do it at a later stage!
Hi there, according to Billy, who has just returned from Tunisia, waiting for your Libyan visa could take a long while or not at all, as in his case… I vote for turning north and heading up through Russia before the weather prevents you doing this. And now you know what lies after this journey… another, maybe up the western side of Africa including Algeria and Morocco.
C gets my vote as well. Get on your bike and go !
Hi Ronnie – as much as I hate to say it, but the others are correct! You need to get up North before their winter sets in, it will be miserable riding through ice and snow if you miss your August deadline!!! Good luck and hope all these votes help you in your decision. Happy safe riding!
Clearly, you do not like Egypt, or waiting.
Since there is uncertainty about your Libyan visa, C seems to be the only intelligent option.
I’d really like you to do A, but I would do C.
Stick to your plan. September and October should be fine to descend South from your most Northern point. You will only regret it if you don’t. And if needed you can ride from Spain to Denmark in 3 days ;-).
I vote for beginning your ride through Europe