Another awesome RR Doug. Thanks for sharing. A thought on your gps going out if you haven't already sorted it. I've got the same unit and it died on me when one of the contact pins in the mount fell out preventing it from getting a charge from the bike. A quick way to see if the issue is in the mount or the gps is to plug it into a computer with the usb cable, if it powers up then ya know it's the mount. Thanks again for the report, can't wait for the next one.
An excellent report, just spent a good few hours reading it from start to finish. TOP MAN. I'm now off to read your previous ones.
Darn I live couple hours away and I did not know untill now this place existed. Maybe a quick ride this weekend for a drink. Thanks Doug.
Seams to me a business or group could do a lot worse than to treat Doug like a honored guest. Every time I read about places and people like this in Doug's and others threads I think to myself, If I am ever there, I will go out of my way to shop/eat/drink/stay there. They have earned my money by deserving to have a successful business. There is even a couple shops I have read of in other countries that have been Very helpful to broken down bikers. If I am ever there and they are busy, I would happily sacrifice a day or two working for free to help them make more money and get their customers back on the road. (it'd be pretty fun too, I think. ) just throwing that out there. Ride on Doug. I hope to be more on top of your schedule the next time we are within 300 miles of each other. If you are lucky, it will also be close to Dublin Tx. ( http://www.dublindrpepper.com/ ) Now finish this report already!
Hey Doug, You might want to checkout the TV show TOP GEAR "Season 16 Special"....They take three 2-seatercrappy convertable cars into Iraq, neighboring contries and in Iraq judging by your photos they are doing your route! I hope you can watch it. You might get a laugh out of it. Leads one to wonder, are they looking at avdrider.com for show ideas.
When I saw that air six weeks ago it looked awfully familiar to this report. I guess there are only so many places one can go in northern iraq though.
hey doug, thanks for the nice trip and report. good photography. lots of fun. after all, travel will make us more wiser than before. travelling will take us in to all sort of things... culture, food, people, scenery.. etc etc. when we are in trouble there will be some one who will help us. we then will help others who are in needs. something to GIVE and someone will RECEIVE it. at the end we will think that our life is for SOMETHING. what is the THING that we are searching for? ONLY you know the answer. HOSPITALITY will make us be ONE. Thanks rahza malaysia
G'day Doug, You and others prob know this ... but, even with an Indian guard you don't need to get them terribly high. Just tilt it over and slip the wheel out sideways. If you are alone just use your tent and sleeping bag and drop the bike on 'em. If no soft stuff then use branches ... whatever. Might help somebody although I'm thinking I'm doing a grandma / eggs. beers,
For future information for you, Ambassador Doug and you FF's out there. A U.S. citizen can have two U.S. passports IF there is a need for two. A 'need' for two includes if you go to Israel and then want to go to another middle eastern country. Or, if you go to Taiwan and want to go to China. Other examples occur. You simply have to apply for a 2nd passport AND explain why a 2nd passport is required. I use travisa.com for such travel needs. OK, back to the beginning of this RR. Popcorn is on!
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Great trip Doug! I really like the exhaust on that bike... Is it a one off? What do you call that style muffler? Thanks, Zach
the mufflers are either called 'cocktail shakers' or 'trumpets' they were popular in the late 60s. I'm actually riding around Bulgaria on the shovel right now. I had to fix alot of heat damaged stuff from the middle east trip, mostly electrics & clutch. It had been sitting for the last couple years, so I brought over the stuff it needed this year & got it back road ready