Diary & Travel Reports by Simon Milward

Hello Sponsors 99/10/ It is one mad rush now to get things finished in time for the departure starting 4 December in Exeter Devon UK. There are still so many things to do. Most importantly the bike now has 2000km on the clock, after I rode it to Mulhouse for the International Motorcyclists Public Policy Conference in France earlier this month. I'm very pleased with this baby which is going to take me all the way round the world. I'm riding it back to the UK tomorrow to make some changes and weld up the oil tank (don't ask...). We'll be making a full off-road test all-loaded-up, uprate the suspension, finalise the gearing and do one of two other things. Then we shall take it to the NEC Show in Birmingham where it will feature on the MAG stand (MAG Insurance is a main sponsor) and pull in lots more sponsors! I'm feeling very comfortable with the engine and it makes such a change for me to plod along at 100-110km/h, my licence will be safe with this! It feels like 10 years ago riding my old Triumph Thunderbird, stopping every now and again to tinker with the bike (or rather get the lights working, mending a clutch cable...) Other than that I have the visas to finalise: Harley in Saudi Arabia are sorting out the business visa for there which has to be applied for in Cairo, getting my 'list of things to take' together, finalising the spares schedule, sorting the the tools out, arranging the 'tracker system' - I had a meeting with the European Commission about that today, finding a photographic sponsor (yes that it still missing, if you know anyone in the business who is interested in global exposure let me know) and trying to fit all the media interviews into the time left available! Plus cleaning up my flat so I can get my deposit back and shifting all my gear to Bob's place. You know, usual stuff like completely re-organising my life. I also seem to have developed another cavity or two in my teeth - I'm glad that this popped up now (bit like the oil tank...)! Communications and connectivity are also high on the list of things to suss out so big thanks to Mike Forrester and John Rushworth. Ericsson said they'd give me a mobile phone to use with the Psion, big deal, communications is a big part of this escapade and I was thinking that it was worth more than that. Some nights I can't even sleep, it's the sheer excitement of what lies ahead, a continuous adrenalin surge, even more so than usual! (Isn't life great?!) The boat is from Marseilles to Tunis on 1/1/2000 (thanks to Belgium's SNCM Ferries). This confirms the lap of the Iberian peninsular including the Lisbon departure and Christmas in Gibraltar just to settle the nerves before crossing to the African continent. Latest Corporate Sponsors include the American Motorcyclist Association, Davida goggles, Government Policy Consultants Brussels, Pisces Paint UK, Katadyn with a lovely stainless water filter good for about 30,000 litres, and a superb charity dinner organised by Cynthia Lewis here in Belgium. (You are all welcome to do fundraising events, like Marcia and Jean in Illinois for example!) There's so much to say that you'll simply have to wait to read about it in the book later, an already-published author is helping out on that (thanks Suzanne, here's a plug for her book on the bikers' rights lobby, yes this is really how a successful grass-roots EU lobby group does it, info from her on smcdw@globalnet.co.uk). Suzanne has the task of deciphering my ramblings over the next few years - more detailed than the email updates you'll get from me en route. There will be a couple of Brussels farewells, one at the FEMA office on 8 December at lunchtime (this one is a little more formal for those of you working here at the heart of Europe, you'll get an invitation, we want to make sure you know Bob, Christina and Eric.) The other will be on Saturday evening 11th and probably will include a few bars and everyone is welcome to that. You will be asked to make a small contribution to the humanitarian aid appeal though. Speaking of which, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders got the Nobel Peace Prize didn't they? Very well deserved. Right, I'm off to change an oil filter and Loctite the timing pulley onto the camshaft. Enjoy life Simon

99/09/23 Millennium Motorcycle emerges as a Sponsor Monster 99/09/06 Medical 99/07/28 Engine swopping 99/07/17 Tea-table survival & Gambia 99/07/11 Note to Sponsors with pin badge 99/06/12 Bike moves & Budget 99/05/04 things fall into place 99/04/10 TV and the first jabs

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