My paper Aerostich catalogue landed on the mat yesterday and for those of you who haven’t yet acquired one of these I suggest you do so without delay – it is a veritable Aladdin”s cave of biking gear porn and guaranteed to be injurious to your financial health.
On the back cover was an ad for something I hadn’t heard of before – Aerostich tours. Intrigued I read the text then went to the tours website to learn more. Oh what have I done? Before I knew it, I had called the States and booked myself provisionally on the “End of the Earth Tour” through Patagonia to Tierra del Fuego. Here are a few pics from the Aerostich site.
Today, after earnest conversations with my dear wife – about me going at all, as getting her to go would require at least a major miracle – my provisional booking has turned into a firm booking with deposit paid and my head filled with thoughts about freshening up my off-road riding techniques, the clothes I need to cater for temperatures ranging from freezing to boiling and whether my old motocross boots will do. Now I love my Goldwing but it sure ain’t the machine for this adventure. After thinking about booking one of the optional BMW R1150GS/R1200GS bikes I have decided they are too big and top heavy for my ancient bones and have opted instead to go for the basic BMW F650 GS about which lots of reviewers are very complimentary. It is certainly capable of the job by all accounts.
I may be completely daft but I love adventures and this promises to be a biggie. Logic says it’s for younger folk but also that if I don’t do it soon, I shall definitely be too old to contemplate it.
I have made a start again at the gym and am determined to (a) lose weight and (b) build up muscle so that when I inevitably fall off, I shall be able to pick myself and the bike up and continue riding. Not least because the amount of off-road riding suggests a potentially exhausting trip. I reckon off-road motorcycling is probably closer to the Tour de France in this regard than most people would guess!
Now I have to do all the stuff like book flights etc etc. I may also take myself off for one of the BMW off-road courses to see what I remember and repair any deficiencies in technique (there will be plenty of those to guarantee I get my moneysworth!)