Paul's View from the saddle

Last updated: 10 Sept 2011

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10 Sept 2011
Oh my gosh, my girlfriend has had our baby here in the UK - looks like the continuation of Paul's Big Bike trip is very definitely paused!

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24 April 2010
About to head off to the Horizons Unlimited UK meeting at Ripley to perform my talk: View From The Saddle: the tips and tricks I learnt

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18 April 2010
I will be presenting at this years Horizons Unlimited UK meeting!

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25 September 2009
Fetching Vafa home log updated - the final entry for some time to come...

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23 September 2009

Home again! Everything went well and now I and Vafa are back :-). 21176 miles in total (plus a few miles around India)

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23 September 2009
Back to the UK for me today, hopefully to a meet up with Vafa, uncrate her and ride home to Abi shortly after landing if everthing works/

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22 September 2009
At 21:19 last night UK time Vafa was unloaded at Heathrow :-) Fetching Vafa home updated

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21 September 2009
Fetching Vafa home diary page added and being updated. MAS Kargo website says Vafa has left Malaysia! Unbelievably, Mick Hoe, a Danish guy is riding across Africa and the world using a Honda VFR750 - it is even red! Check it out at http://www.mhoey.eu/

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20 September 2009
One VFR crated and on her way to Heathrow tomorrow

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19 September 2009
Vafa starts!

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18 September 2009
Arrived at John's ok if a bit late!

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17 September 2009
With life with Abi and my new position at Wirth Research both going well, I return to KL to hopefully crate Vafa and bring her safely back to the UK. Initial investigations suggest getting her back into the UK will be the most expensive (I am not allowed to clear her through customs myself and instead must pay a clearing agent) and time costly (both the agent and customs do not work evenings or weekends so I am told to allow 24-48 hours) of all the countries I have taken Vafa into on the journey so far.

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24 July 2009
Paused While the website was down, due to issues outside of my control, things have taken a big change with an opportunity coming along for me to join the company building the cars for one of the new F1 Teams. I will be based just outside Oxford, developing the race engineering software again. So I will return to Malaysia in September to bring Vafa back to the UK and the trip will be "paused", allowing me to spend more time with Abi. Maybe in a few years time together we will explore NZ and Canada - two of my dream destinations. Until then a big thank you to everyone who has supported me in any way whether by sponsoring me, hosting me or just following me on this website. Paul.

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24 June 2009
Took a ride to Horizons Unlimited UK meeting at Ripley at the weekend. Abi came too and we saw many of my heros, a quick review of their talks is in the diary pages plus does anyone know if snails cry?

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16 June 2009
Woa hoo me and Abi and are on the cover of the Motorcycle Action Group's magazine

12 June 2009
Finally got round to completing the last few diary enteries for Malaysia see Down again and There be gambling in them there hills

8 June 2009
Have decided to spend more time in the UK enjoying the summer with Abi before I will return to KL in September

31 May 2009
Finally selected and commented on my favourite photos of the trip so far, these are photos that tell a story rather than high artistic merit

26 May 2009
See what I recommended to a Malaysian female biker recently in The Star, KL though they got my name wrong

18 May 2009
This coming weekend I will get my Thruxton out so I have two powered wheels in the UK too. I've not ridden it since Xmas when I took it for a quick spin - wearing wellies

11 May 2009
In Oxfordshire now working at www.nsolve.com and spending time with Abi :-)

5 May 2009
Tomorrow I fly to Paris for a wedding, back in KL July 8th to resume my travelling

3 May 2009
Just back from a 3 day venture to the East Coast and then up Fraiser's Hill and Genting Highland's to visit the gambling centre of Malaysia - I stayed 50 minutes before leaving

28 Apr 2009
Taking some time out from travelling to do some money earning before flying to Paris for a special friend's wedding after that will be spending a couple of months in the UK with Abi :-)

Am now trying Twitter

24 Apr 2009
Today me and Vafa are going to school! I am giving a short presentation to some pre-school kids about my trip

23 Apr 2009
Vafa down :-(

After a whole day on the internet looking at different flight options I finally worked out a plan(!) to get to Paris for a dear friends wedding: May 6th I fly from KL to Paris (with Malaysia Airlines) returning back from the UK on the 7th July (with AirAsia).
This gives me time to enjoy the wedding, visit Abi and earn some dosh to pay for it all.
After that I have still not decided between East Malaysia, Thailand again, Cambodia, China or an early exit to Oz/NZ

22 Apr 2009
My Chapter 3 favourite pics from are now on line

20 Apr 2009
The last part of Abi’ tour of Malaysia and Thailand is now in the diary

17 Apr 2009
Abigail boarded her flight to the UK this morning leaving Paul and Vafa to continue to destinations unknown

15 Apr 2009
Today we return to KL
Our Phuket page is now in the diary

13 Apr 2009
In the Cameron Highlands today we passed the 20,000 mile mark!

9 Apr 2009
The first few days in Southern Thailand are now in the diary

8 Apr 2009
All ok and still enjoying Phuket hoping to visit the Phuket bike show on Friday before returning to Malaysia (no intention to go to Bangkok)

6 Apr 2009
Map on home page updated to show chapter 3 route so far

We are now on Phuket Island heading South

3 Apr 2009
The first diary page of our trip around Malaysia and Thailand is now up

31 March 2009
We are now in Thailand!

Abi's tales begin updated

30 March 2009
We are now riding up the East Coast the bike is going well with all its new bits. Both of us are finding it very hot but it is great to be back on the road

Abi's tales begin added to diary page

27 March 2009
New rear shock fitted to Vafa, all set to ride across to East Coast, leaving KL first thing Saturday morning

24 March 2009
Three in KL added to diary page

23 March 2009
Abi has arrived all ok :-)

21 March 2009
Leaky fork rebuilt by the famous Sunny Cycles but while installing it I found the rear shock has failed again so a new one is one order but not going to be here for maybe a week :-(

Prep for Malaysia added to diary page

I now have a local mobile: 012 9674809 (though email remains my preferred contact method)

20 March 2009
She is through customs and now sitting in Dave's drive way. I've fitted new brake seals throughout the front end - it was heaven working on Vafa again

19 March 2009
Have arrived in KL, staying with Dave Tucker a fellow VFR owner from the VFRForum. Together on Friday we will go get Vafa from customs hopefully.

18 March 2009
I am checked in and due to fly to Malaysia before the clock strikes mid-night in Dubai

17 March 2009
View from the saddle now has my review of India

16 March 2009

1 pieces weighing 311.00 kgs manifested on flight EK0342/16 MAR 2009 on 16 MAR 2009 from DXB DUBAI INTL, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES to KUL KUALA LUMPUR INTL, MALAYSIA.

Which means Vafa has landed in KL! One day ahead of schedule too.

15 March 2009
Vafa is through customs and with Emirates airline now. She will fly on the 17th and I will fly on the 18th and Abi will fly on the 23rd - hopefully we will all meet up in Kuala Lumpur! I hope to check Vafa out of KL customs on the 20th, put her on a truck and take her to a friend's house to reassemble and begin part 3 of my big bike trip.

14 March 2009
Vafa is packed

13 March 2009
New Picasa folder showing the Best of Part2 Photos

Tomorrow is the big packup for Vafa - wish me luck!

11 March 2009
I have the exit paperwork for my bike :-) and aim to fly it out on the 16th or 17th of March

10 March 2009
A big Happy Birthday to my nephew Ben

I have booked my flight to Malaysia (landing on the 19th March), the VFR should be there a day earlier if I can get past all the paperwork needed to exit the UAE!

4 March 2009
A big welcome to any TunAtheDay.com members who have followed Ade's front page link today

2 March 2009
I secure www.viewfromthesaddle.co.uk as a domain name, for View from the saddle could be the name of my book!

1 March 2009
Today I fly to back to Sharjah, where I will spend 2 weeks servicing the VFR, ready to ship it to Kuala Lumper in late March where my fiancee, Abigail, will fly out to join me for 4 weeks travelling together

The Silver Bullet review is updated

27 Feb 2009
With my parents visiting me I ride to Goa and then took a break from the diary to enjoy their company and Goa and Hampi before returning to Mumbai to try and sell the Bullet

27 Feb 2009
The Silver Bullet is sold!

26 Feb 2009
How to wash your clothes on the big bike trip

11 Feb 2009
Page 41 added to the Diary

5 Feb 2009
Paul has returned to Mumbai and once over his jet lag will begin riding south.

Page 40 added to the Diary

20 Jan 2009
Some rejigging of the website and addition of the who is Paul page.

11 Jan 2009
Now you can subscribe to Paul's big trip and, if it works, you will receive an email everytime the diary page gets updated - generally once every two or three days when Paul is on the road.

1 Jan 2009
Happy New Year to all!

Paul's 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet will be available to purchase from late Feb for the bargin price of $425

30 Dec 2008
Paul will being flying back to Dubai on the 1st Feb and onto India on the 3rd of Feb - having decided to delay his return to attend his brother's 40th birthday in the UK

On the 2nd March Paul will fly back to Dubai to prepare Vafa to fly to Malaysia in late March, where Abi will join them both for a month

15 Dec 2008
Diary pages 38 and 39 added

13 Dec 2008
Paul will fly back to the UK on the 14th December to visit Abi and his family for Xmas and the New Year, before returning first to Dubai to see Vafa and then back to the Silver Bullet in Mumbai. From where he will travel south to Goa, Kerla and anywhere else that takes his fancy.

10 Dec 2008
The Alford Target reports on Paul's Indian adventure

06 Dec 2008
Diary pages 36 and 37 added

23 Nov 2008
A review of the Silver Bullet added to 'More...'

22 Nov 2008
Diary page 35 added

11 Nov 2008
Diary page 33 updated
Diary page 34 added

4 Nov 2008
Diary page 32 updated
Diary page 33 added

28 Oct 2008
A Bullet has been purchased and after the India Diwali festival Paul will be begin exploring - once he has got used to the right hand side gear change!

Diary page 31 updated
Diary page 32 added

21 Oct 2008
Weds 22nd 9.55am Paul will leave Vafa and fly to Delhi where he hopes to find a Royal Enfield Bullet to explore that exciting and different land

Diary page 31 added

18 Oct 2008
More entries added to Diary page 30

11 Oct 2008
Diary page 30 added

5 Oct 2008
Updates to diary page 29

3 Oct 2008
New diary page added - Part Two of trip

1 Oct 2008
Paul has arrived safely in Dubai and tomorrow should be re-united with Vafa

29 Sep 2008
Due to some technical issues, the RTW site had to move hosts but now we now have a new sponsor Cyberstrider.

Some of the site will not currently work (particularly The Gallery) We are aware of the problems and are working to fix it. The full site will resume as soon as possible.

Flying out to Dubai on the 30th Sept. There will be a short period while I wait for my bike to get to Mumbai having decided Pakistan is too dangerous at the moment.
Paul

1 Sep 2008
There are some new pages for you to read. You can read all about Paul's original plans for his big trip as well as a summary of the trip so far. Enjoy!

1 Aug 2008
Paul is now back in his house in Chipping Norton and about to begin the Visa application process all over again for the second leg of his tour

8 July 2008
In Ripley, near Derby Paul went to the Horizons Unlimied 2008 adventure motorcylcist meeting. Meeting again Jacqui, his heroine, as well as 498 other adventurers and attending some 30+ presentations on different aspects of exploring by motorbike. Jacqui's presentation on her 7 year motorcycle journey started with a warning that it could be life changing and it certainly was for one member of the audience - at which point Paul had to stand up to take a bow.

30 June 2008
Jami, the Finnish tanker driver riding an Yamaha R1 that Paul met in Turkey, is in the UK visiting Paul and also going to the Horizon's Unlimited meeting next weekend.

24 June 2008

After Paul's close encounter with a deer finally the Thruxton is back on the road and Paul is enjoying being mobile again, though he did improve his fitness cycling 20 miles back and forth to work.

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