| Hello family, friends and business associates.
The “All-Star Motorcycle Circus and Expedition” is a rambling travel blog that I post whenever possible, while meandering here and there on a motorcycle. This blog has been dark since June 16, 2013. If you recieved this you are on the SUBSCRIBER list which means you will be notified whenever a new post is made. Subscribing or Unsubscribing : It’s easy to be notified whenever I post something. Just go to the upper left tab on this page and click SUBSCRIBE. If you dislike rambling babble click the UNSUBSCRIBE button and enter your email address. You will be removed from subscriber list. To make it perfectly clear, I am not the “All-Star”. I’m more aligned as one of life’s circus clowns. The “All-Stars” are the strangers we meet that friend us, help us, guide us, entertain us, feed us and help get us safely down the road. My first priority of “wondering around” is to have fun, enjoy the experience, meet people, ride new roads, and eat unique foods! In many situations bloging takes time away from the experiences. So this blog’s posting will be made whenever convenient and based on internet availability.  Decisions, decisions, decisions! |
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| March 20, 2015, Southern California
My bucket list is half full … or is it half empty? My problem is my bucket list keeps changing. As I add new great things to do & see, some of the older items move down the priority list and eventually falls out of the bucket. In college (late ‘60’s) I read James Michener’s novel Caravans, a story that took place in Afghanistan and the Kyber Pass. 55 years ago it was an amazing adventure. Riding a camel through the Kyber Pass has been on my list for many years. But, our present day political climate, Afghanistan is somewhat off-limits! The closest I can get to Afghanistan is riding the southern parameter of Tajikistan where I can look across the border into Afghanistan. So, this year I’ll attempt to ride the legendary “Silk Road”. Because of the challenging route, I decided to join an organized, commercial tour. Hopefully, this will minimize visas, language and border crossing situations. And having a small group makes it easier for Sue to agree to. The outfit is called Globeriders. This little tour is lead by Helge Pedersen.
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 Silk Road Map - Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Xian |
| Ride Description – Globeriders
Silk Road 2015 - This Adventure moto tour begins at the Western terminus of the old Silk Road in Istanbul, Turkey – the only city that lies on two continents, Europe and Asia. Over the next 56 days, we’ll travel through Turkey, then into Georgia and Azerbaijan. From Azerbaijan, we’ll for the first time ride through Iran on the way to Turkmenistan. Next comes Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and if you are adventures enough there will be a opportunity to take a days ride in to Afghanistan. We will ride the famous Pamir Highway surrounded by tall mountains and deep valleys on the way to Kyrgyzstan. We cross in to China and Kashgar where we ride through the Gobi desert to the Eastern terminus, Xian, city of the Terra Cotta Warriors. It’s a small group 16 motos, 3 tour guides & 1 chase vehicle |
| Prelim Agenda |
| Apr 15 – Depart LAX
Apr 16 – Arrive in Heidelberg, Germany Apr 17 – Pack & local test rides Apr 18-30 – Travel, starting in Germany wonder through eastern Europe to Turkey May 1-4 – Istanbul arrival & local area discovery May 6 – Istanbul, moto tour departure May 6-Jun 27 Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, China Jun 28-29 – Xian, China tourist |
| SPOT vs DeLorme inReach Satellite Tracking |
| I’m moving from the SPOT sat tracking system to the DeLorme inReach sat tracking system. The SPOT has served me well in the Americas and most of Europe. However, SPOT has limited/no coverage through sections of Eurasia – i.e. Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and sections of China. The DeLorme inReach uses the Iridium satellite network which has 100% worldwide coverage AND includes 2-way satellite text messaging.
I will be in extremely remote areas with no WIFI connections. So the ASMC&E Blog reports will be sporadic. The following are my independent satellite tracking webpages. These are independent of the Blog and my location tracks are updated every 20 minutes or so. https://share.delorme.com/DeanTanji (will become active April 18) http://tinyurl.com/DeanSR15Spotwalla (will become active April 18) I’ll post next about VISAs and prelim planning. |
Sounds like another “Epic” adventure. I suggest adding a “n” to a sign in Tajikistan for a photo op. “Tajikistan”.
Meant “Tanjikistan” autocorrect keeps fixing it.
Looking forward to your adventure!
Let the adventure begin!
Love your adventures. Have fun
You are my hero!
I’m envious. Have a great trip.
Sounds really great, Dean. Looking forward to your reports.
I’m so excited for you and to follow along on your blog. This will be epic!
Hi Dean!
I am delighted to be able to follow you and your friends on another if your enjoyable journey! My hope is that it will be a safe and enjoyable journey for you as well!
Wondered what happened to ya. Glad to hear you will be travelling again. I agree, don’t let the blogging get in the way of the adventure. Don’t keep us in suspense, though.
This looks like the best yet! Keep the shiney side up and the greasy side down!!
Yes, Dean, I’m in! Send me whatever you write! And here’s the address of our friend in Georgia. I know he and his wife would love to meet you for an evening or more! holtsingeorgia@gmail.com
Dennis and Korinne Holt
Can’t wait to get your reports of all your amazing adventures. Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Marsha
Dean, you are the most adventurist person we know! You really know how to live….we are jealous. Have a fun time out there and safe travels! Linda and Bob
Ought to be fun. If only I had the resources an a wife that would agree to it (yes, the life insurance is paid up, why do you ask?).
Wow Dean, sounds like a hoot! Have a great time and we will be following .
Hi Dean
Have a great trip! Looking forward to your reports.
Best wishes on your newest Adventure Dean… We’ll be following you vicariously!
Dean, my friend, I was so surprised to open my mail and see this trip. You, are my HERO. Bless Sue for allowing you to do this. I really wish I could AFFORD to do this kind of trip, and of an age to do it. You are the most adventuresome person I know. Power to you my friend!!!
Love your stories and advertures, be safe out there and have fun!
Go for it Dean. live life while you can. Love Sue for it. and drink tequilla later.
Wow Dean – looks like I checked just in time to see you “strap it up”. Sounds like a great adventure and I will gladly live it through you. And while you are traveling through Iran there is a little 3,000 ft deep “cave” the CIA wants you to inspect to see if anything is “glowing”….