| This jouney would not have been possible, or at least a lot more difficult without the advice and help from a large number of people. One of those people is a guy named Rory Cutler, a bloody clever bastard (thatīs a compliment in Oz Ror).. Rory is the President of International Special Effects, a motion picture company with the largest build shop in Western Canada. While many of my sponsors have been generous with their time and/or products, they all have a vested interest in supporting me, most having product lines in the motorcycling biz. I hope to get enough exposure for all of them to return their investment. Rory, however, has no vested interest in the motorcycle biz at all, and yet gave me total access to his entire workshop with damn expensive tooling and complex equipment. I can only guess it was partly out of pity (yours truly being way out of my depth for what I wanted to build) and partly out of curiosity (`what the ____ is that Aussie doing now?) but Rory patiently answered every question I had, and along the way taught me the basics of machining, TIG welding, and construction tech that I doubt I could have learnt without doing years of schooling. Rory is a walking encyclopedia of materials knowledge and suggestions, which he passes on with incredible charity. Ror, I owe you big time...I hope in time youīll take me up on my offer to show you some of our Aussie pubs, and those funny fish you seem so bloody curious about, if and when I make it back it there... Thanks to the many other guys who passed through International while I was working there, and also gave their time and advice. Thereīs too many of you to name but you know who you are. Huge thanks must also go to Mike Walburn of Dual Star Outfitters, makers of aftermarket adventure motorcycling equipment. Mikeīs company has a vested interest in supporting me but Mike has gone waay above and beyond by discussing every particular detail of the bikes prep with me and sharing his 20+ plus years of motorcycle knowledge, often via long distance from Seattle. Iīve given Mike his own writeup in the Dual Star section, but I gotta thank Mike for one deed most outstanding, a mercy dash across the border to Vancouver the day before I was meant to leave, to ensure I had everything I needed. I donīt think this is going to be a regular Dual Star service (Mike?) but couldnīt let it go without a mention. Thanks also to Jeff at Dual Star for his help and Carrie for the use of her husband... Thanks must also go to world motorcyclists Peter and Kay Forward, and Grant and Susan Johnson for their advice...For those interested Grant runs the Horizons Unlimited website at, funnily enough, www.horizonsunlimited.com, the only real website and contact point for world bikers. Damn fine job Grant and Susan, worth its weight in gold (already). Thanks to Fernando, my buddy in Madrid, who gave me a place to stay and sort out my gear, then after I was on the road, rang around all of Spain when my transmission seal went south, just to try and locate a dealer who had one and a mechanic who could fit it for me. He also tracked down a new chain and sprocket kit when it become apparent the old one wasn't going to last in Morocco... There are many people who I owe my gratitude for playing some part in making this journey real. Iīm going to update this list when I can but if you donīt read your name here please know that your assistance has made a difference to me and you are no less appreciated. |
| My Gratitude... |
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