(Jan 2001)Hello,

I'm Shane, I'm Irish, an Electrical engineer/Kayaker/ Paraglider/ KiteSurfer(beginner)/ Mountainbiker/ Surfer/ Windsurfer/ biker(as of now)/ part time alcoholic etc. and I live in Dublin. I currently work! in one of those 9-5 desk jobs(Electrical Engineer for the ESB). I've decided to have an early midlife crisis ((of sorts(I'm 25)) and get the hell out of my job and do some of those things we all talk about doing when we're drunk in the pub with some mates. As of next January I'm packing in the job and travelling for a year(do search on trough our site as you might actually find it interesting). The main part of the trip which is what I'm just about to explain is as follows.

Two friends(Kevin and Brian) and myself are going to drive motorbikes from India to Ireland with a slight detour up into Nepal. The trip will take approximately six months to complete and the following is the basic outline of the route:- Mumbai(Bombay)(purchase motorbikes), Goa(chill out and party on the beach for a few weeks), Bombay, Kanpur, Katmandu, hike to Everest base camp, Dehli, Karchung La (highest road pass in the world), Lahore(Pakistan border crossing),Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Israel(depending on political situation), Egypt, Ferry across the med., Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, "The Pub" on Achill Island(Island off the Irish west coast).

I think it was Kevin who came up with the idea. As soon as I heard him mention it one evening in a pub over a few pints of Guinness "I was there!". Once the idea was in my head I new that I just had to go. Originally we were supposed to go last October(2000) but we deferred it until Jan 2001.  Its now Jan 4th 2001 and myself and Kevin are flying out to Bombay on the 24th. We have been trying to get as many things as possible organised over the past few months. We all bought ourselves motorbikes around November last in order to get some practice and to get our tests. At this point in time the test pass rate is pretty dismal  with Kevin being the only one to get it. I failed my test last Tuesday so I have to go to India and try work something out over there!!??. I'm sure sitting a motorbike test in Bombay would be loads of fun. I'm sure we can find someone who can organise! a license for me over there. I'm going anyway and I'm still buying the motorbike I just have not quite figured out how to get around the fact that I have no license(time will tell). Brian is in the same boat as me as he failed his test today. He does not fly out to Bombay until the 5th Feb so he has reapplied and should be able to re-sit the test before he goes.

Basically all systems are go. We have all organised the 6 monts+(a year in my case) off work. We all have roughly enough money for the trip(all borrowed in my case). 

Wish us luck!

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