Real-life Road Warriors

[miss_adventure]

I don't celebrate NYE, preferring to start my year at Samhain; typical Western NYE is just another night of dealing with drunks and fights, albeit on a grand scale. However, 31 December is saved for this: it marks the start of the annual Dakar Rally. The Rally, which started in 1979, is an off-road race from Europe (this year's race started in Lisbon, Portugal) through the Maghreb and West Africa to Dakar, Senegal. Racers use cars and trucks, motorcycles and quads, and self-created customized machines--there is even an American sidecar rig competing this year. The 2006 route is expected to take 15 days to complete for the serious contenders, as it is plotted to be as rugged and unforgiving as possible.

Needless to say, I want to ride this rally someday. Just finishing would be a Grand Adventure(TM). (Or because I'd have to enter as a broke privateer and because I would not be competing as a serious contender, a Grand Misadventure.)

Comments

[figureinthefog.livejournal.com]

I celebrate the new year at Samhain, too.. and Yule, and NYE, and the Chinese New Year. Come this June, I'll have lived for 100 years.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Yet you look so young!

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

(scowls) Isn't that smack in the middle of the hypothetical rainy season in the Maghreb? Sounds icky. (This from my mild experience with the northern edge of the Sahara.)

You just want to call yourself a privateer. While on a motorcycle. That does sound kind of cool though.

Shinto seems content to have moved its presumably-formerly-seasonal New Year to the calendar year, and I'm all good with that. Fall has *never* felt like the end of the year to me, Samhain notwithstanding. Then again, the drunk problem in Japan may be lessened by Shinto and Buddhism, because everybody wants to get to the shrine bright and early on New Year's morning. They're probably drunk on the trains though. Mmm, drunks on trains. At least they're not being drunks on trains during commute hour. Despite being something of a baseball fan, I HATED it when drunk so-called fans would be chugging beer and hollering and turning thei radios up to hear the game on my damn commute home. If you're a real damn fan, get there when the game starts!

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

You just want to call yourself a privateer. While on a motorcycle.

Well, yeah. *grin*

[rhiannasilel.livejournal.com]

You know, that really does sound like a lot of fun.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Traveling in the etymological root-form: travail. That's moto-touring in its finest form.

Or maybe we're just weird.

Or both!

[rhiannasilel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, maybe. I actually find driving a relaxing hobby and like my 42 mile one way commute because it gives me a chance to relax.

I sort of have this weird mobility thing where I have to drive or travel a fair amount or I start feeling out of sorts. I'm not sure why that is, but it gets worse the older I get not better so I don't think that it's a "follies of youth" kind of thing.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

I start getting all uncomfortable in my skin if I can't travel, which is a reason the Job makes my skin crawl--it ties me down to a specific geographical area. I make sure I get out of town on three-day swings and on vacations, but I increasingly miss my vagabond road-punk days when i lived in my car and traveled all over North America.

[rhiannasilel.livejournal.com]

I recently watched the whole Carnivale series and it really made me long to live on the road. I never actually lived on the road, but I did move around quite a bit and used to take extensive road trips. I wish there were still travelling freak shows that I could join up with and maybe read tarot cards for a living again (did that for a few years at local Baltimore coffee shops and new age bookstores).

[emptycountry.livejournal.com]

Dakar is right up there on my to-do (eventually) list...Along with hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and walking from Cape Town to Cairo.

Mustn't forget Mongolia. That whole yurt thing is intriguing.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Mongolia is a must, as is the Inca Trail. I've also yet to ride coast-to-coast, but it will happen!

[count-01.livejournal.com]

If I am not a broke-ass student, consider my car a candidate for our team. I mean, me as a candidate for your team.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

I'll be a broke-ass student for the next few years. If I have a sudden bout of sanity, I'll wait until I finish school.

Or I can use Dakar as thesis fodder. Maybe I can get some grants for it! (I dream big and often.)

[count-01.livejournal.com]

Now there's an idea I can sink my teeth into! Maybe I can write a grant proposal for my senior year of engineering...'cause I'm pretty sure the history department wouldn't go for it.

But that's what dual-majoring is all about.

[withgrace529.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. My new year starts Samhain. However, I am happy for the end of 2005.

Here is to 2006. :-)

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

*hoists mug of tea* I never turn down a chance at a fresh start.

"rugged and unforgiving"

[yammerskooner.livejournal.com]

Re: "rugged and unforgiving"

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

These (http://store.roadridermca.com/sichtebo.html) might work better for combat-touring purposes.

[ivy]

You have the most awesome ambitions and goals. [grin]

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

You're welcome to join in the desert madness, should I get good enough at riding in the dirt and scraping together the funding to make it happen.

[ivy]

I'd love to!

[octal.livejournal.com]

Hi. I also want to do this -- in a Kamaz truck, and throw all the best parties en-route. No need to win (although, I'd have a good shot in the truck category), but rather to be known as the team who has the most fun/style. Plus providing free wifi via satellite at all the basecamps, UAV aerial photography, etc. would be work-related.

I do know some people who have g-wagens, etc. and also want to do it, and a crazy f650 rider. There are some people who do the dubai desert rallies, but that's really an entirely different class.

I'm thinking 2008.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Dakar should definitely have winners for style, in addition to time/class. I'm decent with wrenches and pretty handy with logistics and navigation, should you need support staff for the truck.

[octal.livejournal.com]

I think entering the dubai cup as a local would make a lot more sense, at least initially. They have some shoestring teams with ex-army Land Rovers, and bikes, and I'm sure fees could be waived.

[kyrin7.livejournal.com]

This all reminds me I need to get a new bike.
And I wonder how do you manage wonderlust and a consistant residence? I mange to move 4 times a year, due to mine.
-K

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

What bike(s) is/are you thinking of getting? What did you have before?

Consistant residence makes me twitch. I miss being a semi-nomad. Having the bike helps, and I try to make a point of getting out of town on my long days off (I get two three-day stints a month) and vacations, but it's not really enough to keep the wanderlust at bay. It's increasingly making itself known lately. Ideally, I'd have a constant residence to use as a home base, and the ability to go on the road whenever and for however long I want. (Oh, who am I kidding? I want funding to travel.)

[kyrin7.livejournal.com]

Probably another Honda cruiser: Harleys are way outside of my budget. I've had two previous bikes, an '85 honda shadow 500C, and a '79 Honda CX500C. the CX had a larger frame though I have been told I'm actually taller since that purchase. And yes ideally a home base would be great. Kinda hard to do with my career so far, but maybe a possibility.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

If I suddenly found myself well-off, I'd buy a multiple-family house and convert it into a dwelling for semi-nomad biker freaks. It doesn't appear I'm going to suddenly become well-off, though.

I'm threatening to replace my Triumph with a nice, reliable, Honda. The Honda 599 (http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles/sport/model.asp?ModelName=599&ModelYear=2006&ModelID=CB600F) is what I think about in the shower. I've also looked at the 500 Shadow cruiser--I'm more of a standard/streetfighter girl, but it looks like a fun, efficient machine, and comfortable for the long haul.

If/when I do Dakar, I'm hoping to do it on a BMW 650 GS (http://bmwmotorcycles.com/machine/models/model.jsp?model=f650gs). It would also be a good urban assault machine, so I can search for justification claim it's practical. Unfortunately, it's also way more expensive than I can justify spending on a thumper.

[kyrin7.livejournal.com]

Triumphs are nice bikes. One of my old mentors had a 79 Triumph I'd help him work on. Eventually, he switched from harleys to Honda goldwings, something to do with being "over goddamn 60, and needing a few comforts" to quote him.

Street bikes are good for intercity, but I never have adjusted to the center of gravity or seating posture. Though I imagine being bent over the tank does prevent getting his in the chest by a cicada at 80 mph. That sings like hell, even through leather.
-Kyr

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

I've yet to encounter a cicada, but have encountered rocks, cigarette butts, and Grape Fanta.* I can honestly say I preferred the rocks and cigarette butts to the Fanta, any day.

*Fanta is a ridiculously low-quality soda brand notable for smelling artificial at twenty paces and for its trio of anorexic unconvincing drag queens, the Fantanas, which are the company's attempt at a mascot or icon or something

[tex-arcana.livejournal.com]

Speaking of wanderlust, checking out, and the CX500...they apparently go together.

http://motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_0503_riding/

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

It was the aluminum boxes. Judging by the amount of older airhead BMWs that have those things starpped to them, apparently aluminum boxes turn any bike into a machine worthy for treks to the edge of the earth on a rediculously tight budget.

[yammerskooner.livejournal.com]

i gotta ask you a real-life question about a real-life MC jacket.

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Ask away!

[yammerskooner.livejournal.com]

When I look at Perfectos on the Schott site, I am told to buy certain models one size larger than normal. But can't find any common denominator amongst the jackets that carry this proviso. What's the deal?

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure, but some of them do seem to run a size small. I measure 32 inches around just under the armpits, but my Perfecto (pictured) is a men's 34 with the side-laces and it fits just right (and it's a good thing too--it was the smallest I could find!)--I can fit a couple of sweaters underneath, but if I don't it's still snug enough that it won't let the wind in.

[yammerskooner.livejournal.com]

That's the deal with me. I want to be able to wear something underneath besides just a tee-shirt.
I'm a 44, but I'm looking into a 46.
Wish they had that shit here so I could just try one on already.

[mulot-d-argent.livejournal.com]

Hello I see that you've written some words in French (like 'pie', Do you speak it ?

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

I used to live in Montreal so I was reasonably conversant, but since moving back to the States (worst mistake of my life), my French has gotten embarrassingly rusty. I'm trying to get back in practice.

Very O/T and very very late...

[ms-daisy-cutter.livejournal.com]

Feel like posting in The Usual Place about this (http://www.gawker.com/news/park-slope/the-park-slope-hat-spat-read-all-the-emails-166214.php)? Summary: Park Slope mommies with too much money and time to spend, so they agonize about the political/gender implications of...a missing hat.

Re: Very O/T and very very late...

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

Rant-comment in The Usual Place forthcoming.

Re: Very O/T and very very late...

[ms-daisy-cutter.livejournal.com]

I look forward to seeing it. :-)

I'd have posted about it myself, but there are so many things out there to rant about, and I don't want to hog the comm. (I did post about it here (http://community.livejournal.com/cf_debate/145363.html), tho. Just about everyone agreed with me.)

Re: Very O/T and very very late...

[miss-adventure.livejournal.com]

A first-draft gripe is in place, so you can now join in the ranty fun. :)

Even later and even more O/T...

[ms-daisy-cutter.livejournal.com]

Someone just forwarded me this post from a traffic-felony lawyer (http://community.livejournal.com/customers_suck/17756164.html) on customers_suck. You being an LEO, I thought you'd appreciate it.