Maps

Gidday!

For those who want a better insight in the planed route for Iran, here's something interactive!

View Larger Map

The planned route is not very precise, as Google Maps has it's limitations. For instance, It won't route over Turkey-Iran border :D must be some political issue in google's mind. The exact roads we'll take will be decided the night before, as true adventurers do ;)

But really, our first sponsor, my riding buddy Santa will provide us with GPS units (note to myself, install 12V plug and go to Santa for GPS units) mixed with some maps. By the way, he's a GPS and map wizzard, and we're depending on his magic to insert maps to GPS units, even if those map's don't exist - like those of Iran, detailed at least.

And of course, because I just don't like depending on those GPS gadgets (remind me to share a story about being lost WITH a GPS, and finding way back on instinct) we're bringing good ol' fashioned paper maps. Ok, this one is made of plastic, but ... hm... paper maps are also not what they used to be :( But it'll still warm my old

fashioned heart when that damn GPS breaks and looses it's mind.

This blasted beast guided us last year.

Apage, Satanas!

First obstacles

The planned date for take off was 18.6 (June), but talking to Josip, we are very keen to move lift off to an earlier date (2-3 weeks earlier). Because of the heat, my god, THE HEAT!

noooo, not this Heat! I can't see a reason why would Pacino and De Niro influence our trip?! Ok, maybe if they would invite Josip and me to join them on Cannes festival, where we would party all the time. Lying on a yacht in the sun of french riviera, sipping martinis with Katy Perry and...

OK, reality check!!

I mean THIS HEAT!

The funny thing is, our current gear for riding is constisted mostly of black (even underwear!) - the-cool-bikers color. A veeeery baaaad choice for the desert and +40°C.

Currently we're in negotiations with one motorcycle gear company, for some kind of sponsorship. As far as I see it, we'll be Oompa-Loompa happy if we even receive white summer gloves :D

I said we're negotiating with sponsors, which means we don't have any of them. We don't want just to take something from them, as we want to give something back - a great story, photos, calendars, t-shirts, commercials... something that will make them pride they had something of theirs on the trip.

So, to make sponsors to see our picture, our friend, a great graphics designer Marko, has decided to help us and make a logo, pamphlets, maybe even design for t-shirts and all those little things we can make and take with us on the trip.

It would be supercool if we left little mementos to our hosts and good people we meet on the trip, it's something you can't buy, unique and you remember it.

@Marko, if you read this, we need the logo and pamphlet pronto! :D

Another bugger that is on our mind lately is carnet d'passage, that is obligatory for entering Iran. It's pice of document that guarantees that you won't sell your vehicle in entering country. What an outlandish idea, hahaha.. as I would sell my Strom in Iran? It's not even legal for Iranians to drive it. I wouldn't sell it in Croatia or anywhere! But, laws are laws and we have to get Carnet.

Did I tell you the funny part? It's needed only 1700$ to get the Carnet. What a bargain. Right now, we have 0,00$ on our fund, hahaha..

Maybe we should call this guy for help?

"Hello Bing? How's the brother? Still in jail? Listen, do you have any slightly used carnets d'passage to sell? Yes? 1$?! A bargain."

First meeting

Yay!!Yesterday Josip & me had a first real pow-wow. It was a shakedown of things done so far, what is to be done in next few weeks and who is to blame why we haven't got any sponsors yet :D

Josip has launched several e-mails to potential sponsors few weeks ago. And we got word back from our beloved Rev'it! woohoo! Of course, it was out of the question that we got such a major brand as sponsor this early into the preparation. But dear mrs. Peggy from Rev'it gave us excelent questions in which direction we should focus our search.

Firstly, we must provide some media attention. Luckly, I've got friend of a friend in one major motorcycle magazine and our story will be published without doubt. But our trip is such an oddity in croatian bike world, they would publish it regardless ;)

Secondly, our blog is in motion so I'll try to keep every avid reader up to speed!

pictured: exhibit A -> Avid Reader of MotoPersia

Thirdly, our tour plan is complete to almost every detail. Bear in mind we don't plan trips to details :D but that's on purpose, because the trip would lose the adventurous appeal to us. The unknown is always more interesting.

Of course, the visas, important local customs and major sites/cities we have to see are already written in the plan, but everything in between will be left for us to learn and listen for advice from locals. They know the best, they're living there after all!

pictured: us, after following locals advice on lodging

And last, but almost most important idea that Mrs. Peggy gave us is charity! Yes! Definitely!

Josip had a great idea on getting a sponsorship from his company (IT & computers), a small notebook, for orphan kids or a kindergarten. I can just imagine what joy it would be for them! Heck, even I would be ecstatic if someone gave me a computer :D

It's important to give back and at least make a positive impression on people there. Not for us, but for them to see some small & lost country in middle of eastern Europe knows of Iran and wants to make bonds.

We'll give it some time to find who needs a gift like that and they'll become our charity goal.

Done so far:

+tour plan

+expenses plan

+visa application (Iranian agency said that we'll have to contact them in April, but it would be no problem for us getting it)

+our first (and so far only) sponsor will provide us with GPS navigation.

+90% of riding gear (Josip needs better jacket and me some better pants - although my boots leak water and my thumb is sticking from gloves, but that's part of our "bum" look :)

Will do in next weeks:

- our friend designer will finish fancy brochure for attracting sponsors - after that we'll make a major offensive on getting them.

- mount MegaTube on my V-Strom (www.thetooltube.com/MegaTube.html)

- change (and learn in the process) how to change oil on V-Strom. How hard can it be?

- Josip has to rise his handlebars, or risks becoming Quasimodo the Hunchback after a week of riding.

- arrange receivers and gift for our charity goal.

new tasks will remain our little secret for now ;)

'till soon,

adios!

Cultural differences

Bradt's guide for Iran seems like a very dull book. No pictures, no diagrams, no schematics, no pictograms and definitely no love guides how-to-pickup Iranian women. BUT, it does have one tiny little and remarkable thing. Inside information!

So far, I'm loving this book! It's a hard sell at first, as I'm used to DK's Top 10 guides, which are quite the opposite of Bradt guides. Colorful to the extreme, beautifully made and full of usual tourist crap which you see in every other guide.

Anyways, practical information inside ranges from red tape on getting the visa and what colour your clothes should be in particular month (regarding weather, cultural and religious aspect) to detailed explanation of toilet use (my favourite part!). I think I'll have a big scare once we set feet/wheels in Iran.. not from horror Tehran traffic, desert scorpions or various potential diseases.. but from THIS!

Whoooooaaaa!!!