tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46674533653384734312011-11-24T00:56:24.928-05:00Please note: I blog when I can and there may be some sizable gaps. Just deal with it!CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comBlogger511100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-66842377192819159812009-12-05T15:11:00.002-05:002009-12-05T15:15:02.905-05:00

Due to some other influences Stuart had to postpone our trip. We still plan to do it but it won't be in '09. Not a problem for me since I bought a boat and could use a year off, given the amount of time I rode last year.Next up will be meeting Tom Reiter from Moscow in Morocco next spring. After that I'm not sure which way I'll head, but there is a lot I have yet to see on those continents so

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-35041178267676090122009-06-01T23:40:00.006-04:002009-06-02T00:50:55.168-04:00

(Stuart and I posing for a Norwegian newspaper while waiting on a ferry to Kalvag Norway for the Music festival. Thanks to the article the whole town knew us as the guys who motorcycled from China to get to the concert!)For those of you thinking I'd fallen of the planet that's not the case. I've been hiding out in my Airstream at an undisclosed location in Northern Michigan planning my next

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-42591577089313623772009-01-13T18:15:00.007-05:002009-01-24T16:52:08.177-05:00

Happy New Year to one and all!I'm not traveling at the moment, but encourage you to check out my Kiwi mate Stuart's blog as he travels from England to Australia.  He's currently in India, having already passed through Iran and Pakistan.Stuart and I rode together for two months from China to Germany and again in Norway.  He invited me to join him but I had some other things going. Please look,

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-28106919237476475922008-11-14T10:52:00.000-05:002009-03-04T11:12:35.659-05:00

I love video, but I don't have a whole lot of experience with it (just look at my website:-)). That's why when I learned of the Travel Channel Academy I got excited and immediately booked a spot in their class in Washington DC. It's taught by a guy named Mike Rosenblum who is seen by many as the leading proponent of 'short-form video' in the world. Mike has an extensive video and film resume and

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-78495586354524458442008-11-02T12:55:00.005-05:002008-11-04T08:08:18.549-05:00

are blowing!! WIth my neck feeling a bit better, I decided to take a ride down to visit my friends at BMW Grand Rapids last Friday and maybe test ride a bike or two. Before the day was out I had traded in my LT on a new F800GS. I've only put on 400 miles or so, but it's the bike I should have taken around the world. I really like this bike a lot!! I have been seeing the F800GS since

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-86605561330083090192008-10-07T11:32:00.005-04:002008-10-07T19:18:06.665-04:00

I first got to Iceland just shy of seven weeks ago and stayed for two weeks. It was one of the weathiest countries I visited and earlier this year had won an award for being the 'happiest' place on the planet. Since leaving the currency has corrected 55% as of yesterday and the their government stepped in today and fixed the currency to the Euro. The locals I met there were all worried about

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-58134159960819845962008-10-04T12:16:00.001-04:002008-10-04T12:16:41.884-04:00

Presently enjoying a little time off the bike in some undisclosed locations in North America.  I've been nursing a pinched nerve which has made riding a literal pain in the neck:-)  Last time I had this in '01 it took a while to cure, so I'll let you know when I'm back. -- Regards,TJ Parrent

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-15000558628088040232008-09-18T06:17:00.001-04:002008-09-18T06:17:31.415-04:00

I've been checking the weather in Croatia and other areas I want to get to.  Overall, Europe has been having a cool autumn thus far.  Weather it's Germany, Croatia or Ukraine, it's cooler than average.  The problem is I've been traveling in cool weather since before going to Iceland.  I want some warm weather and if the beautiful Croatian coast can't give it to me, then I'll have to seek it out

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-9066918633402329372008-09-17T10:53:00.003-04:002008-09-23T10:18:09.881-04:00

Warren Zevon was a favorite of mine growing up.  Same with the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band.  That's why I liked Kid Rock's song 'All Summer Long' when I heard it last week in Estonia. But damn, I've heard it everywhere.  Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and even at the upscale restaurant I was in in Esslingen Germany last night while nawing on some kangaroo.   A friend just told it's popular in Norway and one

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-33008681700741442642008-09-12T05:01:00.001-04:002008-09-24T08:37:34.508-04:00

I report, you decide. I'll finish this post when I get the time, until then you Northern Michigan types can figure out if other parts of the world do indeed look like your home.

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-84013660734298986602008-09-11T03:24:00.002-04:002008-09-17T03:32:18.837-04:00

If one thing remains universal, it is the fact that weather forecasting sucks everywhere!! I stayed in old town Tallinn an extra day so I could surf the sunny weather forecast for several days. That's why to my surprise, I woke up to pouring rain. Lovely, just lovely. Suit up, get wet, I might as well travel the world in scuba gear the way it's been lately.Anyhow, the destination today was

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-29001038020863203872008-09-10T12:26:00.002-04:002008-09-18T11:20:41.033-04:00

I finally made it to Tallinn last evening. Darn hard time getting here too. The ferry I had signed up with was cancelled each of the last two days. Finally, I took a larger one, but it was definitely rough, even on a ferry the size a cruise ship.I'm staying in the old town section of Tallinn in a rather nice boutique hotel call St. Petersbourg. Nice place, great (and I mean great) staff. Old

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-55051904250245390322008-09-09T09:37:00.007-04:002008-09-22T07:41:35.666-04:00

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-20607988374723094922008-09-07T12:36:00.000-04:002008-09-17T03:37:10.562-04:00

OK, here's a question for those living in Northern Michigan.  Where were these photo's taken??  If you even thought it was Michigan, you're wrong, they're all in northern Scandinavia, one north of the arctic circle.  Looks familiar though! -- Regards,TJ Parrent

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-14900818688676085672008-09-06T11:58:00.002-04:002008-09-11T12:06:08.162-04:00

I'm often greeted in a number of ways when I answer questions while I travel. Probably the biggest question I deal with when people see my license plate is 'where are you coming from?'. Invariably I tell them China. I'm almost always met with 'oh you flew here from China?'. Then I tell them 'no, I rode here'. At that point, I'm usually met with a blank and baffled look, while they try to

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-84800811446021494582008-09-06T01:24:00.005-04:002008-10-09T10:25:59.292-04:00

Well, despite what I planned, I just kept pushing on to Nordkapp. My ride through northern Sweden was like deja vu. Had it not been for the fact I was well about the arctic circle, freezing my bum off and stopping constantly to let the raindeer pass, I would have thought I was in northern Michigan. Yes, the topography was that similar, though the trees got smaller the farther I got from the

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-53372235805606016602008-09-02T14:09:00.001-04:002008-09-02T14:09:32.279-04:00

Click for recent video post.http://gallery.me.com/cyclebloke#100209-- Regards,TJ Parrent

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-42457881049167908602008-08-31T04:05:00.001-04:002008-08-31T04:05:22.647-04:00

My post from my final day in Iceland is at the following link:http://web.mac.com/cyclebloke/rtw08/Blank.htmlFor photos of Iceland click the following link: http://web.mac.com/cyclebloke/rtw08/Iceland.html-- Regards,TJ Parrent

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-80868035116971526732008-08-27T04:37:00.001-04:002008-08-27T04:37:32.579-04:00

What a difference a day makes.  The weather gods cooperated and gave me some decent weather on my way to Myvatn.  Cold, but little rain. Lake Myvatn was a hot bed of volcanic activity and it home to a lot of geothermal activity.  I camped at a beautiful spot right on the lake and went around the corner to visit the boiling mud and steaming vents.  Much to my surprise the crew of IMAX was there

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-22424931678312837232008-08-25T18:28:00.002-04:002008-08-25T18:35:16.481-04:00

I just checked the weather. Tomorrow it will be sunny and 80F at home by the beautiful shores of lake Michigan. Where I plan to travel, it will be 46 to 50F, rain and a right stiff wind. Surely I must be crazy?Alas, traveling to the edges of the planet (so to speak) means dealing with extremes. I have laid out my wardrobe for the morning. On top I will be wearing (from outside in) a rain

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-31955353201585749032008-08-25T04:42:00.003-04:002008-08-25T18:02:30.719-04:00

Everyone thinks that adventure travel is just a charmed life. Blue skies and the wind at your back. But the truth is some days suck!!!Yesterday, I was heading into one of the most desolate regions of Iceland. An area that resembles the moon with it's black volcanic sands and volcanic mountains. It's a narrow two track road that crosses the country and gives you the impression of being on a

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-60232512745248377872008-08-19T18:13:00.001-04:002008-08-19T18:13:19.226-04:00

http://gallery.me.com/cyclebloke#100190

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-58748658372869377152008-08-14T07:43:00.001-04:002008-08-14T07:43:38.687-04:00

Arrivalhttp://maps.google.com/maps?q=65.269936,-14.000337Sent from my iPhone

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-45032196935376858112008-08-14T07:20:00.000-04:002008-08-14T07:24:05.942-04:00

Arriving to the desolate shores of Iceland. The excitement builds!!!

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-64162934471480889312008-08-13T16:45:00.000-04:002008-08-13T16:46:31.324-04:00

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=62.029431,-7.018633Sent from my iPhone

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-37082399914375067422008-08-13T14:00:00.000-04:002008-08-13T14:01:23.663-04:00

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=62.007780,-6.766419http://maps.google.com/maps?q=62.007791,-6.766527Sent from my iPhoneSent from my iPhone

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-83933829868520603502008-08-12T06:38:00.000-04:002008-08-12T06:45:45.514-04:00

The Mexican tallship joined my ship on the way out of port. Next stop Iceland!

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-67556516527268956692008-08-11T18:57:00.003-04:002008-08-11T19:13:47.481-04:00

I made a call to Garmin Denmark and they agreed to swap the GPS cradle out with any dealer I could find who had a Zumo in stock. Luckily my guys at MC Marine in Bergen had it in stock and agreed to the swap. I really have to thank these guys because not only did they swap it out they spent 45 minute on the phone figuring it out with nothing else to gain but my satisfaction. I wish could say I

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-27498033646250924562008-08-11T02:51:00.002-04:002008-08-11T02:56:01.383-04:00

After coming off nice weekend at the music festival, I now have to deal with my problems. If all goes well, I'll have a new shock and new tires today. Nice for Iceland. The problem is my GARMIN GPS cradle is now kaput. That means no GPS. The last couple of days that was not a problem, but now Stuart and I are going separate ways and it is about to become a BIG PROBLEM.A search of Garmin's

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-23373317170543174422008-08-10T02:34:00.000-04:002008-08-10T02:35:13.840-04:00

Sometimes we even seen interestng to the press.Sent from my iPhoneBegin forwarded message:From: jan-olav@goc.noDate: 9. aug 2008 17.18.37 GMT+02:00To: cyclebloke@mac.comSubject: Jan Olav ønskjer å tipse deg om ei sak.Frå Kina til Kalvåghttp://www.firdaposten.no/lokalnytt/article3708854.ece

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-59137597593835936502008-08-09T03:20:00.000-04:002008-08-09T03:23:06.970-04:00

Any way I look at it I love Norway. The scenery is amonst the best on the plant, the riding is amazing and people are great. Yesterday and today we are at true norweigen festival on the coast. It is in a small town and huge numbers of people have come from all around. In fact, everyone I met in the last town is here.Word seems to have gotten out that there are a couple of guys who have

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-91816206542501737102008-08-08T03:17:00.002-04:002008-08-08T03:24:06.181-04:00

After exploring numerous options yesterday, it appears Hyperpro of Holland will be manufacturing me a shock today and express delivering it to me for Monday delivery. I am told such a thing is almost unheard of so I am quite please to recieve this attention. For this I have Klaus, the Hyperpro rep back in the States and Jan at Hyperpro to thank.Provided all goes according to plan, I will be

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-30597446703195484872008-08-08T03:07:00.003-04:002008-08-08T03:16:30.243-04:00

Sometimes I am truly humbled when I travel. Yesterday I received a sticky note on my motorcycle from a man who said he was flying a small airplane around the world and wanted to talk. And talk we did, Seki is from Japan and is currently flying around the world in a plane he built. Over the past several days he has flown from Canada, to Greenland, to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and now to

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-77025102675292736562008-08-07T07:07:00.002-04:002008-08-07T07:15:57.451-04:00

I am scheduled to go to Iceland on Tuesday, but my four month old Hyperpro rear shock has failed. My options are limited at the moment. I can get the shock removed and sent to Denmark to be repaired, but it will take a while. I am currently searching for options, but fear they are limited. If this delays me too long, I might have to through off going to Iceland all together. This will be a

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-81387734682744538952008-08-06T02:23:00.001-04:002008-08-06T02:23:20.466-04:00

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=60.632690,6.431046My SPOT got run over by a bus and the replacement isn't working yet. Stuart and I are currently in Voss and will re-ride Flam today and then head to the coast. I'll leave for iceland next Tuesday.Sent from my iPhone

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-14205400263571312192008-08-04T07:34:00.003-04:002008-08-04T07:47:46.341-04:00

I am currently outside Bergen Norway. I have been in Norway for three riding days now and must say I am impressed. This is one of, if not the most beautiful places to travel. The scenery is just stunning and just keeps going on forever. Yesterday, I traveled to Flam and criss crossed up a very small road to the top of the Fjord. It was the most beautiful moment I have had. The road

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-59006729774646856652008-07-28T14:53:00.001-04:002008-07-28T14:53:21.149-04:00

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=52.223221,5.927750Sent from my iPhone

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-74733913680587078022008-07-17T18:07:00.000-04:002008-07-17T18:08:21.873-04:00

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-40264122787099947922008-07-11T21:10:00.001-04:002008-07-11T21:10:58.698-04:00

Taking a two week break back in TC while the bike gets services in Germany. Be back the 21stSent from my iPhone

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-37322399954767540152008-05-27T09:46:00.001-04:002008-05-27T09:46:49.888-04:00

Currently in Yakeshi City, Inner Mongolia. Had big delays getting the bikes to China and then getting them through customs. I've been riding for four days now and we're doubling some days to make up time. China is the craziest place to drive. While rules exist, they aren't generally obeyed so it's constant motion and near miss collisions in the cities. No one gets angry though since it is

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-11780024253354993952008-05-10T20:41:00.000-04:002008-05-10T20:42:33.458-04:00

Click for Podcast 1

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-76554096357659230642008-05-03T18:22:00.006-04:002008-05-03T19:10:59.585-04:00

In travel, things don't always go peachy. In fact, they sometimes go pear shaped (an English and Oz term for bad). I was to meet my good bud Marius for a week of sightseeing in China before heading off on my trip. We've been planning this for months. Marius is a German, who lives in Korea and works a great deal in China. He was in California this week for company meetings and had his wallet,

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-1213017546426329452008-05-01T06:56:00.003-04:002008-05-01T07:11:10.212-04:00

I am learning that blogging and I are not always compatible. In fact, I have fallen woefully behind with this blog. Bear in mind it hasn't been on purpose, but I have left behind the Mac's power cord so many times now that I'm beginning to think I have CRS or at least CRDC (can't remember the damn cord syndrome). IT's getting to be a rather expensive problem too:-)Anyhow, I will blog when I

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-12853435974206653782008-04-29T10:17:00.008-04:002008-11-06T20:47:00.435-05:00

I just got back from three days of training in the Mohave Desert with Admo. I am sometimes amazed at what I have gotten myself through over the years with little formal idea of WTF I was doing. So this time I decided I'd head out to the desert and spend a few days knocking about with an instructor. I am happy I did too. I learned quite a lot that will be useful when the going gets rough. It

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-33546018013941242842008-04-10T20:54:00.001-04:002008-04-10T20:54:57.024-04:00

SPOT Check OK. ESN:0-7367030 Latitude:44.8297 Longitude:-85.5653 Nearest Location: Crystal Spring, United States Distance: 7 km(s) Time:04/11/2008 00:55:07 (GMT)http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=44.8297,-85.5653&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-4770497455298840712008-03-18T11:57:00.004-04:002008-03-18T17:16:13.323-04:00

Things certainly aren't going as planned. Yesterday, my destination was somewhere beyond Houston as I had seen there would be some serious weather in Dallas. Dropping down would allow me to miss it. Despite my prudent planning, the weather gods turned evil and threw me something else. The problem was very high winds. In fact, I can't ever remember riding in such winds before. While the

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-72275424800337812702008-03-16T22:10:00.001-04:002008-11-06T20:47:00.621-05:00

Well, after many false starts this week the journey has begun. Yep, I tried to ride out of Ann Arbor earlier in the week taking advantage of a favorable weather pattern. My bike would have nothing to do with it though. It had developed an electrical short that knocked out most of the electronics. It took two dealerships many hours to track down the shorts, two of them. During this time my

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-77555547911357174412008-03-05T08:28:00.004-05:002008-03-07T10:47:02.537-05:00

It's official, my trip will begin March 14, 2008. Since it's still a cold hard winter in Northern Michigan, I am choosing Deal's Gap as the fitting and official start of my journey. For those of you unfamiliar with Deal's Gap, it's an 11 mile stretch of curvy road located between Tennessee and North Carolina noted for it's 318 curves and no road entries. It is also one of my favorite

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-60663217026177503322008-02-11T16:17:00.001-05:002008-11-06T20:47:00.871-05:00

The New Cards Arrived Today!! CrazyTomac

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-25757353087854027982008-01-02T11:11:00.000-05:002008-11-06T20:47:01.027-05:00

I spent the better part of '95 and '96 traveling extensively by motorcycle. About 70,000 miles worth of travel. For me it is the perfect vehicle to see the world terra firma. By it's very nature it makes you a part of the environment you travel through and you literally feel and experience the environment in a way you simply can't in an auto, plane or any other way (except for maybe a bicycle

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667453365338473431.post-49551305430054485142007-12-23T22:34:00.000-05:002008-11-06T20:47:01.165-05:00

Well, the plans are starting to take shape for Round the World 2008, a true motorcycle adventure.The route is starting to firm up and will include: USA, Canada, China, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Kaliningrad, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland,

CrazyTomacnoreply@blogger.com