Joined: Jan 11, 2007
Location: Rosendale, NY
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Not to steal any of Outback's thunder about the prep for 09, which is an awesome idea, btw :-) and since we're essentially done with the preparations for the 08 event, (My friend Glen told me to take it easy the last few days- I'm not going to get in any better shape in the last half a week :lol) That I ought to begin a thread that allows us to document the experience of this year, and give nex tyears team a heads up! I cut and pasted from ADVrider:
I'm going to use this space to write about the experience- let you guys know whats going on over there. Will probably make a similar one over at Xplor and cross pollinate posts, since the audiences seem to be different. Hopefully Jim Stoddard and Brad Hendry (my USA teammates) will chime in when they have a chance, and hopefully we'll get some internet access out in the wilderness to let you all know how its going.
The whole gig is kind of a black box for us- we know almost nothing of what to expect, other than we're going to be expected to ride hard. They say it will not be a speed race, but lengthy and challenging GS ride with specials thrown in along the way. In my imagination I see us having a start line somewhere, and a finish line a hundred miles away, and somewhere in the middle is a river with no bridge. First one to the finish wins. 
Good fantasy, eh?
We're being issued tents and sleeping bags and we'll be camping most of the time although we're presuming there will be a bivouac type compound to stay at, where we'll get food, etc.
We're all planning on travelling really light- taking only about 7 pairs of underwear and living out of our Rallye suits 
Anyway we have very little idea what to expect, but a lot of determination and we're all terrifically psyched. Leaving in 3 sleeps as of this writing.
We'll arrive in Milan on Tuesday, and greet each other, the other teams- of which there are 4; (Spain, Germany, Italy and Japan- each of which has three members) and the bikes, all of which are identically prepped F800GS's with lots of Touratech farkles and Karoo tires.
The next day we transit to Genoa and get on a ferry, which we presume will travel overnight across the Mediterranean, and arrive in Tunis on Thursday AM, from which point we will begin immediately.
They say for us to expect at least one special test per day, and I think we are going to cover somewhere between 2000-2500 miles in 9 or 10 days.
I think we've got a team strong enough to meet almost anything. Brad and Jim are both exceptional riders. I am incredibly proud to ride with them, and to have this chance in life! I plan on busting my ass to make all the folks who missed their chance at this years event proud of us, also. Hopefully with our intel provided this year, next years team will more know what to expect and plan for. I have a feeling they will be stepping up the challenge next year, after they see how this one goes.
OK.
Lets RoLL!
Posted on
10/10/2008 at 13:09
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Joined: Nov 17, 2006
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
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Good luck guys. However you do, you've made us proud..........................Bob
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"Go out, things happen. Stay at home, they don't" .....................Ted Simon
Posted on
10/10/2008 at 14:01
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Joined: Jul 23, 2008
Location: Carbondale, CO
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Jason, Brad, and Jim... best to you three!!!!  Bring some dirt back for us all to taste, touch, smell or what every other senses some have... hopefully it will be more than Beer and Cous Cous to eat and drink like back in the day of dakar... Ride hard and smooth.... Outback UFO
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From out of a dream I rode to beyond the Horizon. Got Adventure? The Zen Gear
One Meteior Crater surrounded by a lot of roos, emus, Yowies, drop bears and one major flood in the driest desert on Earth... There still was a bottle of red with dinner.
IBA#13157 BB1500 SS2000
Die Hohen Berhunde Agent X
Posted on
10/10/2008 at 15:37
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Joined: Feb 01, 2007
Location: Golden, CO
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Hey guys, Well, as Jason has put it, we are ready! I have just put up a little blog about my feelings leading into this, but for any of you who haven't seen it yet, BMW just put up an awesome article and Dirt Rider has it on their website under news. Nervous is the wrong word to explain my feelings (and the teams). We are excited! This is a unique oppurtunity, and we are looking forward to representing all of you in Tunisia! Thanks for all of your support! PS. Outback is going to have a hell of a jump start as he is a great new friend of mine, and we certainly live close enough to work on the prep for 09! Thanks for the calls Mike!
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Brad Hendry / #616 / www.bradhendry.com
Posted on
10/11/2008 at 19:04
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Joined: Dec 24, 2006
Location: Austin, TX
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Good luck, guys. C
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Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.
Posted on
10/11/2008 at 22:30
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Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Location: New York, NY
Moderator
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Brand, Jason and Jim, Good luck to you guys. Will keep an eye on your progress. I heard Germany has already penciled in your names on the trophy... ;) S
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Posted on
10/17/2008 at 12:24
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Joined: Jan 01, 2007
Location: Middlegrove, NY
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 Shiva said:Brad, Jason and Jim, Good luck to you guys. Will keep an eye on your progress. I heard Germany has already penciled out your names on the trophy... ;) S Thanks Shiva, I have to correct the Germans, they should have Inked it in because we intend on bringing home the Trophy. I am sitting here patiently waiting the time to pass for my flight out of Albany. Nothing left to do at home so I came to work which is only 1 mile from the airport to check e-mails and keep busy. Brad, Jason and I plan on meeting at the Airport in Milan and taking the shuttle over to the Hotel together. " Team Spirit" Jason arrives 2hrs earlier than me and Brad only 10 minutes later. We will update you all once we arrive at Hotel Rege in Milan and get checked in.
Posted on
10/13/2008 at 13:40
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Joined: Aug 01, 2007
Location: El Dorado Hills, CA
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Well, I'm absolutely GREEN with envy over this event!!.......;>) You guys do your best and have the time of your lives!!! Good Luck I'm off to practice for next year. Mark
Posted on
10/13/2008 at 13:51
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Joined: Jan 11, 2007
Location: Rosendale, NY
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Boarding now. See you in Milan! Thanks for the well wishes!Flights not full. I should be able to spread out over three seats. :-)They should go ahead and emboss that trophy right now, lol
Posted on
10/13/2008 at 18:22
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Joined: Nov 17, 2006
Location: Raleigh, NC
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Very cool, best to you guys.
Posted on
10/13/2008 at 20:38
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Joined: Aug 11, 2008
Location: Middlegrove, NY
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http://www.greatdanepro.com/Blue%20Bueaty/index.htm NO BOUNDARIES SOUL SEARCH WANDER EVOLVE XPLOR  Have your sound on 
Posted on
10/14/2008 at 09:40
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Joined: Aug 11, 2008
Location: Middlegrove, NY
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Posted on
10/16/2008 at 13:14
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Joined: Mar 28, 2007
Location: New York, NY
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Good luck guys...
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Hell must be full of tasteless motorcycle designers... DD
Posted on
10/18/2008 at 22:07
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Joined: Mar 23, 2007
Location: upper black eddy, PA
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My informants tell me that the team is well inside the Sahara desert. Many, many miles from anything!! Good luck team, we are all rooting for you!!!
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Shawn in PA ________________________________ ___________________________ ________ many thanks to these guys for helping me out with Vegas to Reno 2008! ________ ________ *Adventurers Workshop* - Custom Accessories for Adventure Touring Riders ________________ *MAXBMW* - The Northeast's ONLY exclusive BMW Motorcycle dealer
Posted on
10/19/2008 at 19:15
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Joined: Aug 09, 2008
Location: Avon, CT
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Hope all is rolling well.
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140km east of Munich.
Posted on
10/19/2008 at 20:39
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