About Me

Tone   |84.52.187.xxx |2009-06-20 07:07:14 Hello Billy, my name is Tone, from Slovenia. I found your webpage as the only one with the latest information (year 2009) about road from Kashgar to Tibet. All other information on net is from year 2007 and before, when bikers were tolerated by PSB and army authorities. According to information on internet this road was strictly closed for foreigners in 2008 (no known posts on internet). Since your brother and you have this year's experience I would ask you what is your opinion or feeling about chances to get through to Ali in this summer? Best regards, Tone Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2009-06-21 09:55:31 We had no problem with the PSB or army. There are checkpoints at a number of places. Some had no police at them. There are a lot of army on this route because it is so close to the border. The army won't bother you and they are very friendly. You only need to worry about the check points. At Kudi there is a big check point at the end of town which covers the whole road. When we got there, there was only one guy in an office with he back turned which gave us the opportunity to sneak past without being seen. But on our way back it was a whole different story. There where many police and army guys with guns and we had to show our passports. I suggest you don't tell anyone you are heading for Ali since it is illegal to travel into Tibet this way. Summer is not a great time to travel there as far as I know because it rains a lot. Autumn (September / October) is the best time of year to do this route. Will you be traveling alone? Do you have a document with a detailed route? I can give this to you if you like. My email is vangraan [ @ ] gmail.com Feel free to ask more questions or talk to me on Google Talk. My opinion is that you should go for it. Tibet is open to foreigners now. Reply 0   0

Anonymous   |196.25.255.xxx |2009-11-18 02:35:34 hooray for you is right dude hahaha I'm so jealous, words.... dont... have... Enjoy yourself, and have a carlsberg brown for me, or several how do i subscribe to this blog? am i just being dumb? this is the most likely scenario. take your time, soak it up. FUCK I'm envious!!! Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2009-11-21 05:32:21 Can't really subscribe. Need to build something in for that. Someday when I have time I will. Reply 0   0

Bradley Timm   |196.25.255.xxx |2009-11-27 10:29:53 Just discovered your website via a link from Lodie de Jagers website. I will definitley be following your trip going forward. Godspeed. Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2009-11-30 10:34:12 Thanks Bradley. You riding a bike yourself? Reply 0   0

Thomas Kiraly   |41.220.224.xxx |2009-12-02 05:19:21 hello, we meet us in the jungle junction ... good look and enjoy the trip. thomas kiraly, germany, yamaha xt 660 z tenere www.bikecop.de Reply 0   0

Ali   |41.209.116.xxx |2009-12-31 04:46:59 Hello I Hope you doing well . I am Ali meet you in Sudan with Sonia . I want to hear from both you . Cheers Reply 0   0

Danie   |41.28.236.xxx |2010-01-05 13:01:17 Howzit cuz. Sterkte met jou toer! Ons hou jou website dop! Geniet dit! Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2010-01-09 14:15:19 Hey Ali. Thanks for having a look at our site and thanks for showing us around Khartoum. Hope you get a chance to visit South Africa one day so we can return the favor. Sorry for the delay in responding to you but the north of Khartoum we didn't find internet. Danie bly jy loer nou en dan na die site. Nie eers geweet jy weet daarvan nie. My pa moes dit seker aan jou gemention het. Hoop alles gaan goed daar. Reply 0   0

Danie   |41.27.166.xxx |2010-01-13 06:24:57 Hallo Billy! ons het jou pa gevra hoe jy nou vorder.Toe gee hy vir ons jou web page! Als gan goed hie! Geniet dit jy is 'n yster! Cheers! Reply 1   0

Pawel from Venecia   |83.5.31.xxx |2010-04-30 18:40:50 Hi Billy & Claudine ! ..just now I see your website..nice to see your trips and you are somewhere there in Norway .. hope the trip is runing good..no unwanted experiences..and you peaceful and sound. Let me know about the trip and stay in touch All the best Pawel from Venecia. Contact:gitara10@wp.pl Reply 0   0

Ian Cristol   |80.85.221.xxx |2010-09-09 12:45:20 hi billy i am the guy from chairman who built you your trailer have just read your article on the pans and enjoyed how did the trailer perform ??? would you change any-thing ??? even though i am no longer at chairman i have another engineering business over the road i am spending more time in London but still travel back to RSA regards Ian Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2010-09-09 12:56:25 Ian, The trailer was awesome. I got to test it on all kinds of different terrain (sand, hard mud, soft mud, clay, veld) etc. I might one or two slight changes to the harness, but they are minor and I think the three pieces that screw on to the trailer in the front (two long poles and the front bit) can be made from a different material that is lighter. At the start I had 52L of water and all my other kit which was another 30kg so all in all 80kg. You might think what does a couple of extra kilograms matter but after 30km in the sun and mud it does. For short trips I think the weight is not such a big issue. But for the next one I am looking for something big (thinking of the Atacama north to south - 950km). If we can shave 3kg of by changing those pieces it is 3kg of food I can take extra. Otherwise the trailer is mint. Thanks a lot. Reply 0   0

Lukas Fleming   |58.172.185.xxx |2010-09-27 19:50:38 Hey Billy (and claudine!), I met you guys with my friend Annie when we were camping in Wadi Rum in Jordan in February this year - no sure if you remember? I'm planning my next trip and am thinking of Africa. Was just wondering - is there a tour /safari you would recommend? Or a good local operator that would go a bit off the beaten track. I was hoping to focus on south/eastern Africa. I'm going to be doing it by myself and am leaning away from just backpacking around. Hope you're both well - the website looks fantastic! Lukas Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2010-09-28 04:44:29 Hey Lucas, Of course I remember. I have never personally been on a organized tour or safari but I know there are a whole bunch of companies that do these things. Many of them have big trucks and you sit in the back and have a great view of everything as you drive around. They go to all the main spots and through many of the game reserves. With these kind of tours you will be with a whole lot of other people (obviously all foreigners). Some people enjoy this kind of thing and make friends etc. You need to search Google for the best prices and options but here are a couple of sites to give you and idea: http://www.absoluteafrica.com/index.lasso ht tp://drifters.co.za/Overlandtours.asp http://www.a fricantrails.co.uk/tours.php?category=african Pri ces of these trips vary. Backpacking isn't quite as convenient and easy as in some other places but can still be done. Check out http://www.bazbus.com/ This is for South Africa only though. Other option is just to rent a car and do your own thing, but if you are coming alone it might get a bit lonely and expensive. For two people I would say this is the best option. How long are you planning to be in Africa and which countries did you have in mind? Reply 0   0

Bradley Sinclair   |198.54.202.xxx |2011-01-28 09:20:25 Hey Billy... You are nuts brew!!! Cross the Makgadikgadi by foot...sheeshh... I am planning a trip from the Western Province of Zam to Cape Town by Bicylce and I was wondering if it is possible to cross the Makgadikgadi by bicycle. From your experience do you think it would be possible or do you think the tires would sink into the mud? Thanks for your time Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2011-01-28 10:05:02 Bradley, Sounds like a nice trip you're planning. Some guys crossed the pans from west to east a year or two back. You can check a short vid on this on youtube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqCH3TnoubE It is definitely possible but you must make sure you choose the right time to do it. When I walked, there was sections I could not cross because it was too wet and muddy so I had to walk around them, and I went at the best possible time of the year. But these sections are to the center of both pans. This has been an extremely wet summer in Johannesburg where I live (the wettest one in my lifetime for sure) so it might have rained a lot up there as well. If it did you will struggle. You won't break through the top crust like a car would but if you get to a wet section you won't be able to peddle your bicycle on it. It is clay and it would be 10 seconds an your wheels will have no traction at all. If the pan is dry it will be very easy going and you will be able to cross in 2 days. When are you planning to be at the pans? What is the last town you plan to visit before getting on the pans, Nata of Francistown? With this info I can suggest a route or two. Billy Reply 0   0

Bradley Sinclair   |196.215.136.xxx |2011-01-28 10:34:06 Hi Billy. Thanks for your reply and assistance. We still in very beginning stages of planning. If we decide to cross the pans then we will most likely come in from Nata. The plan is for next year July. Rains have been insane this last season. Hopefully next year won't be as bad. It think it should be reasonably dry by that time. If I'm not mistaken October is the driest so its pretty close. What you think? It would be nice to cross it from north to south... both pans.. Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2011-01-28 11:54:44 July is a good time for sure. It give enough time after the rains for most of the pans to become dry again. The road between Nata and Francistown is now a nice one to cycle. Very busy and there is no shoulder at all. So if you coming in from Nata then you can get onto the pans from there easily. If you look at the second map on this page you can see where there are some tracks http://www.622208.com/expeditions/makgadikgadi-pan /summary Also on this page you can see that this page you can see a big blue section on the top right of the pans. This is a mine and you can't pass through there if I am not mistaken. This is also too wet. Send me an email to vangraan [at] gmail.com and I will send you a route I would take if I was planning to do it from that side. (Will send it on Monday, I'm on my way out for the weekend.) From which country are you? Reply 0   0

cecil   |41.17.115.xxx |2011-03-04 14:14:05 hierdie geklimmery, het nog altyd gesê jy is wild lekker getrou? so long Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2011-03-07 02:21:26 Baie lekker getrou ja. Hoe treat die lewe jou nog? Waar werk jy nou? Reply 0   0

Etienne   |41.160.21.xxx |2012-01-21 05:41:56 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plhnoDgWisQ&feature =fvsr Reply 0   0

Billy van Graan   |SAdministrator |2012-01-23 04:05:52 Haha jy is funny. Jy gaan n halwe jaar so aan karring tot die fight en dan gaan jy embarrassed voel as Dos Santos hom seer maak. Ek like altwee fighters. Geen nie rerig om wie wen nie maar sal definitief my geld op Dos Santos sit. En as Dos Santos wen kan ons Alistair teen Cain sien. Dit sal net so bad ass fight wees. Reply 0   0

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