Hi from Jonny

Hi everyone. Thanks to Rick for the splendid introduction. Rick has been kind enough to do all the 'computery things' for JBF over the last couple of years and now he has agreed to help me with the technical side of keeping in touch with people while I am away on my epic ride.

The idea of the trip is to raise funds for JBF and hopefully have 'an experience' at the same time. I chose an XS850 for the journey because that's what I own and ride - oh, and I don't have ten grand or whatever it is for a purpose built Paris-Dakar lookalike. And anyway, I know my machine is more than capable of this little jaunt East, so why leave her at home when she is obviously bursting with enthusiasm to have a go?

The bike will have a few modifications, such as a single seat, metal panniers etc, but basically it will remain standard (standard exhausts, shocks, tyres etc).

I am away for the weekend - at my big planning meeting with Rick (Technical) and Gary (Route Planning/Paperworks)- so I will post a few pictures of what I have done to the XS so far when I return next week.

Please contribute with your comments and suggestions - this is my first time trying something like this, so constructive contribution will be gratefully received.

Thanks, Jonny.

And so the blog begins...........

Hi and welcome to Jonny's Blog (XS to India) about his 6000ish mile trip from Scotland to India. I thought that I would write a quick introduction on his behalf, as he will not see the blog until he comes down this weekend to discuss and make plans for the trip. The idea of this blog is to help raise money for a charity called JBF Scotland (this was set up and is run by Jonny) that provides schools for the street children in India, and also provides veterinary care for the street cattle of Delhi India. It should also make a good read and help serve as guide for anybody else you may be considering doing a similar journey?
Most of his friends and family cannot believe he is going ahead with this trip, not only is it a very long journey, which goes through several unstable country’s (Some classed by the USA as being in the "Axis of Evil") , but he is doing it on a 25 year old motorbike!! He will also have to carry any spare parts the bike may need during the trip, as there will be no support, and parts will be very hard to source once out of Europe. Anyway, I won't mention anymore, I will leave the rest for Jonny. Hopefully he will be blogging within the next few days.