July 21, 22 and 23
Finally found the customs broker who was going to help us...Robin was her name. She saw that we already had the correct paper work.....she gave us a contact name for a man in the EPA and we left her office....not being charged a dollar!!
We contacted Chris (from the EPA) and started the paperwork process.....however, his office was closing for the wekend and we would have to wait until monday for the paperwork!!! DOH!!!!
So started the long weekend in LA. We hung out in Manhatan Village - a very posh shopping precinct with all the facilities we needed!! Food, toilets etc. We played our game of finding the biggest bag of M&Ms....this is the current leader (although it has been beaten - we saw a 1.5kg bag for $12.99!!)
I showered in a garden sprinker at 0200 in the morning, then on the sunday we went down to the beach and had a proper shower. Sunday was spent buying a laptop - not much fun!! Generally we spent time in Starbuck watching the world go by......Dinner was a Dominos pizza eaten in Manhattan village:
- Posted by mark stowe on 30/07/2006.
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July 20
July 20
For some reason, we visited Korean Air again.....we were now told the bikes would be here July 22 and we needed a 'Customs Broker' to get them through customs!! This sounded expensive.... We soon found one....he wanted $450 and it did not sound like he really knew the process. Being a tight git, i thought i could do this myself. So, we drove to the US customs office and asked them the process!! They told us we needed EPA (Environment Protections Agency) waiver and a DOT (Dept of Transport) forms. A lady (who was a customs broker), waiting for some forms to come back) said we should go and see her tomorrow...she would help and would not charge $450!! Still not wanting to pay anything, we got ourselves on the internet and printed off all the forms we needed!!
Dinner was Cheese and Ham sandwiches on Hermosa beach....watching the pretty people skate, blade, run, walk up and down the promanade. Slept really badly in the car.....it was hot - the USA was having a heat wave!!
- Posted by mark stowe on 30/07/2006.
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July 19
Apologies that this is all out of order.....
Previously.....we had arrived in LA and hired a car that we were also using to sleep in - we could not afford transport and a hotel!!
Visited Korean Air Cargo...the bike were now not arriving until Friday (July 21). At TK Max, John and i kitted ourselves out in some cooler (temperature, not style wise) clothing .
The 'hotel' took us 70 miles north to a BMW dealer we had been told about. I bought some parts and we were very kindly invited to stay with Jules (one of the sales guys) and his family that evening. A few miles further north we found a Yamaha dealer....but they did not have a battery for John...however, one of the guys there, his wife could sort out our insurance!!! It was not cheap, but it was necessary!!!
We drove down to Jules' house....he lived on his parents land which was in Malibu. They lived in a stunning valley, overloking the Pacific. We had a truly great night....food around a big fire chatting away. Diane, Jules' mother was an artist and Ford (his father) woked for a non profit organisation. However...in his previous career he had written 14 hours of the hit TV program C.H.I.P.S!!! We slept on their patio, next to the fire overlooking a stunning valley!!!
- Posted by mark stowe on 30/07/2006.
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July 26 updated
Woke up damp...the mist was thicker than we thought!!! Had breakfast in a real american diner!!
A good friend suggested that we visit Hearst Castle....they wanted $24 to get in.....instead, we waited for the fog to clear and got the binoculars out!!
We are riding Highway 1 - the Pacific Coast Highway.....it is a great road. At last there are some bends to negotiate!! However, it is misty so the views are not great.
Currently in Carmel sat outside a cafe and surfing someones else wireless internet for free....on my new laptop!!!!!!!!
Camped in another RV park...me and John in one tent...it was a very damp night!
- Posted by mark stowe on 26/07/2006.
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July 25 - updated
Finally hit the road propper.....just to do 2 miles for breakfast at McDonalds!! Then, another 4 miles to Venice beach to look at the freak show aka 'Muscle Beach'.
Then, to the BMW dealer to meet up with Jules again and pick up my new tyres!! Me, John and Jules outside the best dealership i know!!!
The tyre were strapped to the back of the bike - i am waiting for the current one to wear out......
We set off north - we rode until it was dark and ended up camping on the noisest campsite in the world.....we did not bother with tents, just sleeping bags.
- Posted by mark stowe on 25/07/2006.
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I saw this and thought of you.....Barry Gale
Barry - does this beat BG 4?
- Posted by mark stowe on 25/07/2006.
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Apple
Am in an Apple store surfing for free and dreaming about which laptop i would like to buy.......- Posted by mark stowe on 21/07/2006.
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The US of A
Well...we have made it to the USA.....our bikes are still somewhere between Korea and LA. We are currently running round LA trying to get the paperwork required to get them through customs.
We have hired a car....this also doubles as our hotel and storage space!!! We figured this was the cheapest way!!!
- Posted by mark stowe on 21/07/2006.
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July 18, 2006
Another early morning to catch the 0825 bus into Vladivostok center to pull out a whole bunch of cash to pay the shipper man and buy a ticket!!
Back at the airport, the bikes were boxed......they actually did a good job....although, the weight we are now shipping is 644kg!!! In total it has cost over 3000 pounds!!!!
We walked over to the terminal...the bikes were finished with and would be in LA by July20.
At 1543, we asked if we could catch the 1620 flight to Seoul and then LA....the man said YES!!! I ran to the hotel and checked out, John handed a whole wad of cash over and by 1626 we had taken off!!!! 43 minutes it took!!!!
The flight was lovely......great food and a lovely plane....nothing like the Russian one we caught earlier in the week.
Now we are in Seoul airport waiting for our connecting flight to LA.
It was a bit sad to leave Russia.....we will not miss the continual 'No, that is not possible' whenever you ask any question. We definately will miss the people and the randomness of the place!!
Dos Vedania Russia.....Hello to the USA!!!!
- Posted by mark stowe on 18/07/2006.
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Birthday wishes
Hello honey - happy 40th birthday old bird. Sorry i was not there to share the special day. I will make it up to when when i get home.
Start compiling the list.........
John
Happy birthday Gail....have a good day.
Mark
- Posted by mark stowe on 18/07/2006.
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