Fern Hume's bike goes bang

[FERDINAND PICK]

Does anyone know my facebook buddy Fern Hume from Issue 20

Fern Hume tackles Pakistan's stunning Karakoram Highway, solo, on a DRZ400

Her bike is cooked, sad news.

[Elle]

I know Fern, I'm thought she was only going home for Xmas - she's hoping to continue with her RTW trip & I'm sure she can pick up another bike. I was planning to meet up with her next year in NZ!

[Dazzer]

I thought she had stopped riding and had been working for quite a few months ?

[FERDINAND PICK]

I know Fern, I'm thought she was only going home for Xmas - she's hoping to continue with her RTW trip & I'm sure she can pick up another bike. I was planning to meet up with her next year in NZ!

Sorry i'm not 100% sure. i will ask her, i just read it on my status update, i haven't been stalking her, ha.

[FERDINAND PICK]

I've just spoken to her. the bike is buggered and thats thats untill she can save for a new one. she was going to throw the towel in but decided to come back to UK for short holiday then return to work in the sunshine for TFF.

Good luck to her future plans to ride the America's in the next few years.

[Willandkate]

How frustrating... A friend of mine has just surrendered her DR350 to customs in Africa. Nothing wrong with it except its on an Oz carnet. Can't afford to ship it home or ride it home. Benn on the road 4.5 years and had enough. So, there sits a DR 350, big tank, knobby tyres all ready to ride...

[Elle]

I know Fern, I'm thought she was only going home for Xmas - she's hoping to continue with her RTW trip & I'm sure she can pick up another bike. I was planning to meet up with her next year in NZ!

Sorry i'm not 100% sure. i will ask her, i just read it on my status update, i haven't been stalking her, ha.

A bit odd to post someone else's Facebook comment on a public forum and yet not actually know the facts.
Fern is an ABR member & I'm sure she's perfectly capable of posting her own updates... JMO :dry:

[FERDINAND PICK]

Thank you Elle. I know, Point taken, I did try and remove it as I'm clearly not a 'real' friend of hers, just a Facebook numbty.

I will make sure I think in future, before posting. I only thought it relevant as I had seen her in issue 20.

I consider myself, told. Ha. :whistle:

[Fern]

Hi

Thanks for the concern. I'm not on the road. My bike is making noises but hasn't gone bang. The big end bearing is on its way out. I'll be stripping the engine over the next week. Best case scenario is a big end bearing and piston rings. Worst case is new head and more bottom end bits. I've been so fortunate to have lots of offers of assistance.

I spent 4 months on the road between UK and Nepal. Then when I got to Nepal, I was planning to go through SE Asia but got offered a job in a biker bar, and then as a bike instructor for a motorcycle tour company, so had 8 months playing and exploring in Nepal. First woman to ride the motorable Annapurna circuit... yee haa.

Shipped the bike from Kolkata to NZ, and have been working here for over a year. Explored quite a bit of the country, but by no means on the road so to speak.

I'm flying home to UK on 13th Nov and coming back to NZ on 30th Nov.. I'll carry on working in NZ to get the bike sorted, and if I don't get a work visa, i'll probably come back to UK and have to work for a couple of years to save up for the next continent... perhaps S America but who knows. Some people have suggested that I ship the bike to Vladivostok and ride back to UK..

Even though I have no bike on the road, I can't complain.. Barbecue season is cranking up, I can cycle to the beach for an afterwork swim, and can take the bus to the marine reserve to go snorkel with stingrays and snapper. I will be very sad with no bike to ride (it will take me a few months to save up for the parts) but life is good, I've had a fair few epic adventures, and I have to pinch myself some times!

As for screenshotting my personal facebook page and putting a post up on a public forum, that is downright weird.. yes facebook is rather public, but that was a step too far...

[Elle]

Glad to hear the bike isn't terminal (thumbs)

Some people have suggested that I ship the bike to Vladivostok and ride back to UK..

or, nz - south america - north america - vlad - africa - ? :cheer: