Hostel nights from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Ken and Emma, his trusty steed, fall on their feet. Or wheels. An entire hostel to themselves. At Batemans Bay. Hidden joys of travelling in the off-season. About five hundred miles short of Melbourne.
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Hostel nights
August 6th, 2011When a plan comes together..
August 5th, 2011Coming together. Finally. Plan for the on-move to Alaska in a month or so’s time. Suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised by the complexity. The frustrations. For, in terms of hours in the air, it does equate to flying roughly half way around the world. Pacific a big ocean. Ask Thor Heyerdahl.
All airlines now booked. Confirmations received. Hospitality in Anchorage. Sorted. Press release for local media. Done. The first draft had been a bit ambiguous. Suggesting, like Kazakhstan, I’d been detained by border guards in Australia. But, truth was, I had been. Sydney airport. And I’ve no plans to let them off the hook. Ever. No longer any regrets about atmospheric nuclear tests.
First impressions do count. And it’s looking good for the US. Friendly, helpful Consular staff in Sydney. Very understanding when it looked like the Chilean ash cloud might mean I’d miss my visa appointment. Generous offers of hospitality from Anchorage. Pretty informative replies from US Customs and Border Protection to my queries about prescription medications and emergency rations. And lots of practical advice on sharing the woods with bears.
Offers from Anchorage
August 5th, 2011For all the frustrations of airline bookings, there had at least been good news with finding somewhere to stay. In Anchorage at least. Overly so it seemed. A fellow cyclist had offered to put me up. Aspirations to cycle around the world. Keen to pick my brains. As I of hers. Local knowledge. And keen to pick me up from the airport. Flight lands around five am so trying to persuade her to pitch up at Arrivals at a more sociable time. After three days of travelling sure a strong coffee won’t go amiss.
Imagining Anchorage to have more than its fair share of long-haul cyclists – strikes me as a very natural starting point for riding across North America – I’d also contacted a local hostel. Just to check availability and price. Nothing more. No fishing. Pleasant surprise. John, the owner, offering free hospitality and the chance for some local PR.
I’d also discovered the US Adventure Cycling Association. Or, more to the point, my parents had. Great online resource. Potential for lots of contacts along the road. So, recognising I’d be spending quite a bit of time in North America, I’d signed up. Struck me as a particularly worthwhile investment.
[Ken uses a very reputable US based website – www.warmshowers.com – to seek hospitality with fellow cyclists]
Hopping to Hawaii
August 4th, 2011Last piece of the jigsaw. Securing a flight with Hawaiian Airlines from Sydney to Honolulu. Actually, have managed to get a seat held at roughly the online price. For three days. Unable to purchase directly because they don’t accept UK credit cards.
So now just the issue of paying for it. Which turns out to be not quite a straightforward as you’d imagine. Have to use a UK agent. They have to agree a double currency conversion from Australian dollars to US dollars, and then, finally, into Sterling. And I’m insistent on using my credit card so I get to enjoy the statutory protections it offers for large purchases.
I’d been a bit suspicious of the agent at first. Their website has links to Hawaiian Airlines. But not the other way around. And there are some typos. And just because they have a .co.uk domain doesn’t actually mean they are based in the UK. In fact, one of their staff works out of France. And their UK number seemed to be permanently connected to the answerphone.
So I’d double-checked with the airline directly. Making sure phone numbers tally. Staff names correspond. Checked their IP address. Maybe I’ve been doing this for too long.
Trials and tribulations
August 4th, 2011Frustrating. Tedious. A bit dull. Organising the on-move from Australia to Anchorage, Alaska. Melbourne, my final stop down under, three weeks away. But always best to plan ahead. Usually cheaper for one thing. Friends had very generously let me have use of their holiday home in Jervis Bay. Hundred miles or so south of Sydney. Ideal for knuckling down and putting the plan together.
I’d allowed a fairly generous margin for unexpected delays in reaching Melbourne. And time to locate a box to package Emma, my trusty steed, into. She’d need a good clean first, along with the rest of my kit, to get past US Customs and Border Protection. Straightforward enough. Had done this before. Back in Hong Kong.
Airlines a challenge. Three different carriers. Virgin Blue from Melbourne to Sydney. Then Hawaiian Air to Honolulu. I hope. Finally Air Alaska into Anchorage. Delving into the black arts of excess baggage and bicycles. Juggling metric and imperial. Confusing tariffs. In the end, reckoning on close on four hundred pounds to ship the bike over. Even then, that assumes I’m pretty much wearing my wardrobe. Hope it’s not too warm in Hawaii.
One unexpected hurdle. Hawaiian Airlines don’t accept UK credit cards. Online or otherwise. Period. Instead you have to use a UK agent. I’d been a bit suspicious. Was the one I’d found genuine? Waiting on direct confirmation from the airline. Keen to secure a seat as I’d flights already booked either side. Flying economy so changing them costs.
One little oversight. International Dateline. Hawaii is actually twenty hours behind Sydney. Which means you take off late evening and arrive late morning. The same day. Not the next as I’d thought. So. Got an unexpected day in Hawaii. Must remember to pack the bikini somewhere handy.
When I do eventually make it to Anchorage the plan is simple. Sleep. Then put Emma back together. Track down the Park Rangers. Advice on bears. Get my bearings. Then head off to Canada.
Rules and regulations
August 3rd, 2011On-move from Melbourne, Australia to Anchorage, Alaska. Flying via Sydney and then Honolulu. Three hops. Three days. US B-2 non-immigrant visa. Done. Admittedly in my second passport. Back in Sydney. Safe with friends. Yet to work out how safely recover it. Nipping out of the airport when I change flights there a bit too risky. Awful lot of luggage. And at the mercy of unexpected delays. Could easily scupper the whole thing.
And then there’s US Customs and Border Protection to contend with. Careful reading of their website suggests I need to complete a Declaration Form 6059B. And an I-94. But not a 94W. Remembering to retain the second portion of the 94 for entry into Canada. At least the visa exempts me from obtaining an ESTA authorisation. I think. And the rest should keep me occupied on the flight over. You’d never believe they actually have a Paperwork Reduction Act.
Even with a visa valid for ten years, the permitted duration of stay is still determined by an immigration officer at port of entry. Default is three months, but the visa allows me to request more time. And I’ve supporting documentation to support my case. Note to self. Pack in carry-on luggage. Fingers crossed.
Then there’s insurance. Medical cover needs to be upgraded to include North America. Bit of a hike in premiums. And must make sure I have at least third party liability when riding. Dull. But get it wrong and you risk bankruptcy. No joke.
Finally, there’s all my kit. No soil allowed. Easy enough. Clean my tyres, boots, tent pegs and stove. But then there’s the prohibited items. Those the airlines don’t allow you to fly with. Matches, fuel and the like. Flammable products. Fortunate oil for Emma is inflammable. No idea about the difference. But got the data sheet to prove it.
And then there’s the items you can’t bring into the US in any case. Agricultural products for starters. Probably going to loose my emergency rations. Chicken casserole. No meat products allowed. And questions about prescribed medicines in my first aid kit. E-mails sent. Clarification sought. But, either way, will declare everything on entry. Always the best policy.
Coming up… in Alaska
August 3rd, 2011I’m actually a bit ahead of the blog. Already in Anchorage, Alaska, about to ride out of town into the wilderness, the start of my journey across North America. Continent Four. The story will begin to unfold shortly. Feet – and wheels – barely on Terra Firma and I’ve already met some truly fascinating people and experienced hospitality far beyond I’d ever have imagined possible. Found myself, on one occasion, actually lost for words. It soon passed.
So, look out for Grizzly bears – I certainly will be – moose, bald eagles, together with a whole cast of other characters. Tales of Hugo Chavez, hostel life, perils of bear spray, and insomnia. In the meantime, if you haven’t seen it, perhaps take a look at a film from a few years ago, "Into the Wild", based on events that took place close to Anchorage. You’ll then perhaps understand why I’ve plans to spend a night in a bus..
On air with the BBC.. from Alaska
August 2nd, 2011Ken chats once more with BBC Somerset presenter Emma Britton – click here to listen. Available via the BBC iPlayer until 8 August 2011. Interview airs about 2 hours 15 minutes into her morning show. Duration approximately 8 minutes.
Around the Bay with Bruce
August 2nd, 2011Around the Bay with Bruce from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.
Introducing Bruce. Ken’s guide around Jervis Bay. No payments have been made. Watch the video. It’ll make sense!
Cute critter
August 2nd, 2011
At last. A kangaroo close up. A wild one. Pretty tame though. In the back yard of the house I’m staying in down in Jervis Bay. Hundred miles or so south of Sydney. Incidentally, this is a young marsupial. A mature one of the red variety can stand at over six feet tall.
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