It covers shipping the bike from Japan to England, traveling through Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, England Ireland and Scotland. Three people take part and enjoy almost 5 months of sleeping under canvas.
Popeye goes to Europe
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Popeye
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:13 am
- Rides:: Honda supercub 90. BMW R100cs/Monaco, MZ ETZ250
- Location: Japan
Popeye goes to Europe
The Story of Popeye goes to Europe will start soon.
It covers shipping the bike from Japan to England, traveling through Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, England Ireland and Scotland. Three people take part and enjoy almost 5 months of sleeping under canvas.
It covers shipping the bike from Japan to England, traveling through Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, England Ireland and Scotland. Three people take part and enjoy almost 5 months of sleeping under canvas.
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Newtsalad
- Admin & site janitor.
- Posts: 17625
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- Rides:: XL1200c, Cali III, C125,GS750,XV535,XL350,BN125,C90's,C200's,CT200,Little Cub's
- Location: Essex boy loose in Suffolk!
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
I'm subscribed!!!! 
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aliengravy
- Site Admin
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Re: Popeye goes to Europe
Honestly cant wait !!!-
Popeye
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:13 am
- Rides:: Honda supercub 90. BMW R100cs/Monaco, MZ ETZ250
- Location: Japan
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
POPEYE goes to EUROPE.
Myself, my wife and a co-worker of my wife who is also a student of mine decided to embark on a trip to Europe on an extended holiday. Days off are no problem for me but the girls initially had to quit their jobs to obtain a reasonable amount of free time. Holidays of duration longer than 7 days at a time are rare in Japan so to quit was the only apparent solution. However, their employer suggested that if they are only absent from their post for 3 months that their jobs would be available on their return to Japan.
So the plan was that I would go earlier to Europe and make sure that all the paperwork formalities regarding temporary import of the bike were sorted and that we could start the trip immediately the girls flew into Heathrow.
PAPERWORK.
Myself, my wife and a co-worker of my wife who is also a student of mine decided to embark on a trip to Europe on an extended holiday. Days off are no problem for me but the girls initially had to quit their jobs to obtain a reasonable amount of free time. Holidays of duration longer than 7 days at a time are rare in Japan so to quit was the only apparent solution. However, their employer suggested that if they are only absent from their post for 3 months that their jobs would be available on their return to Japan.
So the plan was that I would go earlier to Europe and make sure that all the paperwork formalities regarding temporary import of the bike were sorted and that we could start the trip immediately the girls flew into Heathrow.
PAPERWORK.
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Popeye
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:13 am
- Rides:: Honda supercub 90. BMW R100cs/Monaco, MZ ETZ250
- Location: Japan
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
The paperwork was,
Well words fail me. It was a farce from start to finish. Firstly I tried several shipping companies that all give rough quotes as to how much but none seem to like the idea of shipping the bike and sidecar anywhere. One told me I had to drain the tank, (standard procedure) but also the engine oil. I challenged them and the relented and said OK it is not a requirement. Another wanted the bike to go from a company address and also deliver it to a company address in the UK. Another said that they would collect at my home but would not let me collect at a port in the UK but a port in Europe may be OK. All this searching for an ideal company took time, lots of it. I started preparing for this trip almost two years in front and it was uphill all the way. One of the biggest hurdles was the language.
Finally I found a company in London that would arrange everything and collect the outfit at my home and I could collect it from just outside Heathrow. All I had to do was to make sure that the crates complied with Japanese and UK requirements regarding Bug free wood.
The Stamp.
I got the crates (3) from my local BMW dealer. These are stamped with the necessary stamp that is recognized in both countries. No problem I thought. Because I lined the outside of the crates with plywood which is exempt from the stamp, the port at Nagoya where my bike would be shipped from contacted the company in the UK and said that my crates would have to be repacked again in Japan using new crates. ¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ or ££££££££ which ever you prefer. London contacted me and I told them which crates, shown them photo's of the stamps and in turn, they emailed Japan and said send them as they are. No problem.
The packing lists I had to make out seemed quite straight forward enough. Ha, wrong again. I received emails asking me, "What's a tommy bar?" "What's the soles of your boots made of?" Really stupid questions.
All this I jest you not but the biggest hurdle was the Carnet. If you are visiting Japan from another country you need one. I did not (after much researching) need one for Europe. I could have got one easily but traveling in Europe no-one would sign it anyway so there is no point. The equivalent of the RAC in Japan told me by letter I didn't need one but trying to convince the port authorities was a different matter. Finally they said OK. But on returning to Japan it was obviously different customs people that I had to deal with and the first thing they asked me for was my Carnet.
BUT I DON'T NEED ONE. I LIVE HERE. AAAAAARH.
Bike preparation. I had to use 3 crates. The sidecar was a little to wide so I had cobble two together.
Just some of the things I put in the sidecar.
The Off.
Well words fail me. It was a farce from start to finish. Firstly I tried several shipping companies that all give rough quotes as to how much but none seem to like the idea of shipping the bike and sidecar anywhere. One told me I had to drain the tank, (standard procedure) but also the engine oil. I challenged them and the relented and said OK it is not a requirement. Another wanted the bike to go from a company address and also deliver it to a company address in the UK. Another said that they would collect at my home but would not let me collect at a port in the UK but a port in Europe may be OK. All this searching for an ideal company took time, lots of it. I started preparing for this trip almost two years in front and it was uphill all the way. One of the biggest hurdles was the language.
Finally I found a company in London that would arrange everything and collect the outfit at my home and I could collect it from just outside Heathrow. All I had to do was to make sure that the crates complied with Japanese and UK requirements regarding Bug free wood.
The Stamp.
I got the crates (3) from my local BMW dealer. These are stamped with the necessary stamp that is recognized in both countries. No problem I thought. Because I lined the outside of the crates with plywood which is exempt from the stamp, the port at Nagoya where my bike would be shipped from contacted the company in the UK and said that my crates would have to be repacked again in Japan using new crates. ¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ or ££££££££ which ever you prefer. London contacted me and I told them which crates, shown them photo's of the stamps and in turn, they emailed Japan and said send them as they are. No problem.
The packing lists I had to make out seemed quite straight forward enough. Ha, wrong again. I received emails asking me, "What's a tommy bar?" "What's the soles of your boots made of?" Really stupid questions.
All this I jest you not but the biggest hurdle was the Carnet. If you are visiting Japan from another country you need one. I did not (after much researching) need one for Europe. I could have got one easily but traveling in Europe no-one would sign it anyway so there is no point. The equivalent of the RAC in Japan told me by letter I didn't need one but trying to convince the port authorities was a different matter. Finally they said OK. But on returning to Japan it was obviously different customs people that I had to deal with and the first thing they asked me for was my Carnet.
BUT I DON'T NEED ONE. I LIVE HERE. AAAAAARH.
Bike preparation. I had to use 3 crates. The sidecar was a little to wide so I had cobble two together.
Just some of the things I put in the sidecar.
The Off.
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Baron_von_ping
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:27 pm
- Rides:: Nowt unless you include a ball of scrap!
- Location: Southerner stuck in the north.
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
Talk about a mess around!
The paper work would of swamped me! Top respect to you for sticking at it and i'm so green with envy it's unbelieveable
Hope it all goes well for you though.
The paper work would of swamped me! Top respect to you for sticking at it and i'm so green with envy it's unbelieveable
Hope it all goes well for you though.
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Leiba
- Posts: 7145
- Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 8:57 pm
- Rides:: Red C90.
- Location: Nth London
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
Subscribed.
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ianofbhills
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:46 pm
- Rides:: down to just 1 bike. Times are hard.
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
Look forward to reading the rest.
Can i ask what you do? I'm pretty envious of your lifestyle and the ability to take months away and go touring.
Can i ask what you do? I'm pretty envious of your lifestyle and the ability to take months away and go touring.
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Pjam
- SPAMMER!
- Posts: 9608
- Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:47 am
- Rides:: C90, C70c, CB500, ANF125, A100 Bitsa
- Location: London
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
How did the song go? 'I'm Popeye the sailor man' ?
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Popeye
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:13 am
- Rides:: Honda supercub 90. BMW R100cs/Monaco, MZ ETZ250
- Location: Japan
Re: Popeye goes to Europe
By Uk standards I'm retired. By Japanese standards I'm still a young chicken so I help people with their English skills. Not that I have any but it suffices in Japan. Most just want conversational English for travel. As for Popeye, Ah yes Popeye, Popeye is the sidecar outfit. I'm just using it's name. 
Time off from work should not present a problem for most people. Many just need a shove to chase the dream that they have always had. In the 70s I took 3 month off and a workmate said to me, "I don't know how you do it. I can't do that" He was single and no mortgage, absolutely nothing to hold him back.
My advice is go for it. Life is to short just to think about it!!!!!
Time off from work should not present a problem for most people. Many just need a shove to chase the dream that they have always had. In the 70s I took 3 month off and a workmate said to me, "I don't know how you do it. I can't do that" He was single and no mortgage, absolutely nothing to hold him back.
My advice is go for it. Life is to short just to think about it!!!!!