Gary's bike continues to frustrate, with the battery charging fully during the day but discharging overnight. Jump starting has become a morning chore that requires removing the seats of two bikes in order to access the battery compartment. Fortunately one of the bike modifications that we made prior to departure involved drilling through the side panels for easy access to the seat bolts, otherwise the job would mean removing panniers, racks and side panels as well. This is a real design oversight by Kawasaki in an otherwise well built bike. As an adventure tourer, many buyers would be intending to fit aftermarket luggage and the design should have catered to this
Even though the KLR is assembled at a factory in Thailand, they are not sold locally. This has made sourcing a battery very difficult. Ty has agreed to go on ahead to the port to try and secure a boat for the crossing while Gary and I locate a suitable replacement battery this morning.
- - - later - - -
Despite a variety of methods for communicating with one another, the group became separated from one another and despite messages at previous locations Ty and Gary found themselves in Chumphon with Tony 149km away in Rangon. Not a lot of options once there is geography between travelling parties, and I had a fast blast at dusk through the mountains in order to regroup. Despite a wasted day trying to regroup, this last dash was no hardship as the route involves dozens of long sweeping bends through endless jungle scenery. It was an opportunity to open the throttle and reconnect with the pure experience of riding. A chance to focus on cornering technique and other riding disciplines in the absence of mates, police, traffic and any other distractions.
