.. and I thought this was easy ….. (the wordy version of the previous picture post)

Melbourne – 0 km
13 April 2016

Most of you know that I like a good bargain.
Actually it goes both ways: happy to give one and even happier to receive one!
So I am always on the lookout for a better deal.

No difference when it comes to ship my bike to South Korea

In several conversation with my shipping agent – thank you Ivan for your endless patience, instant responses and not loosing your sense of humour – from Bikes Abroad www.bikesabroad.com.au I came to the conclusion that one way of saving cost was to crate the bike myself…

I had read many accounts of previous motorcycle traveller who had done the same, so “Hey! what they can do – I can do as well! Haaah!”

I always displayed a propensity to ‘give it a go’! Here, in Australia you call it: “ a red-hot go!” So why not!? All part of the never-ending assimilation process.

To my dear male readers, go and have a look into the mirror now, even the virtual one. Now tell me: how many times have you been starting out on a task, full of gusto, energy and confidence? A task your wife/partner/lover would have called a tradesman??
I certainly have done this – many times over. I Know, for some of us it is difficult to learn (quickly) from past experience, even if it was mildly painful. So I could hear myself saying: “Yep! I can do this! I can crate a bike AND I’ll save some dough!”

Full of self-belief, enthusiasm and eyeing towards an increasing account of brownie points, I set out to do so. I know, I know, these starts are bound to lead to several trips to Bunnings. A single screw, nail or tool is missing. The nails, screws bolts in my collection (a considerable one) are too short, too long, to fat or an immediate need for a ‘special’ tool emerges, one that I most likely never used again in my life time. The reasons are endless and never obvious at the outset….
I must also confess, that usually/always? the task took ‘a little’ longer than a tradesman would have been able to complete it. In my defence I claim that the task unexpectantly turned into something more ‘complicated’ than anticipated.

Why is that so? I don’t know, I’d rather try again, unwavered by previous experiences

Consequently and plausibly I presumed that crating a bike is a piece of cake!

Off I went and asked the good-hearted Stefan B. from BMW Southbank to ‘organise’ a BMW crate for me. Stefan and his colleague Kenneth made it happen almost instantly – thank you boyz! Accosting another good friend, Marcos A, to lend me his ute, so I could ferry the crate to my home. Again, thank you Marcos! Cruising trough Melbourne’s cbd, the crate flat-packed in the ute, I had this ‘tradie-feeling’!  … window wound down, elbow out, showing my chequered flannel shirt, sunnies on, looking superior … Aaahh, here I was coming ready to do the task!

In a moment of  lucidity I rang another friend, Tony J, who besides many other things knows about the crating of bikes. I knew he had crated a fair few. Now, I won’t hold against Tony that  we often find each other on the opposite spectrum of the political debate, BUT he has a good heart and he knows his stuff! – knows it well!

So I asked Tony a few questions re crating. Doubt was growing in my mind. Was I missing some parts?  Was the task after all more complex than thought?  I always could drive to Bunnings …
Or should I  demonstrate behavioural change, learn from past experience and act accordingly?

I decided to let logic rule and asked Tony to professionally crate the bike.
Boy-oh-Boy! With hindsight I can tell you that was very wise decision.
My mate Tony was waiting in Tullamarine , all items in place ready to start the process. And I soon realised that there is much more to the task than I ever imagined.
If I had done it, it would taken a full day and still not be as a good in terms of result.

You can see it in the previous post’s pix.
Tony did the crating and did it well. I was the innocent bystander, learning what to do when un-loading in Busan.
Here’s one of Tony’s tips: leave the few tools you require to reassemble the bike on top of the pile, easy accessible.

Tony’s work will make it easy for me when ze bike will be unloaded in Pusan on May 8^th.