Following a spectacular send-off in Eindhoven, where they were waved off by ambassadors Jan Peter Balkenende and Rick Nieman, among others, the problems started very soon into the journey. On the second day on route to Vienna, the motorbike broke down. A whole day was needed to make the necessary repairs to the bike but in the days that followed the team caught up on lost time. Following stops in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, they continued on into Central Asia. 

Collision

In Iran the students were faced with extreme heat, poor roads and chaotic traffic. The shock of it all hit home when the motorbike collided with a local taxi. Fortunately, the damage was not enough to hinder progress to Uzbekistan where their arrival coincided with the death of president Islam Karimov. In view of the period of national mourning that was announced, the planned events and locations were no longer accessible so the students felt compelled to leave the country as soon as possible.

Next step the US

The motorbike has been driving through China for a week and the team expects to arrive in Shanghai tomorrow. Then it will be a matter of getting the batteries transported to Seattle so that STORM can continue its world trip in the United States. On Wednesday 2 November the students expect to ride back into Eindhoven, eighty days after leaving. 

Source: Persteam TU/e