Rear end of truck and sidewind

It seems possible to drive around the world and see only rear end of truck. They are sometimes interesting, and you can make picture collection, but this you can do also on highway next to your home also. We have made about 4000 km in 6 days and seen nothing. For Europe this was our choice. At travel you do not wonder around your home first, do you?

Biggest problem so far has been strong side wind. You can handle it on small roads and low speeds. Just little correction with steering wheel and no big issue. On highways however the road is higher and directs wind near mountains and valleys to strong gusts. Driving highways is constant exercise of being alerted to next gust.

Strong sidewind in France. Warnings also on all highway signs.

Another topic is entrance and exit to toll highways. Clearly not meant for Amphibear. Ticket point is way too close to boom, so we had to slide yourself out of door to get the ticket.

Hamor clearing the highway.

One thing happens for sure during the journey. We meet a lot of good people. Jaanus and Kaidi Tornik had for us friendly hug, king size beds and a lot of good advises about Spain. Nice welcome! They run business www.grupotene.com of selling hardwood houses. The ones of high quality, made in Estonia. Thirteen years in Spain now. Started picking the oranges first, now live in nice house in good neighborhood. Everything is possible, if you have venturesome spirit and are hardworking for your dreams!

Kaidi Jaanus and Herki hosting Amphibear travellers

We learned that 25 Celsius in November is exception here also. For us it is exotic. We are heading to Algeciras for Gibraltar crossing now.

Seletron Chipbox

There is little to tell about rainy Europe in dark November days. There is something talk about warm welcome from European professionals in electronic car tuning. Emanuel Lago, co founder of Seletron had profound plan for us. First quick car wash and coffee. Next efficient installation of hand throttle. Device made in days has nice outlook and super functionality. Now it is much easier to regulate Amphibear speed in water.

Our route of 2400 km in Europe showed the benefits of Seletron Chipbox. It has fuel economy as our fully loaded car used slightly less fuel than tested empty car at home. Rate fluctuated between 15-16 l/100km. If it works on water also, this is most needed addition. Emanuel replaces common CHIPBOX version with special waterproofed version.

Work was quick and efficient. So, the rest of the day spent with media and good food. Thank you Seletron team!

Amphibear team

The beginning of big adventure

The big moment after years of preparations arrived on Saturday morning at 10. Even though there was slight anxiety and electricity in the air at the Hydroscand main building, Amphibear was waiting patiently in all its glory. 

The whole team managed to strip in public and put on the team T-shirt, gathered with everyone and took some group pictures before the main send-off.

At 11AM there were around a hundred people around the car, who came to support Amphibear starting its adventure. Warm coffee and pastries helped against the cold weather and then was the time to begin the most important part of the day. The biggest supporters Hydroscand, Matkasport and Metrotec took the microphone and Let’s Do It World team gave their support and list of necessary contacts, followed by our  team’s introduction and (mental) health check. Last, but not least,  Mait gave a speech and all the supporters and helpers received words of gratitude.

At 11.45 AM the  logbook was signed and sealed, and the last 10 minutes passed quickly with hugs and handshakes.

At 1200, Mait and Hamor took place in their seats and the journey began with flashlights sending Amphibear on its way

Start on 2 November 2013 next to Hydroscand office

Amphibear Around the World journey starts 2 November 2013 at Peterburi tee 83B, Tallinn, Estonia at 12.00. Departure of Amphibear to Around the World journey will be hold 11-12 at Hydroscand parking slot next to Hydroscand office.

All Amphibear Team members will be present (Mait Nilson, Hamor Kaha, Erki Koldits, Marek Kiisa, Kristjan Kalda, Peeter Annus). Mait Nilson and Hamor Kaha will depart for the first stage of journey from Tallinn, Estonia to St Louis, Senegal.

All who want to see the vehicle and departure are welcomed, all the rest can read about our journey right here in the blog.

Weldings quality control

With naked eye one does not see through the weldings. But you need to. Aluminium weldings can develop micro defects with repeated forces or vibration. Later it can lead to structural defects. Pontoons are of course checked in factory. But with this unusual application it is better to check them before the journey one more time.

This was possible in company Technical Inspection Service, or TIS. In a busy week, Amphibear control was planned for Saturday.

TIS NDT inspector Ivan Podkhomutnikov and background of company certificates.

First stage of control is close inspection outside and inside of weldings. Inside is checked with endoscope. Endoscope is small camera with light at the end of long and flexible wire.

Simple and effective method to check weldings was used at next stage - marker color with chalk color.
First, cleaned weldings are painted with red marker colour. Then all visible color is cleaned away, and same place covered with chalk color.  After drying chalk absorbs the marker color from micro defects and makes them visible.  Microholes are visible as red dots on picture. There were no cracks found, also the holes were on the surface only.

Last control method used, was x-ray picture of weldings. As for the x-ray bystanders (me) were deported for their own safety, then no picture of the method.

TIS inspektors Ivan Podkhomutnikov and Andrei Martikainen with inspected Amphibear.

During inspection one can see the inside of the weldings. As usual, they do not look nice. However as conclusion, most of the weldings are high quality and no structural problems for pontoons. Only remark was to improve the weldings of engine mount.

Thank you TIS team! Goodbye picture under corporate logo on office building.

Five fingers

We discussed with Erki Koldits and Kristjan Kalda communication with the support team. If both sides know the code, information about the weather for 5 days can be posted in an sms of 160 signs. Of course there were also other matters to discuss.

The fun part of the day was trying on the Vibram FiveFingers shoes. Everybody in possession of 5 toes on both feet tried them on. There were different opinions. The most innovative ones liked them and said that the shoes felt extremely comfortable. “It is like walking barefoot!” , they said. The others could not detect their toes and had difficulties with putting the Vibrams on. They said it was a torture. And some said that they simply needed some time to get used to the new type of footwear. A refreshing sensation anyway it was. Hopefully we shall see some of our Amphibear-adventure members moving their toes soon.

Vibram FiveFingers water-resistant models LONTRA were granted to the Amphibear team by the European and Estonian FiveFingers representatives to support the team on their wet adventure.

With 35 million volunteers

Greetings from Amphibear to Clean the World team! The Estonian team is the smallest most enthusiastic team I have ever seen.

They believe, they can change the world. As result they change it. I am proud to give my hand to the enthusiastic clean the world teams all over the world and promote their message.

FLIR window in darkness

Night navigation is easy, if you have traveled the waterway for years. On my fishing places I know the contours and can drive in darkness to the home. However, some light is still needed. In cloudy weather, light misty rain in autumn it can be really really dark. And navigation just by plotter is not secure at all. Amphibear is too small for proper marine radar. Radar would need experience to read also. Therefore the real thermal imaging was on the wishlist for Amphibear. Even in total absence of visible light and in mist it can draw the picture of your surroundings.

Thanks to FLIR support, the FLIR MD-324 is installed on Amphibear now. The main unit sits like small alien on front frame corner.

Indifferently from common night vision systems, thermal imaging is easy to test. You do not need darkness, as picture will be the same during twilight and night time.

And special benefit, it will be useful for hitting the road. It gives good visibility of humans and animals on roadside. I wish to have one of these on all my vehicles, it is so good improvement for the road ahead.

Selection from toolbox

Sometimes task of gearing up Amphibear seems not possible to solve. Ultra light weight must be combined with high performance. But some tools make you feel like a child with a new toy. Here is selection of some.

Saw is the tool most needed on less traveled roads. But in daily life used so little, that I dare to give no weight nor room for it. The most compact wire saw is not an option. Just I do not trust these. I was really glad to find hand chain saw BCB. Youtube tests prove its efficiency. And holding at hand I am sure. It is the most compact reliable saw you can get.

Next tool I could not resist was Leatherman Surge. We are all used to multitools. This has couple of surprises. One more saw for plastic, metal, wood and so on. It has socket for common jigsaw blade. So with proper handle you can have saw for all your needs. Another most welcomed tool in other end  - small screwdriver for electronics. And of course it has all the rest, including nice big scissors. All tools for one hand operation. 75lm Led Lenser attached to beltclip.

At last the flashlight I like. It does the most simple thing properly - switch on off with one touch of the button. Tired of cheap flashing options,  Led Lenser 7R makes the day lighter, can be loaded just from the same wire as your mobile phone and if you really need has a set of smart options also.

Last but not least the Wuerth adjustable wrench. It has reach 0-40 mm. Made with exactness, so you can measure diameters. I have had it couple of years now and not once Amphibear has traveled without it.

Of course the toolbox is large and includes a lot more. They are all good tools. But presented items have something more. They have character. They I made by designers who really think of users.