![Wink ;-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
This is my little story following a life long dream into the magic of welding.
I do not know when it started, but I've always been facinated by welding. My father had a small shop when I was a kid, and I would hang out there as much as I could. I remember trying stick welding back then. He sold his shop when I was 8 or 9. Me learning to weld stopped before it started.
Fast forward some 40+ years. I now have a job, a house, a wife and mostly grownup kids. I also have some time on my hands, so I figured it was time to take up welding. Learn the tricks of the trade.
About 10 years ago I upgraded to Wife, version 1.2. I now know why a divorce is so expensive. It's because it's worth it
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
With the upgraded wife, motorcycles came back into my life again. After to many years without one. In my former life motorcycles did not suit "us".
With the motorcycles came the urge to do some longer rides. Long story short, I needed a purpose built bike for long distance offroad riding. I planned to ride from my hometown in Norway to Magadan in far East Russia. Crossing Siberia on the way. After doing some research on the WWW I decided on the perfect bike for my trip. It would be a modified BMW G650 X-Challenge.
The best guys in the world for this rebuild was located in Holland so I made contact with them. Bas at HyperPro and Erik at HotRod Welding did their outmost to help me. Bas made the suspension perfect. Erik did the rest. The frame that holds the fairing and the fairing. The extra tank, X-Tank and the luggage rack. Erik is a master welder and that triggered my "need" to learn welding again. I am proud to call both Erik and Bas my friends. We meet regularly and have much fun together. Below is the bike finished.
![Image](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170130/7c37557881967590031a7449a73a0977.jpg)
Fast forward again to last Fall. I decided to spend a week with my Dutch friends. Having a beer or two and try some TIG welding. Bas set me up for a day in his shop. There I tried my first beads with a TIG machine. Then I spent a few days with Erik in his shop. Getting my own welding table and lots of pieces to to practise with. I was hooked
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
![Image](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170130/54b5d3bb08e8464d4d2df86a56d774fd.jpg)
Erik suggested that I should stick to my day job for a little longer
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
![Image](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170130/59ed47b238fb46a2882c53dea7e9440c.jpg)
My first finished project was a pen holder for Erik. It is probably hidden somewhere in his shop now, but I'll bet he will have it on his desk when I come to visit next time
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
![Image](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170130/862e3be29fe04733164c950a4be84749.jpg)