European Jaunt

[The smudger]

Well, after the utter dissappointment of not being able to go to maroc with the lads, I decided to 'go it alone' down into Europe. It started yesterday morning. Left Wiltshire at 09:30 for a 1 o'clock tunnel trip. Made it by 12:40 so got a slightly earlier one. In France by 2:30 local I was on the road! Now I hadn't really planned anything, just a couple of weeks in Europe somewhere starting in Brugge, but apparently the whole world was going there this weekend, and I didn't get that email......

So, went for an old favourite to kick off, Gasthous Lindenhof in Nurburg, Germany. A long ride through Belgium ( fuck me its a boring ride) then onto the twisty bits through Monshau, Schlieden and Blankenhiem then on to nurburg. Fuck I'd forgotten how good the roads are around there, it's superb for getting you your money's worth from your rear tyre, no chicken strips for me

One night in Lindenhof. A pork knuckle and a couple of pints of wiessbier and I slept co tented, albeit fucking freezing (Majid had not switched on the heating!!!). Day 2, Cochem. Always worth a visit, been there many times before. Still love it. Right, time to get some miles in. Koblenz, Frankfurt, Mannheim, Stuttgart, and am writing this from a really nice hotel in Lichtenau, about 100 mls north from Munich. So, Munich tomorrow then straight down to Austria. GrossGlockner(never been) then Modena, Genoa and along the coast to Monaco.

Just had sausages, sauerkraut, bread and beer, god I love Bavarian food!!!!

The RT is performing well, I suppose it's because it's in it's spiritual home?

I'll keep you posted

Smudge

 

[The Grey One]

Grossglockner is not open yet, they aim for May 1st but there is a slight chance it might open a few days earlier. You could use the Felbertauern road (108) instead.

John

 

[The smudger]

Hi John. How far are you from Munich? Would you be en route from Munich to Modena? If so or thereabouts as I'm pretty flexible can you put me up there? Also how much is your b&b?

 

[The Grey One]

We are 2.5 to 3 hours from Munich by autobahn, but a bit off your route-Salzburg and then south rather than due south from Munich.

We don't officially open until Friday but if you wanted to stay here we could fix you up with bed, food and beer for a small contribution to my new tyres fund!

Let me know if you want to stay.

John

 

[Busterlung]

The wrong way round

It sounds like we're travelling in opposite directions around Europe. We're travelling anticlockwise. Currently halfway between Trento and Bolzano in a small town called Ora (Italy). Heading into Austria Tomorrow.

We were in Genoa on Friday. The food is good and the people are friendly but the traffic is a pain. All the scooter riders go at light speed whilst 99% of the car drivers seem drive everywhere at 20mph even on the open rural roads.

Genoa to La Spezia has some nice twisty stuff. Don't bother with 4th, 5th and 6th gears, you won't need them!

Any tips for Austria????????

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38923974@N07/8668040913/" title="Day 7: Cattolica to Ora (Italy) by Buster Lung, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8398/8668040913_56189a5eac.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Day 7: Cattolica to Ora (Italy)"></a>

 

[rocky burns]

Any tips for Austria????????


Stay in the alps, keep off the big roads,, and every where is beautifull

Enjoy your trip I'll be there in june

 

[The smudger]

We are 2.5 to 3 hours from Munich by autobahn, but a bit off your route-Salzburg and then south rather than due south from Munich.

We don't officially open until Friday but if you wanted to stay here we could fix you up with bed, food and beer for a small contribution to my new tyres fund!

Let me know if you want to stay.

John

That's very kind of you John, I'll take your number off the website and give you a call when in the area. I'd love to stay, and happily contribute to your tyre fund! I'll call in the next couple of days.

 

[The smudger]

It sounds like we're travelling in opposite directions around Europe. We're travelling anticlockwise. Currently halfway between Trento and Bolzano in a small town called Ora (Italy). Heading into Austria Tomorrow.

We were in Genoa on Friday. The food is good and the people are friendly but the traffic is a pain. All the scooter riders go at light speed whilst 99% of the car drivers seem drive everywhere at 20mph even on the open rural roads.

Genoa to La Spezia has some nice twisty stuff. Don't bother with 4th, 5th and 6th gears, you won't need them!

Any tips for Austria????????

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/38923974@N07/8668040913/" title="Day 7: Cattolica to Ora (Italy) by Buster Lung, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8398/8668040913_56189a5eac.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Day 7: Cattolica to Ora (Italy)"></a>

Thanks for the tips on Italy! I'm afraid I can't help re Austria as its my first time there but I am going to try to get to johns place (see previous post) either today or tomorrow, maybe we will meet there?

If you are travelling up from Munich I can reccomend this place www.weinstube-Leidel.de

1night B&B plus a nice meal and a couple of local beers for 50 euros, lovely clean rooms plus free with-fi.

 

[The Grey One]

That's very kind of you John, I'll take your number off the website and give you a call when in the area. I'd love to stay, and happily contribute to your tyre fund! I'll call in the next couple of days.

Hi, You might need to use the mobile number, as we are not officially open there is not always someone around to answer the landline

0043 69917054281

John

 

[The smudger]

So, after a very wet ride down to Austria I arrived at John and Ross's place virtually intact. A hot shower followed by a cold beer certainly raised my spirits! Young Wilf was a star, showing me where to put the wet clothing etc... That warm room really is a god send. After a chinwag a out this & that we had a really nice meal (thanks Vernon!) and a few more beers. John and I share a similar background so we got down to some serious man talk, sorry Ross must have been boring for you! I have to say John and Ross's place is a must, superb hosts and good food to boot.....thanks again!

So, left Malta around 10:30 and followed a nice rout set up by John. Out I the 99 to villach, some superb twisters, followed by the journey over the pass into Slovenia. A real in e ride although the road surface is better suited to a GS! The next pass from Slovenia to Italy was closed, so I dropped back down to krazna wasiface and took the a road j to Italy. Ride down the SS13 to udine the a bit of autostrada to Venice. Staying in Venice tonight, it's a lovely place but the bike is parked about 1/4 mile away in a bike park, hope it'll still be there in the morning!!!

Tomorrow may stay here if the weather is nice. I fancy a day off the bike, or, push on to Nice then have a couple of days there.

 

[The smudger]

An update!

Left Venice yesterday at 10:30. I was really tempted to have another day there, rest up and take Venice in a bit more but decided I would save that for when I take my wife...

Headed out towards Milan and took the road for bologna. Stopped in Modena for lunch, met with the weirdest sight? Came off the autostrada at Modena and down to a T junction, saw a girl sitting in the island? Pretty little thing. Waiting for a lift perhaps? Strange place to be sitting I thought. Across the road 2 more girls, about 20? One in fishnets? Aha! I smell a rat( fish!) all along what is basically a country road were a out 20 prostitutes. Not a sight I'm used to seeing in Wiltshire so forgive my nievety here!! One stood out from the rest, just a T shirt on, no knickers, God I nearly fell off!

On to Modena, quite industrialised, stopped for lunch and a chat with the locals. I just had to ask about the girls....apparently they wait there as truckers come off(no pun intended) the motorway, it's good business!

On to Genoa. Arrived there about 6. What can I say? I thought it was a toilet. The traffic is appalling. Worst I've ever seen, I actually witnessed 2 accidents whilst there, 1 involving 2 cars and 3 bikes, all wanting to be on the same bit of road!!!

I can honestly say from experience ghat if anyone is planning a trip there don't go unless you know exactly where you're headed, and avoid the rush hour at all costs! I am staying in Recco, which is on the outskirts of genoa, much smaller, less traffic nice little place. Noticed this morning a yellow 1200 ADV parked next to my old bus, wonder if he's on here...

Off to France today, heading for Laurens in Languadoc for a could of days off the bike, my arse needs to recover!! Then off to milau, Le Mans then Madison laudierre for a night hopefully.

 

[The Grey One]

What is it with you and "ladies of the night"?

John

 

[(RIP) Mark H]

Your on that nice tundra green RT I assume, .... should get you home ok ... enjoy, ... not a bit jealous

 

[Nutty]

Sounds like you're enjoying yourself

 

[The smudger]

Your on that nice tundra green RT I assume, .... should get you home ok ... enjoy, ... not a bit jealous

Yes indeed! The old girl is doing me proud. The speedo cable snapped in the usual place just outside of Villach, still, I'm sure I won't be to bothered about 1000 miles missing

Well, I reached Laurens on Thursday night after a stay in Recco. A real nice ride along the Med coast past Nice, Cannes, Marseilles etc. spent a lovely couple of days with an old mate there, what a beautiful village it is. Left there this morning headed for Milau. By the time I got there it was snowing! I dropped down into Millau and saw the bridge from below, the visibility was very poor, a great shame....

Headed out for Clermond and the weather got worryingly worse. Stopped at a services for fuel and it was blizzard conditions, bloody freezing and snowing real hard. This was a low point I have to admit. I stopped at around 2:30 and seriously thought about staying in the hotel there it was so bad. Decided after some coffee and grub to push on, hoping it might clear sometime soon, surely thus had to end soon? I'd been in it for 2 hours!!!

About 20 miles on, just south of Clermond, it broke. Just a little rain, thank fuck for that! Still couldn't feel my toes though!

Well I'm holed up in a village called Pierre Bufferie, 10 miles south of Limoges. Tommorow I'll ride up to maison Lauddiere for 1 night, then home...

I've taken lots of pics, will add them when I get home.

 

[The smudger]

What is it with you and "ladies of the night"?

John

I can't help it John, I'm just a babe magnet...

 

[GSTourer]

Do all RT speedo cables snap just outside Villach then?

Sounds like a good trip.....enjoy!

 

[The Grey One]

I'm thinking of setting up a stall just outside Villach selling them.

John

 

[The smudger]

Well, rode up from Limoges yesterday, I was determined not to use the autoroute and I didn't! Stopped at Le Mans and took a few pictures on the Mulsanne straight, plus took in quite a few villages along the way. The RN is definately the way to see France, it just takes so bloody long!!

I arrived at Maison Laudairre at around 6 and was greeted, as usual with a friendly smile and a block of wood to stand the bike on by Carol. She and Nigel feel like old friends now! I was treated to a fantastic meal courtesy of Carols kitchen and had yet another pleasant stay, anyone who has visited France and not been here yet, er, why??

I'd better get up, just heard Nigel heading of out to la Boulangerie to get fresh bread & croissants, and I need to catch the 2 ish train home.

It's been a fantastic week, I've seen sun, snow, naked prostitutes, stayed in some superb places, see some superb places, and will have covered about 3000 miles by the time I get home.

Shame it has to end!!!!

 

[The Grey One]

Well, rode up from Limoges yesterday, I was determined not to use the autoroute and I didn't! Stopped at Le Mans and took a few pictures on the Mulsanne straight, plus took in quite a few villages along the way. The RN is definately the way to see France, it just takes so bloody long!!

I arrived at Maison Laudairre at around 6 and was greeted, as usual with a friendly smile and a block of wood to stand the bike on by Carol. She and Nigel feel like old friends now! I was treated to a fantastic meal courtesy of Carols kitchen and had yet another pleasant stay, anyone who has visited France and not been here yet, er, why??

I'd better get up, just heard Nigel heading of out to la Boulangerie to get fresh bread & croissants, and I need to catch the 2 ish train home.

It's been a fantastic week, I've seen sun, snow, naked prostitutes, stayed in some superb places, see some superb places, and will have covered about 3000 miles by the time I get home.

Shame it has to end!!!!

Time to plan the next trip!

John