European Tour through 12 countries in 16 days

[Chrizm]

Just got back from our 16 day European tour covering 12 countries & around 5200 miles with Marathon Biker from this Parish. Ill post up a couple of days each day as I type them up.

Day 1 – 1st July 2011
Said goodbye to wife before she left for work which was quite emotional and a few tears shed before finishing final preparations & pop to supermarket to buy her some flowers. Finished getting ready, strapped all my kit down and said goodbye to the dog. Off to Simes for our 11:00 deadline calling past work to say one last goodbye to wife etc. Left Simes just before 12:00 and then headed to petrol station for a top up.
From Simes we headed to A1 then down A1, A14 and M11 getting on the M25 and hitting a traffic jam! it was the 1st time Id ridden with panniers so filtering through the traffic wasn’t so easy, apparently I had a few very close misses!
Got across Dartford crossing and headed towards Folkestone filling up again at Maidstone. Sime shouted me over while filling his bike over so I walked over to find him with bike fallen against him and the fuel pump! Helped him lift it off and finished filling up bike etc, quick 10 min break before heading back towards Folkestone.
Arrived Chunnel a bit early so got an earlier crossing chatting to some more guys with GS’s heading into France, soon in France when we had to pull over because my GPS wasn’t functioning, reset iphone and away we headed towards Belgium. 1st camp site we arrived at appeared to be closed so we headed to another a little bit further down the road which was open. Set up camp, prepared some food, meatballs mmmmmmm, and a few coffee’s then a JD and bed. 280 miles today

Day 2 – 2nd July
Woke up nice and early after a fairly good nights sleep, broke camp, washed up and headed around corner for a coffee and croissant. Unfortunately no croissants left so we settled for coffee and a biscuit! Headed off for more motorway miles towards Dunkerque then Brussels via the E40. Stopped at Brussels for fuel and a break, Sime had a Hawaiian pizza that smelt dead nice! Back on Motorway before setting new route avoiding some motorway down the E40, A27, B51, B410, L10 etc through some real picturesque villagers and scenery, the crossing from Belgium to Germany was very pretty but bloody cold! Found a roadside caravan selling Brockwursts and chips so had to be done with a coffee before doing final stint to Nurburgring!
Final stint to Nurburgring was some great twisties and lovely area, very picturesque and clean! Once at nurburgring bought a ticket for a lap and waited, waited and waited some more, the track was closed as someone had spilt coolant down the track for 6km! Oh well, not getting on tonight so asked about local campsites and informed wild camping is OK in the area so off we trundled to find a spot. Passed a fuel station just round corner to fill up but couldn’t remember pin number for credit card! used debit card then phoned wife for number and credit card company to ensure they hadn’t blocked it! Found a spot that had someone else on it so knew we would be OK then spotted loads of nails in a fire pit from burning pallets or something, suggested we check tyres and I found a nail in my rear tyre! Cut it off right next to rubber and left it in thinking we would get it fixed following Monday, it hadn’t been picked up here as it was slightly tarnished from the Tarmac. Sat down for some food and a bottle of beer from garage. Sime came up with a great idea for a bike mounted DVR which is still in design stage, patent pending 292 miles today

 

[teejay]

So far so good!!!


Teejay

 

[Chrizm]

Day 3 – 3rd July
Got up and broke camp then headed off to Nurburgring arriving just after 9 and offloaded panniers etc ready for a lap. Just finished and rode towards gate to be informed it was closed again, this time a numpty in a Honda type R had smashed it up! Waited around again and set ourselves a deadline to leave by 11am, just before 11 track re-opened so off we set. Did a lap in record time with only 1 bike passing us, think the rest were being held up at the gate coz we set no land speed records! Even on our lap a BMW had come together with a mini leaving debris all over the inside of the track.
Lap finished and luggage back on off we set towards Czech Republic down the E44 stopping at Lohnberg for a Turkish Tea and Kebab which was spot on. Back on the E44 then E40 towards Chemnitz and the heavens opened soaking us through, arrived at Chemnitz and stopped at a garage to get out the rain and have a coffee, spotted a hotel across road we could stop for the night, luckily it had McDonalds next door so that’s tonight’s food sorted! Unfortunately with our bad German and tight budget we ended up with a double bed to share but room had a shower and our gear would dry so guess its not the end of the world! 363 miles today

Day 4 – 4th July
Got up and packed nice and early as we had a long day today, loaded up all bike before Sime reminded me of disc lock but Id misplaced my keys! spent 20mins taking everything back off and searching for keys before finally finding them in my jacket pocket Repacked bike then round to McDonalds for breakfast! Back on bike then off towards Czech Republic having to stop to sort audio out on my soaked Starcom unit from day before, quick mod and back on road in the rain down the B174 crossing the border at Reitzenhain then onto the number 7 then 16 and 240 roads to Prague as Id taken wife there for her 21st. Once at Prague and battled through the cobbled streets, tourists and past the trams avoiding them by what felt like inches at times we had a quick photo with St Charles bridge in back ground then off to Kutna Hora to see the church of bones down the No. 12 road and a few lanes. Just as we left Prague it started to rain again which made the cobbles interesting but didn’t last long. We got stuck behind a couple of tractors when I thought I spotted an opportunity to overtake following another car, unfortunately he pulled in leaving me face to face with an oncoming Lada flashing his lights and screeching all over the road, luckily some evasive manoeuvres on both sides somehow meant we missed each other. Arrived at Kutna Hora at the grid reference Sime gave me but it was the wrong church and closed, it proved a right pain to get to also due to the one way system and dead ends going through the town! After looking around the outside of the church for a few minutes the door slightly opened and we smiled at a young lady inside explaining we had come a long way to see the church, at this point we didn’t realise it was wrong one, and asked if we could take a quick look. Luckily Sime knew name of church we wanted and they knew where it was so off we headed towards the right one. Paid our entry fee, took loads of pics and had a good look around before heading off again towards Slovakia this time.
We started to come across roads that looked like they had been soaked by a big storm and looking at the clouds and sky in front it looked like we were heading right into it so we looked for somewhere to camp. Found a turning off the road between Brtnice and Zasovice between some trees, the track was overgrown but vehicles had travelled down there at some point even if it was just to fell trees. Bikes got covered with flies so on with some insect repellent, set up tents and sit down for some scran and tell stories of bears, ticks and scary films like the wrong turn! Got out my hip flask filled with Whisky Mac and we drank that down to help us sleep in these creepy woods! 239 miles today.

Ill try post some pics later but need to upload them to Flikr 1st!

 

[Chrizm]

1st Night in Belgium


2nd night wild camping by Nurburgring


Church of bones


Creepy woods


Just outside Arad, Romania


Me with Transfag behind


Sime with Transfag behind


Part of Transfag


The fortress

 

[itspilsbury]

Just shown your post to my wifey who is impressed, she says 'we've done that nerr!
We did the Tran Highway last year (her on a Sportster!) what a fab county. Makes me want to get my bike out now and head for the tunnel!
Great post so far, keep it coming Chrizm (never done any wild camping though, I guess you just find a field and pitch for free?)

 

[Chrizm]

We found fields, forests and even a chapel which comes in day 9

 

[itspilsbury]

Blimey.
Waiting for more ride report....

 

[Chrizm]

Day 5 – 5th July
Got up at about 6:30, packed up and on road for 7:30. We both managed to survive the night without being attacked by wild animals or eaten alive by flies! Stopped at 1st fuel station, at the junction of the 3962 and 53, we spotted for fuel but had no cash for coffee so got stove out and I made one while Sime spotted an attractive woman sat in her car adjacent us feeding her infant. Coffee drunk we got on the 53 heading towards Brno and the E65 which would take us through Slovakia then E60 & E75 through Hungary towards Nadlac. We stopped for breaks and fuel and a half cooked burger at the Slovakian/Hungary border buying a Vignette for the Hungarian Motorways. We were almost through Hungary when my Sat Nav starting playing up due to a new motorway being built not shown on map to Nadlac. Arrived at Nadlac and checked if a Vignette was needed for Romania which an attractive woman informed us not. Handed over passport and the official could by some X-Ray vision tell it was me without me even removing helmet or glasses, amazing, then proceded to ask where I was going and like a fool I said Romania, he didn’t look amused! Proceded to tell him Bucharest & he waved me through, stopped straight after and checked for local campsites and advised not to camp near border and only on official campsites so off to Arad we headed. Stopped at first fuel station and asked to pay by card, yes they informed us so we filled up. Spent next 45 minutes waiting for them to try and sort out their card machine which in the end they took me to local cash machine to get some Romanian currency to pay! Off we headed again towards Arad with it now being dark, this is when I realised how crap my headlights are and the Romanian roads! Arrived at Arad and first hotel was full, 2nd looked dodgy and 3rd we found by accident was superb and only 25 Euro! On the way my Sat Nav bracket fell apart so we did a temporary fix till day light. This time we had managed to book a twin room and breakfast included. Had a coffee but no food so sat and had a bag of crisps and tracker bar, had a shower and unpacked then slept. 500 miles today.

Day 6 – 6th July
Got up early at 7am, had breakfast which consisted of a cheese and ham omelette, coffee and tomato which filed a hole from day before and was actually quite nice. Carried out a few minor repairs to bikes, Simes driving lights and my Sat Nav bracket, then checked tyre pressures filling up as necessary. Left hotel heading through Arad taking a few pics before getting on the E68 which was a lovely road going through some great scenery but ruined by too many lorries! To start with we obeyed rules of the road and only overtaking when we should which soon stopped and we overtook whenever we could! Stopped at a nice little town to get some water and Romanian cash and Simes card wouldn’t work at cash machine due to the type of account he had so he had to use an alternative card which was OK. Through the fizzy water we had bought by mistake the previous day away and tried to purchase non fizzy stuff, this is easier said than done if you don’t speak the lingo! Walked back to bikes and an old chap was paying a lot of interest in them, we kinda spoke to him, I say kinda coz I have no idea what he was saying but we got by bidding him farewell when we left. Back down the E68 stopping on for fuel, breaks and to admire the beautiful scenery prior to entering Cartisoara and then down the Transfag, what a road, if you ever get the chance to ride it do it! Its amazing and the scenery matches the road. Once at the end we then walked up the 1480 steps up to Poienari Fortress in full bike gear carrying helmets, jackets and tank bags! Took about an hour to walk up, 15 mins to look around then 30 odd minutes to get down again, by now it was dark again! Plan was to camp tonight but a hotel was too tempting and at less than £20 for both of us didn’t seem worth getting tents out, plus they had a restaurant! Dinner consisted of 4 beers, Pork Chop n Chips and Chicken n Chips, lovely and less than £10 for the lot 253 miles today.

 

[Chrizm]

Day 7 – 7th July
Up and breakfast consisting of ham & baked eggs, well they say baked but Id class them as fried, with coffee, orange juice and bread. Packed up the bikes and set off down the E70 through lovely little villages withy loads of little chapels at the side of the road. One thing that struck me was how everything was manual labour, women carrying water from local water pumps, men cutting grass with those large things that you see the grim reaper with, and horses pulling carts loaded with logs or grass. Saw fathers sat at side of road spending time with their sons and doing not much at all just passing the day, what an idyllic way to spend life, no stress of everyday life back home.
Headed towards Bucharest & I spotted a Decathlon & Praktica on the way in which I thought would be a good place for Sime to get some new bungees or something coz his were threading on the long journey. Asking for bungees wasn’t easy, don’t think they call them that, but we found some but they were too small so off to Praktica and got some tie downs instead, I got a spare set also just in case! Also bought some WD40 to try and sort out my front brake lever which was causing the brake light to stick on. Got back to bikes and pushed them into the shade to strip down lever, couldn’t get it to ease up with WD40 so stripped it down and bent out the micro switch lever a little which sorted it Contacted my bud in Bucharest and arranged to meet him at the peoples palace, or whatever it’s called...bloody big expensive white building! The traffic was stupid and it didn’t help with the scorching heat but eventually we found it and pulled onto kerb behind an ice cream van to wait for Alex. Alex arrived and we had a couple of hours just sat in the sun drinking pepsi and watching the day go by, the odd beggar came over after cigs or money which Alex sorted and then we headed off about 18:00 to my other Romanian friends place for a beer. We got showered and changed and then headed out for a lovely Romanian meal at a place that had pics of Hollywood stars on the walls and English football team flags around the place. After my main we shared a desert called Papa Nasi which is basically a massive doughnut covered in cream with jam! From there we headed into the old town to admire the architecture and a bar! Had a few drinks and even visited an underground club before heading back to bed. Only 124 miles today

Day 8 – 8th July
Up about 9 and had coffee then checked route for the day, tried to book our ferry from Greece to Italy but no look so we decided to sort it there. Said our goodbyes then back on the road, loaded bikes first of course and I managed to unbalance mine which caused it to fall against a fence cracking the screen DOH! Our plan today was off to a beach town called Vama Veche then through Bulgaria by the coastal road as this is apparently safer than the mountain road. Stopped on the E81 just outside Madgidia for a drink before setting back off arriving at Vama Veche about 14:45 and left about 16:00 for the border, swam in black sea before leaving of course, also noted this was a nudist beach and wished we could stay a night, but then visited toilets and glad we wasn’t! Arrived at border and was sorry to leave Romania as its a beautiful country with great scenery, nice people and best of all....its cheap! Crossed into Bulgaria about 17:15 without any problems. According to Sat Nav it would take us about 5 hours to get to Turkish Border, what we didn’t notice was the roads were like a snake following the coast best part of the way! We stopped a couple of times, once for fuel which was cheap, a few drinks and to sort out the connection to my rear light bulb. The roads in the north were very empty and twisty, the scenery was beautiful but when you saw a car full of 6 or 7 big guys parked at side of road and remembered the stories you had been told you couldn’t help but wonder. Ended up at Carevo about 22:45 and had a 20 min break asking an attendant how far too border which he said was about 60KM, what he forgot to say was its the worst twisty road you want to do at this time at night when had no food all day, been out night before clubbing and that you needed to avoid horses walking down road with front legs tied, gravel across road on bends and frogs migrating from some place to another! We ended up arriving at border just after midnight and got straight through Bulgarian side then spent the next 3 to 3.5 hours trying to get into Turkey! 1st thing we did was get some food which I have no idea what it was but it was nice. Then we went inside and stood by an empty desk waiting for mr passport, he arrived and advised we needed a duty stamp for 10 Euro, went to mr stamp, he wasn’t there, waited got stamp then 2 coaches arrived and we joined the end of mr passports cue somewhere in the middle of Bulgaria I think! Eventually we got passport stamped then had to get vehicle allowed into country from mr facebook. The reason this took so long was they had 1 guy who was either on the passports for coming in or passports going out of Turkey, he was also very slow! Now back to mr facebook, he is named this as he was more interested in facebook on his mobile than he was doing anything else, he took passport, checked facebook, asked your name, checked facebook, asked for green card, checked facebook....then argued with me that my statement saying that my insurance certificate covered Europe and mainland Turkey wasn’t adequate so off I went to buy insurance, 10Euro lighter I went back to go through exactly same procedure again with mr facebook!
Eventually we got through, had vehicles inspected by a glance and final stamp then off about 3:30! We planned to ride to 1st place we could pitch a tent and pulled off road a few miles down the mountain, set tent up then heard a pack of animals in the trees, so packed tents back up and back on road, arrived at Kirklareli about 4:30 to the sound of prayers being played through loudspeakers! Filled up with fuel and asked about a hotel, found that about 5:00 and got to bed about 5:30. I have to admit that Bulgaria is a nice looking country and some of the roads are biker’s heaven a long as you watch out for cars overtaking on blind corners and are not too tired! 474 miles today.

 

[Chrizm]

Day 9 – 9th July
Got up about 9:30 after roughly 3.5 hours sleep and went down to breakfast which was included in hotel price. Ate what we could and took a few bits for later, boiled eggs! Packed up bikes and set off through Turkey at about 12:00 taking the road to Erdine then down to Kesan crossing the border near there. Stopped for fuel and it was a boiling day, must have been at least 36⁰ but at least leaving Turkey was far simpler than entering it! Stopped at duty free before entering Greece to get some bacca and cigs then carried on through the crossing and joined the E90 which goes pretty much to the port at Igoumenitsa for our ferry to Italy. We had decided not to really spend any time in Greece but stopped at a lovely beach near Panorama for a swim, cool down and some food. We found the only way we could stay cool in this heat was to soak our T-Shirts through then put them on wet! I was still riding in jacket and gloves but Sime had resorted to T-Shirt only, I rode a bit like this but didn feel safe so jacket went back on. Back on the E90 after about an hour and carried on towards port, stopped at a layby and chatted to a guy with an 1150 Adv who was on his way to Venice and had come from Bulgaria, only had bike a few weeks and this was his 1st trip on it, originally he was from Holand and seemed a decent guy, he was travelling a lot lighter than us with no panniers. The E90 was a great road with fast sweeping bends, great views and loads of tunnels that made my Remus sound great!
We eventually had to stop at about 2:30 in the morning coz I was knackered, we looked for somewhere to pitch our tents and I spotted a small chapel at side of the road, it had like an open area to one side that had no windows or a door but it would be dry if it rained and at this time in the morning was too tempting so we unpacked, threw the sleep mats down and got some shut eye. 435 miles today.

Day 10 – 10th July
Woke a few times in the night with cars pulling up at the chapel and in the morning we heard workers outside cutting grass etc. Walked out and was greeted by a nice chap who asked if we was OK and everything was Ok and I just explained that we rode late into the night and couldn’t find anywhere to stop, he was fine about it so we packed up and set back off. We should have been at the port the previous night but Sime had calculated the mileage wrong, he had converted miles to miles using the KM equation, basically he forgot his map was in miles and my sat nav don’t cover Greece! We eventually arrived at Igoumenitsa at about 13:30 and booked a crossing to Brindisi on the 23:00 ferry, cost about 140 Euro with cabin, which gave us plenty of time to rest this afternoon, popped across road to the ferry terminal and got our tickets stamped, changed into shorts and then rode to nearest beach like one of the locals in trainers, vest top and shorts! Had a couple of beers, another swim in the sea and chilled out leaving the beach at about 18:00 heading on the hunt for food. 1st place we stopped at looked like they would do foor so ordered a drink to then be advised they don’t, 5 Euro lighter we left heading further down the front and found a nice restaurant and had a mixed grill & water for about 23 Euro. Headed off to port office for about 19:30-20:00 and met a couple on a 1200GS from Denmark who had been through Poland and the Ukraine, his bike looked like an advert for Touratec which he explained was because his mate owned a dealership. Chatted to them for 20 mins then headed off to board ferry, strapped down bikes and headed to room with gear, showered then had a few beers before bed. 176 miles today.

 

[Chrizm]

A few more pics:


Hotel in Turkey



Chapel we slept in


Bikes by beach in Greece


Couple from Denmark


Bikes strapped up on ferry

 

[Chrizm]

Day 11 – 11th July
Up about 6:30 and dressed ready to go as we thought it docked at 7:00, went to find out if we could get to bikes but informed it was 8:00 before docked so not yet! Visited the bar and had a coffee & doughnut with Sime having a pizza which had seen better days, all this for 17 Euro! After being ripped off we fetched all the stuff as we could now get to bikes to load them up being relieved at the sight that no damage had occurred during the crossing. Bikes fully loaded we sat ready for takeoff on the ramp surrounded by scooters and the odd Harley. As soon as we got out the dock it was straight on the motorway and what a shock that was, talk about crazy drivers and it wasn’t long before we saw an accident on the other carriageway though I’m not sure which carriageway the car started on which was now laying on its roof.
We got on the toll road heading to Rome in the blistering heat which we were later informed was 40⁰ so at every service station it was off with T-shirts to give them a good soaking to try and stay cool, though I’m sure we didn’t look it! 1st pay station we arrived at lightened our pockets of 16 Euro then shortly after another did the same of 10 Euro, this was definitely something we hadn’t budgeted for but as Simon said it’s the only way we will get the mileage done in the time frame we had. Arrived at Rome at about 17:00 which wasn’t the best laid plan as the traffic in Rome seemed a free for all, I’ve never seen anything like it and I’m sure they have no speed limits. Anyway we fought our way through the traffic stopping once to let the engines cool and take some pictures then finally arrived at the Coliseum. What an awesome piece of architecture that was and a marvel to the eye, It’s hard to believe that was made so many years ago and is still standing, well most of it anyway. Took a load of pics, had a pepsi and some scoundrel nicked my binoculars and camera case I later found out! Headed back out of Rome about an hour or so later and saw a scooter that had collided with a car and I remember thinking that was inevitable! Arrived at first campsite who wanted to relieve us of 44 Euro for 1 nights camping so we left and headed to Bracciano to another campsite with me getting flashed by a speed camera en route, DOH! Arrived campsite in the dark but it seemed nice enough and was slightly cheaper had a pizza restaurant and served beer which the other didn’t, so we had a pizza, couple of beers then headed back to set tents up before bed. 429 miles today

Day 12 – 12th July
Woke about 8:00 and popped to have a look at the lake we apparently was camped next to, it was a stunning bit of scenery with the clear lake in the foreground and the hills in the background then went to wake Sime. Had a shower and coffee then relaxed for a few hours before heading to Pisa at about noon. Took a couple of pics around Bracciano then headed down the mountain roads towards Tarquina, the roads were winding and not too much traffic to start with then we caught up with a few cars and a van, quickly overtook them to carry on down the great roads stopping at Tarquina for a drink and fuel. From Tarquina we followed the SS1 to Pisa watching out for speed cameras we had been warned about before stopping at Follonica for a dip in the sea. Arrived at Pisa following TomTom to the tower we had entered but because it was all in Italian we had entered the wrong tower as the destination, it was infact Torre de Cantone! Took some pics anyway then headed to the right one spotting it by chance when I saw an attractive white building through an archway and thought I’d take a pic. Parked the bikes up across from McDonalds and went to do the tourist thing and take some pics. The next thing on the agenda was to have a fresh pizza in Pisa so we hunted down a restaurant, happened to be just round the corner, and had pizza in Pisa, we nearly missed the restaurant as SIme was leading and he is almost as blind as a bat sometimes, later wish we had found another when the bill came in at 38 Euro for 2 pizza’s and 4 drinks! From Pisa we headed further north to Massa were we planned to camp again, arred in the dark which was now becoming quite common and set up the tents at about 23:00. Had a JD and washed some clothes before bed. 268 miles today.

 

[Chrizm]

Coliseum


Lake at side of Bracciano campsite


Castle on the hill at Bracciano


The wrong tower!


Leaning tower of Pisa




Mont Blanc


Going through the tunnel

 

[Marathon Biker]

"Blind as a bat"!!! Cheeky git! Good write up so far though matey

I couldn't be arsed to read it all, but did you mention us getting in at 2:30Am from the Romanian underground night club & the solution to the extreme temperature in Greece and Italy?

 

[Chrizm]

"Blind as a bat"!!! Cheeky git! Good write up so far though matey

I couldn't be arsed to read it all, but did you mention us getting in at 2:30Am from the Romanian underground night club & the solution to the extreme temperature in Greece and Italy?

I mentioned the solution to heat but think I forgot what time we got back from nightclub

 

[Chrizm]

Day 13 – 13th July
Woke about 8:00 and got ready then asked if they did coffee which they didn’t, crap campsite, apparently because we were the only people on the campsite they didn’t bother, or the machine was broken was his excuse. Applied some cream to mosy bites we had received night before then set off to find a bank to get some Euro’s to pay the campsite, about 45 mins later I returned and we paid campsite. Headed back to cash machine which this time didn’t take as long as now I knew were it was then Lidl to get some supplies, bought water, beer, sandwiches, crisps etc and all it came to was 12 Euro, bargain. Back off in the blistering heat towards Mont Blanc on the A12 toll road, bloody toll roads! It wasn’t long before we could see the mountains and the black skies all around them, yep it was a thunder storm ahead, stopped and put on waterproof liners then continued into the mountains being blown all over by the wind then soaked in the torrential rain, eventually stopping at the services to let it blow past. Headed back up to Mont Blanc and then realised we had made a mistake earlier putting on thin T-shirts as it was bloody freezing. Arrived at entrance to Mont Blanc and stopped for coffee and pictures, 2 coffees only 2 Euro for both....shock! Headed into the tunnel and as soon as you entered it everything steamed up, mirrors, visor, screen... good job I don’t need glasses! It was real warm in the tunnel which was nice coz I was getting cold, left the tunnel and the plan was to miss toll roads and go down the mountain roads but it was throwing it down on the French side so we jumped onto another toll road until it got that bad and dangerous we pulled over at a Relax hotel on the D1084 at Maillat at about 23:00, luckily we caught her just as she was about to lock up for the night. The room was nice, had 2 beds and a micr sized bathroom. Made ourselves a sandwich from the stuff we bought earlier and had a beer before bed. 409 miles today.

Day 14-14th July
Up at 9:00 and down for our 6 Euro each breakfast that consisted of croissants, sugar puffs, pain de chocolate & cherry cake, what was left we packed for lunch as we appeared to be the only guests! Loaded up bikes and on road for 11:30 heading towards Saint Etienne Du Vois via a lovely twisty road up into the hills. Sun was shining & it was a great road, arrived, took some pics then back on to Luxemburg were we planned to camp that night avoiding any toll roads and following the N57 through picturesque villages and the 1st one we arrived at had a procession going through so we pulled over to take a couple of pics before carrying on. Road was sweet going through mountain passes and brilliant twisties when I felt the rear wheel feel a bit loose so pulled over thinking it was the tyre but Sime informed me it was grit on the road which hadn’t been sign posted, we took it steady for a bit and good job we did as there was a great pile of it on a nasty left hander that if we hadn’t been watching for it would have had you off!
The roads were absolutely empty with all the shops closed, it was just like a scene from 28 days later and we later found out it was a national holiday.
Just as we arrived at Luxemburg the heavens opened so we pulled over at a service station to let it pass and fill up with cheap fuel. Got on phone to ask wife to find somewhere local to buy cheap cigs but after trying to explain to her how to google cheap cigs in Luxemburg we gave up and headed off to campsite. Arrived at where the campsite should have been but couldn’t find it then a passer by in a landrover said he would take us to another one at Steinfort, so we followed, thanked him for the guide and booked in for the night. Set up tents & cooked up loads of food as it was almost our last night then had a beer. 375 miles today

 

[Chrizm]

Micro Bathroom


Some of the Mosy bites


Saint Etienne Du Vois


Band


Very empty fuel station


Route to Luxemburg


Not impressed!


Steinfort campsite

 

[Chrizm]

Day 15 – 15th July
Plan was up early and into Luxemburg to pick up some cigs before setting off towards Calais. The cigs proved harder than thought as we had been given wrong address that took us to far side of Luxemburg then to the right street name but a road then we finally found the place I was looking for some time later! Finally arrived at Route 66 which was actually in the next village/town to were we had stayed the night before, doh! Bought the cigs etc and Sime got a couple of ltrs of JD, back onto the E25 towards Bruxelles. Stopped after 100 miles for a break and I had the wise idea of avoiding motorways, we had to pull off anyway coz I needed fuel and then we spent the next 2 hours covering just 45 miles so back on the E25 as we had promised ourselves that we would set camp early tonight to relax and enjoy our last night. First call was to pull into a town on route to campsite to get wife something, town happened to be Armentieres and had a spectacular church in the middle of the town. Had a walk round shops then decided to buy gift at duty free on way home after almost being ripped off by 80Euro for a night slip!, bought some bread for dinner and off to campsite which was YPRA at Kemmel, paid our 20Euro then went to find a spot for the tents, it was still daylight aswell, SHOCK! The spot we picked happened to be opposite some guys from Leicestershire and we got chatting telling them were we had been and they very kindly gave us a beer. Sime actually got his Wisperlite stove out and attempted to make a bottle fit the fuel pump that he had bought separately, unfortunately it didn’t fit so he transferred fuel to another bottle and tried again! Ate the last of our “look what we found” meals, had 2 coz thats what we had left, then popped to bar for a beer before bed. 277 miles today.

Day 16 – 16th July
Up for 7:30/8:00 and packed up for 9:00, said farewell to guys from Leicester and back on road for 9:15, headed up the N304 going through villages towards Dunkerque before jumping on another motorway to try and get an earlier crossing. Arrived at port & chose the 11:06 crossing then popped into duty free to get some gifts, plan was also to have something to eat here but due to delays in passport control we had no time and had to shoot to shuttle, on way to shuttle a campavan was blocking the road with no one to be seen so we crossed the central reservation and got to shuttle just in time for departure. Parked bikes then made a sandwich with the bread bought previous day and ham bought in Italy. Arrived Folkestone & to our surprise it was raining, well actually it was pi**ing it down! Drove round M25 then up M11 and across A14 before we stopped at the Extra service stop and it actually stopped raining but by now we were soaked to the skin. Had a coffee from McDonalds then back on road homeward bound. We carried on till Ollerton then pulled over to say farewell and go our separate ways, how weird did it actually feel riding away by myself without my Sime either in front or behind me, actually felt a little sad that the adventure was over. Arrived home shortly after and unpacked luggage and wet clothing then made a cuppa tea and waited for wife to get home! 306 miles today

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed it, had some real hard & long days but some more pleasant ones aswell, got some great memories and pics. Cant wait till next one!

 

[Chrizm]

Armentieres



YPRA Campsite


Guys from Leicestershire



Sandwich goes down well on Chunnel


Quick stop for coffee in England