Hatcho's Solo deTour of Europe
- Thread starter Hatcho
- Start date
I've a bit to go yet 
. Right now I've just polished off my last dinner of the trip. A most spectacular selection of sushi in a really good Asian restaurant. Best meal of the whole two weeks!
. Right now I've just polished off my last dinner of the trip. A most spectacular selection of sushi in a really good Asian restaurant. Best meal of the whole two weeks!
Michelle wants to know if you're a friend of Dorothy..... whatever that means.I've a bit to go yet
View attachment 440147
Will ya tell her that I know Dorothy real, real well 
Only Dorothy I know wore ruby slippers and was fucked out of Kansas as a kid!
On the way up Colle del Sommeiller we stopped off for some puddle hopping...
I developed a phobia of going over big bridges on a motorbike a few years ago. It's happened twice so far, once while crossing Dartford Bridge and the other time on the Erskine Bridge. Both resulted in a panic attack that left me barely able to ride. I felt as if I couldn't control my throttle hand as the shakes were so bad. On the second occasion the feeling lasted for 2 whole days, which made riding back to Dorset no fun at all.derek 100%
but bridges = ya wimp ya
I have crossed both bridges several times before without problems and I'm fine in the car. I have even ridden across the Millau Viaduct and that's gert big. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy didn't help. Exposure therapy is tricky as I don't live anywhere near either bridge and even Avon Bridge is a 4 hour round trip. All involve being on a motorway, so you can't just approach the bridge and stop for a look or go back after a few yards on the bridge. They are all or nothing. Panic attacks on motorways are not recommended.
So finally, we arrived at the top. Only a few other people around and already it was kinda chilly at 3000+m. The two lads were planning on staying in the cabin so my return journey to camp would be a solo one. Flew the drone for a while now took some pics and then decided it was time to roll....
Even in the short time we were here the peaks started to cast long shadows as the sun went down.
I set off and soon passed the last 4x4 that had recently left. As the lads explained to me, best to have a vehicle behind you on the trail so if something goes amiss, they will come across you in short order. Happily, nothing like that was required. But as Yonas had said, it takes just one stone...
I stopped multiple times to take pics as I descended the Colle. As the evening closed the light became more and more stunning. What a place! Being solo on the trails again gave it that extra sense of adventure too. The feeling of complete contentment was awesome. Before leaving home I had presumed that this particular trail was outside of my skillset, and here I was descending from the top on my own. Box. Ticked. Smile. Plastered.
If you come this way, ride this trail. You are as high as any vehicle gets in Europe. That's quite awesome, especially for me as a full on rookie. Send me home right now and I'm good. But we have so much more to enjoy.... 
Even in the short time we were here the peaks started to cast long shadows as the sun went down.
I set off and soon passed the last 4x4 that had recently left. As the lads explained to me, best to have a vehicle behind you on the trail so if something goes amiss, they will come across you in short order. Happily, nothing like that was required. But as Yonas had said, it takes just one stone...
I stopped multiple times to take pics as I descended the Colle. As the evening closed the light became more and more stunning. What a place! Being solo on the trails again gave it that extra sense of adventure too. The feeling of complete contentment was awesome. Before leaving home I had presumed that this particular trail was outside of my skillset, and here I was descending from the top on my own. Box. Ticked. Smile. Plastered.
If you come this way, ride this trail. You are as high as any vehicle gets in Europe. That's quite awesome, especially for me as a full on rookie. Send me home right now and I'm good.
But we have so much more to enjoy....
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I was a bit taken a back by the big bridge at Le Harve......feckin massively steep. A
Were you typing this as you went over, have we lost you? Ground control to Younger - are you out there?
How much have you had to drinkWere you typing this as you went over, have we lost you? Ground control to Younger - are you out there?
A pint and a half he said.......he's lockedHow much have you had to drink
Did you do tons of research into what routes/roads you were going to take before you set off on this epic adventure was is it a case of see what you felt like when you got there/more improvised?
Almost enough. Almost.How much have you had to drink
Baloobas.A pint and a half he said.......he's locked
It wa
It was a mix of both. Routes were generally decided the night before. That said, I had stalked Google maps a fair bit to build a collection of things to see. The three off roading sections I did were all on the bucket list and facilitated by the five nighter that I booked before I left home. Otherwise, the only prebooked accommodation were my first and last nights.
It was a mix of both. Routes were generally decided the night before. That said, I had stalked Google maps a fair bit to build a collection of things to see. The three off roading sections I did were all on the bucket list and facilitated by the five nighter that I booked before I left home. Otherwise, the only prebooked accommodation were my first and last nights.
So back to Camping Bosco I went. Tonight I ate in - pasta with pesto sauce was the order of the day...kinda nice after days of restaurant food. Washed down with beer and tae of course - there are some things which must be done.
The oul trousers and boots were starting to look a bit dusty...
Nothing to mention the bike!
Settler into my bed thoroughly contented with the last few days trail riding. Savage!
The oul trousers and boots were starting to look a bit dusty...
Nothing to mention the bike!
Settler into my bed thoroughly contented with the last few days trail riding. Savage!
thats nuts - does it happen on foot? seen that happen to people but not when moving
panic attacks not funny no matter what causes them - know all about those
The next morning Yonas had to return to the police station to finalise the paperwork around his lost numberplate. I decided to head for France and the D219, famous for being a balcony road. It was a bit of a spin to get there, but as always around here the journey was as good as the destination.
Along the way I spotted @dub 24's new car:
And also the French version of the Kelpies:
Along the way I spotted @dub 24's new car:
And also the French version of the Kelpies:
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