Stops me squealing while Mrs Bravo is pegging me.... Pulp Fiction has a lot to answer for.This is only 50% true. Yes, I carry a ball gag, but it actually belongs to @Bravo. He left it on the bedside table last time he stayed over.
Hatcho's Solo deTour of Europe
- Thread starter Hatcho
- Start date
joch washing his bike or you eating more food?I can send you some login details to see more images you don't want
There are many categories to avail of!joch washing his bike or you eating more food?
Zed's dead baby, Zed's dead.
Day 10 - Mt. Jafferau
Today was going to be a bit more challenging. Assieta was simply a gravel version of a road whereas Jafferau was much more technical. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried as I set off from the campsite. First stop was Bardonecchia to tank up. Got chatting to two Italian lads at the pumps and seeing them dressed in proper enduro kit and on bikes kitted with knobbly tyres increased my anxiety levels a touch. Ahead of us in the queue were two lads easily in their 70s with ancient Suzukis. Little did I kmow I'd bump into the lot of them later in the day.
On way up into the mountains I pulled over at a particularly scenic spot to take some pics. The view was amazing.
Got chatting to a chap who gave me some tips on roads to take and places to see. He was so ludicrously good looking I was struggling to listen. Now men aren't my thing, but this chap was a stunning looking, better groomed version of Neegan from the Walking Dead. Alas his wife soon arrived in their car and whisked him away from me forever
. Pauline will be raging she missed out on this encounter! No pictures were taken, he's for me and me alone! .
Today was going to be a bit more challenging. Assieta was simply a gravel version of a road whereas Jafferau was much more technical. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried as I set off from the campsite. First stop was Bardonecchia to tank up. Got chatting to two Italian lads at the pumps and seeing them dressed in proper enduro kit and on bikes kitted with knobbly tyres increased my anxiety levels a touch. Ahead of us in the queue were two lads easily in their 70s with ancient Suzukis. Little did I kmow I'd bump into the lot of them later in the day.
On way up into the mountains I pulled over at a particularly scenic spot to take some pics. The view was amazing.
Got chatting to a chap who gave me some tips on roads to take and places to see. He was so ludicrously good looking I was struggling to listen. Now men aren't my thing, but this chap was a stunning looking, better groomed version of Neegan from the Walking Dead. Alas his wife soon arrived in their car and whisked him away from me forever
. Pauline will be raging she missed out on this encounter! No pictures were taken, he's for me and me alone! .
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Later on I bumped into the two young lads from the petrol station at Forte Föens. We chatted for a bit and then they headed off to tackle Colle del Sommeiller, whilst I continued on towards Jafferau after taking some pics on top of the fort.
The remainder of the trail was doable and fun and eventually I reached the parking area near the top. This is where things got tricky...
The last 300m or so to the very top of the mountain are steep, knarly and narrow. I walked it to take a look and there's two sections where you just have to commit. Another complication is that you can't tell if someone is coming down, and both tricky bits are wide enough for just one bike. To keep things juicy there's a nice 50ft drop off on one side. Mmnnn...what to do?
The remainder of the trail was doable and fun and eventually I reached the parking area near the top. This is where things got tricky...
The last 300m or so to the very top of the mountain are steep, knarly and narrow. I walked it to take a look and there's two sections where you just have to commit. Another complication is that you can't tell if someone is coming down, and both tricky bits are wide enough for just one bike. To keep things juicy there's a nice 50ft drop off on one side. Mmnnn...what to do?
I walked back down to my bike and spent at least 20 mins weighing up the pros and cons of giving it a go. If things went well, I'd be chuffed, if they didn't, I might be looking at a damaged bike in the middle of nowhere.
My last thought before making a decision was knowing how I'd feel if I went home without at least trying. There's nothing worse in life than a 'what if'. So fuck it, let's go!
It was tricky and probably not the prettiest bit of biking I've ever done but I got to the top!
. Mine was the only GS12 there and I was the only bike on road tyres! And I'd done it! I was fuckin elated! Some of the really boys on full on enduro bikes were impressed with my endeavours and I was grinning from ear to ear.
If I'd gone straight home to Ireland right then I would have been happy out. I even rang the missus from the top cause I had to tell someone about it!
With all my biking done as I write this, getting up that section of trail is still the highlight of my whole trip.
Here's what it looks like from above...
It's like being on top of the world, which is exactly how I felt.
My last thought before making a decision was knowing how I'd feel if I went home without at least trying. There's nothing worse in life than a 'what if'. So fuck it, let's go!
It was tricky and probably not the prettiest bit of biking I've ever done but I got to the top!
. Mine was the only GS12 there and I was the only bike on road tyres! And I'd done it! I was fuckin elated! Some of the really boys on full on enduro bikes were impressed with my endeavours and I was grinning from ear to ear.If I'd gone straight home to Ireland right then I would have been happy out. I even rang the missus from the top cause I had to tell someone about it!
With all my biking done as I write this, getting up that section of trail is still the highlight of my whole trip.Here's what it looks like from above...
It's like being on top of the world, which is exactly how I felt.
I spent ages up there taking pics and flying the drone. And copped meself a bit of a lobster head in the process. Here's the view from up there:
Here you can see the route taken to the top - surface is pretty rough and plenty of hairpins to navigate...
These are the cannon placements where the guns protecting the valley below were mounted.
Quite a bit of the fort still remains, but it's all in ruin now.
Here you can see the route taken to the top - surface is pretty rough and plenty of hairpins to navigate...
These are the cannon placements where the guns protecting the valley below were mounted.
Quite a bit of the fort still remains, but it's all in ruin now.
yeah
but no
but no
Stunning pictures.....
Well done that man, what a fantastic trip. Absolute top marks for gritting your teeth and risking things a bit to tackle the hard bit at the top. That is living the dream
Fuck me, that bike would never have gone to half of these places if it was still mine. I have no head for heights and little off road riding ability. Roads are fine, even at altitude. Bridges are problematic and trails are a no go area. Thanks, Sean for doing what you're doing with the report and photos. It looks like a brilliant trip.
It's a good thing that you haven't got a pillion though, with all those chips and beer.
It's a good thing that you haven't got a pillion though, with all those chips and beer.
Well done Sean. Great write up and photos.
However I've had a discussion with Younger and next weekend on our way to Leenane we have agreed you can talk about your trip twice a day for 10 minutes with 10 hrs between each report
However I've had a discussion with Younger and next weekend on our way to Leenane we have agreed you can talk about your trip twice a day for 10 minutes with 10 hrs between each report
To be honest Derek, with all those chips and beer the bike was starting to think there was a pillion! Or else, I was expecting!Fuck me, that bike would never have gone to half of these places if it was still mine. I have no head for heights and little off road riding ability. Roads are fine, even at altitude. Bridges are problematic and trails are a no go area. Thanks, Sean for doing what you're doing with the report and photos. It looks like a brilliant trip.
It's a good thing that you haven't got a pillion though, with all those chips and beer.
.
Just
Just mute your Cardo and I'll continue to chat away to meself. Everyone's a winner!Well done Sean. Great write up and photos.
However I've had a discussion with Younger and next weekend on our way to Leenane we have agreed you can talk about your trip twice a day for 10 minutes with 10 hrs between each report
derek 100%
but bridges = ya wimp ya
but bridges = ya wimp ya
So here's a few clips of the final tecchy section of Mt Jafferau. Doesn't do it justice really but believe me, it was quite the experience!
Even got a dronie shot in as well...
Spent a couple of hours at the top chatting to folks - have to say the offroad biking fraternity are a seriously sound bunch. Two lads from Germany, Jan and Yonas, shared my amazement when a fella rode his KTM to the top with his wife on the back! Serious skills. Well, what goes up must come down, finally it was time to get back on the trail.
Along the way we passed through a tiny wartime tunnel, the Galleria de Saraceni. As I had the LoneRider lights fitted I went in first. It's narrow so it's best to make sure there's nowt coming the other way before you head in...
With the two lads back in front of me and I followed them all the way the trail till we hit tarmac again.
We agreed to meet up for dinner later on at Camping Bosco and headed off in opposite directions - me back home for a much needed shower, and the lads off to get juice for their bikes.
Even got a dronie shot in as well...
Spent a couple of hours at the top chatting to folks - have to say the offroad biking fraternity are a seriously sound bunch. Two lads from Germany, Jan and Yonas, shared my amazement when a fella rode his KTM to the top with his wife on the back! Serious skills. Well, what goes up must come down, finally it was time to get back on the trail.
Along the way we passed through a tiny wartime tunnel, the Galleria de Saraceni. As I had the LoneRider lights fitted I went in first.
It's narrow so it's best to make sure there's nowt coming the other way before you head in... With the two lads back in front of me and I followed them all the way the trail till we hit tarmac again.
We agreed to meet up for dinner later on at Camping Bosco and headed off in opposite directions - me back home for a much needed shower, and the lads off to get juice for their bikes.
Impressively scary!!
After getting back to Camping Bosco I cleaned up and meandered down to the restaurant to reserve a table (it's a popular spot to eat). The lads were a bit delayed as Jan had put diesel into his bike by mistake. A mate with a bike trailer got the bike to the campsite so they could tackle the problem in the morning. For now it was beer and nom nom time...
The next morning I washed my clothes and did some other bits while the lads drained the tank on the bike. With some new fuel in and some Easy Start she was up and running again. Happy days. Yonas has to call into the police station as he'd lost his numberplate on the trail. Not really an issue in relaxed Italy, but riding through Switzerland and Germany he'd be pulled over in an instant.
So it was around lunchtime when we tackled my third trail, the Colle del Sommeiller. It's the highest unpaved road in Europe and very popular with offroaders. I had thought this would be too tough to tackle, but several folks had told me that Jafferau was harder. Plus with us being a group of three, there was strength in numbers. Happy days.
Shortly into the trail and Jan pulled over. The mounting for his top box had broken and it was now held together by just one bolt
.
The trail was pretty bumpy with plenty of troughs so continuing on wasn't an option. Jan managed to flag down a chap to bring the box back to the campsite in his 4x4. And so we continued on...
As we progressed along the trail the scenery and surroundings started to look lunar. I was loving this!
So it was around lunchtime when we tackled my third trail, the Colle del Sommeiller. It's the highest unpaved road in Europe and very popular with offroaders. I had thought this would be too tough to tackle, but several folks had told me that Jafferau was harder. Plus with us being a group of three, there was strength in numbers. Happy days.
Shortly into the trail and Jan pulled over. The mounting for his top box had broken and it was now held together by just one bolt
. The trail was pretty bumpy with plenty of troughs so continuing on wasn't an option. Jan managed to flag down a chap to bring the box back to the campsite in his 4x4. And so we continued on...
As we progressed along the trail the scenery and surroundings started to look lunar. I was loving this!
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