Looks like your having a crackin time on your jack jones Hatcho 
Hatcho's Solo deTour of Europe
- Thread starter Hatcho
- Start date
Day 3 (continued)
The San Bernadino Pass was class, if you're ever in the area, ride it. Wasn't heavily trafficked, plenty of bikes and performance cars but always enough space to enjoy the twisty stuff. And the views are awesome!
Some lovely cars up here too!
This is my route back down the far side.
The day was getting hotter every minute and I knew I still had a fair ways to travel. So back onto the bike and off I go. I love how a nice set of twisty roads makes you forget all those aches and pains and the tiredness that was draped over you earlier just vanishes. It's just you, the bike, and the road. Bend after bend...roll off, brake, tip in, constant throttle and use the acceleration coming out to stand the bike up again. Rinse and repeat. Then you need to wobble your jaw because your silly kid grin is starting to hurt! This is just wonderful.
I continue on the old route 13 (newer motorway has the same number), and it's just achingly good.
Eventually I reach Arbedo-Castione and head north on the old route 2. This is pretty tough going, now that I'm back in the low valley it's getting really hot. The bike is showing 31 degrees but it feels even hotter. That combined with plenty of 60 zones makes for slow progress. I'm thinking I should have paid my money so I could take the motorway that's alongside me. At one point I just have to stop for a break. I'm too warm and I'm not concentrating like I should be, time for a Kit Kat. So I park up in a bit of shade.
Some sugary drink, some water and a few M&Ms an I feel a tad better. Back onboard and we eventually reach Airolo at the base of the Gotthard pass. The queue to use the tunnel is miles long! Even if in a car I'd rather take the old road. Life's too short for queuing.
At one point you pass right under the motorway - had to stop for a quick photo!
I opted to stop in Airolo for a beverage and to cool off. Didn't want to be tackling more twisty stuff with a brain on just three cylinders. So, one to cool me down, and one to wake me up!
Did the job nicely too!
I opted to take the old Tremola road which is entirely paved with cobblestones. An amazing feat of engineering. A few lads on sports bikes were dealing with the cobbles pretty well. Must admit I loved em!
The San Bernadino Pass was class, if you're ever in the area, ride it. Wasn't heavily trafficked, plenty of bikes and performance cars but always enough space to enjoy the twisty stuff. And the views are awesome!
Some lovely cars up here too!
This is my route back down the far side.
The day was getting hotter every minute and I knew I still had a fair ways to travel. So back onto the bike and off I go. I love how a nice set of twisty roads makes you forget all those aches and pains and the tiredness that was draped over you earlier just vanishes. It's just you, the bike, and the road. Bend after bend...roll off, brake, tip in, constant throttle and use the acceleration coming out to stand the bike up again. Rinse and repeat. Then you need to wobble your jaw because your silly kid grin is starting to hurt! This is just wonderful.
I continue on the old route 13 (newer motorway has the same number), and it's just achingly good.
Eventually I reach Arbedo-Castione and head north on the old route 2. This is pretty tough going, now that I'm back in the low valley it's getting really hot. The bike is showing 31 degrees but it feels even hotter. That combined with plenty of 60 zones makes for slow progress. I'm thinking I should have paid my money so I could take the motorway that's alongside me. At one point I just have to stop for a break. I'm too warm and I'm not concentrating like I should be, time for a Kit Kat. So I park up in a bit of shade.
Some sugary drink, some water and a few M&Ms an I feel a tad better. Back onboard and we eventually reach Airolo at the base of the Gotthard pass. The queue to use the tunnel is miles long! Even if in a car I'd rather take the old road. Life's too short for queuing.
At one point you pass right under the motorway - had to stop for a quick photo!
I opted to stop in Airolo for a beverage and to cool off. Didn't want to be tackling more twisty stuff with a brain on just three cylinders. So, one to cool me down, and one to wake me up!
Did the job nicely too!
I opted to take the old Tremola road which is entirely paved with cobblestones. An amazing feat of engineering. A few lads on sports bikes were dealing with the cobbles pretty well. Must admit I loved em!
Last edited:
Happy to report that the gearshifting issue is gone. All day today, in the wet and dry, manual and quickshifter changes were all perfect. I'll continue to keep an eye on the actuator bar and it's various fittings just to be sure.
Here's some random clips which I have uploaded to YouTube... No fancy soundtrack, just wind noise and boxer engine now and then..
It's mad - just looking back through the thread and it was only six days ago that I set out from the hotel in Memmingen. Seems like an age ago in my mind! I suppose when you cram in as much as possible, the oul head memory fills up pretty quickly, and time seems to stretch out. Right it's sleep time for me. More biking to do tomorrow and I still have plenty of trip reporting to do as well. Here's a pic of Betsy's room for the night:
A little known fact about BMW key fobs - they can be repeatedly driven over and will still function faultlessly afterwards. 
More on this story later...now it's time to pack up and get moving.
More on this story later...now it's time to pack up and get moving.
Great write up about an equally great trip. Thanks for that. Just one complaint, really.
Betsy? WTF!
Betsy? WTF!
Great write up about an equally great trip. Thanks for that. Just one complaint, really.
Betsy? WTF!
Great read & pictures, enjoying this.
Don't mind them Sean....
I call mine "Sharon"
I call mine "Sharon"
I think naming bikes falls into the same category as affectionate names for the other half. I.e Never to be recited in public!! 
Am open to suggestions... Bring or on!Great write up about an equally great trip. Thanks for that. Just one complaint, really.
Betsy? WTF!
Jacinta...Am open to suggestions... Bring or on!
Shaniqua...
An old school friend had a mini called Betsy. Launched it through a hedge and a fair way into a field, amongst other mishaps.
Have you been watching too much Love Island again?
I had a girlfriend called Betsy.....she also got launched through a hedge.....a few times!!
Similar threads
