Khulu's 2024 Tour
- Thread starter Khulu
- Start date
Day 15:
Thursday 11.07.2024
90 miles today.
Siena is tonight’s destination but, before I go there, I want to pay a visit to San Gimignano which is en route. I get there and par right outside an entrance gate and I only have 20 minutes before I get a ticket. I leave everything on the bike and go for a walk up the streets. It was heaving with tourists and it definitely a place that needs , at least, a half-day visit to do it justice. Onward to Siena and I find a hotel uphill about a mile from the city. Accommodation sorted, attire changed and I get the bus to the city to find its old anfiteatro. Again this a beautiful place to explore all the narrow back roads. I ate on a steep slope going down into the anfiteatro (which was gorgeous) as space is at a premium. Going round some back roads I come out a piazza and there is a massive cathedral in front of me – amazing, beautiful architecture.
Thursday 11.07.2024
90 miles today.
Siena is tonight’s destination but, before I go there, I want to pay a visit to San Gimignano which is en route. I get there and par right outside an entrance gate and I only have 20 minutes before I get a ticket. I leave everything on the bike and go for a walk up the streets. It was heaving with tourists and it definitely a place that needs , at least, a half-day visit to do it justice. Onward to Siena and I find a hotel uphill about a mile from the city. Accommodation sorted, attire changed and I get the bus to the city to find its old anfiteatro. Again this a beautiful place to explore all the narrow back roads. I ate on a steep slope going down into the anfiteatro (which was gorgeous) as space is at a premium. Going round some back roads I come out a piazza and there is a massive cathedral in front of me – amazing, beautiful architecture.
More photos:
Day 16:
Friday 12.07.2024
389 miles today.
Today I crossed from the Italian west coast to the Adriatic side and found somewhere to stay at Barletta (hotel dei cavalieri). It’s a coastal place but there’s not a lot here and some of the street side water supply pipework leaves a bit to be desired! [I’ve no photos of lunch or dinner here so I’m guessing it was beer and chips for lunch and beer and crisps for dinner!]
Friday 12.07.2024
389 miles today.
Today I crossed from the Italian west coast to the Adriatic side and found somewhere to stay at Barletta (hotel dei cavalieri). It’s a coastal place but there’s not a lot here and some of the street side water supply pipework leaves a bit to be desired! [I’ve no photos of lunch or dinner here so I’m guessing it was beer and chips for lunch and beer and crisps for dinner!]
Day 17:
Saturday 13.07.2024
385 miles today.
I decided I wanted ride down to the Italian “heel” so I did! Gallipoli was the town name and it is definitely an old fishing place – I just wanted to see it so, once I had, I headed north to a place I booked last night. Unfortunately, Booking.com doesn’t tell you when a hotel is up the top of a long winding hill (as I’ll discover again later!) My hotel for the night was in Monte Sant’ Angelo. Nice hotel “San Michelle” in a hilltop village. Very good views from up here I must say.
Saturday 13.07.2024
385 miles today.
I decided I wanted ride down to the Italian “heel” so I did! Gallipoli was the town name and it is definitely an old fishing place – I just wanted to see it so, once I had, I headed north to a place I booked last night. Unfortunately, Booking.com doesn’t tell you when a hotel is up the top of a long winding hill (as I’ll discover again later!) My hotel for the night was in Monte Sant’ Angelo. Nice hotel “San Michelle” in a hilltop village. Very good views from up here I must say.
Day 18:
Sunday 14.07.2024
292 miles today.
I decided I may as well have a night, or as it happened to be two, in Misano as I’ll be staying there next week so I booked a room in the same hotel I’d be in for the Ducati WDW 2024. As I’m heading north I had to go through an autostrasse toll and, at this point, I was starting to struggle with very high (c.38C) temperatures. I pulled and saw a petrol station across the road so I made a beeline for it. Just inside the door was the aircon fan and I stood under it for a bit and I was totally cooked (even though I ride in a t-shirt when it’s 25C and above). I grabbed a 1.5L of water from the fridge and was chatting to the man behind the counter and I guess he could see I was struggling as he only charged me 1.5 Euros for such a large bottle. I drank it all and felt so much better after it. Riding across central Spain last July in c. 40C I managed fine but no so well this summer. At this point I should say that I only got wet once and that was on the Sunday after Sachsenring because every other day was very hot and dry and all the ones to come will be the same.
Day 19:
Monday 15.07.2024
0 miles today as I decided to walk to the circuit, down to Cattolica and wherever else took my fancy! Luckily, just around the corner from my hotel was a hotel bar that had Weiss and dunkel bier – sorted!
Sunday 14.07.2024
292 miles today.
I decided I may as well have a night, or as it happened to be two, in Misano as I’ll be staying there next week so I booked a room in the same hotel I’d be in for the Ducati WDW 2024. As I’m heading north I had to go through an autostrasse toll and, at this point, I was starting to struggle with very high (c.38C) temperatures. I pulled and saw a petrol station across the road so I made a beeline for it. Just inside the door was the aircon fan and I stood under it for a bit and I was totally cooked (even though I ride in a t-shirt when it’s 25C and above). I grabbed a 1.5L of water from the fridge and was chatting to the man behind the counter and I guess he could see I was struggling as he only charged me 1.5 Euros for such a large bottle. I drank it all and felt so much better after it. Riding across central Spain last July in c. 40C I managed fine but no so well this summer. At this point I should say that I only got wet once and that was on the Sunday after Sachsenring because every other day was very hot and dry and all the ones to come will be the same.
Day 19:
Monday 15.07.2024
0 miles today as I decided to walk to the circuit, down to Cattolica and wherever else took my fancy! Luckily, just around the corner from my hotel was a hotel bar that had Weiss and dunkel bier – sorted!
Day 20:
Tuesday 16.07.2024
190 miles today.
A shorter day today as I’ve now booked a room in a hotel on the outskirts of Verona. I went there many years ago on the GSA but I only stopped outside the anfiteatro to take pictures. This time I’m going exploring! However, there are only two buses that pass the hotel door and they only run once an hour in either direction. This visit I went into the anfiteatro and it is an amazing place that’s still used for concerts of all kinds, etc.
Tuesday 16.07.2024
190 miles today.
A shorter day today as I’ve now booked a room in a hotel on the outskirts of Verona. I went there many years ago on the GSA but I only stopped outside the anfiteatro to take pictures. This time I’m going exploring! However, there are only two buses that pass the hotel door and they only run once an hour in either direction. This visit I went into the anfiteatro and it is an amazing place that’s still used for concerts of all kinds, etc.
More photos from Verona:
Day 21:
Wednesday 17.07.2024
302 miles today.
Heading to northern Austria today for my last overnight stop before I go to the WSBK Most, Czechia venue. I found Landshut, on the map, so booked a hotel near the town centre (which stated, on Booking.com, that they had onsite parking). I got there too early to check in and the receptionist woman was less than friendly or helpful. I parked across the road, next to the river, but you had a limited time period to stay there and free parking wasn’t until 7PM – no use to me. I spoke to a few people while trying to find secure parking and eventually I found an underground parking centre for 5 Euros overnight. That was fine with me but booking.com and especially the hotel need to start telling the truth when it comes to onsite parking that doesn’t exist. I wouldn’t have booked this place had I known the real situation! However, the town was colourful and lovely and local food and beer was much enjoyed!
Wednesday 17.07.2024
302 miles today.
Heading to northern Austria today for my last overnight stop before I go to the WSBK Most, Czechia venue. I found Landshut, on the map, so booked a hotel near the town centre (which stated, on Booking.com, that they had onsite parking). I got there too early to check in and the receptionist woman was less than friendly or helpful. I parked across the road, next to the river, but you had a limited time period to stay there and free parking wasn’t until 7PM – no use to me. I spoke to a few people while trying to find secure parking and eventually I found an underground parking centre for 5 Euros overnight. That was fine with me but booking.com and especially the hotel need to start telling the truth when it comes to onsite parking that doesn’t exist. I wouldn’t have booked this place had I known the real situation! However, the town was colourful and lovely and local food and beer was much enjoyed!
Day 22:
Thursday 18.07.2024
204 miles today.
Now I’m heading to Most, Czechia for the WSBK races. I got there and plugged the hotel name into the sat nav and up it came. It wasn’t too far from the circuit and within walking distance (that is why I booked it) but, unfortunately, booking.com didn’t say that it was at the top of a winding switchback road! I got there, parked up and, luckily, there was someone on reception to let me in past the security code entrance door (this was the only time I saw a member of staff other than at breakfast time!) Once upon a time this hotel had a swimming pool, tennis courts, BBQ room and area but, alas, none of it was there anymore. I had a suite in essence to myself and very nice it was too. The best, and nearest, place to eat was at the local outdoor swimming complex so I went there and very nice it was too.
Thursday 18.07.2024
204 miles today.
Now I’m heading to Most, Czechia for the WSBK races. I got there and plugged the hotel name into the sat nav and up it came. It wasn’t too far from the circuit and within walking distance (that is why I booked it) but, unfortunately, booking.com didn’t say that it was at the top of a winding switchback road! I got there, parked up and, luckily, there was someone on reception to let me in past the security code entrance door (this was the only time I saw a member of staff other than at breakfast time!) Once upon a time this hotel had a swimming pool, tennis courts, BBQ room and area but, alas, none of it was there anymore. I had a suite in essence to myself and very nice it was too. The best, and nearest, place to eat was at the local outdoor swimming complex so I went there and very nice it was too.
Day 23 - 25
Friday 19.07.2024 - Sunday 21.07.2024
At the races.
On the Saturday I was hanging about with an English couple who are serious Alvaro Bautista fans and hang about with the family / supporters everywhere they go. This meant I ended up having lunch with Alvaro’s family and sitting across from his mum!
Friday and Sunday I ate at the circuit and it was very good. Saturday was back to the swimming complex again for dinner.
Friday 19.07.2024 - Sunday 21.07.2024
At the races.
On the Saturday I was hanging about with an English couple who are serious Alvaro Bautista fans and hang about with the family / supporters everywhere they go. This meant I ended up having lunch with Alvaro’s family and sitting across from his mum!
Friday and Sunday I ate at the circuit and it was very good. Saturday was back to the swimming complex again for dinner.
Day 26:
Monday 22.07.2024
325 miles today.
Time to head south to the Ducati WDW 2024 event. I decided to stop in Schwaz, in Austria for the night. Not a very large place but very nice and on the same river as Kufstein is. However, sitting outside with my pizza dinner I was getting bitten alive by flies! Next day and I’m all bites. The hotel (which I had booked en route) had coded entry only which took me 3 attempts to master but I got in eventually.
Monday 22.07.2024
325 miles today.
Time to head south to the Ducati WDW 2024 event. I decided to stop in Schwaz, in Austria for the night. Not a very large place but very nice and on the same river as Kufstein is. However, sitting outside with my pizza dinner I was getting bitten alive by flies! Next day and I’m all bites. The hotel (which I had booked en route) had coded entry only which took me 3 attempts to master but I got in eventually.
Day 27:
Tuesday 23.07.2024
306 miles today.
Because I regularly attend the Mugello MotoGP I know Scarperia very well and managed to find a B & B near the town. Check-in was not before 14:00 and I arrived at 13:30 so I just hung about outside their gates. Come time I went in and walked about but no entry and the front door had a coded entry (again)! I waited another 15 minutes and phoned the number on the board outside and the guy told me the entry code and my room name – he could have done that by text before I had to hang about for ages! I parked my bike inside his gate on the lawn!
Tuesday 23.07.2024
306 miles today.
Because I regularly attend the Mugello MotoGP I know Scarperia very well and managed to find a B & B near the town. Check-in was not before 14:00 and I arrived at 13:30 so I just hung about outside their gates. Come time I went in and walked about but no entry and the front door had a coded entry (again)! I waited another 15 minutes and phoned the number on the board outside and the guy told me the entry code and my room name – he could have done that by text before I had to hang about for ages! I parked my bike inside his gate on the lawn!
Day 28:
Wednesday 24.07.2024
112 miles today.
Back to Misano again but at least I know exactly where to go and park.
Day 29 – 32:
Thursday 25.07.2024 – Sunday 28.07.2024
Only rode a few miles on the Friday and Saturday and walked to the circuit, and back, on all other occasions. A great event with fantastic organization but more toilets about the place would be an improvement. However, on the Saturday afternoon, a rock band (Ducati employees from Bologna factory) were playing in the main tent and a lot of us had a great time singing and dancing (at 32C) in the main tent. These guys were great and I’d pay to go and see them! We were all rather bit greasy spots after that session!
Wednesday 24.07.2024
112 miles today.
Back to Misano again but at least I know exactly where to go and park.
Day 29 – 32:
Thursday 25.07.2024 – Sunday 28.07.2024
Only rode a few miles on the Friday and Saturday and walked to the circuit, and back, on all other occasions. A great event with fantastic organization but more toilets about the place would be an improvement. However, on the Saturday afternoon, a rock band (Ducati employees from Bologna factory) were playing in the main tent and a lot of us had a great time singing and dancing (at 32C) in the main tent. These guys were great and I’d pay to go and see them! We were all rather bit greasy spots after that session!
More photos:
Day 33:
Monday 29.07.2024
439 miles today.
On the homeward direction now and managed to get to the Annecy, France area. Hotel was fine (all parking behind a coded gate) but a bit remote from the town. Walked for an hour an still didn’t find anywhere to eat (too remote from the tourist area) so dinner ended up as a big bag of crisps and a couple of beers.
Monday 29.07.2024
439 miles today.
On the homeward direction now and managed to get to the Annecy, France area. Hotel was fine (all parking behind a coded gate) but a bit remote from the town. Walked for an hour an still didn’t find anywhere to eat (too remote from the tourist area) so dinner ended up as a big bag of crisps and a couple of beers.
Day 34:
Tuesday 30.07.2024
539 mile today.
Rode through France today and got to Ashford, Kent. My usual hotel was full so I ended up staying at the Holiday Inn instead. It was fine and dinner was very good but I was feeling a bit off (too much excessive heat I believe).
Tuesday 30.07.2024
539 mile today.
Rode through France today and got to Ashford, Kent. My usual hotel was full so I ended up staying at the Holiday Inn instead. It was fine and dinner was very good but I was feeling a bit off (too much excessive heat I believe).
Day 35:
Wednesday 31.07.2024
459 mile today.
Headed to Edinburgh area to stay with my daughter for the night before my last leg to home.
Day 36:
Thursday 01.08.2024
184 mile today.
And I’m home and my 1260S Multistrada is back with her stable mates!
About 7420 miles all in and the bike went great returning c. 60mpg while cruising at c. 66mph in 6th gear (the Number of the Beast)!
There were a couple of drizzle periods in Austria but, other than that, the only time I got wet was after the final day of the Sachsenring MotoGP races. The problem I had was the total opposite of that in so much that a lot of my riding was above 30C and, even although I ride in a t-shirt in that temp. area, it was way too hot!
Wednesday 31.07.2024
459 mile today.
Headed to Edinburgh area to stay with my daughter for the night before my last leg to home.
Day 36:
Thursday 01.08.2024
184 mile today.
And I’m home and my 1260S Multistrada is back with her stable mates!
About 7420 miles all in and the bike went great returning c. 60mpg while cruising at c. 66mph in 6th gear (the Number of the Beast)!
There were a couple of drizzle periods in Austria but, other than that, the only time I got wet was after the final day of the Sachsenring MotoGP races. The problem I had was the total opposite of that in so much that a lot of my riding was above 30C and, even although I ride in a t-shirt in that temp. area, it was way too hot!
Thanks Iain....got to agree Siena and San Gimignano worthy of a visit of their own.
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
Thank you kind sir.
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