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Via Mediterra - The Journey around the Med on a HP2
- Thread starter kimangao
- Start date
kimangao
Registered user
Thank you everyone encouraging me to continue.
When I met Thierry for the first time I was impressed by his excellent hospitality and moreover his idea about riding. A true adventure rider. What I didn't knew that time is that I would meet him later on that journey again. Several times ... But first things first
Thierry introduced me to the region between the city of Montpellier and the Camargue, western Europes largest river delta.
The Camargue is home to some ancient places like the town of Aigues Mortes, meaning Dead Waters. Louis IX had built the town in 1240 as a port. In his days France didn't have a port in Southern France. But he needed one for several reasons. The most important might have been to embark the 7th Crusade. Also the 8th Crusade set off from Aigues Mortes.
Over the centuries river Rhône sedimented that much material that nowadays the ancient port is 8kms from the shore.
Thierry enjoyed a superb night sky right in front of the city walls ... while I was trying to take a proper picture ...
Next morning I went for a trip to another legendary spot: Les Saintes Maries de la Mer.
But I see Les Saintes Maries only from far. A little problem on the HP2 forced me to have a first in-depth analysis of the electrics. The starter engine didn't like to disconnect from the gearbox after starting the engine ...
When I met Thierry for the first time I was impressed by his excellent hospitality and moreover his idea about riding. A true adventure rider. What I didn't knew that time is that I would meet him later on that journey again. Several times ... But first things first
Thierry introduced me to the region between the city of Montpellier and the Camargue, western Europes largest river delta.
The Camargue is home to some ancient places like the town of Aigues Mortes, meaning Dead Waters. Louis IX had built the town in 1240 as a port. In his days France didn't have a port in Southern France. But he needed one for several reasons. The most important might have been to embark the 7th Crusade. Also the 8th Crusade set off from Aigues Mortes.
Over the centuries river Rhône sedimented that much material that nowadays the ancient port is 8kms from the shore.
Thierry enjoyed a superb night sky right in front of the city walls ... while I was trying to take a proper picture ...
Next morning I went for a trip to another legendary spot: Les Saintes Maries de la Mer.
But I see Les Saintes Maries only from far. A little problem on the HP2 forced me to have a first in-depth analysis of the electrics. The starter engine didn't like to disconnect from the gearbox after starting the engine ...
"A little problem on the HP2 forced me to have a first in-depth analysis of the electrics. The starter engine didn't like to disconnect from the gearbox after starting the engine ..."
How much better for your journey that you allow me in future to settle in your bike for you for say, three or four months?
Great stuff!
How much better for your journey that you allow me in future to settle in your bike for you for say, three or four months?
Great stuff!
Last edited:
kimangao
Registered user
kimangao
Registered user
That little incident near Les Saint Maries led me straight to the next workshop in Nîmes. The mechanic tells me to go downtown, enjoy a meal and come back in two hours ...
I do as I'm told and place myself near the roman amphitheater which is nowadays still in use for bullfights.
Bullfights? France? Is that not a spanish thing? Right. And Right!
Watching the scenery I several times have the impression that mind misleads me. Is this still France? Or is it already Northern Africa? Memories from other journeys come to my mind. Sometimes they mix up and leave me irritated. Not everything is as it appears to be. Even more, not everything I see is where I expect it to be. A journey into stereotypes ... I'll try to look more behind things from now on.
I did a little collection of pictures that I call "parallels" from the journey trying to point out what I mean.
Nice, France -- Nador, Morocco
Greenhouse canvas, El Ejido, Spain -- Stairs, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
Queribus, France -- Palmyra, Syria
Perpignan, France -- Cairo, Egypt
Library, Alexandria, Egypt -- Cinema, Valencia, Spain
Walls, Tangiers, Morocco -- Walls, Aleppo, Syria
Gibraltar -- Beirut, Lebanon
Ok, back to Nîmes, back to the workshop: The mechanic tells me that it was the starter button that had malfunction. 300 Euros disappear from my vacation fund...
I do as I'm told and place myself near the roman amphitheater which is nowadays still in use for bullfights.
Bullfights? France? Is that not a spanish thing? Right. And Right!
Watching the scenery I several times have the impression that mind misleads me. Is this still France? Or is it already Northern Africa? Memories from other journeys come to my mind. Sometimes they mix up and leave me irritated. Not everything is as it appears to be. Even more, not everything I see is where I expect it to be. A journey into stereotypes ... I'll try to look more behind things from now on.
I did a little collection of pictures that I call "parallels" from the journey trying to point out what I mean.
Nice, France -- Nador, Morocco
Greenhouse canvas, El Ejido, Spain -- Stairs, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
Queribus, France -- Palmyra, Syria
Perpignan, France -- Cairo, Egypt
Library, Alexandria, Egypt -- Cinema, Valencia, Spain
Walls, Tangiers, Morocco -- Walls, Aleppo, Syria
Gibraltar -- Beirut, Lebanon
Ok, back to Nîmes, back to the workshop: The mechanic tells me that it was the starter button that had malfunction. 300 Euros disappear from my vacation fund...
kimangao
Registered user
I'm leaving Thierry, Nîmes (the origin of Denim) and La Grande Motte behind (for now) because I have an appointment with two friends, Guido and Sandra, in nearby Spain.
I follow the coastline where possible. A lot of Étangs (lagoons) like the Étang de Prevost accompany me along the way. What appears to be flat buildings is the roman Cathedral of Maguelonne. Can you imagine that this place was once ruled by an Arabian Caliphat? Well, Arabian is not really correct, it was the Almohads, a Berber-Dynasty coming from nowadays Morocco. They controlled Maguelonne and vast coastal areas in Spain in the 8th century.
In one of the many little harbours I spot this sailboat. There are some ideas of the owner that I like. The barrel ...
... and the name of the boat (Jusqu'au Bout - Till the End)
Right after the border, the landscape get much more hilly. Guido, Sandra and me are heading to the northwesternmost spot of Spain, the Cap de Creus.
Rocky sections turn into pine-tree forest with their magnificent aroma.
Between the Cap and Rosas are some pretty tracks. Perfect for loaded beemers
Bringing you a bit closer to the action ...
We share two excellent days, then Guido and Sandra head further south. Me, I return to France, still awaiting the arrival of the white HP2.
For now, have a nice evening
Dirk
I follow the coastline where possible. A lot of Étangs (lagoons) like the Étang de Prevost accompany me along the way. What appears to be flat buildings is the roman Cathedral of Maguelonne. Can you imagine that this place was once ruled by an Arabian Caliphat? Well, Arabian is not really correct, it was the Almohads, a Berber-Dynasty coming from nowadays Morocco. They controlled Maguelonne and vast coastal areas in Spain in the 8th century.
In one of the many little harbours I spot this sailboat. There are some ideas of the owner that I like. The barrel ...
... and the name of the boat (Jusqu'au Bout - Till the End)
Right after the border, the landscape get much more hilly. Guido, Sandra and me are heading to the northwesternmost spot of Spain, the Cap de Creus.
Rocky sections turn into pine-tree forest with their magnificent aroma.
Between the Cap and Rosas are some pretty tracks. Perfect for loaded beemers
Bringing you a bit closer to the action ...
We share two excellent days, then Guido and Sandra head further south. Me, I return to France, still awaiting the arrival of the white HP2.
For now, have a nice evening
Dirk
modelman
Registered user
What an amazing adventure,amazing photographs!! Simply fantastic. Really enjoying this thread. Thank you
kimangao
Registered user
Good morning and thank you for following my little story. Here we proceed ...
I pitch my tent back on the French side just next to Queribus, an amazing place you'll see a few pics later.
For the first hours of this night I don't sleep at all. Queribus is in the Pays de Cathare, you remember, don't you?
Roughly 800 years ago the Cathares were a Christian community referring to the basic ideas of Christianity. Their movement became stronger over the years and they became dangerous the official church and especially the Pope. He, Pope Innocent III, then decided to fight the heretical Cathares and the only crusade against a Christian community and in Europe began.
The Cathares had built or reinforced fortresses nearly impregnable. One of this fortresses is Queribus, another one Peyrepetuse. This is where I've spent some time in the night.
Due to the long exposure time the stars appear as stripes.
In the morning I hiked to a little hill near my tent to see Queribus. In the background is Mt. Canigou (nearly 2800m). Queribus was really impregnable. Several month the Popes troops couldn't take Queribus. They famished it.
The town of Prades in front of Mt. Canigou. Doesn't seem to become too sunny today ...
Not far from Queribus is a little abbey, nestled in the hills near Narbonne. It was right here, where the troops leading Papal legate Arnaud Amaury was raised.
Before attacking Beziers a soldier asked Amaury how to distinguish between Cathar enimies and Christians. He allegedly replied: "Kill them all. For the Lord knows them that are His."
Beziers was sacked and the massacre was the biggest in the Middle Ages.
Nice place today, the Abbey.
Ok, today there was not much riding. And no riding pics. Instead I got to know Nada. She was having bike lessons and stayed in the same place as I did. With her instructor ... Honi soit qui mal y pense
I'm riding back along the coastline, this time east of Marseilles. (Still waiting for the white HP2 ...) On a hill above the sea two boys are showing interest in my camera gear. They play around with it and one of them askes me how he can a picture.
Well, not that easy for smokers.
Now this is Cassis. Cassis is the origin of the Route des Crêtes. Absolutely fantastic riding and scenery.
There we go ....
I've spent a lot of time on that road (back and forth, you know) and ...
... I've found a brilliant place for a nice picture. Unfortunately there's a small parking space and a n italian mobile home is parked there. Right in the way where I'd like to take the picture. I keep on telling me "they'll move, they'll move". But they don't
The sun has set, the f'n mobile home is still there. All over sudden, somebody opens the door. Obvisously the driver. He has a glass of red wine in his hands: "This is for you. And you must be hungry. Wouldn't you like to come in and join us for dinner?"
What shall I say? It was a great evening inside the mobile home.
I'll take the bloody picture tomorrow
Cheers
Dirk
I pitch my tent back on the French side just next to Queribus, an amazing place you'll see a few pics later.
For the first hours of this night I don't sleep at all. Queribus is in the Pays de Cathare, you remember, don't you?
Roughly 800 years ago the Cathares were a Christian community referring to the basic ideas of Christianity. Their movement became stronger over the years and they became dangerous the official church and especially the Pope. He, Pope Innocent III, then decided to fight the heretical Cathares and the only crusade against a Christian community and in Europe began.
The Cathares had built or reinforced fortresses nearly impregnable. One of this fortresses is Queribus, another one Peyrepetuse. This is where I've spent some time in the night.
Due to the long exposure time the stars appear as stripes.
In the morning I hiked to a little hill near my tent to see Queribus. In the background is Mt. Canigou (nearly 2800m). Queribus was really impregnable. Several month the Popes troops couldn't take Queribus. They famished it.
The town of Prades in front of Mt. Canigou. Doesn't seem to become too sunny today ...
Not far from Queribus is a little abbey, nestled in the hills near Narbonne. It was right here, where the troops leading Papal legate Arnaud Amaury was raised.
Before attacking Beziers a soldier asked Amaury how to distinguish between Cathar enimies and Christians. He allegedly replied: "Kill them all. For the Lord knows them that are His."
Beziers was sacked and the massacre was the biggest in the Middle Ages.
Nice place today, the Abbey.
Ok, today there was not much riding. And no riding pics. Instead I got to know Nada. She was having bike lessons and stayed in the same place as I did. With her instructor ... Honi soit qui mal y pense
I'm riding back along the coastline, this time east of Marseilles. (Still waiting for the white HP2 ...) On a hill above the sea two boys are showing interest in my camera gear. They play around with it and one of them askes me how he can a picture.
Well, not that easy for smokers.
Now this is Cassis. Cassis is the origin of the Route des Crêtes. Absolutely fantastic riding and scenery.
There we go ....
I've spent a lot of time on that road (back and forth, you know) and ...
... I've found a brilliant place for a nice picture. Unfortunately there's a small parking space and a n italian mobile home is parked there. Right in the way where I'd like to take the picture. I keep on telling me "they'll move, they'll move". But they don't
The sun has set, the f'n mobile home is still there. All over sudden, somebody opens the door. Obvisously the driver. He has a glass of red wine in his hands: "This is for you. And you must be hungry. Wouldn't you like to come in and join us for dinner?"
What shall I say? It was a great evening inside the mobile home.
I'll take the bloody picture tomorrow
Cheers
Dirk
mcinlb
Registered user
It's been said before, BUT, fantastic pictures........... us snappers just don't see these images..
Sloth
Registered user
Excellent Thread .... crack on fella 
- Joined
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- Messages
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- Reaction score
- 402
Some fantastic shots, I remember alot of these places from my trip
And that is the difference between a photographer and a snapper.
What you are witnessing here is the difference between a photographer and a very experienced photographer.
Travel journalism at its very best ..
Humbug
Registered user
Inspirational. I feel another trip coming on next year. 
What a fabulous journey, thanks for sharing it and such amazing photos. Inspiring both in getting out doing more touring and in working on my photography more to improve my own pictures.
