|
Lils European Tour 2008
For anyone wanting to borrow a little biking.
Day 1.Got an absolute soaking as we headed for the ferry out of Newcastle. In the cabin I poured the water out of my boots. I knew my boots were not waterprooof but knew that I had to make a compromise as they were better for the hot countries.
Day 2. Autoban and camped on the Rhine gorge.
Day 3. Through the black forest and the camped on lake Constance. The evening run was the best as every other beggers were off the road.
Day 4. Travelled along the Duetscher Alpine strasser. Very Steve McQueen country. Passed through a nice little village whose name rhymes with Yank. Camped in Austria near the Fern pass.
Day 5. Southern Tyrol into Italy. Very beautiful, I would go back. We were going to the Stelvio pass but it was shut due to rock falls. Went until the point they turned us back but missed all the switchbacks that are in the photos. Headed down and back up the Umbrial pass instead. Actually I reckon this is more difficult as it is part gravel and narrow. Unfortunately in the evening late at night, looking for a hotel I dropped my bike at zero mph on a suburban street, doing a u-turn I didn't realise the gradient, didn't use enough throttle and then when I put my foot down the ground wasn't there. Broke the right hand mirror and the clutch lever. Minor scratches to unimportant places. In fact the Trax luggugae took most of the abuse and took it very well indded. That stuff is tough.
Day 6. Yammah 1970 ugly square mirror fitted, looks like a wide screen tv on an ipod but is immensely pratical for rear vision. Clutch lever splinted with a metal bar. Then continued into Italy, down the autostrada to Servinio. Well, yes Italian motorway driving, but I can reckomned the multiple switchbacks outside of Genova. Mad motorway switchbacks driven at speed. They are all so practiced at it that it made me look like a granny.
Day 7. Corsica into the North and drove down to Propriano. Corsican roads are vey demanding. No sooner is one switchback accomplised than you are running into the next.
Day 8. Beach and bike fettle. A day lying on a beach it actually quite dangerous. My husband developed an ear infection and went deaf. At least that what he tells me.
Day 9. Hospital to sort out the ear trouble and Bonifacio our furtherest point south,
Day 10. Leg it up to Calvi for ferry to Niec. We started eraly but needed all the time we had. Consequently had to hoke it from Corte to Calvi. At the end maddeningly had to drive at 25mph behind the Gendamerie. Made it to the boat but only just. Had the gangplank pulled up as we parked the bikes on the boat. The crossing was so rough we feared for the bikes whislt everyone else puked up every where.
Day 11. Headed up the route Napoleon. Boy is there a tight turn in Grass onto this route. I reckon its the steepest tightest turn I have made. Along the Cannyon du Verdon. All good biking. However by eveing my husbands Daytona refused to start. Had loads of help from our dealer Phillip McCallen down the phone to find the fault but to no avail. Thanks Phillip & Nick. We eventually called breakdown recovery. Spent the night in a hotel in Moustiens.
Day 12. Very frustrating day hanging around waiting for bike to be shipped to nearest bike dealership. The problem here was the garage in Moustiens. The dearler was not intrested in moving the vehicle. Consequently we waited 6 hours for him to do what he should have done in the first place. He was also very abusive and took minimal care of the bike. On transporting the vehicle he hoked it like a mad man with a point to prove through all sorts of coutry roads. Even though he was driving a van and traller it was extreamely difficult for the Tiger to keep up. We also watched the left hand tie dows sag more and more as the journey progressed. Thankfully the Daytona survived. Consequently, I recommed that anyone travelling in this area pasees his garage by, dosn't buy any petrol and spits as they pass. The Suzuki dealership in Chateau Arnoux on the other hand had the bike going in an hour and a half. With a new battery fitted she was fine. We can only presume that with fans constantly running the old battery took a blinder and failed.
Day 13. With a day of the holiday squandered we had to cover ground north so that we could make the ferry. Headed into Italy and back up the autostradas. Crossed into Switzerland over the Simplon pass. The evening saw us crossing the Grimmsel pass in the fog and rain. This was so bad that at times I couldn't see the Daytona in front of me and I couldn't use the visa on my helmet. There was a car behind us. It could have over taken at many points but either we had better road visibility and they preferred to follow us or they felt an obligation to see us safe. Just like the Burneese dogs of the area, herding instinct. That night saw us in the Hotel Hof in Interkerken. Very bike friendly and to be recommeded.
Day 14. Took an age to get into Germany not using the Swiss motroways and then up the Autobans to Koblenz. Good night life in the old town and very beautiful. Found this funny package in the hotel promising a comfortable and sensitive fit. Jumped to the conclusion that it was a profolatic handed out with the soap and shampoo. Out of curiosity opened the package, and in a way it was but only for the ears.
Day 15. Across the bridge at Arnhem, gave me goosebumps as I contemplated the view down the bridge in days gone by. Through Dutch motorways swimming in water and poor visibility due to heavy rain. Back to the boat.
Day 16. Boat was in late into the UK and the A69 was shut due to an accident. Consequently once more legged it for the ferry and the crossing to Northern Ireland. I had fuellled in Newcastle and didn't have time to fuel again before the boat. Got onto the boat with display showing 6 miles of fuel left. The first garage in NI was shut, the fuel guage eventually went down to 2 miles of fuel left before I could do anything about it. Finally made it home, woudering what had happed and what to do with myself.
We have already opened maps for next year and are looking forward to the Triumph barbacue at Cushendun this Saturday.
Lil
|
Linear Mode
