I am now in Dubrovnik, the very south of Croatia. Apart from my two long border crossings with Serbia, I have not had too take my helmet off when crossing borders!!
I have checked my passport photo and I was not wearing a helmet in that photo.
Do they know I am coming? Do I not look like a drug smuggling bikey? I can't work this one out.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Joined a club
I have been recieving toots, high beam flashes and various hand signals from the majority of motorbike riders. It did not take long to work this out - I have joined a biker cult.
So if I am tried I will lift my left fingers off the bar.
Generally, I will point one finger out horizontal with my left hand.
If its another GS rider or an awesome bike, I will give the horizontal peace symbol - super cool.
You can't rush the hand signal, got to see the bike coming, slowly and smoothly do the signal.
No club for scooter riders in London, everyone out for themselvers!
Its been great so far, I have met heaps of other bikers and everyone is so friendly and helpful.
So if I am tried I will lift my left fingers off the bar.
Generally, I will point one finger out horizontal with my left hand.
If its another GS rider or an awesome bike, I will give the horizontal peace symbol - super cool.
You can't rush the hand signal, got to see the bike coming, slowly and smoothly do the signal.
No club for scooter riders in London, everyone out for themselvers!
Its been great so far, I have met heaps of other bikers and everyone is so friendly and helpful.
Dodgey
My entry into Serbia was worrying and a little fun. One border guard could speak limited broken English and I not one word of Serbian. They write in Cyrillic letters which makes all words look the same.
The border guard wanted a green card for my bike, I showed the rego papers but he was not happy. He did know enough english to say a green card costs €100, I said forget Serbia, I am going back to Croatia! He went away to think about that it.
In the meantime I was entertaining a 100kg guard with my bike. He had a little 650cc BMW and he wanted pictures of him sitting on my bike (I had the keys in my pocket) - he could not stopping smiling!
The other border guard came back and said "we can deal of both us, €20 and you back cross border tomorrow night" His next shift was tomorrow night. We did a €20 handshake to agree.
Off I went... riding on to Belgrad . This country is run down, things work but parks, roads and buildings have had very little maintenance. Worst roads so far and I had to drive alot slower, no sign posts, limited detail on GPS, so I got lost many times.
I worked out the Green Card, its liability insurance - which I have. Forget the border guard, I stayed two nights and left via a border with Bosnia.
Next problem.... to cover their tracks they did not stamp my passport, so after 30 min explaining where I was in Serbia, how I got into Serbia, why I was here, why come to Serbia, etc. I crossed into Bosnia - happy to be in Bosnia.
The border guard wanted a green card for my bike, I showed the rego papers but he was not happy. He did know enough english to say a green card costs €100, I said forget Serbia, I am going back to Croatia! He went away to think about that it.
In the meantime I was entertaining a 100kg guard with my bike. He had a little 650cc BMW and he wanted pictures of him sitting on my bike (I had the keys in my pocket) - he could not stopping smiling!
The other border guard came back and said "we can deal of both us, €20 and you back cross border tomorrow night" His next shift was tomorrow night. We did a €20 handshake to agree.
Off I went... riding on to Belgrad . This country is run down, things work but parks, roads and buildings have had very little maintenance. Worst roads so far and I had to drive alot slower, no sign posts, limited detail on GPS, so I got lost many times.
I worked out the Green Card, its liability insurance - which I have. Forget the border guard, I stayed two nights and left via a border with Bosnia.
Next problem.... to cover their tracks they did not stamp my passport, so after 30 min explaining where I was in Serbia, how I got into Serbia, why I was here, why come to Serbia, etc. I crossed into Bosnia - happy to be in Bosnia.
Goodbye Italy (for now)
It was hard leaving Italy, I have been there about 20 times over the last 6, love the food and wine. I was camping at €15 per night and spending upto €60 on wine and food per night - I can't spend the rest of the trip doing this but you only live once.
Visited the Vantini family winery in Valpolicella, excellent value wine... the Ripasso (30% Amarone and 70% Valpolicella) was great. I discussed the wine with one of the family wine makers and we tried all their reds ;-)
Last Italian wine region was the North East, Fruili. Its know for its cheap white fruity wines sold in London pubs. I found a great little town called Cividale de Fruili, beautiful old town with great Vinotecca's. I tasted many wines (I find it so hard to stop after one) and some really could Sauvignon's.
Visited the Vantini family winery in Valpolicella, excellent value wine... the Ripasso (30% Amarone and 70% Valpolicella) was great. I discussed the wine with one of the family wine makers and we tried all their reds ;-)
Last Italian wine region was the North East, Fruili. Its know for its cheap white fruity wines sold in London pubs. I found a great little town called Cividale de Fruili, beautiful old town with great Vinotecca's. I tasted many wines (I find it so hard to stop after one) and some really could Sauvignon's.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
One for the boys
Germans are not known for their spontaneity but they are known for excellent engineering. My BMW is an awesome piece of kit and came into its own riding through the winding mountains from Monaco to Cuneo in Italy. With 85kg on the back she handles like a dream, weather on the highway or in the corners.
How to describe riding the BM?? its all about the feel .... fun riding is to enter the corners with a smooth line, hit the sweet spot, apply a little pressure on the throttle and then drive her hard out of the corner. The thrill is how hard to push her ..... too much throttle or not hitting the sweet spot on entry, you will end up being high sided, daised and on your own! You need to know your bike - what she is capable of, how hard to push her and when to push her.... the excitement is finding those boundaries.
Its been hard pushing her while she has a big bag end of 85kg on her, the front is a light and therefore not much to hold you on, so I can't wait to find a day to take all the gear off and see what she is capable of!!
How to describe riding the BM?? its all about the feel .... fun riding is to enter the corners with a smooth line, hit the sweet spot, apply a little pressure on the throttle and then drive her hard out of the corner. The thrill is how hard to push her ..... too much throttle or not hitting the sweet spot on entry, you will end up being high sided, daised and on your own! You need to know your bike - what she is capable of, how hard to push her and when to push her.... the excitement is finding those boundaries.
Its been hard pushing her while she has a big bag end of 85kg on her, the front is a light and therefore not much to hold you on, so I can't wait to find a day to take all the gear off and see what she is capable of!!
Down to South of France
Throw everything back on the bike and ride down to the South of France - Chateauneuf du Pape region.
Sun is out and the temperature rises to 30 degrees. What makes riding a motorbike fun?? Not blasting down a freeway, past crazy 18 wheeler trucks, deafing roar of the 1200cc engine, head battered by the wind at 160km/h and the boardom of it all - have I made the right choice to ride home - not much further to go!!
Found some great reds to relax with (thats red wine).
Sun is out and the temperature rises to 30 degrees. What makes riding a motorbike fun?? Not blasting down a freeway, past crazy 18 wheeler trucks, deafing roar of the 1200cc engine, head battered by the wind at 160km/h and the boardom of it all - have I made the right choice to ride home - not much further to go!!
Found some great reds to relax with (thats red wine).
Side Trip
Side trip to Germany to pickup a power inverter so I can charge my phone, notebook, ipod and cameras, etc.... from the bike.
Why is the UK power plug so big?? Aus, EU and US plugs are way smaller - Answer, go the EU power plug!
Second day of rain and its no fun riding a bike in the rain - can't see a thing with a fogged up visor!!
Why is the UK power plug so big?? Aus, EU and US plugs are way smaller - Answer, go the EU power plug!
Second day of rain and its no fun riding a bike in the rain - can't see a thing with a fogged up visor!!
Day One - 14/05/2009
After taking longer than planned to say goodbye to Nick and Ash, I raced down to Dover at 160 km/h and still missed my boat - am I meant to leave London??
I got a place on the next ferry, the bike was strapped down and I went to the top deck to say goodbye to my home of 6 years - couldn't see a bloody thing.... too much mist.
Made my way to Alsace for a couple of glasses of Riesling!!
Goodbye London!!
I got a place on the next ferry, the bike was strapped down and I went to the top deck to say goodbye to my home of 6 years - couldn't see a bloody thing.... too much mist.
Made my way to Alsace for a couple of glasses of Riesling!!
Goodbye London!!
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