BCF, help me plan a holiday!

[derillius24]

At the end of June, I'm heading across the water for a Euro jolly with a couple of good (but useless) mates. I've done absolutely everything in terms of organisation to this point – including paying for the ferries and awaiting reimbursement over two months down the line…) and it would seem that it’s being entirely left to me to sort the route out as well. They’re good friends, the sort who are a joy to be with but make me want to punch them in the throat when I'm not with them – I'm sure you can all relate).

I've been to Europe before and there is just so much information out there about good routes etc that it all becomes a bit head melty. When I look myself, I end up just planning routes around where I've been before, probably because it’s the coward’s way out.

So, I guess I'm looking for some suggestions / tips / advice from the BCF collective.

We’re getting the ferry from North Shields across to Ijmuiden and have 12 nights away. We’re not taking camping equipment, because we’re soft like that. Ultimately, I think we’d like to be based in S(ish)E France for 3 or 4 days. Does anyone have any suggestions of wicked-good routes to get there from Holland or any stops / towns / roads we’d be fools to bypass?

Additionally, Ogio flight vest? Anyone got one or have any opinions? Caught a look last night and thought it may come in very handy but I can’t decide if it’s cool or so far ‘out the gang’ that it’s on a different planet…

ALSO, I have a Kriega US30 that I find slightly annoying on the back of my Striple as it’s a tad too big in my opinion and keeps poking me in the coccyx. Used once - give me a shout if you have a US20 in good / as new condition if you've always berated yourself for not getting the 30 and perhaps we can arrange for a game of swapsies.

Ta!
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CG125, CBF250, DRZ400-SM, Z750, Street Triple R, Tuono V4R

[chickenstrip]

I'm in a similar position in that my mate has said he's happy to just go with wherever I decide, but not having done a Euro tour before, I've warned him, be it on his head if my choices are pants!

Head melty; damn right! That's why we're winging it - we'll see what takes our fancy, although I've done a bit of research on various places so we shouldn't be totally without ideas. We've decided to take camping kit and mix it up a bit. Just adds a bit more flexibility, and we're not planning on a total hooning trip anyway.

If I'd been before, I'd definitely look at going somewhere different on a 2nd trip though. I could spend a lifetime travelling in just Europe - have done so with the UK and still not seen everywhere I want to! Where you go has got to be down to what interests you, then check out sites like bestbikingroads.com for ideas of nice ways to connect the dots? If you don't know what your mates are interested in, but they're not helping with planning, then go where you want and sod 'em!
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
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[derillius24]

Hi Chickenstrip, thanks for your reply. Agreed! It adds an element of stress being the one everyone else just follows around as I'm sure they'll be quick to complain if they're not entirely happy - but as you say, sod 'em! I can justifiably be as quick to remind them of the scope of their input!

Thanks for the direction to that website, looks very informative . I know you're right in that Europe could be ridden around for years and not all lovely spots visited so I guess it's all about keeeping an open mind and a sense of adventure - that is I suppose what it's all about.

I keep getting home and thinking, 'right, let's spend the evening planning this trip', and getting excited by the idea, then being left dumbfounded and more confused than when I started
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CG125, CBF250, DRZ400-SM, Z750, Street Triple R, Tuono V4R

[chickenstrip]

No worries, just bear in mind I'm a novice at this myself!

It does surprise me, the number of people who go on tour not having any idea about what they want to see and do though. For some, it seems to be like, well, everybody else does it, so I should too!

Me, I like to photograph mountain scenery (you may have noticed ), so the Alps is a must right now, but I've got hold of a copy of John Hermann's "Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Beyond", and chosen a couple of routes from that to head for. I'd like to see what I can see of the Mont Blanc area, so it'll perhaps be Chamonix/Annecy. Maybe a day to go to Kleine Scheidegg to photograph the north face of the Eiger (although I think you have to park up in Grindelwald and either walk or use public transport to get there), stuff like that.

Then, I want to cross over to Italy for views of the Dolomites, probably base around somewhere like Bolzano for a couple of days. And I've researched routes like Route des Grande Alpes, Route Napoleon, Route des Cretes, as well as planning to head down via the famous B500. Don't know which we'll actually end up doing, but at least they're in my mind for if I lack ideas when we get down there.

So I guess what I'm saying is, I don't think you have to have the whole thing planned to the nth degree, but just having some clue as to what's in the regions you're headed for might help. Other than that, I guess there'll be local tourist offices to visit to get ideas? Or just speak to locals; bikers for good roads, others for other stuff. From what I read, hotel staff are often helpful with this kind of thing?

Have a good one, whatever you choose. And if you come across a red and black Fazer 1000 rider looking at a loss, perhaps you'll be able to help me out!
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[derillius24]

I have noticed and you're bloody good at it - fancy coming with as the resident photographer?!

I'll be sure to say hi if we cross paths. All great advice.

if you've not been to Annecy before then I couldn't recommend that place enough. It's one of the most beautiful towns I've ever been in and going for a swim in that lake is possibly the best way imaginable to finish a day on the bikes. Bourg St Maurice is also a fantastic base for a few days
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CG125, CBF250, DRZ400-SM, Z750, Street Triple R, Tuono V4R

[chris-red]

This is the place you want. It is fantastic, run by Dutch guys. They are lovely, it's cheap and the roads are awesome.

https://www.lecampingmoto.net/index_EN.html
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[chickenstrip]

No, no, StevieGooGs is good at mountain photography, I just take snaps! Keeps me off the streets though.
It was your thread that put me in mind of Annecy, so thanks for that
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[chickenstrip]

[B5234FT]

[derillius24]

[Ali in Austria]

If you go to The Vercors then The Hotel Le Marronnier is popular with Bikers. Lovely outdoor pool if it gets hot.

https://en.hotellemarronnier.com/accueil.htm

For route ideas check out www.bestbikingroads.com

If you head in to Austria I can give you some suggestions.
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[Peirre oBollox]

ground rules, you just gotta have 'em
1. Brim the tanks at the end of each day, regardless of levels (saves fecking about in the morning)
If the bikes all have dissimilar ranges make sure that everyone tops up at the same time that the thirstiest/ lowest range bike needs fuel . Went away with 3 others and went through this before we left , gsa 300 miles , aprilia 130 miles, Yamaha 150 miles and Honda 180 miles.
First stop Aprilia fills up , rider of Yamaha says he is okay , 20 miles later pulls off the road to look for fuel , Honda then refuses to fuel up and so it goes on for the full trip. Someone fuels quickly and goes and gets a coffee- the "quick" fuel stop now needs an extra 10 minutes for matey to drink coffee, 9 minutes in someone else gets bored of waiting and orders a f****g hot snack, queue 5 minutes to cook and another ten for it to cool / be eaten, just as he is finishing the smoker lights another fag - cue another 5 minutes, then just as it looks like you can set off again and most of the crew are putting on helmets one of them is emerging from the shop with a bloody Ice Cream, cue smoker removing helmet for another fag and others start wandering off for a piss.
After about 45 minutes the "quick" fuel stop is concluded - for about 3 miles, when someone indicates low fuel - apparently thought he had loads left so had not bothered filling up with the rest of the gang, with a long run before next motorway services it meant exiting and going into a town looking for fuel and wasted a further 30+ minutes. To cap it all they all then moan about how long the day was to the organiser and how he said they would be there by x O' Clock.
Just make sure this can only happen once - if they cannot sort themselves out after that you should just keep going and let them sort themselves out for the rest of the trip.

2. On a really long blast (we always get all the motorway out the way on day1). Agree to ride miles or time between stops, if they are slow go for miles, that will gee them up a bit. ie. 120 miles, or 1.5hours etc.

3. Agree departure time the previous night, departure time definition is showered, fed, kitted up, nicotined up, on the bike READY TO GO.

4. Have some process agreed for the inevitable twat who gets lost/fails to keep
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[chickenstrip]

[Peirre oBollox]

Finally ........
Rule 5 When you see me put my helmet on, you have 1 minute before I set off
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.