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Kris |
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Kris World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 08:57 - 10 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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Just to echo what's already been said; great trip report Nick!
Keep the pics and updates coming. It's been 8 years since my last raid into Europe on a bike. Far too long. ____________________ NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 22:30 - 10 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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So today was Grossglockner day
Ali led us up there, which saved what probably would have been a lot of faffing about and getting lost if it had been left to me and Neil. He set a good pace, I wouldn't have been very comfortable on those roads at a faster one - got a peg down anyway, which is bloody good going for me, especially on unfamiliar roads!
Weather turned out to be mostly beautiful warm sunshine, roads were dry, and happy we finally got to see something of the Alps in all their glory, which was what this whole trip was really supposed to be about
A quick stop before reaching the snow line:
https://i.postimg.cc/cHdkr5FW/DSCN4187.jpg
The Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain:
https://i.postimg.cc/vBXq9LKV/DSCN4204.jpg
One of the many mountain snaps I took (I won't bore you with too many; suffice to say, if you're like me and are generally awed by mountain scenery, this place does not disappoint!):
https://i.postimg.cc/VkG6rh98/DSCN4238.jpg
And a couple just to give a taste of the road up there:
https://i.postimg.cc/kXwMzHpb/DSCN4239.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vmsPnPG0/DSCN4249.jpg
At Biker's Point:
https://i.postimg.cc/qMB4sLvM/DSCN4243.jpg
You could easily miss the turning for this, as it looks at first glance like you're just going into a car park, so this is where Ali's local knowledge proved it's worth to us. It's a proper tricky little lane up to here, cobbled ,steep, tight and narrow, but well worth doing for the views.
Much of the route from Ali's hotel to the pass was a cracking ride too. A very satisfying day, so once again, a big to our host for being solicitous to our needs, leaving us with the ability to just relax and enjoy - I would certainly recommend Pensionhaus Maria to anyone who wishes to visit this marvellous region
Tomorrow we're headed north, as the weather is forecast to deteriorate down here pretty quickly. We have a route in mind, another thing Ali's local knowledge has been handy for, so hopefully, still some good riding to come! ____________________ 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!
Last edited by chickenstrip on 15:18 - 04 Oct 2019; edited 3 times in total |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 17:22 - 12 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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After the brilliant day on the Grossglockner, the weather went back to rain, rain, rain
So we planned a couple of possible routes home, maybe with two overnight stops, then ignored them and caned it back to the uk in one marathon hit. Left Ali's at about 10ish, got back to Neil's in Gravesend at 9am this morning, fuelled mostly by numerous coffee stops. Jeez, I'm never doing that again!
Overall, despite all the crappy weather we encountered in the 2 weeks over there, we still reckon it was worth doing - for one thing, we're both now a bit more savvy in how to approach any future trips, and the "first time trepidation" has been laid to rest. But we also had some good days, saw some great scenery, rode some awesome roads, and had a bit of a laugh along the way.
Thanks go to Matt for helping in the initial planning stages and filling me in on numerous "how-tos" to do with trip preparation.
Thanks again to Ali who saved our bacon and was a star host.
I'll now be weather watching with a view to hitting the Alps more extensively when the unprecedented rain and storms finally clear - maybe July or August. ____________________ 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! |
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-Matt- |
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-Matt- World Chat Champion
Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 17:36 - 12 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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Howling Terror |
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Howling Terror Super Spammer
Joined: 05 Dec 2008 Karma :
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Posted: 17:52 - 12 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 19:54 - 12 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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-Matt- wrote: |
Dare I ask; how much do you think it all totalled up to winging it and turning up without bookings for accomodation on many of the days? The idea is quite appealing . |
Oh God, I hate to think!
We didn't really do much about trying to keep the costs down, as we felt we deserved a few treats, given the weather. I'm still at Neil's, as I can't yet face the ride back up to Carlisle But when i get back home and am suitably recovered, I'll have a look through the state of finances and see if I can't work out an overall cost. Also need to see if there's anything left for another trip later!
I'll also fill in a few blanks that I didn't have the time or energy to post en route, and perhaps a few more piccies.
Just a note about winging it on accommodation: we went off season, so maybe we found it easier than at peak times, and prices might have been a bit lower too. We actually camped once, in Florence for 2 nights - apart from the odd weekend like BBQ, I reckon my camping days are over though - you have to know when to admit defeat ____________________ 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! |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 15:20 - 14 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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Working out the finances for the trip, we spent around £1500 each all told, including fuel, tolls (did a couple of motorway stints to try to escape bad weather; one from Nice to near Pisa came to about 35 Euros), hotels, food and drink etc. Coming back, because we forgot to book our return Euroshuttle trip the night before, as we'd ridden all through the night, we got stung 118 Euros to get a place on the first available train, but by this time, we just wanted to get home, so swallowed it.
Some more photos
At the Bastogne War Museum; an armour piercing round to your Sherman really has the potential to spoil your whole day:
https://i.postimg.cc/y6Fy3Twp/DSCN3814.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mkRMy00X/DSCN3817.jpg
Hard to capture the power of the Ambleve river spilling through the gorge:
https://i.postimg.cc/QMTTG8DY/DSCN3853.jpg
The faded charm of a typical French village on the way to Lyon:
https://i.postimg.cc/sXCZ3kDj/DSCN3862.jpg
And a stop for roadside pizza in another:
https://i.postimg.cc/HnpcybyF/DSCN3867.jpg
Another scene from the Route Napoleon:
https://i.postimg.cc/bNrdfyH0/DSCN3913.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xjtqZJHT/DSCN3908.jpg
Couple more shots from Florence:
https://i.postimg.cc/QN1ZBRNL/DSCN4007.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/8cBYygsj/DSCN4033.jpg
Cafe stop en route to Bolzano:
https://i.postimg.cc/k4MRVx8z/DSCN4062.jpg
Scenery from the area around Riva del Garda and roads to the north:
https://i.postimg.cc/7ZvC1v0g/DSCN4068.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bwjJDxfg/DSCN4076.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/KvhkBSnt/DSCN4073.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/XqSJfdyn/DSCN4102.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j5VKmKqX/DSCN4126.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/s2MDbwYV/DSCN4109.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/y6yBQwMm/DSCN4131.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fRJNbkJC/DSCN4132.jpg
View from the balcony of Pensionhaus Maria on the morning before setting off for the Grossglockner; clouds just beginning to clear:
https://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/nicknicklxs/DSCN4177_zpsg7vd06id.jpg
And some from the Grossglockner ride:
https://i.postimg.cc/qvn1QdY0/DSCN4205.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/8CSt00Qv/DSCN4208.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/8cjHv8W2/DSCN4219.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9QGBZYRQ/DSCN4224.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j5jQVV8D/DSCN4227.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j5CNgH5N/DSCN4229.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/HLvymxvb/DSCN4236.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mkXqN7mt/DSCN4247.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Y0snmMSF/DSCN4248.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sXfw6vQS/DSCN4250.jpg
The mountain range behind Pensionhaus Maria revealed in sunshine:
https://i.postimg.cc/5y6pJTm2/DSCN4251.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tRw8TNnM/DSCN4254.jpg
Ali takes a shot as we leave, for his "hall of shame"
https://i.postimg.cc/3JGVD0gJ/Nick-Neil-print.jpg
Anyone up for the Alps or Pyrenees in a month or two? ____________________ 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!
Last edited by chickenstrip on 15:44 - 04 Oct 2019; edited 14 times in total |
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-Matt- |
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-Matt- World Chat Champion
Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :
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Pigeon |
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Pigeon World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 20:07 - 14 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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Jeeeeeezzz, those are stunning pics. Fazer thou with R1 front end. Nice. The mountains aren’t bad either I guess. |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 21:03 - 14 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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-Matt- wrote: | If its late August/most of September you might be going I may be interested if you do the Alp's. I'll be not too far away for a week or two around then anyway, so could probably tag it onto that.
May want to try book stuff in advance for the most part though; doubt i'll be able to fork out the costs winging it on a daily basis on top of the rest of things I wanted to get done, so may not fit in with your plans . |
I want to get back down to the Alps to do the stuff I originally had planned for this last trip, and it would be a case of accommodation booked in advance this time. I think we were able to get away with it because it was still early in the season, might not be the case in the next 2 or 3 months.
Thinking about a third trip to Spain/Pyrenees too - I don't think the epically long trip idea will work for me, so a number of shorter trips is now what I have in mind. Needs more thought yet though.
Pigeon wrote: | Jeeeeeezzz, those are stunning pics. Fazer thou with R1 front end. Nice. The mountains aren’t bad either I guess. |
The Fazer behaved impeccably on all those mountain roads, laden and unladen. I really can't think of another bike I'd rather have ____________________ 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! |
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-Matt- |
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-Matt- World Chat Champion
Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 21:20 - 14 Jun 2016 Post subject: |
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I've spoken briefly to Neil about the Alps. He has a shift pattern that allows him 7 days off in every month, so we might work something around that. Might want a couple of days more than that, but no details thrashed out as yet.
I reckon B500 down, couple of days to explore some of the Swiss central Alps, do the Eiger thing we wanted to do, couple of days around the French Alps/Mont Blanc etc, shortest route home.
One day home and I'm bored with itchy feet already! ____________________ 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! |
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Old Thread Alert!
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