2900 mile jolly in Europe

[Marmalade]

As some of you know I do a one day long distance ride for charity every year (all donations go direct, i pay for everything just in case you wondered)

Last year was lands end to john o groats in a day, this year was worlds end london to end, bad staffelstein, Germany.

Main aim is an excuse to to a long ride for the hell of it, making money for charity is just a bit of a bonus.

Anyway, after reaching Germany and with no real plans the other 2, eggs benedict and another courier from up north turned back after a night in a hotel but i decided with no plans made to head off on my own.

Turns out that i visited 11 countries and did 2900 miles in the 7 days i was out.

I have a few piccys and might have some more of the several hundred i took while away if i can rescue my memory card from the abyss it has become

The route went a little like this


The Atomium, Brussels, Belgium
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/1-18.jpg

Letting the train take the strain, not far from Frankfurt, germany
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/18.jpg

Time for a leg refit
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/6-7.jpg

Alan praying to the god of the higher Busa
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/7-2.jpg

End in Germany, end of the road for the others.
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/8-1.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/11.jpg

Czech Republic border
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/10-1.jpg

Gratuitous wanker picture
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/12.jpg


Austrian border
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/16.jpg

Austrian motorway vignette 4.60€ for 10 days
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/14.jpg

Taken in Austria, that's Germany on the other side of the river
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/15.jpg

The Olympic ski jump from 1976? Olympics at Innsbruck, Austria
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/27.jpg

The view from my tent, Innsbruck
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/19.jpg


Lake Garda, Italy. This place is amazing. If i had longer i would have stayed for a week.
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/26.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/25.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/24.jpg


From Italy, cross the border into Switzerland. I'd decided I didn't want to spend the 40 euros on swiss road tax so set my sat nav to avoid tolls and motorways, it screwed up once and tried to send me on a motorway but the signs are clear, follow the blue and not the green and you'll be fine. The roads are great, you'll see all the best views and save a few pennies without the tax unless you are just wanting to get to places quickly it isn't really needed.

View from hotel room In San Bernardino, Switzerland
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/33.jpg


The San Bernardino pass, well worth a ride through.
It was a bit crazy. You'll be on a decent 'A' road type stretch, it'll turn into a single lane track, then tidy hair pins that will just suddenly end and leave you on a gravel track for half a mile before becoming a decent road again. No warning, you'll be smashing round a hairpin and suddenly on straightening, gravel road
I have photos of such if i can rescue the pics.
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/32.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/30.jpg


Near the end of the pass, this road from here is a series of hairpin bends down to the bottom of the mountain.
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/31.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/29-1.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/23-1.jpg

https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/20.jpg

At the Switzerland / Liechtenstein border
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/28.jpg


In Belgium,
https://i370.photobucket.com/albums/oo141/bramble43/21.jpg


Got burnt to a bloody crisp by the intense hot weather but it was well worth it to get out of the pissing rain for a few days, italy and swiss was the best, amazing roads but expensive fuel in Italy.

Eurotunnel pulled a blinder by only allowing you to call to change ticket from certain countries and wouldn't do it online as i was away over 5 days so on arrival at the tunnel they tell me ticket has been cancelled as i was a day later than booked, £79 fuck you very much as we've cancelled your £52 ticket.

So, bollox to them and went on a P&O ferry for £34. My often weekly travels to euroland will be on a ferry where possible now, thats twice those twats at eurotunnel have fucked me over.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[mistergixer]

[Marmalade]

No, went up the hill in 1986 and looked down and that was bad enough.
These ski jumpers have got to be totally insane.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[John933]

Eurotunnel pulled a blinder by only allowing you to call to change ticket from certain countries and wouldn't do it online as i was away over 5 days so on arrival at the tunnel they tell me ticket has been cancelled as i was a day later than booked, £79 fuck you very much as we've cancelled your £52 ticket.

So, bollox to them and went on a P&O ferry for £34. My often weekly travels to euroland will be on a ferry where possible now, thats twice those twats at eurotunnel have fucked me over.

Nice pictures. And a few nice places to go. As for the tunnel people. I of kind of stopped using them for the reason you have said above.

The ferry is nearly just as quick. You can get a sit down and a cup of tea on the ferry. Not on the tunnel.
John933
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My trip

[Marmalade]

Trouble is that I tell people I'll get their stuff from London to Paris in 5 hours and the ferry will add at least 2 hours to that.

Any jobs that do allow for the extra time I will be choosing the ferry route from now on.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Kradmelder]

stunning pics and great weather!
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[harscot]

Fantastic pics Marmalade, the hairpins in Switzerland reminded me of what my local Applecross Pass looks like, on a sunny day:lol:, albeit the Swiss Pass looks more awesome

Ride Safe out there
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First bike R reg Suzuki 125 GT twin in 1978:
2nd bike X reg Honda 650 Deauville in 2011:
Wish bike a Triumph Thunderbird: Dream bike Triumph Rocket........

[John933]

Just brought a return ticket from P&O. In and out same day ( Saturday ) £18:44p return. Now thats good, £12 a night stay in Dover on the Friday so I can get an early start. have a whole day riding France for £30. Can't be bad.
John933
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My trip

[Marmalade]

It does cost bog all. Isle of wight costs more for a one way trip

Anyway, 1st of much video i did while away https://youtu.be/ycQcO2LsFqY
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[John933]

[harscot]

just watched the video, awsome
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First bike R reg Suzuki 125 GT twin in 1978:
2nd bike X reg Honda 650 Deauville in 2011:
Wish bike a Triumph Thunderbird: Dream bike Triumph Rocket........

[Suntan Sid]

, you do realise the safety loons are gonna be out in force and jump on the "no gloves" scenario!

Road looks really narrow and no centre line, looks good though.
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Nai]

[John933]

[Marmalade]

Usually, here i have gear on all the time, By the time i got to italy i was so hot i could barely breath so took off my jacket and gloves.
Next day in swiss I never put on jacket until probably 9pm when it had cooled down a bit.
I do think gear needs to be worn at all times but christ, it was sooo damn hot i really had no choice.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Nai]

Well as long as you had a neon safety vest on I guess it was OK...

Question! Is it hard work moving the pan around corners like that? They always look so.... Barge like?...

[Marmalade]

I'm used to it but it was overloaded more than usual inc tent, sleeping bag and panniers full of other shit.

They are really quite ride able when you are moving
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[salty21]

i thought i was the only one who rode a pan like that

sounds like an awesome trip, thanks for sharing
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[cornish]

Amazing pictures and trip sounds fantastic
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smile and be happy. . . .it gets right on everyone's tits!