Motorbiking in Europe: July 2010

Col Practice 1

I chose to ride the D Roads as much as possible today but again was surprised that many have significant stretches of superb dual carriageway on them.

My route was purposely set to avoid Strasbourg but catch some of the Parc de Lorraine and a bit of the Parc des Ballons.

This area of the Alsace is a popular area for bikers with excellent road surfaces and many testing hairpins over the cols. Good practice for the Alps to come.

Highlights of the day other than the roads were finding Luniville andeating a truly al fresco lunch in Vic Sur Seille.

This Blog entry does not do justice to the excellent roads but I do have some inboard GoPro film which will be added on my return.

To round the day off I had a great McD - must be the French influence because the Burger meal with champigion was inspired - why do foreign mushrooms taste so much better than ours?!

That tank - no chance not against a Honda Africa Twin!

OK I know but the iPhones forward facing camera has it's uses.

F1 Colmar - quite pleasant although busy road noise and the new flat screen iPod plug in thing did not accept the iPhone or the GoPro this time so French tele it is then.

Yummie!

The bike exhaust is still popping away do looks like I will have to look under the tank when I get to Landeck in Austria tomorrow.

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Border jumping

Run to the Alps day 3 - 30th July 2010

A typical but good value breakfast was eaten al fresco - ready for the next stage to Thionville.

I have deliberately chosen to keep the daily mileage down because past experience has shown me that the heat and smaller roads take their toll after a few days, making the ride a chore rather than the pleasure it is when you look and enjoy.

Interestingly my sat nav did not do it's usual trick this year - by setting it to the shortest route and avoid tolls and main roads it usually takes you on the French D roads - great riding - today I forgot to tick avoid main roads - it is clear that Euro money has been pumped into the Route Nationals as they are now mostly dual carriageway - quick but not very good for scenery gazing.

Luckily I managed to get off them and stopped at a few places on route. Here is a photo showing just how easy it is to completely wreck a landscape! The Dutch did it so much more tastefully!

It is always good to park up in the Centre Ville - bikes are always around.

I didn't have time to go in but the European Space Centre looked a substantial development.

One town worth a stop off for lunch is Givet - some years ago there was a number of bushes and trees along the river bank but alas these are now no longer - thankfully the Friteria is still there and a suitable perch was found with a river view.

The run from here was a mix of roads and countries - taking me in and out of France and Luxembourg - one thing to note is the difference in the quality of road surface in Belgium - they certainly have not squandered Euro money on their roads.

A petrol stop was badly needed after covering 244 miles before going onto reserve. Near the fuel station was a bike shop with this outside for sale - well I think it was because I couldn't see Batman anywhere.

The bike is going very well but the exhaust is popping on the over run - I called into a motor factors in Thionville and he gave me a tube of exhaust sealer - what a nice guy. So tonight I have been fettling the bike.

Just around the corner is one of the Buffalo Grills so I had Pave de Bison - very good but not worth the €13 it cost.

This F1Hotel is one of the new refurbished ones so square sink and flat screen tv - yep that's some refurb!

Ah well blog done - French tele and a read I think.

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Location:St Omer to Thionville

On route to the ferry

I hate the M25 infact it looks as though everyone else on it also hates it! Uneventful run really except for the stop at the services 24 near Dover.

Now compare photo 1 with photo 2 - how can 2 service areas be so completely different?!

Photo 1 - Reading Services

24 Services near Dover

I ask you - plastic cup and musical sweetener!

The ferry (Sea France) threw up a surprise with it's new bike support system - only flaw - bikes will be last off and you cannot unleash yourself or the bike will fall over - not sure about how good this will be.

French Ferries always serve the best lunches - so fed and ready for Bonne France later today.

The ferry crossing seemed to fly by - well done French Ferries - they also let me out of the bike clamp thing quickly.

A quick exit from Calais port and a short 30 mile ride to St. Omer F1 Hotel - which now has free wifi - excellent move.

The hotel is a mile or so from the town centre and not really a road to walk down so a short ride for some food in the square from the excellent Friteria Chantele - funny though it was a different Chantele from the year previous - and I thought they were all called Evette.

So day one over - tomorrow a long haul to Thionville.

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Location:Uk

Reading - Lost in Reading

Well it had to happen - I had decided to make use of a very cheap Travellodge for an overnighter as I am in no rush to get to my destination. However the postcode given did not work with the sat nav and I ended up miles away on the wrong side of the motorway - then a very helpful young lady in the wrong lodge gave me useful directions - well they would have been if I was planning on not getting to the Travellodge I had booked - she insisted that junction 12 was towards London from 11 - it's not!!!

Anyhow got there in the end and found a great Marks and Spencers in the complex so a feast was had while I watched Master Chef on the television!

Re packing my luggage now - everything but the top box works so a rethink is needed.

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Off to the Alps (again!)

It's time for the annual bike tour and I am going to Austria for the third year running. I did intend going elsewhere this year but work has conspired against me and so I needed somewhere easy to get to with sufficient wow factor that did not break the bank! Austria it is then - although the bank will creak a little at the seams! Norway next year perhaps or Corsica or Croatia or Morocco or .... Funny how we start planning the next before starting the current one.