Motorbiking in Europe

The final leg home

2011-08-09T19:19:00.002Z

Well it's been a good trip and today I had to ride the short distance from the hotel to the ferry port and then after the crossing ride from Dover home - the longest ride if the trip - 300 miles.

Breakfast was the usual F1 fayre and the ride to the ferry was uneventful except that I always arrive far too early and the facilities at Calais, after check in, are appalling.

Check out the wind sock - it's been a windy ride home and looks like it was not going to change.

This sign amuses me - so how do I get to the ferry then (ok I know - ride but it still makes me chuckle)

The roads in the UK were busy all the way back, made worse by a constant side and head wind.

So I am home safe and sound with tales of yet more adventures to share. If you are reading this and thinking that it sounds interesting - take my advice just do it.

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Riding in the Alps the final French leg

2011-08-08T17:36:00.002Z

Monday

I woke up to heavy rain and strong winds so it was going to be a wet weather kit day. It keeps you dry but it is hot and so you can perspire enough to dampened yourself anyhow - always a balance. Today however was windy enough and cold enough to warrant the kit.

Not much to blog about today as I seemed to spend long hours on D roads behind very slow moving cars - have the French only now discovered sticking to speed limits and the novelty not worn off!!!

The usual lunch was had near Arras.

This was followed a couple of hours later at St. Omer with a very good coffee on one of the terraces on the main square.

There was a fruit and veg shop nearby but didn't buy this time. Interesting to see how large the stuff was and how less clinical it was.

So I am now in my F1 in Calais with a view that is beginning to take on an open prison aspect mmmm have I stayed at too many if these on the way down and back!

Right time to go out - off to the shops and eatery. Early start tomorrow for the Ferry home.

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Austrian Alps the ride home

2011-08-07T15:42:00.002Z

Sunday

France is asleep - official. I have never seen this country so deserted, hardly a soul on the road.

Today was promising rain so I decided to use the Peage to get out of Strasbourg - this was a good move because for less than 10 euros I was able to cover the first 100 miles quickly and easily.

The rain held off but there was a high wind so I put on my wet weather kit and was warm and comfortable for the whole journey.

Not a day for photos but I did take lots of video clips with my bike cam. As well as the GoPro I have one of these VIO POV 1.5 units - an excellent bit of kit but unfortunately this afternoon I broke two pins off the plug so will not be able to film any more with it until I get a replacement plug - ah well it's worked hard.

It will not come as a surprise that I lunched again at the easiest and best value biking eateries out there when on the road - yes you have guessed good old Macky Dee - this time in Sedan. I had the Peppered Beef and salad wrap meal with chuncky chips and a large Diet Coke!

I an now in my F1 Blogging and web surfing to see if there is anything of interest for the route tomorrow - the final French leg to Calais.

What a strange little eatery.

A bit like spud u like but infinitely better, a gourmet baked potato house with some very interesting combinations.

Baked potato was huge with ratatouille, sour cream dip, salad leaves and chicken wings. This was followed by one of the smallest ice creams they do!

So I am now refreshed and thinking about taking the local taxi back to the hotel across the road!

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Location:Strasbourg to Charlesville les Messieres

The ride home

2011-08-06T18:08:00.002Z

Saturday

Well it looks as though the Gods took pity on me after my soaking earlier in the week because after a Friday late afternoon and night of rain the clouds cleared and the sun shone.

However in my attempts to pack better and also to say the goodbyes to new found friends as well as those from previous years I forgot to take photos.

These days I choose to motorway it out of Austria as it saves a huge amount of time and the road is quick and picturesque - well except for the 16 Km tunnel! But even that is an experience - certainly different riding out without the flat tyre I had coming in!

The route I took is Landeck to Bregenz then over the top of Lake Konstanz to join the B31 an then after a few minor roads again the B33 through the Black Forest. I did stop briefly here hoping to get a photo of a clock - but this shop didn't have any in the windows. Is it only me that finds wood people odd!

After the Black Forest the route should have been easy but for some reason my trustee Sat Nav had a wobbly and tried sending me down very small roads, a cycle path, a dismantled bridge, a dead end populated by traveling folk with caravans and finally a railway line - I think I know why but it was a combination of re routing due to roadworks and a memory full from a weeks riding - I should have cleared it.

Anyhow a few hours later than I would have have liked, I arrived at the F1, showered and have eaten - I am now watching back to back episodes of Torchwood on television in French!!! Don't worry it's a temporary think done out of curiosity.

It is now blowing a gale outside.

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Riding in the Austrian Alps 2011

2011-08-05T17:25:00.002Z

Friday

This is the last day of the tour in Austria - tomorrow I start the 3 day ride home.

So I chose to do a high pass but one that was both pleasant to ride with it's fair share of hairpin bends and also close enough so I didn't tire before the return trip.

The Glacier is at 2750 metres so will easily get you breathless at the top. It is in a National Park so a toll is charged and it is a single two lane road up and same road back.

The first thing you come to after the toll is a large lake with the mountain containing the glacier in the background. I think the water level is a lot lower this year.

At the top there is a cable car to the very top and below is a modern large cafe where they serve lots of dishes, the steamed dumplings with vanilla custard is simply yum!

In previous years I have photographed this mountain top extensively so this year I decided to walk across the glacier and go into the ice cave.

The weather changes quickly here and it wasn't long that rain threatened so I moved off the top.

There is some great scenery all the way down with a very different set if views from the way up - it always give the impression of a circular route.

I bought a small tripod attachment for my iPhone a few weeks ago and with an application that allows for a delay release I can finally take photos of myself with bike and scenery.

The return route gives you a better opportunity to stop and look at the waterfalls that cascade down the mountain sides, under the road and into the reservoir.

Looking back at the glacier often surprises in the speed of change in the weather.

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Location:Kaunertal

A rest day - Thursday

2011-08-04T13:57:00.002Z

Thursday

Well after the torrential downpour yesterday and soaking my kit I had little choice but to leave it in the hotel drying room - but I didn't discover this until today so lost a nights worth of drying time.

No worries though it is good to have one day off the bike and it gave a chance to further explore the town and museum again.

I really hope the sign writer was not dyslexic here!

To get to the town you have to cross the river via a bridge, follow a footpath and cross the railway line.

It was while taking this photo I heard a kind of ting ting noise and saw some barriers coming down - now I remember what that means - either a great photo or you are squished - no squish for me - especially by one of these.

Landeck is a strange mix of some old and a lot new - they had a severe fire in the town in the 1970's and lost most of the buildings. Also it is quite a popular ski resort so expansion has taken place.

The castles dates from the 13th Century and is a sharp climb set in the rock above the town. It is easy to see the strategic importance of this in protecting the river valley.

I don't rate the fire power though - I know they have a lot of wood but wooden canons! Come on - seriously?

There was a good exhibition on in the museum so I thought I would show you an old style and new style carving.

Even the soap dish in the toilets had a typically Austrian style about it.

After the visit to the museum I had some lunch of Austrian Sausage with bread, mustard and Kern (to be honest I think it is Horseraddish but a strong one) - this is one of the hottest things I have ever tasted and certainly cleared my nasal passages!

Heading back you pass the church and it's very ornate graveyard. You can see the improvement in the weather this afternoon.

Finally a stop in a cafe for a coffee before heading back.

All in all a good day.

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Riding in the Alps Wednesday

2011-08-03T20:39:00.002Z

After yesterday's long ride I decided to go for something a little shorter and potentially quieter. I found a route to Oberammergau (famous as the place where the Passion Play is performed once every ten years)

I left a little later than usual but was on the road to Imst by 10.30 am. I took a left turn there and repeated a run over the Hanhtennjoch Pass (1894 Mts)

They look after us in the Austrian Alps!

This is one if my favorites as it is very twisty and picturesque with it's wooden crash rail to one side and stone face to the other. There is an excellent descent down to Ruette through lowland and a wooded area - the views through the tall trees reveal glimpses of high alps to come.

From Ruette I went on a new, for me, road past a beautiful lake called Plansee - this was a little busier but it was plain to see why (there is a pun there!).

The riding was through forest and lake country leading to Oberammergau.

The town revolves around the Passion Play and is almost like a "Religious Icons R Us" emporium - you could stock a church or ten here from the items in the windows alone!

Some people seem to get private parking - and so he us alive after all!

After lunch at an Italian Cafe! And an exchange of as many languages as I could muster I turned for the pretty town of Garmisch - Partenkirhen.

It was at this point that the heavens open up and I rode up through the pass into the eye of a storm with 4 inches of water on the roads - and I thought its only a shower and did not need my waterproofs on! Big mistake but hey the rain stops at the skin - I know I am proof!

I rode as fast as conditions allowed in order to minimise the time I was going to be cold for. Luckily the rain stopped on the descent of the Fern Pass and I didn't get that cold.

I made good time and got back to the hotel soaking wet, but none the worse for it, by 4.30pm

My bike kit is wet through and looks like it is not going to dry out by tomorrow so perhaps I will take a day off riding tomorrow.

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Location:Landeck to Oberammergau

Austrian Alps Tuesday

2011-08-02T18:14:00.002Z

Tuesday

Today was set aside as Stelvio day - for those uninitiated the Passo Stelvio is 2760 metres high and is one hairpin after another both up and down.

I chose today because I thought I might just be bike fit by now and not as tired as I might be at the end of the week. Added to this the weather is perfect - dry, hot and sunny.

I had the usual breakfast to set me up for the day and got going by 9am. The traffic was a lot less than the weekend so the riding was relaxing and enjoyable.

The route set out in the guide book offers a variety of scenery and about 5 passes in all on the 290 Km round trip.

I did detour a little from the set route and took a road on the opposite side of a lake to normal. It was interesting but a very narrow road so concentration was needed at the expense of watching the scenery go by.

I passed through the walled town of Glorenza and always meant to stop but it has been too busy - today the Piazza was almost deserted so I pulled in for a walk about and a coffee.

Transport is a strange thing - we humans are always trying to invent new ways of doing it.

Coffee was had and a rest in the shade of the parasol in the cafe on the Piazza.

From here the route starts to climb out of the valley and while there are stopping places for photos once you are climbing and in the "groove" I am always loathe to stop.

This is the top of the climb and represents a small fraction of the hairpins you have to negotiate to get this far. At the top it is a hive of activity - shops, eateries and fellow bikers. I saw another Africa Twin - the German rider was a seasoned tourer with most of his riding in Africa!

I bought my sticker - well two actually - always handy to have one spare incase.

The ride down if you go clockwise is great if there is not too much traffic and the weather is good - today was a good day.

This side is a blast because the bends are smoother and wider, although there are tunnels to contend with.

The route goes through Livigno which must have the cheapest petrol in Europe.

And these prices are in Euros. I am told it is because this is a little bit of Italy in Switzerland and they do it on purpose just to annoy the Swiss!

However the cheap petrol is offset by a 10 Euro charge for the tunnel you have to use to skirt along the Dam!

Tonight was barbecue night at the hotel with strict instructions to be there for 7pm prompt - so it was head down and a quick but safe ride for the last 45 miles. I did take a huge amount of video with my POV VIO and head cam so will upload this when I get back, after some editing.

All in all a great days riding.

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Austria 2011

2011-07-28T07:16:00.003Z

Well after riding to the Austrian Alps for the past three years I thought it was time for a change so have decided to ride to the Alps again!!!

All Blog posts are being done from my iPhone as are the photos used. I am using BlogPress for iPhone to create it and will tidy the posts up as and when I can.

OK so it looks like a fourth year at Landeck in the Tyrol. Let me explain - besides being an absolutely superb base to ride out of, it is reasonably close ( about 1000 miles away) and the hospitality is second to none for a motorcyclist on tour.

What I want to do for this Blog is to write a bit more about the planning and preparation for the trip in the hope that having been there so many times I have now sorted both the bike and route out so that the maximum enjoyment can be had at the least cost.

Another factor affecting this years trip was a major upheaval in work which left me wondering if I would have a job at this time. I am pleased to record that after some stressful times I am still in post, a changed role and an impeding drop in salary but manageable - hence the focus this time on maximising the enjoyment for the costs.

So I am off to the Tyrol again, but hey it is biking heaven.

Luggage sorted out and all my bits and pieces carefully checked rechecked rejected and added again - will I never learn!

So bike packed and loaded ready to go.

The ride up from home to the ferry was uneventful - the usual motorway drag. Motorway food is kind of OK but I shudder at what our overseas gourmets think of it.

I stayed overnight at Ashford Travelodge so I could be up for the 8.15 Ferry.

You meet the strangest but nicest people biking - I don't think these bikes were up for a European Tour!

So here I am at the Ferry. At the front next to a guy who had an adventure bike but is going to Peage it to Germany!

The weather in France was quite dull and overcast today for the ride down to Charleville - Mezierre but it brightened up. I managed to get a wifi at McD! Where would we be without Maccie D ( if you want to use that slogan you are going to have to pay me!)

I called in at the Matisse Museum in Le Cateau - I have been there a few times so it was a flying visit.

So tonight it is rest, a natter with some other bikers in the F1 Hotel in Charleville and then tuck onto some Poule Fume et Salade et Baguette - cette formidable!

Up not so bright and early today because I forgot to change my watch - No worries I needed the sleep - This F1 had the creakiest floor known to mankind! It was clearly a tourist attraction because all of France came to see it last night!!!

Check out the new TVs I plugged in my iPhone and watched a film last night - good move F1.

Another legendary (not) F1 Brekkie and away to go.

Next stop Strasbourg.

Today is Friday and day 3 of the tour. I took all D roads today from Charleville to Strasbourg, just over 200 miles of twists, turns, villages and big landscape. Great riding roads in a country with very quiet roads.

You can tell you are in France when this happens - no cars for half an hour then this!!! I couldn't have done it better if I had planned it.

I saw a sign for a 1st World War Monument and found something quite moving - this little village was completely destroyed in the war and has been opened up as a memorial and stark reminder "lest we forget"

I was a little concerned walking around as a sign clearly asks that you stick to the paths as there are still potentially unexploded bombs etc in the ground - yikes!

Rest in peace mon amis et merci

One of the many great things about biking is that you can stop where you like - especially when something catches my photographic eye. The French just have a way with colour sometimes.

Did you know that French McDonalds signs are green and gold because they thought the French would take to the attack on the taste buds better! I kid you not. Great wraps though. Oh and in case you think I have a McD fetish it's only when biking - easy, simple, cheap and free wifi!!!

French D Roads are simply the best for biking - often twisty often straight often through villages and never ever boring.

Saturday - Disaster strikes!

Saturday
Well today turned out to be a bit of an epic. I left the hotel bright and early for the ride from France through Germany and into Austria. The route was my usual D33 and D31 taking me over the Rhine and into the Black Forest - all was going well at that point - the sun was out and the roads well surfaced and interesting.

This is Black Forest Clock world! There is a lovely climb along the route with some testing twisties on it so off I went - I knew something was wrong when a Ford Fiesta passed me going up - my bike seemed a little twitchy - I put this down to me riding too quickly chasing a German boy racer and my heavy luggage.

I was to discover a little time later that I had a slow puncture in the rear wheel ! No big deal normally except this bike has tubes in it's tyres so no quick plug fix.

I know the theory and have seen the practice but have not done it myself so this was a challenge. To cut this post a bit short I managed to get the tyre off and tube out and fix the 2 yes 2 holes in the tube - fitted it all back and then started to inflate - but it was not holding the air so off with the tyre again and there was the offending 3rd hole!!! I patched it and refitted the tyre and the wheel and off I went en route for Austria.

The first puncture was repaired in a supermarket carpark near the Swiss border, the second attempt was in another Supermarket Carpark in Germany above Lake Konstanz. There were some really helpful people here with at least 6 or more coming over to offer help and words of encouragement. One guy even offered to get a van and take me to his house where he had tools and a compressor. Luckily I carry all that is needed including a small compressor (well worth having).

All was going well and the about 60 miles on and 25 miles short of my destination down it went again except this time just inside the mouth of a 6Km tunnel - no chance of stopping so I moved forward to take the weight off the wheel a bit and rode it flat keeping up the speed in order that centrifugal force kept it at least resembling a tyre. It squirmed and kicked and had me hanging on but eventually I got out of the tunnel and pulled over. The tyre is quite wide on a narrow rim as it is designed to protect the run in situations like this - it worked. The tyre was very hot but yet again off it came and I was pleased that the tube was still complete as was the valve but all 3 patches had come off. I think the tyre heat from the fully loaded bike probably melted the glue on the patches after a while.

So it was back to square one again - 3 more patches and an hour later I was back on the road - I had to wait for the tyre to cool down ( I can do it in 20 mins now!)

I got to Landeck a few hours later than planned but the great news was Klaus the hotel owner was in the yard when I arrived - I told him I needed a tube or two! so he phoned his mechanic and said I would have what I wanted in the morning. What service and the morning would be a Sunday!

Also at the hotel were two friends I met both last year and the year before so over dinner there was plenty of story telling.

Sunday

My room is great - good view and a flat screen TV with phono plugs so I can plug in my iPhone!
Here is the view from my veranda.

Today, true to his word, Didier the Mechanic turned up and opened the store at the hotel where a veritable selection of tyres and tubes awaited the traveller in need. I asked for 2 rears and 1 front tubes to be safe - mine for 35 euros - a bargain.

By 10.30am I had taken the wheel off and replaced the punctured tube with a fresh new one (ironically it had held air overnight - but better to be sure).

This meant I had the most part of the day free and the sun was shining so I went up to Imst and over the Hahntenn-joch Pass 1894Mts high followed by the Fernpass 1216Mts.

I had lunch at a favorite spot overlooking some beautiful lakes and mountains.

There seemed to be a series a of festivals and gatherings today as the roads were congested so the ride back was not as good as previous years.

Anyhow back in time for afternoon tea and compare journeys with others. Tonight's menu choice is Duck, yum!

Monday

I felt quite tired today - I think the journey down and the punctures were taking their toll. But the riding is too good to miss and the sun is shining so make hay while the sun shines they say - I have no intention of making hay but saw lots on the run today!

I decided to do the Alberg and Silvretta Passes today - it is a round route and usually very pleasant - today was no different except I can now get around without a map and getting lost!

When I got to the top of the Alberg Pass I noticed 2 Africa Twin Bikes like mine - well not quite, it turned out to be the model before mine and the one before that - so 3 versions all next to each other.

The owners were a young couple from Austria who were touring to Switzerland and Croatia with plans to ride through Africa to Cape Town next year.

I was surprised to see a woman riding an Africa Twin because they are so high but clearly she had long legs! So stories were swopped and gadgets compared - I particularly liked the under bash plate tool box - mmm a winter project methinks.

They left before me but got held up in some traffic which meant we were able to ride as 3 bikes for quite a few miles - both were good riders and clearly knew their bikes.

We parted company at Bludenz with a toot and a wave they went on to the border while I turned left for the Silvretta.

Turning meant I now had the sun in my eyes but it was fine and very soon I was climbing the steep and twisty route to the top.

I stopped to get some photos from half way up and tried a new App that I downloaded this week which creates panoramic views of stitched photos - it's called Photosynth, it's free and is easy to use.

The top of the pass has a large cafe where a bikers parking area has been created.

There is an outside terrace overlooking the dam and so I lunched on what is really a dessert but is so so good and filling you don't need any more.

At the cafe I met up with some of the people at the hotel who were making their way around. Some nattering took place and an interest in the video kit I have was shown.

One of the bikers offered to have my GoPro camera fixed to the rear of the bike so I could be filmed! At last some film of me riding - I cannot post it now but will update the blog at a later date.

The ride down was very gentle and not anywhere as steep as going up the other side so gentle meandering was the order of the day.

Apparently they do!

Just before getting back to the hotel I noticed that Landeck now has a Lidl so just had to pay a visit - I am not that impressed but perhaps it was one of those nothing really much in stock weeks.

Back at the hotel I made use of the power washer and gave the bike it's first clean of the trip.

I am enjoying a cup of coffee while watching a Discovery programme in German on television oh yes and writing this blog post!

Tonight's menu choice for me is Veal casserole - they do it well here.

Tomorrow I hope to ride the Stelvio Pass into Italy.

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Location:From Wales to Austria

Photos, stories and trips on a bike

2010-08-19T15:51:00.000Z

Windy ride to Ferry

2010-08-10T14:58:00.002Z

Not much of a Blog today. Everything went to plan - good breakfast at the F1 and then out onto sunshine through the town of Charleville. I took a mix of Route National and D roads with a first stop at Cambrai.

The whole town square and parking was set up got a fair so I parked up on the pavement as you do on France and got a coffee in the same bar as last year - the Pelican Bar

Cambrai must have been a fine town some time ago but is showing signs of decay and neglect now.

Interesting display outside a boulangerie.

It rained later in the afternoon but I saw this handy bike shelter so put the bike in while the rain passed - oh yes buses stop here as well!

F1 again for tonight on the outskirts of Calais - right in the middle of a shopping zone wahay Supermarches here we come!
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Buffalo Grill

2010-08-09T19:30:00.002Z

A good meal at the Buffalo Grill tonight - I can recommend the Buffalo Burger although I did order the healthy option - that has baked potato with a cream sauce but I was brought French fries - this was quickly attended to and I had the Pomme de Terre as well as the French Fries !!! Oh dear but hey it's a long ride tomorrow.

I had to get a coffee photo in - so here it is.

And here is home for the night.

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Location:Charleville

All sas and no quiche

2010-08-09T16:55:00.001Z

Today is the second day of the ride home - from Strasbourg to Charleville - I could do this ride a lot quicker if I took the Peage or the Route National but I choose to explore the D roads and so is slower but I see more.

Great weather today - sunny all day and a good riding temperature - not too hot.

As I decided not to eat breakfast as a protest over the poor meal the night before I made a mid morning stop at Saverne. An attractive town with the added bonus of a canal that has a lock in the town centre and the Rohan Museum - I did not have time for the latter today.

I just had to have a coffee at the interestingly named Cave de Profonde - no doubt the haunt of the profound - French cafe society on the banks of the canal.

The coffee was great but the waitress on being asked by me if I could have something to eat said I could get something from the Boulanger up the road and bring it back - don't you just love stuff like that.

The profound - world affairs discussed and solved by those with experience and have opinions not agendas!

It's the French way - kids, pigeons, water fountains in the town square and of course the sun.

If you were wondering about the title of today's blog - I rode through the Alsace region and then in the Parc de Lorraine.

I also went into the Ardennes but am not clever enough to work that one into the title - but hey if you can, leave it in the comments.

The sky, the landscape, the roads make for some great riding - very different to the Alps - not nearly as spectacular but very worthy of exploring.

Lunch was really a brunch earlier in Saverne but I was peckish around 3pm so out came my emergency baguette and jar of the food of the Gods - Nutella. It is said that Nutella is actually the only food we would ever need and it must be true the Nutella saleman told me.

Touring with film kit is getting a bit too complicated - this trip was a bit of research by me to see what can be done and how effective it is. The film I have captured runs into hours but I will edit down to perhaps 10 minutes and post here in the future.

My trusty Honda Africa Twin, enjoying the rest as much as me.

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Location:Charleville

Problems uploading

2010-08-09T06:25:00.002Z

Sorry but the free wifi at Campanile has a file size restriction so only a couple of pics uploaded - I will sort this out tonight as I will be in an F1

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Homeward bound

2010-08-08T20:44:00.002Z

All packed up just after breakfast - I seem to be quite organised now with the new panniers and inner bags.

There are no photos of most of the journey as I took the toll road to crack on a bit do there are both no opportunities to stop nor sights to see as most are outside while I was in the tunnels.

Hopefully I will be able to post some images from the GoPro camera - I set it to take a photo every 30 seconds and let it run. There will be some video when I get back.

It had to be done - and yes it did - I don't know what they put in those German burgers but they powerful thing.

Bond just call me James Bond - ok how about Angelo then!

I am a bit disappointed with this overnighter - I thought I would try one of the Campanile Hotels - costs a bit more than the F1 but not been in one for years - this one is not very good - bit dowdy and the meal I had was quite expensive for what turned out to be one of the smallest and toughest steaks I have ever had in my life. I won't stay with this chain in a hurry again - I don't thing I will have one of their overpriced breakfasts either.

Bike all tucked up for the night - the only saving grace being it is almost outside of my ground floor room.

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Location:Strasbourg

There ain't no mint on this Glacier

2010-08-07T20:42:00.002Z

New arrivals at the hotel today bringing some interesting old BMWs especially a first model GS - parked next to the very latest one does show the progress, or not, that has been made.

Today started off slightly wet and overcast so I delayed riding until about 10.30am - this was a wise move as the sun came out not long after and as you will see by the later photographs helped to turn this into a superb run.

The tide out of Landeck is interesting enough, especially when you turn onto the road up to the Glacier.

Yes that really is the dun shining out of my head! Ok its not not but hey the forward facing camera on the iPhone works well.

In the distance you can see the snow covered glacier - this is the first time I have been here with snow and in August as well.

The roads up to the cafe on the to offer some of the best riding in the area - don't be put off by the entrance fee to the park and the up and back nature of the ride - it is about 60 miles round trip from Landeck.

The restaurant at the top is large, interesting and serves good food - well today sounded a bit odd to say the least - I decided not to have that one!

But I did have a huge Bratwurst and chips - yes I know overpriced sausage and chips but I am not going to tell them.

I had to try one of these before coming back - I am glad it was on my last day - Sweet dumplings filled with a liquor cream and chocolate covered in vanilla sauce with a chocolate and cinnamon sprinkle absolutely yummy !!!

The snow made this a quite magical place but I cannot get used to seeing snow and being baked by the heat of the sun at the same time.

Friendly cows in these places - they leave what are called Tirolian Pizza all around the place !!!

That's me that is - and what've happy chappie I am here - I think this was after descending the 25 hairpins.

I was flagged down by a couple of Dutch riders - they needed a tool and what better than to stop a touring bike (me) - fuel pump had gone and I didn't have the tool they wanted - had a good natter though as one of the guys buys mini diggers in the UK to import into the Netherlands - how do people get into these types of job?

The goats didn't have the tools either

This is the reservoir below the glacier.

I will post more photos and film on my return.

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Location:Kaunertal Glacier

Italy for a few hours and the lost iPhone!

2010-08-06T20:02:00.002Z

Today started and finished wet but the 6 or more hours in between were both sunny and extreme. I took the b road towards Innsbruck and turned off it nest Oetz to climb the infamous Timmelsjoch pass.

Near Oetz is the largest waterfall in the Tirol - a quick call to the tourist info first and the helpful girl behind the counter gave me a free map and recommended that I do not go to the normal car park at the base but better to climb the mountain on the bike to the panoramic view - good choice - superb views.

The weather stated to dry off a bit and so the climb up the Timmlejoch at 2509 metres was at quite pleasant. I was told that there snow on the top - and there certainly was - in place a good few feet of it although all the roads were cleared by snow ploughs.

YouTube Video

The photos say it all - it was blowing a gale and at this height I always find I get short of breath.

YouTube Video

Over the top and down on the Italian side - like dropping off the side of a cliff - I have to say the Italians now how to build a road on almost shear faces!

A bizarre thing happened on the way down - as I rode down the pass into Italy - I saw what I though was a wallet so I turned around to picked it up - it was a new iPhone like mine - switched on and working - anyhow I found the owner by looking through stuff and sent a text to friends of his - he was a german guy who lived in California biking here with friends - one of whom I text to say I had the phone.

He was only a few miles away so I met him - young guy - over the moon about phone. Turns out he has a bike customising business in California and business associates in Germany and the phone - unlocked!, had significant business stuff on it - he wanted to give me a finders fee which I refused. He was so grateful - then I noticed he had 2 bullet cameras on his bike - I mentioned the GoPro - he said he knew of them but the units he had were very good - pro kind of stuff - then he took one off and insisted I have it!!' no way would he take a refusal - it's an expensive bit of kit! Seems that he has stuff like this and lots of it so no problem to him - he is in the trade! So now I have a pro type bullet camera kit - how odd, how nice - pays to be honest eh!

The ride to Italy was excellent - down to Merano then turning right towards the Stelvio Pass - this was closed because of the snow (in August!!!) luckily I was not going that way but turned right again for the Reisch Pass. The wind picked up and the bike was being blown all over the place - but I like that as it was both challenging and enjoyable. As I dropped down off the pass and headed back to Landeck in Austria the heavens opened again - luckily there were only a few miles left to ride so I opened up the bike and got back to the hotel in time for a hot shower and "Italian Night"!!!

I will post a slide show here when I return

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Location:Austria and Italy

To the ramparts and beyond

2010-08-05T13:43:00.002Z

A wet day in the Alps.

Today is a wet day - such a dramatic change from the great sunshine of yesterday. The weather has been the most changeable I can remember in the 3 years I have been coming here.

Riding in the Alps is not really a good idea in the rain - while it is perfectly possible and in previous years I have done it, you do miss the excitement of those alpine hairpins. As I have ridden most of them around here previously I am not going go push my luck in the wet so today will be another culture day - with perhaps a short ride if it clears later.

Today Richard and Eileen from Newcastle left so I saw them off after breakfast. They were well prepared and kitted up for the 350 miles they have to do their overnight stop tonight

Looking at the weather satellite images, Austria seems to be caught up between two different weather patterns and as such is experiencing changes on a daily basis.

So today I will go to Landeck Castle and the Volksbank - in the castle there is supposed to be a very good museum and exhibition centre and in the Volkbank there is a Photography exhibition and both within a reasonable walking distance.

Well the rain didn't let up at all and the walk to the museum was very very wet especially up the steep hill to it - hey it may have stopped the marauding troops in the past but not this guy!

The museum was a hit - great exhibitions, interesting place and a good coffee shop for a snack after.

Back down into the town a search for a new pair of trainers was fruitless so wet shoes it is then - but hey isn't that what hotel hairdryers are for.

Quick call into the SPAR and a tube of Nutella, Baguette and Iced Tea - feet up watch a film or read a bit before evening meal.

If it keeps raining it will be a wet ride tomorrow.

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Every which way but the right way

2010-08-04T19:48:00.002Z

The sun is shining, the hills are calling and the bike is itching to go. Today is Silvretta day - this is a superb 160km ride through a national park and over a 2000mt pass with twists both sides to match - well if you ride both by doing the full circuit and not stupidly taking the wrong direction from the top after lunch - thereby riding down the way I came up! Ah well it was the best side!

The run takes you from Landeck over the Altberg Pass to Blundez and the a left turn to get to the Silvretta Pass and park - this is a toll road at €9.50 but worth it. At the top is a superb cafe with a terrace overlooking the reservoir and dam.

Today I was testing out the GoPro but have come back to find a possible file corruption - if I cannot solve this on my return there will be no film of what is a first class run.

There is always a surprising mix of vehicles out on these roads - lots of bikes of course and a fair share of exotic cars - Porsche seems quite mundane.

It was a bit of a disappointment to discover I had come down the way I went up - so easily done - had I realised before the pay booth I would have u turned but I didn't for some miles and it would mean paying again.

There are numerous pretty villages along the route and pleasant views of the river. It is quite difficult to avoid going from the small rural road onto the toll motorway - easy to use and cheap at €4 for 10 days (any motorway in Austria) however there is a sting in the tail of this particular one - The Altberg Tunnel - this will save you climbing the pass but cost you €20 one way! It is some 16kms long.

Again the bike performed superbly, although the exhaust popping has returned - I think because of the altitude and steepness of the descents meaning lots of open and completely shut off throttle.

Back at the hotel the evening meal was Saltmbocco - translated as jumps in the mouth!

Basically chicken wrapped in Parma Ham with Zuccini etc very nice.

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Location:Silvretta Pass Austria

Crystal Gazing

2010-08-03T16:37:00.002Z

Today was supposed to be wet but as it turned put the rain held off and it was sunny for a good part of the day.

I met up with a Geordie couple and suggested they might like to see the Swarovski Museum.

After breakfast we set off on the motorway to Watten which is east of Innsbruck. A quick and easy ride with some outstanding views of the mountains shrouded in ethereal mist.

The museum is vast and although we arrived early, there were still huge queues. They were well ordered and it was not long before we entered the underground labyrinth of what I'd say is one of the most surreal experiences I have had in a museum.

The place is really rather bizarre with automatons and fine art inspired displays - extremely well done.

YouTube Video

Richard and Eileen thoroughly enjoyed the experience and asked if we could visit a specific cafe on the way back - it has a significant American theme with an array of rotting and strange American cars and a bar and restaurant area that resembles a hot rod workshop (all clinically clean and food safe of course)

The service was ok but you do have either order at the bar or sit at a table for waitress service - seems they don't do drive in no matter how long you wait!

The ride back to the hotel was on the minor road - a bit more feisty and interesting. Filling up with petrol at a mere €1.09 a litre makes it so much cheaper than the UK, France and Germany.
The Africa Twin is running well and with the new panniers proving to be the ideal touring bike for this kind of travel.

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Location:Watten nr Innsbruck

Rain rain go away .....

2010-08-02T17:06:00.002Z

A couple more people turned from the UK so we have a bike gang! OK so we can natter the night away.

The usual good Enzian breakfast was followed by my attempt to stop my exhaust popping - I became a centre of attention and banter as I stripped the bike down infront of a small group of interested people - it must be remembered that so many modern bikers would not dream of taking to working on their bikes and I was real retro - kind of old school but proud of it - no BMW international rescue service needed here maties just a few tools and a lot of common mechanical sense.

I did find an induction pipe clamp that had loosen off so hopefully that will solve the problem.

It's raining today so I and just making my mind up whether to ride or not.

I made my mind up and didn't ride but went for a walk into Landeck town.

They have a Aldi but it's called Hofer! Bought some munchies for a late lunch and spent the rest of the day on the veranda looking at the rain and reading.

Tomorrow the weather forecast is heavy rain then sun for the text of the week - let's hope it's right. I intend to have a wet ride tomorrow to a town called Watten nest Innsbruck to look at the Swarovski Crystal Museum. For tonight it is down for food and a natter with the bikers - although tonight Klaus the owner gives a talk on the hotel and area and then hands out free locally made Schnaps.

Yummy (again)

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Location:Landeck Austria

Black Forest but not for Gateaux

2010-08-01T19:18:00.002Z

It's now getting very hot but I am not complaining. Today is the final stage to Landeck.

I had hoped to capture some of the amazing bends on this road with the GoPro but I am still getting to grips with it and it is better to switch on record when you need it and not when you don't! So I had 50 minutes of nothing and a flat battery when I needed it full - ah well we live and learn.

So today's blog is really a few photos of a bikers meeting place and some Apple Strudel I had at a services on entering Austria.

Today's route took me out of Colmar and onto D roads for Freiburg in Germany.

Note - there will be some film of some of this when it is edited at a later stage

A road to savour is the D31 which goes for absolutely miles through Germany.

A diversion took me onto some small roads in the Black Forest where I came to a Sunday bikers haunt - the same the world over. Ironically a young lady came over to talk seeing the UK number plate - it turns out she was a nurse working in my home town from 2005 - 2009 and still had friends in the area (she is German and lives there now)

The run along Lake Constance was very busy with Sunday and holiday traffic so a well deserved break was taken st the first services in Austria. Just in case you were thinking - that drink is iced tea!

I took the toll motorway to Landeck saving over 100 miles and hours of riding at the end of a hot congested day.

Hotel Enzian here at Landeck has had some room refurbishment - there is a pattern emerging here! The room is modern and all my technology works do I am a happy chappy!

Evening meal was well up to the standard I have come to know here. Quite by chance an older couple on a classic Rotary Norton where here again - I met them here last year - the biking world is a small and friendly one.

Some views from the room

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Location:Colmar to Landeck

Col Practice 1

2010-07-31T19:51:00.002Z

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

2010-07-30T19:31:00.003Z

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

2010-07-29T18:56:00.002Z

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

2010-07-28T20:07:00.002Z

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!)

2010-07-28T12:39:00.002Z

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.

Fitted cases in the panniers are a real boon - well worth it.

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Location:UK to Austria

Test prior to Austria

2010-07-27T14:37:00.001Z

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Touring in Wales

2009-03-31T19:19:00.000Z

-- Post From My iPhone

Classic bike riding

2009-02-22T21:33:00.001Z

There is something quite special about riding old British bikes around the lanes. I have been lucky enough to have had quite a number of rides on a 1972 Triumph 500 I restored.

It is quite a cheap way of getting into biking BUT if you are like me and want an engine running as goo as the day it was made get the cheque book out!

-- Post From My iPhone

Austrian Tirol July/August 2008

2008-08-12T09:44:00.029Z

The Austrian Trip

Friends of mine had been to a hotel nestled in the centre of the Austrian Tirol and seemed quite enthused by it. I then found a leaflet at the National Bike Show last November at the NEC for the very same hotel. Hotel Enzian, Landeck, Austria.

I have to say that having spent a week there the brochure only goes part of the way to illustrate what a fantastic bike place the Tirol is - highly recommended. So here is an account of the trip.

Deciding which bike to take was a significant problem and in the end I chose the Honda Pan European over the Honda Africa Twin - whichever one would have been wrong because the Pan was superb all the way down and very capable in the Alps but not as much fun as the Africa Twin would have been - however the Africa Twin on the journey would not have been as superlative as the Pan - no easy answer here.

I chose Norfolk Lines as they offer very good rates for bikes across the channel and also the went from Dover to Dunkirk, a crossing I had not done before. In hindsight it might not have been the best route - Norfolk Lines are great but getting from West Wales to Dover is not the best of journeys, next time I might try Portsmouth to Le Havre as you may as well do the mileage in France instead of the UK!

I decided to put my Garmin to the test - I make a point of using the very cheapest one you can get from Halfords (£99) - is it waterproof you ask - well sort of, the Pan doesn't get wet where it is placed and if it looks like severe rain I have a small plastic cover I made held on with 2 elastic bands! And yes I can hear the instructions up to about 60mph - it doesn't take much to look every now and again anyhow. So here is a photo of it nestled on its 17mm ball mount in the centre of the bars, above the cheapest tank bag possible from Lidl! Great for small camera, wallet and a few bits and pieces, lift off and take with you everywhere.

Route plotting was simple - for the UK I wanted to get to Dover the quickest and easiest route this meant the M4 with a cut across country to the M25 etc - boring, busy but realistically unless you want a tour of the South the only way to go - now the Pan should be superb at this but it seems the bike is so great men in yellow jackets and funny little vans want to keep taking photos of you - I would love to get royalties on images of me on the bike they must have such a collection - BUT all below the speed limit thankfully, well except for one recently in the car (I am still not sure if I was driving it that day but that is another story, something about UK law and being guilty until proven innocent, funny I thought it was the other way around, seems times have changed eh!).

The journey to the ferry was pretty uneventful and the usual gripe about the cost of petrol and food at the services is still there, having said that Leigh Delamere Services seem to have improved the quality of food and service so I did not feel too bad paying for the late breakfast. I had chosen to catch the 2pm ferry as this gives enough time to get to Dover in the morning and the sailing is 2 hours plus the add on hour for France making it an arrival in French time of 5pm - just right for getting to a hotel and food for the next day. I cannot do the very long journeys in a day as my lower shoulder has been playing up this last 2 years and so realistically 300 miles is about it unless there is absolutely a need for more.

I booked up all my accommodation in advance with the intention of taking a reasonably relaxed route and schedule - allowing 3 days to get to Landeck in Austria and 4 days to return. It could be done in 2 days each ways fairly easily but I wanted to go without paying any tolls and avoiding as much main road as possible! The Accor Etap Hotels are ok for trips like this, fairly inexpensive and usually well placed, I must say however that some of them on this trip need refurbishment and the cost has risen (hasn't all of Europe - so much for the Euro eh!). This East side of France does not seem so well served by Etaps, there are a few new ones opening for 2008 but I could not book them on the website.

Another must have gadget is either an iPhone or I have an iTouch - this gives you web access wherever you can find a connection point - McDonalds usually have these free for 30 minutes or in Etaps you can buy an Orange Package giving you 3 hours over a 30 day period - well worth it. I was able to change and book other hotels en route as the roads and weather dictated. I take lots of photos of coffee (ok so I am a bit odd but have a look and make your mind up - http://www.coffee-angelo.blogspot.com/ )

As I said I wanted to travel avoiding busy main roads and cities but still wished to get to Landeck as quickly as possible so the GPS was set to avoid Tolls, U Turns and to go not the Fastest way but the shortest way - in France this is usually the D Roads - these are superb for bikes and I think just as quick overall as the Peage - you stop less often for petrol because you use less and it is a lot cheaper because you can fuel up in supermarkets and of course, no Toll charges. The Route Nationals are also very good but can have lots of lorries on them.

So I left Dunkirk after a good Etap, eat as much as you want breakfast for 5 euros or there abouts. In case you do not know a cheaper option to the Etap is the same chain's Formula 1 - same set up but no en suite - for a few euros more in the Etap you get the en suite - well worth it but mmmm the showers in the Formula 1 are more powerful!!!

I booked an Etap at Luxembourg for the first night as it seemed a reasonable distance to travel with some sightseeing en route - the GPS took me into Belgium after about 50 miles in France and then I seemed to be hopping across the border every 20 minutes - looking at the map later I could see why - the border between France and Belgium has many twists and turns - one interesting observation was the difference in the road surfaces between France and Belgium - looks as though expenditure on the roads is not part of Belgium's Euro deal !!!

I have to say the Etap next to the airport in Luxembourg was not the most inspired choice I made, that and the cost of the the restaurant next door on the Hotel Ibis prompted a quick visit to the local petrol station which had a mini SPAR - a vertitable feast was purchased and consumed watching French television - ok so not the best of nights but it was short one as I was quite tired.

Next day was an easy ride to Strasbourg, in hindsight I wished I had spent a bit more time booking my Etaps as again I was on the outskirts, albeit in an Industrial Estate where at least I could wander around the Conforama (this is a huge Outdoor Leisure Supermarket). The journey between Luxembourg was reasonably straightforward but with little bursts of interesting roads provided by Garmin - especially the one where it tried (and this was the ONLY time it got it wrong) to send me down a cycle path!!!
Lunch was taken on route and I cannot remember the name of this lovely little town but the Salami and Cheese was great, eaten alongside the river in the sun. A Yorkshire couple in their later fine years came over to chat with me, also on a Pan European but the 1100, older model. They were on their way back from Austria and warned of torrential rain and storms - they had not had such a good time. Tales of travels were exchanged and off they went. (For info - I missed all the storms it seems both down and back, apart from a few showers, heavy but showers).

I did not have time to look around Strasbourg but had booked 2 nights on the way back, giving me a day there so more later.

The next part of the journey involved crossing from France into Germany for the long trek over Lake Konstaz, I had not realised it but I missed Leichtensein by just a few miles so would pick that country up on the way home. Before taking the direct route I went down to Colmar and hit the first rain - Colmar is a beautiful town criss crossed with small canals, unfortunately the cobbled streets, early morning and rain did not inspire me photographically - most of the time I was concentrating on staying upright on the bike on the cobbles and so no photographs were taken (another time!).

Coffee has always been an important part of my trips - well photographs of the cups of coffee at least and so here is another. I found a very good services high on a motorway or autobahn (one of the few I really had to take (no tolls though so acceptable in my book). Today was quite a reasonable distance for my itinerary - approximately 350 miles. What I had not factored in was that many of these miles would be done high in the Austrian Alps - the roads, although superb for biking, are quite tiring after a day travelling. The route through Germany was mostly fast and focused and then I dropped into Austria and started the climbs and descents into this fantastic biker heaven. It was like physically moving from one existence to another, made even more real because I had to leave the Autobahns and ride some quite small and twisting roads.

My first rest stop in Austria lifted my spirit no end - a beautiful church view but check out the sign on the left - now if only Britain adopted the same welcome.

Late afternoon in Austria always seemed to cloud over and sometimes rain - this was a view as I felt I was really entering a different country - it felt as though I was entering a land cut off from everywhere else and to a point this is true of the Tirol. By not taking the Motorway/Autobahn route views like this opened up after every corner.

I finally arrived at Hotel Enzian in the late afternoon after some superb riding in spectacular countryside - I was not to know that this was only the smallest sample of what was to come. I should say that from a photographic point of view you could stop every few hundred metres and get a different picture - I chose mostly not to stop and ride as this was the purpose of the trip, so for every photograph here there were fifty I did not take, and often where I stopped was not the best place as it was quite difficult to pull up safely on the passes.

Hotel Enzian surpassed all expectations - this is a superb hotel really geared up for a biking holiday so here are some photographs of it to give you a flavour.

The hotel has excellent accommodation, well appointed rooms and a level of comfort and quality well above the price charged for this week, having said that I suspect that if prices rose the attractiveness of the whole package would soon disappear. I was made to feel welcome very quickly and it was not long before I was making my way to my reserved table for the first of many 4 course evening meals - great food, great service and great company, every night - this is one place you can turn up on your own and before you know it you will be chatting away in a range of languages (OK so it is mostly English because the rest of Europe are much better at English than we are at any of the others - but as I say to them hey you only have to learn one other language to speak to the rest of Europe - well I already know it so job done eh! I'm joking before the complaints come flooding in - bit of truth there though!). You have a choice whether to ride on your own each day or ride out with the guide. I chose a mix of this as fundamentally I am a lone rider (images of horses and setting suns with deserts and cactus come to mind but I am sure you get what I mean). I was pleased to meet a great group of guys and their wives and partners from the Vintage Motorcycle Club VMCC who were over from the North of England, 3 on Classic Bikes and one couple in a three wheeler Morgan. The Classic Bikes had come over in a van but the Morgan had been driven all the way - I am full of respect. Through the week these guys with their pillions proved that as much if not more fun can be had with relatively low powered machines at a steady pace.

My first ride out was to the beautiful Silvretta Pass. This is an easy run out from Landeck of some 40 miles or so and after a pleasant meander along the valley floor you start to climb towards the Glacier. This is biker heaven (I may say that a lot in this posting!). Rather than trying to describe it here are a few photographs.

I have to say if anything slows you down it is scenery like this - this is not Sports Bike territory more adventure bike and touring country.

The route has many hairpin bends and every one reveals yet another "best view I have seen"

The best bit about this particular ride is that it is not too taxing for novices and eases you in gently for the may hairpin bends you will encounter if you tour further afield in the Tirol. The Glacier itself was a bit dissapointing as most are at the top but I did manage a high altitude cup of coffee - nearly 2700 Metres

Mountains, Bikes, Hairpin bends, more mountains, more bikes, more bends, scenery, more mountains, more ..... and more !

MORE TO COME ....

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/conti.angelo/Austria

Biking in Wales

2008-06-08T19:49:00.000Z

Ireland 2007

2007-07-09T21:16:00.001Z

I have been going over to Ireland every July to watch some superb racing called the Skerries 100. The circuit is a 2.9 mile closed road, similar in width and surface to a UK C Class road. The guys (and ladies, although I am not aware of any that do) that race this circuit and others like it in the Irish Road Series are real heros. I think it is some of the best road racing you are likely to see. I am adding a short compilation video (not very good quality) and some still pictures.

I have to congratulate Martin Finnegan for brave and fast racing on his local circuit.

France - 2007

2007-07-09T21:16:00.000Z

My annual tour abroad was not to be the sun drenched carefree tour I have been used to in recent years. This year the rain followed me over the channel and into France. I had hoped to visit a few of the sights between St Malo and Poitiers that I had done some 10 or 11 years ago.

I did get to the places and managed to make the best of the weather in terms of sight seeing but I was disappointed that the riding was mostly done in the rain. I have to say riding along the Loire on the way down in torrential rain was not offset by exactly the same on the way back even though my day in Futurascope was as sunny and warm as one migh ever hope for.

Ironic thing is when I show the photos people comment on how good the weather was and that at least it was sunny for the places I went to see !!! Missed the point methinks as a biking holiday is less about the destination and more about the journey, ah well you have to be a biker to understand that concept.

The trip went smoothly enough though and I suppose 4 out 7 days great weather is OK, it is just that I cannot forget missing what should have been a memorable experience along the Loire. After all I rodae the D road and so the river was only metres away for almost 50 kms each way. mmmm thoughts - I will just have to go back again (see there is a positive in everything!)
Here is an album of photographs (selected of course) - click on the image to view

France June 2007

Let me tell you a story of our Stella Alpina Tour!

2006-08-04T11:06:00.000Z

It all started back in October 2005, I bought a BMW F650 as a winter bike. A conversation at the café in Llandovery went something like – “Hey, I could do the Stella with this one – anyone fancy it?” I subsequently bought a superb Honda Africa Twin for this trip.

Actually it started before this after chatting to a wonderful motorcycle traveller called Carl Barnard – his enthusiasm for bike travel and tales of the Stella inspired me to organise this trip. I have over 12 years experience of biking in Europe so thought this would be a piece of cake! Previously I have always
gone on my own and so the schedule and pace are set by me – I tend not to book things up and so where I stay and when I stay are my choices.
This was going to be different – I was going with mates, some of whom had not biked abroad before, but were well travelled.
A challenge and a learning curve for all of us
Well the motley crew were all ready and fired up – we left work at 4pm on Wednesday 6th July from Swansea Services Station for the ride down to Portsmouth – we had chosen LD Lines for the crossing, although I was the only one who had booked early enough to get a cabin and be assured of a good nights sleep! Oh yes I did not let them know my cabin number as well – a tip worth bearing in mind!

So far so good. The crossing went ok – I got a good nights sleep, rang the lads and offered them the comfort of my cabin to shower and refresh in but Hywel told me that they had got a cabin for free – mmmm big mistake because I believed them, left mine and locked it – when I met up with them later I realised they were kidding me and could have used the space – but by then it as too late (there is a moral here somewhere)

En Route – Auxerre 1st time!

Auxerre is well worth a visit – a very pretty town with some interesting architecture – oh yes I took these while the guys were sinking a beer!

First overnight stop Beaunne
IBIS Hotel at Beaunne – A good stop off point but having got split up and lost on way through Paris we were a bit late arriving – good meal though, except for Huw’s – mind there is an art to complaining in French and unfortunately Huw did not have it!

Huw showing the French how to make an Irish Whiskey – just bring me a big glass half full of whiskey, now ask the chef to fill it up with fresh cream – there you see you have Irish whiskey!!!

Lost on Route - Peage or Col du Galibier (Daddy or Chips!)

Well it had to happen – I had a map, knew which way to head with the knowledge that with the sun on my left shoulder in the morning I was travelling south – there was a discussion and for my mates the TomTom won and they followed its path right to the Peage!!!
I of course trusted instinct and the map – beautiful D Roads, pretty villages and then through gorges until I reached the bottom of the Col du Galibier - a terrific climb with hairpins to dream of and views – well there would have been better views if it was not misty! It is quite interesting to note the height of Col du Galibier at 2645 mts this is no small hill and is good for preparing you for the altitude at the Stella of 3000 mts - the big differences of course being the Stella run is off road and this Col is tarmaced - oh yes and my mates are nowhere to be seen here, no doubt climbing the dizzy heights of the peage service station carpark somewhere!!! OK guys I will stop having a go for a while - well a sentence or so at least.

On route to Bardonnechia, at last!

Well not quite as I just had to have a quick stop at the lovely town of Biancon on the border. I believe this is the highest town in Europe (but stand to be corrected) Mmmmm I wonder what the view was like from inside the tunnel, probably by this time they were getting to the end of it - still not as good a place as this though - guys you were on the wrong road, believe me!

Bardonnechia and Hotel Somellier

Well, after a lot of texts back and forth, along the lines of “so where are you guys, I am at the hotel” and “OK so Steve has booked a different one, I am not changing now!” we finally ended up in a very nice restaurant, called ironically “The Stella Alpina” opposite Hotel Somellier. Steve had booked the Best Western Hotel which was a couple of kilometres out of town, more luxurious no doubt but hey who wants to walk back to a hotel after a good meal.
In the end Huw changed his booking and stayed at the Best Western while Hywel and myself shared a room at the Somellier – this is an inexpensive and simple hotel, packed with bikers and is quite OK for this type of event.

The Stella Alpina Rally

We are now into our 3rd day – Saturday – it was supposed to be a kind of chill out day but we thought we would meet up and have a look at the kind of terrain we were going to be going over.
Like all things a quick look turned out to be a full scale climb to the top – my fault, sorry guys! I kind of got the bit between my teeth, found it very easy and so just kept going. Too many jaunts on my own I think, not used to having others follow!

Anyhow we all got to the top and were surprised how straight forward it was – a bit hard on the bikes but I think we have discovered why – Tyres were inflated at sea level back in Wales, we did not let them down and so in the thinner air of 3000 metres no doubt they were greatly over inflated and so contributed to the bone jarring ride we had.
I have to mention Huw at this point and take my hat off to him. I was on an Africa Twin, Steve and Hywel both on GS1150 – Huw was on a Yamaha XJR1300 !!! Brave guy to say the least.
Oh yes – I forgot to set the altimetre correctly so it is reading 200 metres out – it should read 3000 metres

The ride up the mountain

2006-08-03T21:06:00.000Z

I have to say I found the going relatively easy - now don't go thinking I am some kind of Off Road Guru because I am most definately not, however it was dry, sunny and the surface rocky but very starightforward to navigate. I too it slowly and gently, standing most of the way. I think the secret it to be safe and don't stop until you get to the top. The Honda Africa Twin was a good choice, nimble, light enough and with just the right amount of power for the assent.

The views are just stunning and I have to admit to a cheat here as the photos were taken on the way down not the way up - I was too busy concentrating on the way up to think about my camera!!!

Stella Alpina Rally Italy 2006

2006-08-03T11:05:00.000Z

Stella Alpina Rally - Italy 2006

2006-08-03T11:02:00.000Z

Sign of a good off road trip

2006-07-20T21:20:00.000Z

Tour of Spain and Portugal 2006

2006-06-08T14:34:00.000Z

This is a brief account of the trip I made to the Picos in Spain and then down to the Duoro Valley and Northern Portugal at Easter time 2006. The bike I used for this journey was my very capable and superb Honda Pan European ST1300

Unfortunately my Nikon Digital Camera was not working on the way down (it was rattled about in the top box a couple of weeks earlier and I stupidly forgot to check it before leaving for this trip) so I was not able to make any photographs of the journey down to Potes in the Picos region. A quick spin to one of the slightly larger towns near and a visit to a very nice man in the camera shop saw me smiling at the purchase of a new pocketable Nikon with 5 million pixels - set up for the rest of the journey - good price too and with replaceable batteries instead of rechargeable - good news when travelling.

The journey down was superb - I took the decision to pay a bit extra and book a much better cabin on the PO Ferry - I chose this option because it is a bit cheaper than the Britanny Ferries one although it takes a day longer - booking the cabin upgrade makes the same price but hey you get a 2 day cruise, with ensuite, tv, breakfast abd fresh fruit in the room!!! Quality eh!

First stop was Potes in the Picos - what a fantastic place. The roads are a tourers fantasy and the views nothing short of spectacular. Deep sided gorges and bends to dream about, plenty to catch you out as well to take care anyone thinking of going. It is a shame that I hadn't bought my new camera at this point so there is nothing to show except a couple of photos I took on the way back from the camera shop that illustrate the mountain ranges from the road.

Potes is a very attractive town on the centre of the Picos and is a must for travellers, plenty of accomodation. I stayed at the Picos de Europa Hotel just off the centre of town. Very reasonable and comfortable. There is not a lot to do in the town itself although the hotel does arrange tours on quads if you want - next time perhaps for me.

Click on the image below for a selected photo album of the trip

Portugal selection for web