Gerontious Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 16 hours ago, bonio said: * Got to start and end at home, using bike, ferries, tunnel. No planes. * No more than 14 nights away * No more than 7.5 hours actually on the bike each day This isn't really a fantasy. This is what we do.. as he well knows. We normally go away for a week to the Eifel/Luxembourg. and then every 2/3 years go somewhere else as an alternative, somewhere different so that the Eifel doesn't become stale through constant repetition So, thus far we have been to the Black Forest and the far south of France. The Vercors... because of a 'dream road' Combe Laval.. as well as other reasons. Sadly Combe Laval was closed due to a major rock fall. We went to the south of France that year because the original plan - going to Austria/Italy with a quick foray into Slovenia had to be scrapped at virtually the last minute due to weather. So.. the plan was to try again, last September. But this year... that went to pot due to Covid and in the event I went alone. Ending up in the Dolomites. (and Liechtenstein) via the Eifel and Black Forest. This year we will be going back to the Eifel and then next year we will try for Austria again. 14 nights away.. no more than 7.5hrs on the bike is actually a big constraint.. especially if you don't want to spend much time on Motorways. (and who does?) aside from stretches to munch the miles.. I generally aim for that to be only on the first and last day. Mostly because I view these necessary 'drudge' rides as pretty much unavoidable if you want to get to somewhere like the Alps in the minimum time. But its mainly.. actually about getting past the dull parts of France.. or Belgium. I don't "do" fantasy.. what's the point? if you cannot make it happen then it seems a little odd to waste time dreaming. I do enough of that when Im asleep. The only trip that can only be a fantasy at the moment is Norway. I can make that happen if they ever reinstate the Newcastle-Bergen ferry. And that might happen post Brexit, but I'm not holding my breath. Motorail has all but disappeared... and Covid might be the end of it.. but. Im hoping that that might be an option for us in the Future. Motorail to the Balkans and if the route I have in mind still exists.. ride over the Bosphorus and into Turkey. Thats actually doable given Bonios "rules" But.. aside from that. I have two 'back of an envelope' plans for the future. Slovakia and then into the Carpathians and follow them as far round the arc as possible in the time allowed hopefully at least as far as Transylvania. Or... south east via the Alps and then the Ferry across the Adriatic to Montenegro. But.. in either case that 7.5hrs on the bike.. as well as my own intense dislike for wasting time.. wasting prime riding time, on motorways means that these are unlikely. because it's too much of a slog on what is always meant to be a holiday. I would never suggest something that was not doable and a 95% a pleasure ride.. once that first motorway leg is done. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) 28 minutes ago, Steve_M said: I certainly wouldn’t bother with riding across it again, but it’s an impressive sight from the Gorge du Tarn, which is a delightful road. I’d like to go back and explore that area more sometime. Ive done that with Rob M. we made a conscious decision NOT to ride over the Millau... we went under it. we also had a really epic day... one of the best ever when we went to see the sea. the Med. and had a fabulous meal. Following the Tarn is a fantastic ride.. highly recommended. in fact that region around Milau and south to the Verdon. is truly stunning. Another time.. I took Snoddy.. for his dream ride. he wanted to do the Monaco Grand Prix.. and I made that happen for him. he also wanted to see the med as he never had in his life. Stop dreaming.. and start DOING!!!! Edited January 22, 2021 by Gerontious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Right now all we can do is dream. International travel isn't going to happen for the next few months at least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 18 minutes ago, S-Westerly said: Right now all we can do is dream. International travel isn't going to happen for the next few months at least. Indeed.. but aside from Spain/Portugal by ferry.... who would want to tour at the fag end of winter anyway? especially if you want to go to the Alps.. where winter isn't over until late May or into June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rennie Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Nowadays I'd need Sue to drive the campervan while I rode the bike. I've got loads of trips I'd like to do! We did central and southern Germany, in the van. in 2018. I'd like to do Northern Germany up towards Denmark. I'd like to do Spain again and maybe venture into Portugal. I'd like to do some European bike race weekends too. I've been over Milau twice on the bike and at least twice in the car I thought it was pretty impressive! especially when you go over the clouds in the valley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Well I assumed the “fantasy” part of the thread title has more to do with the current state of affairs. I don’t think dreaming is a waste of time at all though, you think about a lot of things you’d like to do if you let your mind wander and when you find yourself repeatedly returning to the same thoughts they crystallise into something more real and then you simply make it happen. Everything I’ve put in my post would have actually happened by now if it hadn’t of been for the obvious, I’d be happily exploring from a base in southern Spain with Morocco ticked off and the next country/countries riding mapped out. Getting jabbed according to the vaccine calculator based on current vaccination rates puts my second jab mid to end august so realistically many of these things may not happen for me til 2022. That’s ok until that time I’ll just dream about it, knowing it is going happen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 Destination ..who cares .... as long as she's a goer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stedebs Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 57 minutes ago, rennie said: Nowadays I'd need Sue to drive the campervan while I rode the bike. I've got loads of trips I'd like to do! We did central and southern Germany, in the van. in 2018. I'd like to do Northern Germany up towards Denmark. I'd like to do Spain again and maybe venture into Portugal. I'd like to do some European bike race weekends too. I've been over Milau twice on the bike and at least twice in the car I thought it was pretty impressive! especially when you go over the clouds in the valley why would Sue need to drive the camper??????? there are hotels you know if it's cos you don't like tents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 29 minutes ago, Six30 said: Destination ..who cares .... as long as she's a goer. she has a nice fart pipe....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 14 minutes ago, Stu said: she has a nice fart pipe....... She's been drinking too much Tango. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rennie Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 1 hour ago, stedebs said: why would Sue need to drive the camper??????? there are hotels you know if it's cos you don't like tents We'd far rather use the campervan don't really like hotels! much more freedom to eat drink and see different places Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 2 hours ago, Gerontious said: Indeed.. but aside from Spain/Portugal by ferry.... who would want to tour at the fag end of winter anyway? especially if you want to go to the Alps.. where winter isn't over until late May or into June. Fair comment, I wasn't really thinking of right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onesea Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 3 hours ago, Six30 said: Destination ..who cares .... as long as she's a goer. I assume misses @Six30 isn't a member... I dare not ride with such ladies, my misses would set my daughter on me not that she would need encouragement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stedebs Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 2 hours ago, rennie said: We'd far rather use the campervan don't really like hotels! much more freedom to eat drink and see different places fair enough ...... I don't like tents now so my tours on the bike or in the car will include hotels .......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob m Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 6 hours ago, Gerontious said: Ive done that with Rob M. we made a conscious decision NOT to ride over the Millau... we went under it. we also had a really epic day... one of the best ever when we went to see the sea. the Med. and had a fabulous meal. Following the Tarn is a fantastic ride.. highly recommended. in fact that region around Milau and south to the Verdon. is truly stunning. He’s right, it was awesome 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonio Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 ... about to plunge in 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonio Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 (edited) Dream trips for me would be * Down through the Black Forest, over the Alps into the Italian Lakes, keep going east to the Dolomites, Slovenia and Austria. * Romania, Brasov, Sibiu, painted monasteries, the Transfaraggraragaran, perhaps a bit of Serbia too, see what's left of the Iron Gates but in reality, I wouldn't mind a few days in the Pennines and the Lowlands. Great roads, not too far for a short trip. Edited January 22, 2021 by bonio 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerontious Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 18 minutes ago, bonio said: Dream trips for me would be * Down through the Black Forest, over the Alps into the Italian Lakes, keep going east to the Dolomites, Slovenia and Austria. Thats the plan.. that's always been the plan. 2022, third time lucky. However.. over the Alps means NO to Switzerland. and YES to the Allgau. aah... the Allgau. and the Deutsche Alpenstrasse 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonio Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 Oh my, that hurts my eyes it's so beautiful. 2022? Please. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throttled Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden. A longer version of the Henry Cole Scandinavian World's Greatest Motorcycle Rides, so add in Stockholm and loop back to Denmark. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 12 hours ago, onesea said: I assume misses @Six30 isn't a member... I dare not ride with such ladies, my misses would set my daughter on me not that she would need encouragement that is my mrs ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onesea Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 19 minutes ago, Six30 said: that is my mrs ..... What the fook are you doing living in Rennes Wardrobe then. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six30 Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 39 minutes ago, onesea said: What the fook are you doing living in Rennes Wardrobe then. my bad ... meant to say when the lights are out and the Stella has kicked in that's my mrs... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedibiker Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Id love to ride around Thailand and anywhere with nice roads and exotic. Not hours on the bike as such as stopping to take pics and chill also crucial.. Im not bothered about riding there though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowlycatchymonkey Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 16 hours ago, Gerontious said: Thats the plan.. that's always been the plan. 2022, third time lucky. However.. over the Alps means NO to Switzerland. and YES to the Allgau. aah... the Allgau. and the Deutsche Alpenstrasse It doesn’t look real does it @bonio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.