Route: France (1 night) , then Germany ( 2nights) via Belgium Switzeland (1 night) onto Italy- Lake Como (1 night) Verona (3 nights) Alessandria (1 night on the train) then Rotterdam (1 night boat) ..It was raining in the UK when we all met met for coffee at our local Starbucks at 10am..we hadn't slept too well the night before, as anyone who goes on a trip will testify. a mix of super excitement and nerves. Bill, who has an oldish '92 Kawa ZXR750 was suffering a bit more, mainly because of the age of the bike and has never done big mileage. He had spent a load getting it upto scratch, new chain, sprockets, throttle cables, brakes, hydraulics and discs...together with new tyres. Tol was on his newly acquired Blackbird, and Craig on his newly acquired R1. After a brew and a chat, we headed off, in our waterproofs as the rain was horrendous and as usual for the UK it was cold, we headed to Folkestone to catch the Eurostar train to Calais. We needed to be there at 8pm for boarding. First stop, Calais for the night. We chose Calais, as it's a bit of a slog there - just over 300 miles, and we where using the motorway which is boring. Calais is the natural start of a northern europe trip if heading to Germany etc... We arrived at the Hotel in Calais at a decent hour, changed, and headed off to the City for a meal and a few drinks. We came across a little restaurant on the pavement, and had a top meal there with local beer. Very friendly too. Next day, after the usual continental breakfast of croissants and espressos, we headed off to Germany vis Belgium, turning left from France. We go this way as that part of France and into Belgium is boring as anything, flat, characterless and we wanted to hit the Autobahn for a bit of shenanigans and to show Bill what maxing the bike out without being illegal felt like. It was very warm and dry, and had a great run down and a few laughs racing each other. Needless to say, the blade speedo DOES stop at 186 mph and by GPS, i got 189 mph and it was still pulling until a car just pulled out on what seemed like 20 metres in front...Foookinell! brakes work well..... Blade is faster and pulls harder than an R1 and Blackbird too. Niiice. We pulled off after around 50 miles of Autobahn, and hit the twisties on the way to Nurburg. Again, blue sky, and was getting hotter. Around 25 degrees. We where staying 7km away from the ring in a couples house that we pre-booked. It was lovely. A chocolate box village, with stunning views. 200 year old big house with big bedrooms and lovely bathrooms.. After a tour by by the owners, and showing our 2 rooms, we asked where the neared decent eatery was. The guys wife offered to drive us there (it was 2km away to the restaurant) so we gladly accepted. We stopped off on the way to have a wine or 2 in the village before we ate. After a big, and i mean MASSIVE meal ( we have never, ever seen portions like it) the owner of the place ( very tasty too) asked us if we wanted to join her and her friends for a cocktail in the new bar up the road! it was very tempting in more ways than one, but we where due for a lap or 2 of the ring the next day. After declining her offer, she asked one of her staff to run us back to the house we where staying in. Bonus.... We awoke, again, to blue skys and temps of around 19. After a German brekkie of meats, cheeses and breads and fruit, we told the owners we where heading off to Baden Baden via a lap of the Ring. We where gutted that it wasn't open for a lap as there was a weekend of old F1 cars and their ilk under a show called "Acceleration". gutted. After a ponder, we headed off to Baden via the B48. It's an awesome road, twisty, smooth but can be scary. Make a mistake on a few bits of it and your toast. Love it though, it's fantastic. Temps in the afternoon was around 26, so tyres where nice and warm and could make the most of it.... Bill is a super quick rider... quickest i know, so was enjoying it immensely. I knew he would...but the best was yet to come... We stopped off for a nice lunch and a few coffee before heading to Baden Baden... We arrived in Baden around 6pm. We stayed in a Hotel just outside of town, and booked a meal that night. there was a picturesque small square outside, and before dinner, had the usual wine or beer. I went outside for a smoke after the meal, and clocked some dude eyeing Craigs R1. After a while, he came over and started chatting. Although German, he spoke impeccable English. He told us he was a biker, but was into his cars more, and after a bit of me being nosy, he told us he was head of R&D and Design for Porsche. He was off the the ring to test out some cars the next day. i was a bit cautious of his tales, so i googled him after we spoke. Sure enough, it was the same guy. A lovely bloke, and we chatted a few times. A real petrol head and he was there for his mothers 80th Birthday. He bid us fair well and wished us a safe journey. Next day, Switzerland. The B500. Perfection. You have switchbacks, tight and open bends, small villages, and it opens up to an incredible vista of shell grip road where you can see for miles. We did this last year so knew the scoop. I told Craig, Bill and Tol to go ahead while i was filming. We just caned it. 60 limit in most parts, most of it we did 130+..amazing. Craig and i got caught up in a bit of traffic, and Tol and Bill just cooked off...catching them was a no goer, i did 150+ in some stretches and still couldn't catch them. it goes to show playing catch up after being held up for 20 secs is a pain in the arse. We caught up eventually, and Bill and Tol said they had both locked up on the road as they didn't realise there was a T-junction at the end of it.... the both overshot and nearly went over the edge...hahaha. I knew it was there as the sat nag told me so. Bill was beaming from ear to ear, he thought it was epic. It is... Bill ran out of fuel. He informed us via the Scalas, that after 5 miles of reserve he was dry. bugger. Craig and i shot off to to the nearest petrol station, he carried the fuel in a jerry can we bought, i carried the pipes and donuts and drinks. Oh, the beauty of sat nag and it telling us the nearest station was only 2 miles away..... We pulled off, and headed to the night stay at the Wepfers house. It was run by a guy called Heinz Wepfer and his wife. Lovely big house again, great gardens. I was cheeky and asked him if he had a beer. Sure enough, he went away and gave us 4 big bottles of beer. No charge. He ran us down to the village for some food in a spanish restaurant. we passed a florist, and he told us he was the owner of it. No wonder, judging by his stunning garden. Being Switzerland, it was crazy expensive...cheapest bottle of wine was £40..sod that..so we had a few beers and a good meal. £200 that cost! fek. We got a taxi back to the Wepfers and had to get them up as they foot to put the door on its snip. Another good breakfast the next day from his wife. She said her son (who lives in spain) was a biker and shown us some pics of her and her son on his Hardly Movingson. She was taking loads of pics of us as we headed off.... she was creaming herself...hahaha. lovely woman though. Next day, Lake Como. Via the Gotthard pass. perfect! If you've never done the gotthard, please do. it's fantastic, it really is. Bill was astounded how beautiful and open it is, with wide roads and great corners and stunning scenery. 19 miles of heaven. The day started off lovely, blue sky, then it started to rain. we pulled over and put our waterproofs on. 10 minutes later, it stopped. hehe, happy days. The forecast for the top of the pass was heavy snow and wet and cold. But, at least it was open. We started the climb up, swithbacks, hairpins ( i hate hairpins) and still no snow or rain. We reached the top, 0 degrees and sunny. The plastic gloves underneath our gloves kept the cold off, as did putting on our waterproofs..this works a treat to stop the cold. we had a stop for photos, and headed down towards Como. Again we stopped for lunch and we we where on our way to Lezzeno using b roads. This is where i nearly had an altercation with a van while i was doing 80+ through some bends...50/50 on who's fault, he cut the corner and i went in wide. it was a close one though... heart was pounding afterwards, but i just focused on the exit. Job done and no harm. Just goes to show, one mistake and it's goodnight vienna....
All the roads to Lezzeno are twisty apart from 10 miles of insane filtering through como, that was right laugh .... we watched while filling up a bus went into the back of a car which hit 3 others..... carnage. The drivers just got out and shrugged their shoulders while holding their necks..LOL. we arrived at the Hotel. It was a 16th century winery, the winery was still there, and the guy still produced his own wine. It was temperature controlled by a small natural waterfall and he offered us a tour after an epic dinner. It was beautiful, and with it's location, is the best place i've ever stayed in. Not expensive either. Afterwards, he asked us to join him in a drink (limoncello at no charge and gave us a demo of his magic skills using cards and other things..very impressive. He also had a bike (BMW GS) and a nice Ferrari Modena in the gag]rage. He told us the place was in the family, his Great Grandfather was the original owner. Stunning. Another fab brekkie of espressos and breads and cakes, we headed off for Verona.. another day of blue skye, this time temps hitting 30...... We arrived at the hotel, picked the case up that we had delivered the day earlier, and got changed into nice clean togs... donning our t-shirts and jeans, we went into the city for a mooch on the bikes. Italians love bikes, and kept coming over to look at them while we had drinks in the square..mulling over what to do that night. We headed back, showered, and got a taxi to Verona centre (£10 for the taxi). It's fronted by an old arena, and is still intact. It's used for operas and plays from July onwards. We had a few wines, then a quick meal before heading off to bed. Next day, we had a lazy one, no riding today as we where fooked. We had a lie in, a lazy breakfast, and chilled outside in the gardens, drinking beers and coffee. That night, again into Verona for a lovely meal. 4 bottles of wine later, Tol, Bill and i decided to visit a place of the night... Craig went home as he isn't feeling well. it turns out he has Tonsillitis. We had taken him to the chemists the days before, but it was getting worse... and he couldn't eat properly. Bummer. Told, Bill and i got in around 4 am..£300 lighter and smashed.... Next day, onto Lake Garda. We hired a boat, and chilled. The other 3 dove in, but i just took pics and crashed on the deck. We all got burnt...no sunscreen. A nice relaxing day though. Night time, back to Verona. Craig decided to sit this one out, so we got ready (all in our new shirts haha) and again had a fab meal after a walk around. Bill looks like Liam Neeson, and does a good impression, and after around 5 bottles of red, everyone in the restaurant outside was looking as we where pissing ourselves.... That's when some girls decided to join us for drinks.... We must learn another language as we are quite ignorant really.... After brekkie, and an early start, we headed for Alessandria for the train. We had booked it as it saves 3 days riding back, and 2 days food and fuel.... We had a 4 berth couchette (Cabin) and pre booked a 3 course meal with drinks in the restaurant car. you also get a welcoming prosecco on arrival. Debbie at railsavers told us if we looked after the staff, they would look after us... it worked. They never charged us for 2 bottles of red and numerous coffees. The girl looking after us (Lona) was a star.... kept giving us coffees through the night, and let me use a car next to the driver to take pics from an open window of the train... the cabin is small, i didn't sleep as i kept thinking i was going to fall out of bed as the train was fast around the corners..hehe. The boarding of the bikes was hairy as there is next to no headroom, you really had to duck down...and tie on your own tie downs which is no bother really. The train headed off at 5.30pm, and arrived at 8am the next day in Hertgenbosch. Again, breakfast was brought to us in our cabins, a box full of croissants, coffee, muesli and fruit. Nice. Then, we headed off to Europort in Holland to catch the boat to Hull... It was chokka with hen parties and stag parties from Amsterdam. Some right knobs on there i can tell you... pre booked a meal and brekkie though in the restaurant which was good and all you could eat... All in all, another epic trip. Weather was fantastic, roads where fantastic and food and drink and scenery are to to die for. Back to work and counting the days to the next one, i know bill is already hooked after his (his first) trip away on the bikes. Total cost of all the Hotels and gaffs = £270 Fuel around £200 Train £180 boat £70 in bike Chunnel £35 Cost of holiday was £755 plus food and drink, so cheap for great hotels etc...
Brilliant as always Si. Love the arena in Verona. One of my favourite Italy pit stops. Cheers for sharing mate.
Just got back from a week of the same, riding to Ghent, then the ring, Baden Baden, B500 then Andermatt in the alps to Milan, all back roads then motorway to Motogp Mugello. So many pics are the same as ours, lol felt as if we was new explorers, we have only done 150 mile bike rides before. Rode from Bellinzone switzland, 815 mile in one hit to get home, wish we had more time like your trip to look about . Good write up Si.
Just caught up with this and really enjoyed the write up and of course the photos . Looks like you have had a great time and old Tol looks like he's not scared of tackling a bottle of Red.
Si cracking wee picture story reminds me of my recent trip to Baden Baden had a ball down there on the amazing roads and the autobahn of course its only right!
