TravelStream™ news feed for member 2bikers on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/2bikers en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:11:05 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/2bikers/1/1223640540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/2bikers/1/1223640540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/2bikers/1/1223640540/tpod.html Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:11:05 -0400 Following the front wheel around europe

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Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

Please see our previous entry this update is for the map only
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Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

Hi all  We have caught the ferry from Le Harve to Portsmouth  it was a lot easier than driving up to Calais and it saved another over night hotel and as Linda would say I'm a tight Yorkshireman   typical!  Very smooth ferry ride that got us back to the UK about 10pm then we had to unload from the ferry and clear immigration, they were checking to see if we had a dozen illegal immigrants in the pannier bags. Then about 1030 pm  we started the 300km drive back to Sheffield.  It felt strange at first being on the wrong side of the road but as it was late the roads were not busy. No problems heading north up the centre of England, a stop for fuel about 1230 then onto the motorway, I noticed that on the last leg Linda had gone still. About 130am we reached Sheffield then Linda told me she had been asleep for the last part, very smooth bike the BMW ( and no Heinz I was not too slow!) So we have safely made it back to our starting point and all in one piece after 4000 miles  or about 6500km. The bike is just great and we will be sorry to see it go but that was the plan, anyone want to buy a bike? One of the things we had was a Tom Tom GPS that communicated via bluetooth to my helmet so I could hear directions,  what a fantastic piece of equipment it made life very easy and allowed me to concentrate on the road instead of a map. That is despite what linda thinks about me sight seeing! Well that concludes the bike journey we will up date a finale when we get home. See you and we hope our ramblings were not too bad.  Linda & Paul  
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Caen, Normandy, France

Hi all Well we left the Le Continental after a good breakfast and another Bon Route, maybe the romantic road is here! We have decided to head for the Normandy coast and Le Mont St Michel. Starting to see a few cars now with English number plates. Empty roads hardly any traffic just perfect sunshine and the roads to our selves.  I have found that with our entire luggage on the bike is happiest at 120Kmh just nice and easy cruising. The road took us through Le Mans and as we neared the coast the land is very flat then as if arising out of nowhere perched high on a rock is Le Mont St Michel. What a fantastic place a whole town on a rock surrounded by beach on all sides, we quickly found a hotel then onto the causeway to the town, for the first time on the whole trip we were charged to park the bike, a massive 1 euro.  Then I found that we had been suckered there was a bike park for locals no charge, 10 euros for cars. Very steep narrow roadways full of American tourists.....oh well  its still a fantastic place and full of history. Back to the hotel as it was going dark then out for restaurant for dinner, great meal even had crepes for a pudding.   Back on the diet when we get home! The next day it was onto the Normandy D day beaches to see the sites for the landings the gun emplacements, the harbour temporarily built for the landings is still there. We stopped at one of the Military cemeteries that are dotted throughout this area it was a very moving experience as we walked past the grave stones of the fallen who in most cases were in their early 20's or younger.  We moved on towards Le Harve. As we approached Le Harve we could see this uncreditable suspension bridge that crosses the river Seine, we then were on the bridge up a 1 in 6 climb to the top then  drop down into Le Harve. Then the best bit  5 Euro for cars  Bikes  FREE!!!!!     Why can't we all embrace bikes in same way.  We had booked via the internet a ferry crossing to Portsmouth, if you  pre book its cheaper than just fronting up ( thanks for the tip Heinz)  so we waited to board the ferry with heavy hearts and chatting to the other bike riders, we all talked as a group as the car drivers sat in their cars alone, no wonder there is a universal bond with all bikers. We met a great character Paul Griffith who had emigrated to New Zealand and had to return to the UK when his mum got ill, so he rode his bike to the UK on his own no problems just 1 puncture, great to hear his stories.  So its onto the ferry.  See ya    
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Bourges, Centre, France

Hi all  Well it had to happen for the first time on this trip we awoke to the dreaded sound of RAIN!!!!!!!!!!  Thunder overnight.  As Linda so eloquently put it " Its pissing down" We have been on the road for over 3 weeks now and at start of Autumn so to go this far without rain its been great.  Oh well nothing to do but test out our jackets and pants bought in the UK and see if they are waterproof.   So it was onto the road and heading north west.   Well we just cruised along great bike this with the screen raised it gave good protection.   I found out that of all my gear the only part that leaked was my boots, Linda was all smiles (relatively speaking) no leaks! We stopped for coffee and great food then decided that the next hotel we see we are in. Guess what the rain stopped!!!! So it was on until we decided to find a hotel for the night.  We booked into the Le Continental hotel the lady did not speak any English and my French is to be honest rubbish! All went well she handed over the room key then offered another key saying for moto.She had given me a key to a garage to tuck the bike up for the night, what a great person this was typical of the attitude towards bikes of everyone in Europe we have spoken to. Dinner in the hotel was basic but filling and beer is the same in any language. Then back to the room to dry my boots and a good nights sleep. The morning  fine and warm,  back to normal. See ya.   
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/2bikers/1/1223570040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/2bikers/1/1223570040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/2bikers/1/1223570040/tpod.html Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:43:59 -0400 Following the front wheel around europe

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Avignon, Provence, France

Hi all  Sorry for the delay in posting this blog time has flown by. We left Antibes after a very happy time exploring the French Riviera and headed into the mountains again first stop was Grasse on a hill top the town is famous for its perfume manufacturing, as they don't do one like Castrol R40 it was a drive through. When we were in Bavaria Irene recommended the Route Napoleon as our way through the French Southern Alps. What a fantastic road climbing over mountains, dropping into valleys and hairpin bends so tight that I could feel Linda squeezing me tight, this leads me to another thing I noticed in  France, When we stopped for fuel or to pay at the never ending toll as I left and said goodbye I was wished Bon-Route.  Now I know that Bon is good ,so why are they wishing me Good route?  Not bad these French people after all. The road goes through mountains then on ledges with a steep drop and no rail more squeezing.....I like this road. We stopped at a small café high in the hills and I got a lesson in French......  for the last week or so I had been getting by on café latte and expresso,,   not so here it's a café au lait and café noir grande.  Still enjoyable all the same then came the fun bit trying to get the bike off the centre stand I had made the mistake of parking on a slope facing uphill, one very heavy bike on a gravel surface of the car park is not easy to push off its stand. Linda pushing me rocking the bike back and forward and trying to drop the clutch at the right time...sheer madness. We followed this fantastic road for 4 hours all the way to Avignon when thanks to our Tom Tom we found the hotel we had booked on Wotif the day before easily. It was off to the centre of Avignon and sight seeing in another fantastic city and the historic bridge over the Rhone. Just great. Dinner in a street café in the market square and a taxi back to our hotel,  The taxi ride back was different, we jumped in told the driver the name of the hotel in our best French then as we drove off I realised we had company, strapped into the front passenger seat seated on a towel was an elderly lady who we assumed was the drivers mother, weird mobile granny sitting service.  Tomorrow we start going North. See ya  
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Cannes, Provence, France

hi guysWe went exploring Cannes today to see how th eother half live, its all bull dust too much bling.Its a strerile place where the shops are expensive and there is an Armarni store or Cartier on nearly every corner, needless to say we passed by.On the move tomorrow to Avignon and hopefully following the route napoleon; Weather warm and sunshine.see yaPaul and Linda
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Antibes, Provence, France

Hi againWe have moved into france;We left italy from our overnight stop and travelled the 150km to the border with france, again because of the very poor roads in italy we took the freeway, it went along the  sea on one side and cliffs on the other, from bridge to tunnel all at 120kmh.  At the end they slugged us 20.70 Euros for the pleasure.Then France, welcome to france that will be 2 euros to drive on the road thankyou, I held up the traffic did not have 2 euro in change, an attendant came to see the hold up gave us change and we were off I could have paid by credit card but the toll machine kept saying card refused to my credit cards, even the medicare card was refused dont know why.About 5km later was another toll booth; this time 80cents as we were on a bike, 1.50 for a car, we are well off in WA.On to Antibe to a lovely campsite set in woodlands between nice and cannes, yes very warm and sunny weather just perfect, we have rented a chalet for 3 nights.The french drivers are something else again we have been cut more in the last few days than all the time before I have eyes in my Ar.. now.Yesterday we went ot Nice for a wander after visiting a small village in the hills that is/was famous for potteryI had been there years ago as a school boy with my parents and Linda and I had taken our children there years ago, well things have changed now its packed with immigrants and cheap housing, we for the first time felt uncomfortable so moved to Nice.Just beautiful along the promenade warm, very clean sea, pebble beach, a great atmosphere, the best part of being on a bike is that we can squeeze in anywhere so parking is never a problem, and no payment required, bikes and scooters park anywhere there is a space.Today we are off the Cannes, Linda has not bought any shoes in europe as the prices are unbelieveble the same in Euros as we pay in Dollars, clothing is very expensive in Siena we saw addidas tracksuits on reduced price sale in a supermarket down to 50 euros for the top or bottom, about 100 dollars!!!!!!
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devia marina, Tuscany, Italy

Hi allWe have decided to make our way North as the clock is ticking, we have gone from Siena a very pretty place and headed for the Italian Riviera on the Med coast. It was about 350 km good ride but a bit windy as we seemed to be skirting a batch of bad weather but our luck has held and all was dry.The coast line is amazing little towns on high cliffs, dont tell Linda she thinks im glued to the road;We were originally going to Portafino but went to a little village Devia Marina instead, lovely little place where we got an onsite caravan with its own ensuite and chalet attached and even a discount because of our stqy at the camp in Siena.Into town for a look a food, only a small deli where th e lady did not speak english and could not understand my italian,  we got some great food and great wine for very little.I needed a hair cut so passing a empty hairdresser Linda pushed me in again no common language clippers for the trim was buzz buzz and point all sign language, good job im wearing a helmet for the next few weeks;typing this is a bit slow ( please dont read fast) as the french keyboard im on is the strangest layout ever.At the camp we decided to do a bit of washing and to dry it we had a small line up above the cooker, gas on to dry it, I said to linda after a while can you smell burning, no no so we left it,  guess what a pair of burnt knickers Well more to come see ya
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Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Hello againWe have made our way down from the north of Italy to Siena, its a very beautiful city.We had to take the motorways as it left us a choice 41/2 hours on good but boring roads or 101/2 hours on the pot holes and back roads, so we coughed up the tolls and took the motorway.Along the motorways they have rest centres with tables chairs toilets and free parking.All was going well untilo just south of Bologna when we stopped Linda went off to the loo and faster than you can think she was back saying " its a hole in the ground and it stinks"Let me explain they have a square area with a hole at the back and two platforms for your feet. You gracefully remove clothing and assume the position, only problem with thsi one was no grab rail so one slip and your in. Linda is not the best at balancing so declined to use them ( she says that Harrods is better).Well with a few comments not for this page we were on our way again.  Did I mention that there was even two hookers trying their luck or whatever with the truckies.   Interesting places these stops.In Siena we found a camping ground as it was warm and sunny in fact we had stopped on the way to peel off a few layers. Very good camp ground very new and clean with everything provided at no extra cost compared to Amsterdam where the did not even provide toilet paper this place was luxury.We took the bus into siena and that was an experience pack solid and trying to set the land speed record through the back streets with all the momma's hanging on from the rails. We did the tourist look around and the history of this place is amazing.Well we have decided to strt heading north to france so the next update will be from our stop in Northern Italy before we cross the border. So far we have only had about 1 hour of rain to ride in so luck or someone  has been with us.   On the freeways there is a toll and it cost 17.60 euros from Mandello to Siena. Chow  ( my best italian)
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Abbadia Lariana, Italy

The title of this entry should tell its own story, Yes the Moto Guzzi factory is in Mandello de Lario and we walked there from our hotel this morning only to find it closed to the public, that was after dodging mad italian drivers as there was no footpath along the roadway.  Mandello is a very small place on Lake Como beautiful setting and next door to the rail station is the factory. As it was closed we had a coffee using my best Italian ( 2 coffee's please!) we then caught  the water bus that runs around the lake and got back to hotel by early afternoon for a planning session on where to next, Sienna is the winner at this time. I took myself to the museum when it opened at 3pm ( only for 1 hour per day) What a fantastic place over 3 levels packed with all the road bikes and racing bikes in date order. the race bikes are not restored and look as though they have come straight from the track, great.  it makes the BMW museum a waste of time. Did I mention the best part  FREE ENTRY!!we thats it for nowcaio
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