Trip details

Well just 6 days to go now so i thought i'd post the trip details. Below is the map of the route, plan is from Ijmuiden in Holland to the Frankfurt area on day one. Beyond the first day it'll be in the lap of the gods as to what what progress we make. Rough plan (well quite detailed actually) is to stop in Germany on Day one, Austria Day two then blast through Slovenia and camp in Croatia day three. Hopefully an early start on day four as we are going to try to get through Serbia in one hit and end up in Sofija capital of Bulgaria on day five. The remainder of the plan will see us camping just inside Turkey near Edrine then towards Istanbul before crossing the Bosphorus bridge to take us from Europe into Asia. That will be a defining moment, my first time in Asia and on a motorcycle! Then back along the south side of the sea of Marmarus then arriving at Cannakalle to visit the battlefields of Gallipoli.



A short ferry will take us back into Europe and Northern Turkey before heading through Greece hopefully meeting up with fellow Guzzi owner Dimitri in Thessaloniki for a beer before heading to the ferry port of Igoumenita to sail for the port of Bari in the south of Italy. Visits to Pompei and Pisa are on the cards then back "home" to the small village i spent the formative years of my childhood for a couple of days.



Heading then via Monaco and the small roads in France to arrive at the BBA meeting in Belgium on the 6th of June (hopefully) Like all lengthy trips you need a plan but if things don't go to plan then it will change. When planning trips like this you plan your aspirations and if something changes along the route then chill, take it in your stride and enjoy the adventure.



At the moment we're furiously making lists of things we need to remember, this is fun and a tad stressful at the same time, after all the planning and preperation my throttle hand is itching now to get on the road.



The Lyrics from the song "on the road again" now keep running through my mind (with some changes)



On the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is riding bikes with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again

Goin' places that I've never been

Seein' things that I may never see again,

And I can't wait to get on the road again.


On the road again

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway

We're the best of friends

Insisting that the world be turnin' our way

And our way

Is on the road again

Just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is riding bikes with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again

Click on map to enlarge

Lothians Classic club

Decided to take MVD out for a run last night down to the Classic club just off the Edinburgh bypass at Flotterstone. The SU carb is still giving me problems, the bike runs like a dog until it's warmed up and I feel there is a lack of power when accelerating. A feature of the SU is that it does run on the lean side. Having just rebuilt the engine again I think I'll fit the recently aquired 36mm Mikuni. I helped Sandy Bloy fit his and he reports that it's transformed the bike. No power loss from the original twin Amal set up and at least 50mpg. This though will have to wait until I come back from the Turkey tour. Only a week to go now!

Some nice bikes pictured last night including a non standard but tasty and used Rocket 3. Had a good crack with George Martin last night who's just back from visiting his son in the states. He went on a tour of the Harley factory and despite being a British bike man through and through tells me he was very impressed by the quality control. Well I suppose just like John Deere all tractor manufacturers have to up their game these days.

Guzzi Rally

Well that was some weekend, whisky frenzy Friday Saturday and Sunday! Really struggling today after three days of liver abuse. Brilliant crack with Phil & Andy on Friday night and The guys from the rally. Really nice people and the organisers worked hard to keep everyone fed and watered over the weekend. The Bands were excellent on both Saurday and Sunday nights, good to see Pete Nicols band the Muttleys at long last. Worth listening to. Martin and Kevin appeared from Cork on their faggot Harleys despite both having perfectly good Guzzi's at home but good to see them anyway despite them turning Sunday night into a whisky frenzy again. Weather quite shit today for those with any distance to go today, strong gusty winds and rain, a few people were heading North for holidays so no chance of them staying dry or warm this week. Just over a week before we go now!

Saturday night madness

And this guy was only drinking water! But his guzzi had developed a terminal rattle so i suppose he had an excuse.

Sunday

A fine brace of guzzi's sunday evening.

Saturday night

Just sitting outside having a beer at the guzzi rally . Good turnout and good company.

Saturday morning

Alex's daytona pictured resting amongst the trees. I've got a terrible hangover following a session of the whisky olympics last night with andy malloch phil and alex. Alex has still not surfaced. Promise i'll take it a bit easier tonight.