Last nights camp site was nothing to write home about - the tent camping area appeared to be a bit of an after thought. Just a rough piece of grass and nettles, and gravel path. No power, no lighting, bugger all. I was packed and ready to roll at 7am but had to wait for reception to open at 7:30….
I was going to camp near Villingen-Schwenningen but that means arriving at 1:30pm so I stopped at a petrol station for fuel, food and a ponder…. Ride on was the result… and on and on …. Heading for Keyserburg where in stopped on Day 3. It added a few mile to the day!! Total 563kms in fact. But I arrived in time to sort out the tent, shower and have a well deserved pint…. Not an early start tomorrow .
The weather was fine and a bit overcast until approaching France…. The wind is getting stronger and I think it might rain….
Again there is this idiot child here with a football just bouncing it… on and on and on….
Tomorrow I'm am heading to Soissons and then on I am aiming for that quiet camp site near Calais ( where the bike had a bit of a lay down on the way out). I will then unpack everything and sort it all out; if it's not raining. I will the book the Chunnel and should arrive home sometime on Wednesday afternoon.
Well thanks the plan….
A good breakfast and 7:30 start. I headed north and then the border into Austria… there was no-one at the crossing point so I sailed through. Heading for Salzburg was a boring ride although I must say the Austrian are well behaved drivers, no fuss, no agro and very polite. It was a grey day and it rained as I road through the mountain passes and got very close to running out of petrol - thanks to them closing some petrol stations due to road works —- phew so close…
I missed the turn as I approached Salzburg so had to go around the ring road to get back on track (well done Gertie Garmin). I managed over 500kms today !!! I am getting used to this.
I found the camp site - yes; back in the tent after days a a/c, beds and cooked breakfast. Motels etc are very expensive in this area.
Pitched the tent, added more oil to the bike…. Sorted out the route for tomorrow… nothing booked but will see when I get there.. I think that tomorrow I ride passed the Airfield Hotel that I stayed at in Memmington in 2019, they have raised their prices somewhat… shame it was comfortable. I had battery problems the following day I remember.
I am now sitting in the camp beer garden with a beer and some some food on the way. I think some of these campers have been drinking all day !!!
I can thoroughly recommend Casa Suzy & Roxy at Arpaşu de Jos. It's very close the the Transalpina and the other one that I can't spell and it has secure parking for bikes. The staff are welcoming, the beer is cold and the food is great - what more could you ask for.
Had a late start often breakfast and rode a very boring A1 (with a bit of over the hills diversion) and even stopped for lunch.
It was hot when I left, then it became overcast, then it rained a little and it was hot when I arrived in Arad.
I managed to lease my electrical adapter plugged in the wall when I left, but a luck would have it there is an electrical shop next to the hotel….
Had a brief walk around the area - but it's a little way out of the centre.
A great shower, large TV, air conditioning, good bed.. ah adventure travelling in on the up!! Thanks to my old friend: the late Colin Hitchcock…
Tomorrow I cross in Hungary and may even get as far as Austria….
I had a very restless sleep last night - I could not stop thinking about getting the bike from its place outside the guest house as it was in a down hill cul de sac on a very narrow road. Sorted it at 7am.
On the road by 8am and rode north. Rode on Brasov, I was looking for breakfast and I needed to get a pair of trainers or sandals. I found the breakfast at a McDonalds… but not the shoes ..
I then set off to Bran to get a look at Draculas castle - and so did the world and his wife !! Not for me, so a quick snap shot and away…, the next road was very twisty and steep and went on and on - not sure I like Alpine roads.. but the views were spectacular.
Found the next stop and it turns out to be next door to a large shopping centre - shoes purchased. I think the policy at some hotels is the more luggage you have the more stairs you have to climb.
Lazy afternoon coming up.
What an interesting day!! Overcast this morning until about 9am. I decided to ride to the local town to get local currency to pay my drinks bill and the new tyres...
I refuelled at the start of the town and then I found the ATM at the local kaulfhall, and got the cash. Back on the bike and nothing, no start.. bugger.
I jump stated it with the booster battery and set of for Motocamp.. Nearly there and the battery stopped and so did the engine… stranded on the side of the road !!!! I checked all the fuses etc and then found that a major connector had burnt out and melted…. The chef from the event was passing in his van and stopped and we loaded the bike into the back.
We replaced it and hey presto all sorted … the bike is running again…. If I had broken down anywhere else I would have been totally buggered ?!?!
Not all heroes wear capes…..
Sunday
I left Nis by 8am - not before having knocked over a full glass of orange juice onto me and the table - clumsy bugger. Another cool start to the day and quickly found the main road from Serbia towards Sofia Bulgaria… I can recommend the Majesty Hotel in Nis, nice stay and it has a secure garage for the bike.
Some fast traffic going my way… at frightening speeds, apparently if you drive a black Merc or BMW you can drive right up the tail pipe of a motorcycle even whilst he is overtaking a truck !!! A****holes.
The good news was that when I approached the two mile queue of traffic waiting at the border, there they were again !!! I did a bit of filtering and queue jumping to get close to the front…. It still took over 1.5 hours in silly heat…
Finally released from this bit of Bulgarian madness and on the road to Sofia and the long road to Motocamp Bulgaria. Note: it is part of the Bulgarian mentality that they have to overtake !! Even it there is something coming the other way!! Idiots….
Arrived safely at Motocamp, parked up, put up the tent, had a most welcome cool shower, did some laundry and settled in for a cold beer and a bit of supper.
Mozzies are persistent here so it's trousers, socks and long sleeves for the day…
More chillin'… I think Mel & Greg will arrive today, Gareth and Maria and their Unimog will arrive Wednesday or Thursday and Helen Lloyd is due too. Now for some more chillin' and reading the last part of Graham Fields latest book…
I am now at he end of a long day. Set off at 8am and arrived in Nis at 4pm. Most of the first part was through twisty mountain passes with the occasion straight bit. They have manage to build a few faster roads , and some motorways…. The scenery up the top was fantastic.
It started off quite cool this morning but after noon it hit 29…. Just got to keep moving. I did manage to find a Lidl shop to get lunch…. The layout is the same wherever you go.
8 hours on the saddle is way too much. I've had a cold shower and I'll finish sorting things out, and go in search of some supper..
Day 10
The storm passed overnight and I was ready for a late breakfast. It was overcast and cool when I set off into Sarajevo, I walked a long way down the Main Street and then saw a sign for a cable car…. Off into the hills but it was still misty and I could not see the top, but by the time I'd had a coffee and cake at the top I could see for miles.
Back down and more walking (my wife Debbie would be proud of me for doing 20,353 steps). Getting hot again and so it was time for a long cold drink (water) and enjoy some shade. Even found a book store selling Prince Harry's book … probably not the best read - even in another language!!
Back at the hotel now and thinking about tomorrows long ride into Serbia and stopping at Nis.
