Bulgaria Trip - Day 9 or whatever

Good evening, we saddled up and snuck out of town by 8am.   Rode down more of the fabulous Croatian coast road (it should be on everyone bucket list of thing they must do).   Eventually we needed to turn north and head for Mostar and then Sarajevo.   More tunnels, more winding roads and the temperature soon fell to a cool 26 from 30+…

We crossed almost unnoticed into Bosnia Herzegovina.  I did try to get into Mostar but with long lines of coaches and hoards of tourists, all trying to get their own view of the infamous bridge - I thought bugger this, I'm off.  Then I started to feel it was time for breakfast and found a place in the mountains - more cheese omelette and salad.  

There is lot of major road construction going on with enormous viaducts between mountains.  Then without noticing it I was at a toll booth for the newish autoroute towards Sarajevo.  The hotel I had chosen was right at the far end of town amongst the heavy road works for more tramways.

Finally found it and all settled in.  So off to have a look around, I got just a few hundred yards down the road and the sky was getting very dark.  So turned around and headed back.  I was near the hotel and thought I would stop for a coffee - no sooner had I sat down in the cafe when … crash, bang wallop a mighty thunder storm erupted, and boy did it rain… I've not seen rain like that for a long time.   And it's still going on now - I did a quick dash to the hotel and I am now drying out some clothes.   Good job I arrived when I did - I really would not have like to be riding in it….

Bulgaria Trip - Day 8 - I think…

The problem with short days is the temptation to join two together!!!  I left the campsite at 8am and cruised along the beautiful coast road heading to the next campsite near Zadar.   We arrived all too soon, despite my slow pace.   What to do …. Ride on….  Since I was last here 4 years ago, heading home from Bulgaria/Greece they have competed the A1 motorway so we hopped on that for a while… Exited at 28 and rode through a mountain (4.5km tunnel).   

I found the next campsite at Makarska but oh what a tourist trap…. Ride on….   It's too hot to set up a tent and then wait for it to cool down so that you can get in it….   I found a small but perfectly formed B&B with a room and air conditioning.   When I was unpacking the bike a polish gentleman handed me a cold beer… so welcome and I am about to drink it when I cook supper on a proper stove, with plates and everything !!!

Tomorrow is a run up to Sarajevo via Mostar.   Then I am staying for two nights so that I can look around the town that was so much in the news a while back - quieter now I hope….

Bulgaria Trip - Day 7 - Rest day

Note - Beer is cheaper than Coca Cola. !!! Who would have thought...

Oh what a night - first some light rain, then heavy rain and then a crash and a flash - a full blown thunder storm …. The group of cyclists next door were enjoying sleeping under the stars without tents….. !!!! They abandoned their kit and retreated to shelter of the shower block.

Checked out my bike and it's using oil at an alarming rate so will have to buy some more oil tomorrow. Topped up the Scottoiler at the same time. Good job it is booked in for a big service on return - 1550 miles done - another 2000 or so to go…. Personal admin done ie washing some clothing - at least it won't take long to dry today.

Cheese omelette and coffee for lunch near the beach. It's a good day to chill… a non riding test day.

Lots of oversized people in undersized costumes showing off some horrendous tattoos. Maybe I'm just an old fashioned guy stuck in my ways !!! You don't have to agree but I can feel you nodding….

Bulgaria Trip - Day 6

You have to "not see" the ex soviet oil storage area in the distance !!

Good camp site - going to stay another night … had a doozy of a thunder storm last night…. The German cyclist were sleeping under the stars , now they are trying to dry out…. Coffee just boiled.

Question: Why is there always one kid on every campsite that comes dressed in the full colours of his favourite football team, and wants to play solo keepee-upee all day….

Bulgaria Trip - Day 5

It was a confusing day, I set off on time and joined the vast number of overpriced sport cars, over rev'd sports bikes and the ever present gaggle of BMW GSs. All was going fine and then they disappeared ! Bugger if have missed to route to the Stelvio Pass and was now on the 180 I think. It was very twisty and Gertie Garmin said I would get to the next destination so I stayed on it. I can just imagine the Stelvio Pass being a slow moving traffic jam so I was happy to miss it. These Italian and German bikers are F***** nuts.
I started to get tired and could not locate the next campsite so I rode on…. and on and on… started to get tired so I thought I would find another campsite …. Nothing found so I ask Gertie to find me a motel/hotel - round and around this town - lots of roads no hotels - I turn down a one way street (whoops) and found one. Expensive but I did care. Secure parking, hot shower, free Wi-Fi and breakfast thrown in. Now for something to eat before landing on the very large bed…. Oh yes and a beer.

Bulgaria Trip - Day 4

I had a very good nights sleep (thank to my best buy of the day - mozzie spray!!!)

Had a slow pack up and left the site a 9am. A pleasant ride today (even though it was 350kms) with no big dramas. I crossed over the Rhine and into Germany and before too long crossed over into Austria. This is a land of many tunnels but the big one was closed so we had to ride up the side of a mountain and back down again - I am not too fond of switchback using a loaded bike !! this does not bode well for my forecast efforts on the Stevlio Pass!!!

I had problem finding the camp site, so wasted 30 minutes trying - I gave up and Gertie Garmin suggested one 13kms further on. Found it and it was half the price of the first one.

All set up now and about to look at the map ready for tomorrow…. Italy I think !!!

Nite nite

Bulgaria Trip - Day 3

Had a great start to the day riding down the D994 - miles and miles of empty road with hardly any other traffic, corn fields on both sides, just wonderful but then....nearing Keyserburg I stopped for fuel and broke down: no start, battery dead - managed to jump start it and found a motorcycle shop just 1 mile away and bought a new battery…..     The same thing happed in 2019 on my return from Greece/Bulgaria !!  Good job I did break down on the D994 with bugger all passing traffic.   It was great to have the battery booster thing with me - and it worked this time unlike 2019.

And it’s now raining….   Rode on through the storm.   Now at campsite and they have beer on tap.   It’s been a long traumatic day so I need it….

 

Bulgaria Trip - Day 2

The day started well except the bike decided to a an extra hour asleep!!! A kind neighbour helped me get the bike upright and so I finished packing and away we went to Soissons. 

 It was a very nice campsite - I might just visit on the return run as it's just 40 minutes from the Channel Tunnel. 

It was a pleasant run today, just 3.5 hours with very little traffic. Tomorrow will be a longer run as we head for Kayserburg on the French/German border. Good night from Soissons FR.

Bulgaria Trip - Day 1

So far so good. Arrived in good time - was offered a place on an earlier train but it was delayed so landed at the planned time. 

I did manage to bash my thumb and it's starting to swell, I fear it may hurt more in the morning - good job it's only the left clutch side !!!! 

Made the campsite without issue. Now just sorting things out before a beer and supper.

Off to HU Bulgaria at Motocamp - June 2023

Off again on the 28th - so just testing the Blogger links etc …. 

maybe also on Facebook and/or Instagram

https://maps.findmespot.com/Track#history/assets

Scotland to Home - Day 3

Well today was the last day of riding home from Scotland - I think I have ridden about 2,500 miles over 12 days.

We left Duxford on two separate routes home; David to Hove in Sussex and me to Ringwood in Hampshire.   I was going to ride across country and join up with the A34 at Oxford but decided that I would just let Gertie Garmin have her own way..  Down the M11, onto the M25 and then the M3 and lastly the A31.   Oh how I dislike the M25 during the morning "get out of my way - I'm important" peak times..  You know type - the rules concerning the Highway Code and mobile phone use do not apply to them....  I passed one lady in a white Porche and made it clear that she should not be texting whilst driving (she was tailgating a truck at 60mph).  She then passed me at speed and I caught her again about 10 mile further on doing the same think whilst up-the-chuff of a slow moving Crane...  Idiot.

So I survived and arrived home at about noon.  There was no-one home so I managed to get all the washing done, unpacked the bags and hung the tent etc to dry.  I had a long soak in a hot bath, then fed the cat and sorted out things that needed to be done today.  I will sort out the bike and the rest of the kit tomorrow.

Not much of an epilogue at the end of 12 day trip, but I did what I wanted to do and so the trip is now done.  I enjoyed most of it (not the cross winds or the inclement weather) I hope that David did to..  Thanks for your company David ...

Bishops Auckland to Duxford

The total ride - Crieff Cloverleaf and NC400

Scotland to home - Day 2

After a latish start we motored south on the motorway, lots of traffic with many large trucks and idiot car drivers.  A couple of major road works to slow down progress, and so after about six hours including a couple of fuel/pee breaks we arrived at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and spent a few hours wandering the hangers.  Enough is enough and we rode the 3 miles to the next overnight stop in Duxford village, for a pint and a lovely Sausage and Mash supper.

Tomorrow is the last day and David and I ride our separate ways home..  I will try to work out the mileages later but for now the trip is almost over....  the epilogue will follow shortly...

Night night...

Scotland to Home - Day 1

Good evening dear reader,

I was just too tired to blog yesterday evening.  The ride down from Scotland was awful - lots of rain, sleet, snow and the ever present cross winds.  On the way the winds were mainly from the north and therefore at my back, BUT as soon as we turned left at Brough toward Barnard Castle it got extreme and  I must admit it scared me fartless.....  I don't know how everyone else manages cross winds but for me I am hopeless....  I turn up the music and hope a lot!!!

We arrived at the accommodation in Bishops Auckland, a town of which I cannot say less.   A bit of a ghost town at 5pm.. and very disappointing..     Everything was closed except for a couple of pizza shops....  We did visit the local pub but although the sign outside said food - they don't so any food...  So it was a pint and home for a pizza and an early night.

Looking forward to leaving this tumbleweed town...



NC500 Day 1 - 22 April 2023

Good evening dear reader,

I had a reasonable night at the Black rock Campsite in our Hobbit House.  We had a gentle ride north on the A9 and A99 to John O'Groats.  The weather was a tad breezy to say the least - but so far not sign of the forecast rain or sleet but it is bloody cold.  We stopped for a cuppa at the very touristy John O'Groats and met with a group of bikers; one of which had just been pulled over for speeding (94 in a 60!!!).   

From there we headed to Dunnet Head as my brother had requested a photo of the late 1800's Lighthouse in connection with a family history that he is reseaching.  So it was back down the hill from a very windy and cold hill top and on the road to Thurso for our next overnight stop.  So as we made good progress we have stopped quite early in the afternoon and will be having a meal/beer soon - we have allowed ourselves 4 day to complete the NC500 before we return to the Inverness area and then begin the ride South on Wednesday.

Tomorrow we will continue on the NC500 heading for the Ullapool area and depending on the weather we will look for a campsite. 

Night night

Black Rock Campsite - Nr Inverness - 21 April 2023

Dear Reader,

After a farewell supper at the local Gurka Restaurant last night we were are set to ride again this morning.   It did not take long to re-pack the bikes and hit the road.  We took the long route from Crieff to Inverness via Glen Coe, Fort William, and Loch Ness.  We had a good coffee stop and the Green Wellie Cafe and lunch stop just before Loch Lochy.  The roads were busy and we got stuck behind a couple off large construction site low loaders, but you get to view more that way.  

Inverness was busy as it was Friday afternoon but we soon had the behind us and motored up the A9 in every increasing winds…

Black Rock Camping Site..  and a very well appointment camp site.   We had booked a Pod for the night (see photo)… David walked down to the local Co-op and returned with wine, Apples and microwaveable Macaroni Cheese for supper.   Out with the sleeping bag and away we go…   Tomorrow we are riding to John O Groats and then Thurso on the NC500.

Crieff Day 3/4 - April 2023

Good morning dear reader,

I have just received a reminder on my phone that a year ago today I we riding in the hills of Nepal, my my how time flies.

Wednesday.  Now that the brakes on the bike are fixed, it was back on the Clover Leaf for the 3rd day - North Route over the Cairngorms/Aviemore etc.  Unusually the sun was shining as we set off from Crieff.  The views are spectacular and the roads dry and twisty.   We rode passed the Balmoral Castle turning but thought that we were unlikely to get a cuppa there, so we rode on.  We stopped for lunch at Breamar as the Glenshee Ski Centre was still closed.  We rode through Aviemore, Blair Atholl and Aberfeldy to name but a few. At one stage the road we wanted was closed and we were forced into a 60 mile diversion.  We finally arrived home a 6:30pm and a little worse for wear I must say.   Following a quick change, David and I popped into town to get some supper, we found a very pleasant Italian Restaurant.  

After a restless night sleep I decided not to ride the West Route today but would take a self imposed rest-day.  Having been riding for 6 days so far and we have another 8 days of riding ahead of us, I thought it best for me to have a day off - its an age thing I guess, plus a little H&S as well.   So today I will repack the panniers and make sure that I have the waterproofs available as the weather is on the change for the ride north west via Fort William to Inverness tomorrow and then start the North Coast 500 on Saturday.  Then back to a campsite a little south of Inverness on Wednesday, before starting the ride south, hoping to arrive home on Friday 28th.

 

Crieff Day 2 - April 2023

Good evening dear reader,

I was too tired last night to log the days event so here goes…

Monday.  We all met at 9:45 and all 6 riders rode off on the East Route.  Some very interesting roads and fine scenery, but a lot of very small B roads.  Having stopped for coffees and lunch we finally arrived back home at 6:15pm, a little bit on the tired side..   After getting change we dashed into a very quiet Crieff for a quiet pint in a "Sports Bar", followed by fish and chips from the local Chinese Takeaway, which I ate at the apartment before collapsing into bed early…

Tuesday.  After a better nights sleep we assembled at 9:30 but one rider had a puncture; so had to dash away to sort that out locally, David had a failed indicator that needed a visit to a Triumph dealership and I had a very very worn pair of rear brake pads which needed sorting NOW (I know I should have checked before to left home)..   So David and I departed from the group-ride and headed to Glasgow and Paisley….   I arrived at the Yamaha dealership only to find that they don't stock spares in their spares department.  (That will teach me to phone first….), so I then contacted another dealership in Kilmarnock and yes they had them in stock.  

So off to Kilmarnock via Glasgow's M8 again.  I arrived in good time and collected the pads and then made the return trip via Glasgow's M8 for the 4th time, but not before dropping into a hand carwash and getting all the crud washed off the bike.  No dramas on the way home and even managed to fit the brake pads without cocking it up.  All is now sorted - its odd trying to ride to 150 miles whilst trying to remember not to use the rear brake….   Clothes washed and drying and we are now off to find supper….  

Nite Nite