Day Five

Good evening


It is 5.30pm and we are in Vilnius, Lithuania.... as far East as we are going...

We left Augustow at 8am and had a very pleasant ride through some beautiful, rolling countryside. and forests.

Lots to see and even a few Kodak stops on the way. Arrived in Vilnius at about 1.30pm (it was 23c here) we eventually found the B & B - with a very charming owner. Had a very welcome shower - and I decided that asI had reach my goal of getting here - I would shaved off the beard..

We went for a stroll around the Old Town and had a very pleasant lunch and watched Vilnius promanarding..

Now we are about to meet up with Milda a work colleage of mine from the UK who lives and works here -

she is part of the Universal Telephone / 5G group. I have been working with her for 5 years over the telephone and now I get to meet her and her boyfriend. What a great day..

Now back at the room - had a great evening being shown around Vilnius by Milda and Martin -had a meal and a few beers.

Made in back to the room by 10pm and fell straight to sleep but woke at 5am.  Then tomorrow we are riding  back to Poland and then heading for Warsaw.

Nite Nite..

Day Four

Good Morning

The morning broke and we were up and away from Stallag 41 - had a good breakfast (note Compo Omellete now off the list !!) decamped and on the road for 8am..  Took a trip to find the beach.....

After a couple on attempts we rolled up on to a perfect spot... Kodak moment over and off to Sopot and Gdansk...   after a tour of the towns and a visit to the Grand Hotel that I had stayed at in 1979 !!! Now an extemely posh hotel... loads of money per night !! we just stopped for a leg break and viewed some to the local views (ask Steve - he will explain that - just say roller blades !!)

Rode out of Gdansk onto some very long roads and lots of lorry traffic which stayed with us all the way to Elk,  Then the traffic lighten up but we experienced some very major road building....   after some 200km we broke free and headed to Augustow...   arriving at about 6pm and unable to locate a camp site - we booked into a B & B / Motel...  We had an evening meal with out having to cook - which was good.  Steve managed to ring home while I sipped a cool beer and caught up on the blog....   Watched Star Wars in Polish and turned in for the night....   A long days ride today because of the roads ... started at 8am and stopped at 6pm - a total of 9 hours in the saddle....  !!!

Tomorrow's destination is Vilnius the captial of Lithuania....    Nite Nite....

Day Three

Good Evening ....

It is now the end of Day 3... Woke up this morning after quite a good nights sleep..  Brian, however, did not sleep well and has decided to return home under his own steam... a combination of our snoring, lack of sleep and  "boring roads" ah well there ya go... God speed Brain - ride carefully..

We are now two.. a valient attempt to get the laundry dry succeeded it getting it half dry before the meter ran out.. We all ate a good "compo" breakfast and then Steveand I hit the road at 9am...

The weather was grey but bright - later it was to get very grey and very wet.... After just a short hours ride we were at the Polish border - and just sailed through - then stopped for a drink in Poland. A couple of fuel stops later we cruised into a very rain soaked Leba seaside resort - but alas it is Monday and they have all gone home or are hiding.   You don't see bikers like this over here - especially without proper footwear - and neither are wearing gloves  !!!

A great hot shower and a wander around we are now preparing the evening meal - with a bottle of rad and white --- then hit the sack....  Tomorrow we ride to Gdansk / Sopot and then South and East to Augustow.... Weather tomorrow unknown.        Nite Nite...

Day Two

After not such a good nights sleep - cold and snoring !! We packed up and nearly started off...


Steve could not get get his bike started and we had to seek help from the camp owner..
Jump leads procured and away we nearly went...

I did managed to ride 300 yards on the wrong side of the road much to the horror of
an oncoming German!! The weather was over cast and light sunshine all day..

365 miles covered today - arrive at the site next to a lake at about 6.33pm....

Wondeful site.. but could not get onto the Wi-Fi... no password and the camp staff gone home !

During the ride Brian too managed a frantic ride on the wrong side of a junction but recovered well !!

The sun is just going down over the site and the mosquitoes are start to look for their lunch..Steve and Brian are starting to look at preparing another meal... Tomorrow it up and break for the border an into Poland then alond the coast to Slupsk..  NiteNite

Day One

An early start and yet another full english breakfast and we were off to the chunnel... Departure time 8.20 and away we went.    35 minutes later we arrived in France and so did the rain... On the road to Antwerpen and two fuel stops to ensure that we have a break.

Other than Nigel having a slight disagreement the Gertie Garmin, which resulted in a brief diversion through Eidehoven, all went to plan and we arrived at the camp site at about 4.30pm. So following a brisk walk to the local Lidl shop - what happened next was amazing... Steve bought fresh vegtables, meat and prepared Beef caserole with carrots and suet dumplings and mash potatoes !!! and a glass or two or Cabernet Sauvignon to wash it down with - So much better that Nigel's promised Army Compo rations (boil in a bag!!!) Well done Steve and Brian

The site a wonderful showers and now we are sitting around a box of biscuits and hot coffee before turning in for the night... whilst Steve and Brian discuss the menu for tomorrow night - it's like travelling with Floyd and Jamie Oliver

It is now 9.30pm    Nite Nite

Day Zero ........

All well - All went well for the first leg - M25 surprisingly clear - arrived at B&B at 6pm - visited downtown Folkstone for fish and chips. Ended up chatting to a Polish Waitress - good chance to refresh speaking minimum Polish !!!! It's 30 years since I was there - more than rusty .....

In bed by 9.15! Breakfast at 7am...... Last of the soft bedding !!!!!! Nite nite

... and we are nearly off...

Tomorrow is the big day - off to Folkestone and then Poland & Beyond...

Will pack the bike tonight and then worry all day about have I got this or that...the route... the weather... the bike... etc etc.    But we will settle down into the pace of it... quick dash across the Netherlands and Germany and then ease up a little but try to keep on a schedule - we have a day or so in hand  - just in case...  It must be so much easier without an end date... just free to travel at your own pace without the worry of having to return by a particular date..... ah well one day..

Sorted out the new tyres - amazing how much tread there is on a new set !!! or how much wasn't there on the old set !!

Much to the disgust of the family the beard is coming along a treat !!

Next blog should be from somewhere "over there"....

Exmoor and beyond – Sunday 25th April 2010....

A much warmer night and a lot of rain… Some of us slept but some did not. It was rumoured that I snore a little but that has been put in the shade by Steve… wow snoring for England – no wonder that Dee sends him out into the North Sea….  

Up at 6 ish…. Broke camp and were all Shit, showered and shaved, packed and rolling for 8am…. Yet another full breakfast and away. My waistline will not put up with drinking at night and full breakfasts in the morning….. Once on the road to Poland and beyond we just won’t be able to keep that up!! Or buy FB trousers.

The sun over Dartmoor was “interesting” – pea soup fog – visibility down to a matter of a few meters is places. Onwards to Exeter to refuel, then a quick blast up the A35 to Dorchester and a coffee stop at Burton Bradstock and then a quick visit to Poundbury (what a strange collection of buildings – not much greenery, no people – very weird place) and then onto Ringwood for toasted tea-cakes and a debrief…. Lots things to sort before the major trip, things to get and things to remove from the list. I must remember to stop more often and take more “Kodak breaks”. But I am conscious that this weekend was 350 miles over three days – we will need to do at least 250 each day and maybe more… Max speed was 81mph and moving average was 30.1mph Total Riding time was 8.51 hours.   Oh how the backside will suffer.....!!!!

Good fun and worth it….

Exmoor and all that

23rd April 10 – Exmoor

Good day – today was the start of the Shakedown run to the West County. Steve is still stuck on the rigs in the North Sea and is hoping to make it back for Saturday. Meet up at Ower and after comparing the relative size of our panniers and miscellaneous bolt on bags we set off in the4 Friday afternoon traffic for the West Country. Gertie Garmin skipped a beat around Salisbury and we ended up on a more direct route but picked up the track around Taunton. All bikes made good time, radios worked and nothing fell off en route.
  
And the beard in coming on well......


One stop for fuel – although Brian's BMW GSA has a total range of 430 miles and so won’t be refuelling until Monday week !!

Arrive at the first camp site and set up camp with no major hiccups. Cooked pasta – tasted good. The off to the pub for a few pints and quiz night…. Staggered back by the light of 3 head torches… Brian’s being so powerful that it that if could be seen from space – the rest of make do with it high lighting the road in front of us…

Bloody cold night, a very deep frost in the morning with ice on the tents and my nose…. Pack the bikes and waited for Brian to finish hoovering out his tent. And hit the road at 8.30 bound the the White Hart Hotel at Exford for a full breakfast whilst sat we sat by the river – how very civilised. Then back on the bikes again – rode to Lynton for a coffee stop – then on to Oakhampton via Barnstable. Some very twisty and almost empty roads.

Found the site without hassle and set up – then heard from Steve that he was home and would be joining us, and arrived with Dee at 6.30pm 

Visited the bar for a briefing and to prepare to Sunday's ride...

4 Weeks and Counting..........

With just over 4 weeks to go till the off...   and only a week before the "shake-down" trip to Exmoor...

The planning of the route is now on Version 17, and I have now upgraded to the latest version of Garmin software as it now has full detailed roads within Lithuania, and have re-planned that to enter and exit Lithuania via two separate border crossings.

Packing is still going to be the interesting part...I think I am going to have to be ruthless in order to cut down of both weight and bulk ...

Hey ho... must remember that it's fun..............

Nearly there............

Well, just about 7 weeks to go before the off.... We have a meeting this weekend to sort out any issues - then it's a weekend "shake-down" run to Exmoor....  

The plan as for as it goes is - leave Southampton on the Friday afternoon and ride down to Folkstone - overnight in a biker-friendly hotel and then have breakfast and a short dash to the Metal Rabbit..

After that - still trying not to plan anything - only the general direction of travel..

Now that the front brakes are sorted out - thanks to a brilliant Honda Mechanic that lives locally, its happy biking again.   I have had the 40,000 service - but it is not running too smooth at present and will be going back to the workshops on Tuesday - not sure if it's fuel, plugs or valves but it is certaily not smooth running....   I still have to change the chain and sprockets this month. Next month will be replace the tyres - there are starting to "square-off" and will have to be changed before the 3,500 trip !!! in May - whoops.   I have a few more miles to do before then.... get on trucking.....

Bugger and Brakes........

Mmmmmmm -  Not a good end to the week - the front brake calipers seized on Friday - just managed to get home.   I have now taken them off and am trying to get them refurbished by Lee at Hordle (Ex Honda Mechanic).  

Thoughts this time of year start turning towards the sunny days, the open roads and a BMW Bike !!! if only.....

Planning still proceeds - minor route changes and locating Camp sites en route..... and places of interest....

... and still planning...

Planning for the trip goes on; Travel Insurance done, Int'l Driving Permit obtained, Overnight accommadation sorted for Folkstone (prior to taking the Metal Rabbit to France), Chunnel ticket sorted.

I had purchased an aluminium box from the internet (Ex MOD) for 6 months ago but it was too tall - so I asked a friend on mind, as he is a fabricator, to had a look.  Brilliant job - cut down to size with new bottom piece welded on - now is looks the business.

Still need to find a place for the small ammo box that serve as my tool box - not that I could fix anything - but I might need them to open tins of soup etc...... 

Saw a presentation the other day from a friend that spent 7 weeks visiting 14 counties in Europe.  He had a wonderful little device called a Free Loader - which is a Solar Powered Battery charger - very neat - found one on EBay - all sorted.......

Bike in for another service and MOT in early March.   Will have to have new tyres too before the "Poland and Beyond" Trip.....

...and then there were Three

Planning is still moving on a pace.  Unfortunately one of the team has had to drop-out on account of a fall he had on ice whilst jogging !!  Not very healthy this running stuff (his words not mine).  So now we are three.

We all know each other very well and have all ridden together locally and on a few Continental Trips - never camping though (!).   We plan to have another meeting in March and a "shake down" trip to Exmoor in April.

... ah well - back to the lists and maps......

Brrrrrrrrr

Well hopefully the cold and snowy weather is now gone !!! - it was good practice for riding in Ice and Snow .... -7 degrees was not fun. Well Mugabe was due to be serviced (38,000) and I booked it in locally - on the day the shop didn't open !! falls and sickness - but some very nice people opposite at Mayor Motorcycles assisted by carrying out the serving - brilliant and such nice people http://www.mayors-motorcycles.co.uk/. I had for a long time thought they were just HD and Customising !! but not they will do all makes and models and the have a Dyna-Pro Dynamometer (!) if required.

It was certainly needed as the chain was suffering (off will come the Scott-oiler this week-end) and the front and back brake calipers we in poor nick due to so much salt !! such things happen when you ride most of the year round - bloody salt and grit everywhere. Hopefully that will now last me until April / May and I will have a big service before the "Poland & Beyond" adventure.... I suppose the tyres will need looking at too before I go !!! Bugger; got 11,000 miles out of the last pair. The Route for the next trip is coming on but I am having to shorten some of the days as the roads are not going to allow for big mileges.... Maybe a little wild camping will be required and maybe even a few B&Bs !!! Viewing stops so far include Vilnius, Treblinka, Warsaw and Auschwitz..

Poland & Beyond goes Multiple

Not sure how but the next big trip to Poland & Beyond will now have 4 bikes. I am still trying to keep the planning minimal. The only firm things at present are the dates - Out on Friday 7th and back on the 23rd May. The route is fluid but the general direction known. Stopping/overnight stops are not planned - places of interest to visit are so far very few at present - Vilnius for a hotel stop also Treblinka and Aushwitz are just two (everyone should visit - just the once).

The bike is holding up to the changes to the weather - it must be due for yet another service soon - will try the Honda dealer in Bournemouth next. The bike will need to be in good shape for the trip. I suppose that by May 2010 it will need new brake pads, new tyres - bugger.... where did that 5,000 miles go !!! See ya

That was a week that was...

What a week - first the fuel pump on the bike - then the switch for the heated grips and then the car but that's another sad tale..

Visited the Motorcycle show on Monday at the NEC Birmingham - it was OK but quieter that usual. Met with a few friends whilst wandering around, including Sam Manicom. Didn't but much this year - just a brilliant book by Dave Gurman "The Carin' Sharin' Chronicles", a set of spanners and some oil. Had a good look around and left about 2pm. The trip up was awful - heavy rain, high winds, pitch black and cold..... thank goodness for the heated gloves. The trip back was dry but the temperature dropped very quickly and had to stop to warm up just north of Winchester.

Next year - will lead a group up as good company can make a difference..

This Sunday is the HU Meeting at the High Corner Inn .... I wonder how many will brave the weather !!! I know I will.....

Up Up and Away

Well it looks as thought it will be three for Poland and Beyond. The trip will now be Dave Charlton, Steve Davies and myself. The date is still two weeks in May and the planning will now continue.

As for stuff in the meantime - well the the trusty old XRV 750 Africa Twin broke down twice over the past few weeks - we all thought it was an electrical fault - but having all checked out - Mr Mugabe stopped again !! Bugger - and in the middle of the biggist rain storm !! We to cut a long story short it was the bloody Fuel Pump again - I only replaced that about 8 months ago ... Ah well I happened to have another on the shelf and it is still running.... fingers crossed.......

NEC Motorcycle Show next week....

One becomes three - possibly

Well - following the republication of me article about the trip to Andorra - two colleagues has come forward and are wanting to join in to the round to Lithuania in May next year.

First this was to re-read the chapter in the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook on Riding Solo or with Companions..... and we shall see how it goes in the planning leading up to May... Should be fun as I know both the other riders and have ridden with them before.

Quite of lot of friends have now signed up for the Rigby 2010 event.... and for the HU South event / Drink at the High Corner Inn next month.....


Oh and still no news on the proposed Enduro India ----!!!!

A quick dash at the Weekend

Well what a brilliant weekend - all the IAM Observers from SAM going on a training weekend into darkness Devon. 372 miles over two days of twisty country lanes with expert guidance - 9 hours and 25 minutes actual ride time. Excellent stuff..... the video was shot by Colin Hitchcock ..

Life goes on .... and on .... and on.....

Yes life goes on... Bike has had new footwear and a service (33,000 miles) - hopefully the oil leak has gone !

Planning for Lithuania is still ongoing - maps obtained and I will be staying over in the City and have even been invited out to dinner. Dates are still liquid at present due to family matters - but still May or June 2010.

Wet weather now here - thank god for the new boots.

Went West..........

Hi Each - just return from a very quick trip to the West Country - 2 days on Exmoor... very relaxing and the both the weather and the lager were good..... first night at the River Exe Campsite and the second night just outside Bideford... Rode back via the south coast and could not resist calling in a CW Motorcycles just for a coffee and a view of the R1200 GS A !! £10,500 is still a lot of money. Bike has now developed an oil leak on the right hand side mmmmmmmmmm bugger.... 33,000 miles on the clock - 22,500 since I got it in April 2008..

...Time marches on.... Not a lot happening - the bike is still running well but will require new tyres before too long - have a little time to spare from the annual holiday so I have taken a couple of days off at the end of this month and will re-visit Exmoor - (Leave Sunday and return Tuesday type of thing). Just need to get away for a few days - chill in the countryside - cover a few more miles. Mind you I have had Mr Mugabe for 16 months now and have covered over 22,300 miles !!! And will probably get wet too.

Picture taken by Carlton Swanbrow on Poles Lane in Hamphire for his web site see http://www.machinesinmotion.co.uk/

..The deed is done

Having checked with management the plan has been approved and the destination is Poland (and possibly Lithuania) !! The planning starts now . but will try not to plan too much - camping is the order of the day but with a couple of B & Bs here and there.... I have the map - all is set - sort of...


The rules will be be same - No Rushing - No more than 250 miles in a day - and CHILL


I am going to take myself off to Exmoor again in September just for a couple of days

Must get some better pictures......

Is it planning or scheming !!

.. Well I have made up my mind to ride to Poland in 2010 - the plan is to ride over the top and stop at Sopot ( I did stay there in 1979) and then ride down to Treblinka, Warsaw and then home. About 2500 miles.... Countries covered will be France, Holland, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium (not in that order !!) sorry about the poor image here but I think you can get the idea ..

I have read that the camping in Poland is not too good - so I may have to B & B it.

Of course I have got to run this past the Mangement but we will see.. I would be hoping for at least 12 days away. in May or Jun 2010.. Still not much further forward on the Enduro India for 2011 - I am still awaiting the other chap to extract the digit and get on with passing his m/cycle test !!!

..... Well not much to place on the blog - the bike has clocked up 30,000 miles (which is 19,500 miles in 14 months).... whoops - and 2,000 over it's service !! I am going to try to get a gathering of HU members in the Southampton area - just for a pint and a natter... not a lot else at present - but I do need to look at the trip for next year - Lithuania, Croatia or Marrakesh !!!! mmmmmmm

..@ HU Ripley

Good morning, it’s is 8 am and I am at the Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting in Ripley Derbyshire. Arrived on Wednesday afternoon – had a good journey up although Gertie Garmin did take me through the centre of Burton-on-trent – but that was informative: I now know where Marmite is made and where Coors Beer comes from !!

One set up on site (pitched me tent next to Sam Manicom and Mike O’Malley). The photo is of me with Sam's BMW. The rest of the time we spent unloading chairs for the presentations, setting up and testing the IT equipment, and generally being useful. Then it was Larger time and off the bed at 11.30 – very late for me…

Thursday was a little more setting up and the presentations started at 4pm.. I am looking after one of the presentation room and sat in on two good presentations – one for Tori on the subject of Yoga for Motorcyclists (might be good for my back) and another presentation from Ian Mutch on his Organised trip to Dakar – very amusing – must get the book. I also attended another forum on camping which was good. Then I was called to the bar for a well earned couple of lemonades !!

It is now Friday morning and the place is starting to get much busier. The first presentation is at 9am in my room. There are also demo of changing tyres and first aid that I would like to get to…

The are long queues forming now for the showers and breakfast.. I made boil-in-bag Beans and Sausage this morning (Army K Rations again – brilliant). I managed to persuade the cleaners to let me use the showers at 7am and therefore beat the queues…

Attended about 5 futher presentations during the event - even the "Road Kill" cooking !!!

Right – better go and sort out the laptops for the start of the day. This blog will be uploaded as soon as I can but there is no WiFi here… I will have to drop into a McDonalds on the way home !!!

.... India...

The decision has been made - delay Enduro India until 2011... that give me a little breathing space and the other chap a chance to pass his motorcycle test !!! So what now - well following this weeks trip to Ripley, I will have to start thinking about 2010 .... Lithuania or maybe Croatia !!! more later....

... the planning goes on...

All recovered from the trip to France and Andorra - the focus now is the Horizons Unlimited event at Ripley in Derbyshire http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ . I will be travelling up on the Wednesday afternoon and returning on the Sunday. Really looking forward to it. So many "overlanders" are going to be there - Sam Minicom, Austin Vince, Loise Pryce and Simon Gadofin etc etc.. I have volunteered to assist with the IT stuff for the presentations and have already received the Shift List !!

I need to get on a get the kit ready this weekend - I will have to pack the bike on Tuesday night as I will be leaving for "the North" at lunchtime on Wednesday. Another 500 miles round trip coming up.

The radiator on Mr Mugabe is still holding-up thanks to an injection of Rad-Weld. I have managed to locate a pair of radiators and fan on EBay for £68 (Including a rear brake disc).
I only had it services in late April and it now 4,000 miles done and another service is due - well maybe in July !!

The addition of a sheep-skip on the saddle has eased the SAS (Sore Arse Syndrome) and amused the members of the office were I work !!! I am working on the plan for Enduro India - I now have permission from "management" but I don't believe we don't have enough time to raise the required funding... I am suggesting that we go for the 2011 Enduro India.. which would leave the planning for Lithuania (or Croatia) for 2010 - watch this space....

.....and what next..

Well the next trip will be the Horizons Unlimited Meeting at Ripley Derbyshire on the 18th to 21st June - with tent of course. Mr Mugabe is having some problems with a leak in the radiator but Radweld seems to have stopped that for a while until I can get it sorted properly (new one is £250 !!!) so looking on eBay.

So best start looking at packing again and sorting out what to take... I think I had best take the stove and food as I won't be able to afford to buy food every day.... but will take a few largers just in case....

I know of a couple of people interested in a trip to Eastern Europe.... and I have been asked if I would like to go on Enduro India in Jan 2010 !!!! Not sure if I could ask anyone for charity money again !!! nor could I get permission from management !!! I am in enough crap through my travels already...