Last night a strong wind came up, No No not from the onion and beans last evening. But from the mountains. It left me sleepless and i decided to stay another day. Against my will, but safety above all... It's a bit of a lost day today. But what will happen if i cross the border with Montenergo tomorrow.......?
That's all for now, Unless you want to know howmany undertrousers i used till now... (or didn't use) I already told you everything...
Slovenia is a very nice countra to motorbike in, but if i want to make Turkey and the black sea i have to make progress. No time to visit things here, but there's one thing i need to see with my owm eyes. The lake of Bled, You know: the most famous picture of Slovenia. A lake with a island and the mariachurch on a mountainisch background. A few last pictures of the church and castle and i put the GS in first gear to the motorway... On the motorway it wasn't very clear if i had to pay toll or not, I just get in lane and drive trough. Lucky?
Soon i crossed the border with Croatia, i was thinking: do i realy have to be here, what am i doeing here actualy,...... A little bit further than Rijeka i left the motorway, I found myself on a caroussel of roads that took me from the mountains all the way to the coastroad D8-E65. Mountains rise directly from the sea here, what you get is again 500km of perfection all the way down to Dubrovnik. I do shurly take those words: what am i doeing here back. You can easy leave the bike in 4th gear ride 80km/u stear in and a little trottle when you stear out... A plesure for machine and rider. I try to remember when the last time was i toucht my brakes. That MUST be 30km ago.
12/09/2010: Prato allo stelvio (I) - Bovec (SLO) +/- 350km
I got up early in the morning and left Stelvio at 08u00, It wa going to be a long day over all the passes in the Italian alps. I can't count any more howmany i did. But the countrysite always got better and better. I took about 1 million pictures. I'ts absolutly not possible to make bad pictures here.The only problem here are slow moving Italain cars.
Slovenia, finaly!! First time i'm here and it's quite good. Roads and scenery look promissing.....
The next morning i had to make a heartbreaking choice. Say goodbye to my friends and ride the stelvio's pass on my own and probably not see them again this trip, Or ride the Stelvio limited and make ma way to Ancona on 600km of motorway for a boat to Turkey.
It was sad to see my friends go and knowing i will be alone again, But sorry guys this is not the way i travel. I will shurly miss the conversations, jokes, sfeer,... And Casey seems such a nice bloke, I hope to see him again.
The Stelvio's pass was pure fun and beauty. About 60km of hairpinturns all the way op to the top, not to forget in Italian mountain scenery. So much fun that i spent the whole day going up and down again. This you should do as a motorbiker once in your life....
Strombeek-Bever (B) - Heidelberg (D): 450km. The firt ride took me up to Heidelberg, where John's bike is and Casey have to ride with. I left home precicely at 10u00, Becaus than the rain stopped for a moment and the usual traffic on the Brussels ring was a bit less! Leaving without a rainsuite was no option, and yes about 25km before Koblenz (D) hard rain so i could not see 100m in front of me. Arriving at Heidelberg at 14u00 i got dry and at the same time the rain cleared out.... (you know the story). I only had to wait a copple of beers for Casey who arrived at about 18u00. We did a small ride to get some petrol (gas) for about 10min.
Heidelberg (D) - Schwangau (D): 400km. Next dag i got up at 08u00 and was ready to go by 09u00. After making Casey's bike ready we finaly got on the road by 12u00... We set our navigation for Schwangau in the German alps of Bayeren, where i absolutly wanted to visit the castle of Ludwig II. Arriving late at the campsite we quickly put up the tent, schower and get someting to eat at the restaurant that was about to close... Just in time.
Schwangau (D) - Prato allo Stelvio (I)
Believe it or not but i got Casey out of his tent by 07u00, and wat was more amazimg we where off the campground by 08u30. Casey's "esspresso alarm" went off , we got quickly something to eat, amd we where on our way to the castle. At the castle we found out that the next tour was at 11u40. So 1 u 40 min wait. Esspresso time.... We wait for the bus upthere and came to late, but that friemdly lady did let us in with the next group. Waiting for the bus down and finaly at 14u00 we where ready to take the 175km down to Italy. (My mistake i'm sorry)
What we saw was beautiful, Green water lake's between mountains with some snowy ones in the back. I expected to see and hear more Italian here, but everybody speaks German, We went over to the campsite where we had reservations and where we supposed to wait for John. But that Italian owner decided to close the site a few days early and out we went. We found one 12 back down on the stelvio's pass and waited for John, Who came off an 11 hour flight and cleared German costums at 15u00. He arrived at 01u40 in the night.
This year I will not take this trip alone. . The riders: -John & Ida, Texas USA With a BMW R1150GS adventure -Casey, California USA BMW R1150GS adventure -And me. Joeri, Belgium BMW F800GS
The plan: -08/09: Leave home for Heidelberg Germany at Stefan Knopf 's place. Also First aquaintance with John nephew Casey.
-09/09: Leaving Heidelberg for Trafoi campsite in Italy. Right at Passo di Stelvio. With Casey.
-10/09: Meet up with John & Ida in the evening.
-11/09: Leave for Ancona Italy. Ferry to Cesme Turkey 22u30.
-14/09: Arrival Cesme Turkey 06u30.
-14/09 till 25/09: Turkey, Armenia and Georgia. 11 days to cover 3520km or 2200 miles.
-25/09: Ferry Poty Georgia at 22u00.
-29/09: Arrival Ukraïne at 14u00.
-29/09 till 04/10: Ukraïne, Moldavia and Roemenia.
-04/10: say goodbye John & Ida.
-04/10 till 11/10: Way home, Probably kickin back in Hungary.
Joetrips is a blog with story's about my trips & journeys i make, mostly by motorbike. For everybody who wants to know where i've been or going to. Specialy for friends & family at the homefront.
Coming soon: the trip around the black sea. Country's: Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Romania, Hungary,...... Start: September 08. 2010
Belangrijke data in mijn agenda
-09,10,11/07 International motorbike rally @ Hoeselt (B). Everybody welcome to join me. All info @: www.mchoeselt.be/DemeRRock
-27,28,29/08: International motorbike rally @ St-pieters-leeuw. Everybody welcome to join me. All info @: www.phantomsmc.be
-08/09: Leave home for the annual big trip. This year: Around the Black Sea.
