So fresh back from my Arctic Trip, my mind is now turning to next years mega trip. No dates fixed but probably around the same August period and naturally my old pal Waspy will be coming along. Anyone is welcome to join me except BB3Lions who is barred.(unless he donates 10,000 Pounds to the Cats Protection League) Each Trip is around 6000km long and again it’ll be a charity ride in aid of Cancer Research UK.
I may be going with someone on this trip, which will be a bit nicer to have some company. I’m sick of having arguments with myself and losing I (we) need to decide on which of the 4 or other trips we’ll be going on. Here’s more details of each one plus the estimated kilometers.
I would love to come on any of those trips Nikki. Unfortunately we're (provisionally) planning a trip to Cambodia next year, so that'll be most of the holidays gone...
BonnieCat. Would love to but work demands I am there. But soon I will give it up work that is. Then I would love to join you. Think you are one member I would love to meet and shake your hand. Regards Joe.
It’s looking like option C (the sunny one) If anyone is interested let me know. It’s a long way off but I’m giving you plenty of time to mull it over. At the moment there are 2 of us
OMG! A woman rider after my own heart. Look at this.....PLAN!! Nikki, if I lived nearer you and were completely retired, I'd take you up on your offer to join you on your trip. This looks like a wonderful and epic journey.
A bucketlist item, Sandi. I've been wanting to visit Ankor Wat for decades... time and funds permitting next year it'll happen!
Between 3 to 4 weeks. I want to make sure there is adequate time to look around the major cities, like Sofia, Budapest Bucharest. When I did my Arctic Trip there were virtually no rest/touristy days and it was quite tiring. I’m thinking 3 nights max for these places. Some will be 2 night stops and the rest will be 1. But the bottom line I think minimum will be 3 weeks. I’m also thinking we may want to move out the trip to September as I think Greece and Bulgaria could be pretty hot in August. But at this early stage, everything is open for discussion. If you can make it that’d be great.
I'm looking to change / buy another bike a bit lighter soon and would be well up for this, I'm retired and have done a couple of trips to the EU the last one this July was to Andorra and back from Inverness circa 3K miles.
Yes the Trophy is a very heavy bike. I know I had one, now I have a more sensible VStrom 650 (Plus a Speedmaster) I’m retired too, so it’s easier for us to make these big trips
Your 2020 trip options look good. Should you opt for Trip D – A couple of years ago on a summer jaunt from Lisbon to Istanbul (start/end UK) I travelled on the ferry between Bari and Durres, my experience of it that it was the most disgusting rusting can I have ever travelled on, rubbish everywhere, cook had pulled out all the stops to make the stuff he had created as disgusting as possible, the cabin was minuscule but all the crew I came into contact with were excellent. If you visit Albania you should make an effort to stay at B&B Kotoni in Gjirokaster – brilliant. My 2020 project is a lap of the Baltic, lacks some excitement but I will be 74!
Ok change of plans. My fellow adventurer has, not unsurprisingly, backed out of the trip. I could sense it was coming and was expecting it. Now I fancy changing to route D as I’ve visited Italy several times and I’m curious about Albania. The other change is that, due to a possible Spanish trip in September, I’m looking at Springtime now instead of autumn. The other thing I’m considering is maybe using Cyril the Camper van instead of Waspy if no one else is interested or can’t make it. Might as well be comfortable right?? Thoughts, suggestions, ideas
Hi TT, I have a suggestion for your consideration ? A couple of years ago I had a Tiger 955i with full kit for touring. In many ways it was great but in mountainous areas with lots of twisties it was too heavy with a high C of G. I looked at the market and finally bought my current bike, a Yamaha Tracer MT-07. I bought it because : 1. It is 40 kgs lighter than the Tiger and carries it's weight low down; 2. It has good low end torque for a smaller capacity bike, so I don't feel hard done by; 3. It is extraordinarily good on fuel. I recently completed a trip to the Pyrenees 1,900 kms and she averaged 3.8 ltrs /100 kms, or 74 mpg !!!! So I only spent spent about 70€ on fuel for the whole trip ! Great fun bike day to day, more than powerful enough for me and does long distance well.
