tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65836131761049273232024-03-13T02:34:23.123+00:00Mileetas Motorbike AdventureMileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-85763857120526933032011-06-10T13:28:00.004+01:002011-06-10T13:56:40.939+01:00Day 20 /21 - Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvdaMDaFBA-qADYEHSx5VYNGmJtCvO1Q1sUJTcq9Jv3QLud6Hnxqg2k92w40_Kf72RszSTxXU9oZASVJxnWgl44rBNcwoNNW4rx-keQmp_G6aMsKBso0fObWj9xbTFD-pZT3Ccceanfc/s1600/SDC12947.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvdaMDaFBA-qADYEHSx5VYNGmJtCvO1Q1sUJTcq9Jv3QLud6Hnxqg2k92w40_Kf72RszSTxXU9oZASVJxnWgl44rBNcwoNNW4rx-keQmp_G6aMsKBso0fObWj9xbTFD-pZT3Ccceanfc/s320/SDC12947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616568716118968450" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpI1WHZ66Klsxw0KtWmSfTNH8IZ_Z0U8aAyTgODDTdFWXWoYnCc8I2x7PMznx41Axpisv2denxsE4Tvt05JrRgcnLGRt6WatUXA9Yud9Ze-NP4X-QKZRCc-cEU5UTr2-N1zTPg5oM5mKs/s1600/SDC12948.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpI1WHZ66Klsxw0KtWmSfTNH8IZ_Z0U8aAyTgODDTdFWXWoYnCc8I2x7PMznx41Axpisv2denxsE4Tvt05JrRgcnLGRt6WatUXA9Yud9Ze-NP4X-QKZRCc-cEU5UTr2-N1zTPg5oM5mKs/s320/SDC12948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616568724156111506" border="0" /></a>
I've missed a blog out somehow but, to avoid confusion this is my final day after 21 days on the road. The ride back to the tunnel and home was with cloudy skies and rain showers. Still I was happy in my helmet reminising about warm weather, beautiful scenery and seeing my family. Rode over the 'Pont du Normany', which for those of you that have ridden it in the wind, can be a bit hairy (eh Gary?).
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YZyEDmNSKKCTxN5O3dHq_pMXwUBgAEy9JpBqfl-prmtwaoKph-oXMNiKiCYpofhE5rOtcStWPoGQek8KqHJpS7ugSjdo3hAxQuApzd1fZwLjCZ73um8GIOTv6l9ImbwGw_UW-ZKkPVI/s1600/SDC12951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YZyEDmNSKKCTxN5O3dHq_pMXwUBgAEy9JpBqfl-prmtwaoKph-oXMNiKiCYpofhE5rOtcStWPoGQek8KqHJpS7ugSjdo3hAxQuApzd1fZwLjCZ73um8GIOTv6l9ImbwGw_UW-ZKkPVI/s320/SDC12951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616569098312038498" border="0" /></a>Got to the tunnel and saw a few other bikers. They didn't have sun tans and weren't smiling. I don't think they went far enough South.
Anyway, here is Mileetas before mileage:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDov3NuY9DFb37Blcf-HPd5WKs3CU3Hnj17_FvVoD2BKgeaD9kvINFvv3sD0u1B4EfeTujW8jn-Vw0QSB6Z0ZfqRIrtOy0TjNv2gZtTBwGkZAZkKBarLuMYxoQp8T3dAsogNdq5lXCg90/s1600/SDC12405.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDov3NuY9DFb37Blcf-HPd5WKs3CU3Hnj17_FvVoD2BKgeaD9kvINFvv3sD0u1B4EfeTujW8jn-Vw0QSB6Z0ZfqRIrtOy0TjNv2gZtTBwGkZAZkKBarLuMYxoQp8T3dAsogNdq5lXCg90/s320/SDC12405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616569109848049010" border="0" /></a>And after mileage:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-DTnQVBQf_joVsXpVoc3Exy7L544GuMGelI3aReVg77OiMRWgfVjYnhb-OLKtWiT1VK3ulqSTWLDK4XuUttZnKmAZXI0OYQHhVXKxQFfXblE0-NeysBNfjxrin14F2z1D3psUcQeRMA/s1600/SDC12954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-DTnQVBQf_joVsXpVoc3Exy7L544GuMGelI3aReVg77OiMRWgfVjYnhb-OLKtWiT1VK3ulqSTWLDK4XuUttZnKmAZXI0OYQHhVXKxQFfXblE0-NeysBNfjxrin14F2z1D3psUcQeRMA/s320/SDC12954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616569113030342578" border="0" /></a>
We covered FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED & FIFTEEN miles (5715 miles) !!
Mileeta is a real star and I love her more than ever.
A big thank you to those that joined me for parts of the adventure. Thanks to all the blog followers who where with me all the way. Thanks to the people I met on route. Biggest thank you to my wife, Trish for giving me the freedom to ride, love you.
Until next time, it's been a pleasure. JonMileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-579380518354548172011-06-09T21:15:00.006+01:002011-06-09T21:48:00.982+01:00Day 19 - Houlgate, Normandy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhh8ufdfdsW-DK8ZWW2lCosYuFZjluizesmkzOxdhbCP-beI-y_aWXexmGZryRH22nLHA-h4Wrl9GvCAOTJtJPcJta1VHD5u1lO25r1iPlgfvudPHP5gx8YgwSsuyGSGcqAIweNgt_Pk/s1600/Caen+Map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhh8ufdfdsW-DK8ZWW2lCosYuFZjluizesmkzOxdhbCP-beI-y_aWXexmGZryRH22nLHA-h4Wrl9GvCAOTJtJPcJta1VHD5u1lO25r1iPlgfvudPHP5gx8YgwSsuyGSGcqAIweNgt_Pk/s320/Caen+Map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616324455380457426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RqS7KRJEA2T_EFfCLjly-K-DnO2G8Aqj-FTLU2LsQ6jJxmrAG5n2sBxrLwDaoHp8Ggf3DejiCr9dTC-qL45_TGa7g9fZ4EiO0kYDQUv5C9rpFa5hEk0XBXLatDsw9At49kbMmzVcVV4/s1600/IMG_0151.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RqS7KRJEA2T_EFfCLjly-K-DnO2G8Aqj-FTLU2LsQ6jJxmrAG5n2sBxrLwDaoHp8Ggf3DejiCr9dTC-qL45_TGa7g9fZ4EiO0kYDQUv5C9rpFa5hEk0XBXLatDsw9At49kbMmzVcVV4/s320/IMG_0151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616322213443387170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NEmusI389-nhP0IQcPI8yhAO-V2vc6eTVuzK5xVaZYTMzaUJ5hjJDZqFMx0GzvZ5xRsieNgD88Hqo9cwdbS9c7YSXoCwGPCBOsJ0hEZhBLgigfLpWgghBSH1Qa3ELg-Dyqj5pJUm2oc/s1600/SDC12944.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NEmusI389-nhP0IQcPI8yhAO-V2vc6eTVuzK5xVaZYTMzaUJ5hjJDZqFMx0GzvZ5xRsieNgD88Hqo9cwdbS9c7YSXoCwGPCBOsJ0hEZhBLgigfLpWgghBSH1Qa3ELg-Dyqj5pJUm2oc/s320/SDC12944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616321469273670962" border="0" /></a>I had a lay-in this morning after the marathon ride yesterday. Left the Loire at midday and rode 220 uneventful miles to Houlgate, Normandy.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo1iJdAsywRSartH0wsgUoE86owkutFdy57pEE7ohYIRMuJAjnbNQNbkbVWoyJz6WVvPySnPQA5DuPZ65FV978qB6Lp-wvAghF3jNlcuspinVAb7upvi0abqwL55YXcg_AcrFqkFXstU/s1600/DSCF3960.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBo1iJdAsywRSartH0wsgUoE86owkutFdy57pEE7ohYIRMuJAjnbNQNbkbVWoyJz6WVvPySnPQA5DuPZ65FV978qB6Lp-wvAghF3jNlcuspinVAb7upvi0abqwL55YXcg_AcrFqkFXstU/s320/DSCF3960.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616321461213968994" border="0" /></a>Met up with a fellow Mid Life Rebel, Philip my brother-in-law, his wife Julia and his family at 'Camping de la Vallee'. It was also his daughter Maddy's birthday today, so stopped on route to buy a couple of presents for her and her sister.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52f_s5yvBAOVhJ2PSBHYk3F8l1q1Ihq1CbFyH711E4NZ8OAOYiWyysEDjOb3KJJmMfZ26CPQAlE2GoS87Wn5xhlYNkFulyndsipOJ6oN1FDR0UUe8KPFDYROSjlXxupzeeb9unfgvF3I/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52f_s5yvBAOVhJ2PSBHYk3F8l1q1Ihq1CbFyH711E4NZ8OAOYiWyysEDjOb3KJJmMfZ26CPQAlE2GoS87Wn5xhlYNkFulyndsipOJ6oN1FDR0UUe8KPFDYROSjlXxupzeeb9unfgvF3I/s320/IMG_0142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616322202086937810" border="0" /></a>Spent another pleasant evening with them. Spag bol for tea and strawberry flan with candles. Then because I didn't want to risk getting camping gear wet, I went and found an F1 Motel at Caen for my last night. I arrived just after 22:00hrs so got a twin room, with free WiFi and secure parking via the ATM type machine for 33 Euro. I've got a midday return crossing on the Euro tunnel tomorrow, so 3hrs to ride to Calais tomorrow morning.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPYObolZ_hsRrEjnnMU96R3MTaxWSOAvNAN6AyO6k9MBXsif1kaXhiXOAOr56B5XngARhYHaP4xwew_CdcBB4YIhD0v4A6vszLNKpca9hYKUfs7oa5vQtOFQfTLyNGfwWoPxWala9Ed4/s1600/IMG_0115.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPYObolZ_hsRrEjnnMU96R3MTaxWSOAvNAN6AyO6k9MBXsif1kaXhiXOAOr56B5XngARhYHaP4xwew_CdcBB4YIhD0v4A6vszLNKpca9hYKUfs7oa5vQtOFQfTLyNGfwWoPxWala9Ed4/s320/IMG_0115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616321475360947746" border="0" /></a>Reflecting on my trip it's been brilliant, lots of great memories, enough photos and movie clips to bore the pants off friends and family and sad that it's coming to an end. Still, one more day to go before, as they say, the fat lady sings.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwRO57oA6DK1pe33FJwzbhdu1UZG5MMc0EyIaR8ttRrDop90zBGv4wlbhtb0iZvrAqpmphWcCkX_Mcgg8tieKyNRJVQDin32DlNBBnzDRkarrvh-h6NUkYCC7fjVg4Ot1C6JrOAmGqF4/s1600/IMG_0137.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwRO57oA6DK1pe33FJwzbhdu1UZG5MMc0EyIaR8ttRrDop90zBGv4wlbhtb0iZvrAqpmphWcCkX_Mcgg8tieKyNRJVQDin32DlNBBnzDRkarrvh-h6NUkYCC7fjVg4Ot1C6JrOAmGqF4/s320/IMG_0137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616322195587161458" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-65275138795971654552011-06-08T14:35:00.005+01:002011-06-08T16:57:18.556+01:00Day 18 - Genoa to St Aignan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigClqEvUewqSbhLLWapdZA6um-ARmTkcTLBgimy44mSGJFbvhKliqg_yM_TBk9xvOwpLykO2enKC-0NIAMnXnD-Y4hdME_PFLiB4iXDQzyyUdLshLX4m50ibt0hgEV4ucjLPy8kJ-7AvY/s1600/SDC12923.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigClqEvUewqSbhLLWapdZA6um-ARmTkcTLBgimy44mSGJFbvhKliqg_yM_TBk9xvOwpLykO2enKC-0NIAMnXnD-Y4hdME_PFLiB4iXDQzyyUdLshLX4m50ibt0hgEV4ucjLPy8kJ-7AvY/s320/SDC12923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615877430626586434" border="0" /></a>On my own again. Spent last night and today cruising the Mediterranean to get to Genoa for 18:00hrs.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YljxCvTIn49f92Sen07xQlt-Z40HvwticA6j5PMBinf3QtZE-nVef0ZoKHJsO9EaKmHDBp3c_-TS094ooJx69XVnT8ccwDf4pMGrUu9oOzJbXPvhxAhJyZrMtM80ouMgO6EjF2Lunl0/s1600/SDC12928.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YljxCvTIn49f92Sen07xQlt-Z40HvwticA6j5PMBinf3QtZE-nVef0ZoKHJsO9EaKmHDBp3c_-TS094ooJx69XVnT8ccwDf4pMGrUu9oOzJbXPvhxAhJyZrMtM80ouMgO6EjF2Lunl0/s320/SDC12928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615877433283154818" border="0" /></a>Thanks to getting a cabin, I've had a good sleep so I'm going to be riding through the night on the excellent French roads. Plan is to do a bit of detour (c. 550miles), avoid the Alps, this time, leave Italy and skirt round past San Remo, Monaco and Nice.<p>Then head North for breakfast with Rosemary my Mother-in-law and John my Father-in-law. They are holidaying in Argentat in the Dordogne, France. The mission: I thought it would be a nice surprise to meet up with them on Wednesday and have a G&T with fresh picked Sicilian lemons, in the beautiful Dordogne.</p><p>The weather on arrival at Genoa was cloudy and threaten rain. Changed in to my Gortex trousers on the car deck, much to the amusement of the car passengers. My draggin cargo jeans are looking distressed dispite a wash. The dead insects are gone but, the sun has bleach patches on the thighs. They did the job and kept me cool in the hot weather and also worked as casual wear.</p><p>It rained from Monaco all the way. I crossed the Millau viaduct at 04:00hrs with only the darkness, wind and rain for company.
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k8e5-yDxEAgQK_8IlY0Kd6RBtMMLsJJPoAG5u65rHdxDtKdRFwHWTUQ9kV3G_rXqQIqIUCjuQY-cLUMSiw6EjG0ygvGZV4oTxnWAR648bVoahacAVoCCegDaWryNrvIDMrYLP5OFJM0/s1600/SDC12938.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3k8e5-yDxEAgQK_8IlY0Kd6RBtMMLsJJPoAG5u65rHdxDtKdRFwHWTUQ9kV3G_rXqQIqIUCjuQY-cLUMSiw6EjG0ygvGZV4oTxnWAR648bVoahacAVoCCegDaWryNrvIDMrYLP5OFJM0/s320/SDC12938.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615873826327903122" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVkIPR9w8TXIgU33RdveqCCBrn0Rj4-VbUSTzegBta3hmXEtKls-oiXQBEQFH9u1ONfwj_sCgb_0tfZJGjiNXY2w0D9Sip3G3FfH0P7I9WGkIeceobxi7BRnTphRc8bI9FWscUhk-9zE/s1600/SDC12936.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVkIPR9w8TXIgU33RdveqCCBrn0Rj4-VbUSTzegBta3hmXEtKls-oiXQBEQFH9u1ONfwj_sCgb_0tfZJGjiNXY2w0D9Sip3G3FfH0P7I9WGkIeceobxi7BRnTphRc8bI9FWscUhk-9zE/s320/SDC12936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615873822065915234" border="0" /></a>I then had to take 'D' roads cross country via Rodez. The rain was joined by a mist. The road was indestinguishable so the only way I could make any progress was to follow a lorry.
</p><p>I found John & Rosemary at their campsite right beside the Dordogne river.
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLY8I3WdgcB0pQb6lXc71gbyW6Aq3jO9YR9bvfxEGnrIb4IR8mPEIma_t9zDrPIqOh6QaRK5wBYxkaoPYfF_41zJKyfpEcZjDIqThaQziGNaqLKZVVefn5u9kZGfR5f-ELUgplZUvd_Y/s1600/SDC12941.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLY8I3WdgcB0pQb6lXc71gbyW6Aq3jO9YR9bvfxEGnrIb4IR8mPEIma_t9zDrPIqOh6QaRK5wBYxkaoPYfF_41zJKyfpEcZjDIqThaQziGNaqLKZVVefn5u9kZGfR5f-ELUgplZUvd_Y/s320/SDC12941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615876267875323378" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Had a cup of tea and toast then we headed off to meet again at another campsite further North at Les Cochards to find some better weather. Another 250 miles = 800 miles in a night and day. Mileeta has now exceeded 5,000 miles so far this trip.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf770k6sMjPdht8ri7f9csoa3d4ValUdd7Z9UERczZQCJzQdzwuvrDRm-u42uNJbcem9hYAWbJWgc0LOMI98xAZYdXAu9hFY9B-mjWgKnij45ep5qLpT76cez1oPHeWC0LXTfDoQBltIQ/s1600/SDC12946.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf770k6sMjPdht8ri7f9csoa3d4ValUdd7Z9UERczZQCJzQdzwuvrDRm-u42uNJbcem9hYAWbJWgc0LOMI98xAZYdXAu9hFY9B-mjWgKnij45ep5qLpT76cez1oPHeWC0LXTfDoQBltIQ/s320/SDC12946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615873814229070914" border="0" /></a>
Mission accomplished: G&T in France with Sicilian lemon slice, oh and a sneeky bottle of Lemonchello to finish a home cooked meal.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v_pKOte8d-4cGDNPPZQLr9MvmPr4QW4bz6j-8-C8-ktwPoJkBpAchFY3r8FfNdpSEFX-ZbPdIdACvdXqJ5jJ1lMuk49hbutCCTEv2s2kdfGjnwBfppSv_sqKcpc5voAfOmZ50XoPygQ/s1600/France+Map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v_pKOte8d-4cGDNPPZQLr9MvmPr4QW4bz6j-8-C8-ktwPoJkBpAchFY3r8FfNdpSEFX-ZbPdIdACvdXqJ5jJ1lMuk49hbutCCTEv2s2kdfGjnwBfppSv_sqKcpc5voAfOmZ50XoPygQ/s320/France+Map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615873806937364210" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-22385181047196073492011-06-08T13:39:00.008+01:002011-06-08T14:23:49.962+01:00Day 17 - Tranpani & Palermo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCerKEqeG7t3OU9ONAVJqr_y6D2yfmtv1XcSbfKZXqYaJAMXlvXJ_eRtw_9BpdfGA5Qbg3FF6O88CYVaOAOaqsQTROwkw2UBysvr23JrSuq955lekMD00_awqZbtxwqVJS6AfqZlPGC4/s1600/SDC12915.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCerKEqeG7t3OU9ONAVJqr_y6D2yfmtv1XcSbfKZXqYaJAMXlvXJ_eRtw_9BpdfGA5Qbg3FF6O88CYVaOAOaqsQTROwkw2UBysvr23JrSuq955lekMD00_awqZbtxwqVJS6AfqZlPGC4/s320/SDC12915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615833575755627330" border="0" /></a>No internet tonight (Monday 6 June). <p class="MsoNormal">There wasn’t a ferry yesterday (Sunday) evening, which meant I got another day in Sicily (feels like a second home). Time to hone my Italian riding style i.e. ignore all I’ve been taught, take the racing line at your peril, give as good as you get, ride like a UKAdvanced Motorcyclist and your not going to survive.You move to the outside line, they undertake. You move to the inside line they overtake. You leave a gap in front, they fill it etc.
</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Spent the day getting my clothes washed and seeing the sights that the West of Sicily has to offer around Trapani and Masarla. We passed the air force base and civil airport, both of which had plenty of NATO aircraft of all types. Re-fuelling planes, AWAX and fighters. We saw a few heavily laden euro fighters fly off on their sorties. Probably going to see if Mr. Gaddafi was at home and download their mega bits.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The mountain that dominates Trapani has an ancient town at the top called Erice. For centuries before Catholicism, Erice used to be ruled by a high priestess and hundreds of her priestesses. They worshiped the goddess Venus in a temple and men were slaves to their love. Nothing changes then ;-).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLnuoRQP53Hpak7s0ccE9jX_gESHTADXZY2Adtm2bdSDHxqMM98LCYXbOLzWSaRRI2hTQN3rpcCzU0-Zj_8Hdc4qDnXM0ll1cf1iv2SwZssA4UceLw6SiizRf95EVLvIy6mp1uoYmm1E/s1600/057.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLnuoRQP53Hpak7s0ccE9jX_gESHTADXZY2Adtm2bdSDHxqMM98LCYXbOLzWSaRRI2hTQN3rpcCzU0-Zj_8Hdc4qDnXM0ll1cf1iv2SwZssA4UceLw6SiizRf95EVLvIy6mp1uoYmm1E/s320/057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615832096195182754" border="0" /></a>Sergio took me to a local travel agent and I booked a ticket for the 22:00hrs ferry from Palermo to Genoa with a (non-sharing, you have to specify otherwise you might get an adventure you weren’t expecting) cabin. The sailing is 20hrs but means I can be traveling while sleeping and hopefully recoup some lost time. It means skipping the return ride up through Italy but, I think a saw enough priestesses by the side of the road on the way down. I won’t miss the triple high Armco, narrow lanes and dark cold tunnels of the autostrada.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRMLHdVfe7SzIMp977J8K7Sfi7aPzI2pn39OakpEJWOCFIUxBewApWgqif8YorxSOwMuMzZ_zx9ZO__2h3T0x9ttxCdxZkmHkQZ2KpSwU_iMDip7maXEOPEO-_sW90dKV7Immek0P_AY/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRMLHdVfe7SzIMp977J8K7Sfi7aPzI2pn39OakpEJWOCFIUxBewApWgqif8YorxSOwMuMzZ_zx9ZO__2h3T0x9ttxCdxZkmHkQZ2KpSwU_iMDip7maXEOPEO-_sW90dKV7Immek0P_AY/s320/042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615830232866862162" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS5myOxqVq065aIsowC65qu0ioKeLPYJOf7E4cqIKIr_uH6TixOtQUvNAVIU0BZvq1TJ6RKO3kqLzaiArjTBE5kuWv59SP93PR7aHpgTSZCQoKY2JM0CACy86kYU-torlG2p2qF_ruwE/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrS5myOxqVq065aIsowC65qu0ioKeLPYJOf7E4cqIKIr_uH6TixOtQUvNAVIU0BZvq1TJ6RKO3kqLzaiArjTBE5kuWv59SP93PR7aHpgTSZCQoKY2JM0CACy86kYU-torlG2p2qF_ruwE/s320/040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615830223673198770" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxTp-w4aFCDuNxU1d9PwcACxGaRt0-fiY4hpF0qK1Pt-1cBg9o1wwJy8AGD58UmZx5aScEjV64Doc4EOhs3tB03pozx3mNZjfeo0uSSB0qnkddYvcfsESAd8eYErBp7uo2bOkfRFvrlI/s1600/036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxTp-w4aFCDuNxU1d9PwcACxGaRt0-fiY4hpF0qK1Pt-1cBg9o1wwJy8AGD58UmZx5aScEjV64Doc4EOhs3tB03pozx3mNZjfeo0uSSB0qnkddYvcfsESAd8eYErBp7uo2bOkfRFvrlI/s320/036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615830218918886866" border="0" /></a>We visited the salt lagoons and picturesque windmills that power the pumps to drain the lagoons to expose the salt.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq2PV1FHWgznYb9JVh2dE4diMiJG0YcJAUsXxQBHeTlALRGkdvK5_7MegE0h2quM9EOYkNAJ0uoFcRTwnE1aIzaQfNHHLnhdJ5O3UeYN5rqes4kUqZd7PRQtv-I3zQd4TUDok43isKeo/s1600/SDC12908.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNq2PV1FHWgznYb9JVh2dE4diMiJG0YcJAUsXxQBHeTlALRGkdvK5_7MegE0h2quM9EOYkNAJ0uoFcRTwnE1aIzaQfNHHLnhdJ5O3UeYN5rqes4kUqZd7PRQtv-I3zQd4TUDok43isKeo/s320/SDC12908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615833568067006386" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdAmnCWsYVgnEp0MTE4sJzvyAOBpex00ceNrZjX9qJQVNuSCy20qzCWhHqrBJlRbBUSdj2FWe9RLTnaKN1QfU31ifWaNUn0gdfj1TvUyNQTfa3-9IIcgDdIaKkGNqaiKiL3M4ZcWKYnA/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdAmnCWsYVgnEp0MTE4sJzvyAOBpex00ceNrZjX9qJQVNuSCy20qzCWhHqrBJlRbBUSdj2FWe9RLTnaKN1QfU31ifWaNUn0gdfj1TvUyNQTfa3-9IIcgDdIaKkGNqaiKiL3M4ZcWKYnA/s320/050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615832089290662130" border="0" /></a>We rode a little further on and watched the kite surfers at Santa Maria where International competitions are held. This is where the cool people hangout, with their new VW T5 camper vans, sexy chicks and Hawaiian gear flags. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">At 20:00hrs I said goodbye to Sergio and hatched a plan (like I’ve ever had one of those) that maybe get the lads (and ladies?) out on a trip to Sardinia or Corsica next year and meet-up (anyone up for that?)
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaA8T8jZI5ucN_oUtMI3ts9cUI3VrpYkiSPgHduq524J51EuxcBu6lBDeJQavudXKq7xHoRKcVjr94_j6UOg3SdsX073xE2YLJFyHp5wuoc_r61SZBw6fLP60VOSmljw26c5s0YVI4s4/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaA8T8jZI5ucN_oUtMI3ts9cUI3VrpYkiSPgHduq524J51EuxcBu6lBDeJQavudXKq7xHoRKcVjr94_j6UOg3SdsX073xE2YLJFyHp5wuoc_r61SZBw6fLP60VOSmljw26c5s0YVI4s4/s320/059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615832119797943858" border="0" /></a>Mileeta loaded with fresh picked lemons, Sergios fathers olive oil and local wine, I rode the 60 miles to Palermo ferry port.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDHM-gITvirZd7IyzV63fM02pjxMSeGoOwGEPamRtbDbBjHI8ZWyknAt-jmfudvBPCo75wJl01N6oauQ-RNxmVnXe0UgU6QZLvp4HbAZKV7WkreOU3EfOChShFy8_63cA0O5-sdoZSoA/s1600/058.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDHM-gITvirZd7IyzV63fM02pjxMSeGoOwGEPamRtbDbBjHI8ZWyknAt-jmfudvBPCo75wJl01N6oauQ-RNxmVnXe0UgU6QZLvp4HbAZKV7WkreOU3EfOChShFy8_63cA0O5-sdoZSoA/s320/058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615832104303868930" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-WmNw8EIePz9s5zVcHBOCCFkM7Ie4rXOrPWeJRId8YC41f7HUnPPO_MEwWld5g0W9p4geioFza2aLB941Lnc3yZOyOkzcBIQp3fQHcZb1F2c_vpqdaQKryPFoqfY61xQF21Jho5g418/s1600/SDC12916.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-WmNw8EIePz9s5zVcHBOCCFkM7Ie4rXOrPWeJRId8YC41f7HUnPPO_MEwWld5g0W9p4geioFza2aLB941Lnc3yZOyOkzcBIQp3fQHcZb1F2c_vpqdaQKryPFoqfY61xQF21Jho5g418/s320/SDC12916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615833587975710162" border="0" /></a>Got my ticket validated at the port office, boarded ‘La Superba’.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6gsamqs4_arAcMPWJw9XwVHN_ORhEgc0J6-lltAJ1LNjtoUpsuUz3yJyINjBzlJfH1-sbKpcrX6FGLT_B3rmx0DO7aoTH49H2artUSzoCtqomPo4aYi1djRjlby_iXk7ctvmpAnNd-s/s1600/SDC12920.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6gsamqs4_arAcMPWJw9XwVHN_ORhEgc0J6-lltAJ1LNjtoUpsuUz3yJyINjBzlJfH1-sbKpcrX6FGLT_B3rmx0DO7aoTH49H2artUSzoCtqomPo4aYi1djRjlby_iXk7ctvmpAnNd-s/s320/SDC12920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615837389248693698" border="0" /></a>I collected my cabin card key and settled in. Then thought I’d go for a wander around the ship, fine, nice ship, very plush for a ferry more like a cruise liner (I imagine). The problem arose when I went to return to my cabin. What was the number? 8323? No clue on the card key. I knew it was deck 8 and an inside cabin on a corner of a block. Left the bloody Tom Tom and maps in the cabin too! Halfway around Europe and I can’t find my cabin! I couldn’t find it, or anyone to ask, for over half an hour, still only 19 and half hours to go.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If I feel up to it, I have a new mission in mind, before returning home to my wife, daughter and son who, although I’ve been corresponding, I do miss x x x </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-32263914203804700742011-06-05T22:59:00.006+01:002011-06-05T23:27:21.744+01:00Day 16 - TrapaniThe Englishman, Italian and French woman went to the beach……. it’s no joke, we were truly European today.
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA3cW4bsSyw_PIRCDIzN4M_VBZa19D4FD3PvFuiIbejMfSN3b58wRwniiJIkTp7AQpRrXDmsZKqWkyhDwDT_IAffVXRjbDC_42ZxXu-0B9eaS4sro5SLHUx5sllw91C4WCBVkXWW2FSk/s1600/SDC12879.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCA3cW4bsSyw_PIRCDIzN4M_VBZa19D4FD3PvFuiIbejMfSN3b58wRwniiJIkTp7AQpRrXDmsZKqWkyhDwDT_IAffVXRjbDC_42ZxXu-0B9eaS4sro5SLHUx5sllw91C4WCBVkXWW2FSk/s320/SDC12879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614861352941761794" border="0" /></a>Mileeta was carrying full panniers, Iris and myself. We rode along the sea front of Giardini Naxos then on to the picturesque Isola Bella (Beautiful Island). It is actually connected to the mainland by a shingle causeway. We parked the bikes and walked down the steps to the beach. We swam in the crystal clear water and sunbathed. As we lay their soaking up the suns rays, Sergio had a little chuckle to himself. “What?” I asked. He then recounted the story from the book ‘The Alchemist’. A Sheppard decides to go on a journey to discover treasure. He travels far and wide but doesn’t find treasure. When he returns he finds the treasure was actually what he already had. The beach we were lying on was the most beautiful we had experienced all trip and it was on Sergio’s door step.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjkOU-lVmz4X35KuIPcqGswOfH6DZfB4KZ1UsWU-HERIM8qzwEbfxRHF__VqiaoF-WX-OD54Dz7hhi9yL8g0ALtH5-kOEYEv8RnRKUpSYRjEZ9fQpBuJh7mGjvNTlprk21Xqat0CkLCA/s1600/SDC12876.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjkOU-lVmz4X35KuIPcqGswOfH6DZfB4KZ1UsWU-HERIM8qzwEbfxRHF__VqiaoF-WX-OD54Dz7hhi9yL8g0ALtH5-kOEYEv8RnRKUpSYRjEZ9fQpBuJh7mGjvNTlprk21Xqat0CkLCA/s320/SDC12876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614861338615992258" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA50wlAuU3WQPYlQmSpDjqC1Wmee1ylwkWPPKIwk5N1ngjCe2v2mca9HxY3J1iWntfiCGKtjnpKuOQUgymEpHlfXE9srUjt2h2SkylAKVI6uWwpgVyFBgKrXA2A6IwpyuSudfJGrrng0Q/s1600/IMG_0524.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA50wlAuU3WQPYlQmSpDjqC1Wmee1ylwkWPPKIwk5N1ngjCe2v2mca9HxY3J1iWntfiCGKtjnpKuOQUgymEpHlfXE9srUjt2h2SkylAKVI6uWwpgVyFBgKrXA2A6IwpyuSudfJGrrng0Q/s320/IMG_0524.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614861330363037090" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTimKvty2U0RRnxOFdhyphenhypheneUsz-hG0G7D0UOykx5oZGj2_Ykj40IywpTW2zr18pdMYtUbjde7cO4DoS0xQCG3-c5bLnH0jitT41YNYJNSnoNTh2l448ItBds3xoyI1n9aacV82CPUJyb8k/s1600/SDC12883.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTimKvty2U0RRnxOFdhyphenhypheneUsz-hG0G7D0UOykx5oZGj2_Ykj40IywpTW2zr18pdMYtUbjde7cO4DoS0xQCG3-c5bLnH0jitT41YNYJNSnoNTh2l448ItBds3xoyI1n9aacV82CPUJyb8k/s320/SDC12883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614862643698342962" border="0" /></a>We return back to Diegos’ and had lunch with the others. Then when the weather got cooler, and they had had their afternoon snooze, at 5 o’clock we pack up, said our goodbyes. A big thanks to all at the farm, I'll be back with friends or family if you'll have me, thanks again, the perfect place to chill.
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKS3zwSUD-p69awpg_Zm3M3nsLf7aFCF5HpfWj_6Tza9sk7WtUBkUK_6Awsch6e7JY2Zgs2apDpEtw1ejYb7QKVlRS2zfvjxIIyru4dGjOZg29kfcKGcpfVt7T5oZTEqYTk9gYm6THkw/s1600/SDC12895.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKS3zwSUD-p69awpg_Zm3M3nsLf7aFCF5HpfWj_6Tza9sk7WtUBkUK_6Awsch6e7JY2Zgs2apDpEtw1ejYb7QKVlRS2zfvjxIIyru4dGjOZg29kfcKGcpfVt7T5oZTEqYTk9gYm6THkw/s320/SDC12895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614862657722361762" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAkkkV0Q2HklIDA1rssxTb4QiHWtmUXRWSLrIewGO_E21FxMaOMAnghCjvw0QbtskB1lLb8BPJpwSYG44HShp_pwQuPdabH7ojNVdK-hTZ7viD727RbuJqXGDcIjSpnAhtC-kvPcWVqQ/s1600/IMG_0521.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAkkkV0Q2HklIDA1rssxTb4QiHWtmUXRWSLrIewGO_E21FxMaOMAnghCjvw0QbtskB1lLb8BPJpwSYG44HShp_pwQuPdabH7ojNVdK-hTZ7viD727RbuJqXGDcIjSpnAhtC-kvPcWVqQ/s320/IMG_0521.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614861322953037906" border="0" /></a>We headed West to Trapani. The trip was 220 miles in to the sun but, when it began to set, we were rewarded with a sky that would have delighted the Shepard in Sergio’s story. The colour matched the glow from Mileetas dials or, if you prefer, rather than shepards delight more a Turkish delight.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9iD7dD0bp3vjZl0wm86ov4g7hYl5fVNDk1DLV5v4XRRj2Zx30TXrpui-qP-qriVcsckAGqLVIzvYn7YQ81BLO2AKamzfRec8kvSoBiW_73p58bKMSbIknoHZa7jEB-dkGg4IUe9NdC8/s1600/SDC12891.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9iD7dD0bp3vjZl0wm86ov4g7hYl5fVNDk1DLV5v4XRRj2Zx30TXrpui-qP-qriVcsckAGqLVIzvYn7YQ81BLO2AKamzfRec8kvSoBiW_73p58bKMSbIknoHZa7jEB-dkGg4IUe9NdC8/s320/SDC12891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614862648367278210" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sergio’s trip was coming to an end, Turkey (the Asian side) now a memory but the 4,500 kms are all his. His riding quickened, only curtailed by the evening traffic around Palermo. He was taking the bends like Valentino Rossi and now even remembering to cancel the indicators. Tenuous link: Trapani is named after the sickle the crescent shaped tool that used to be used for cutting grass. Turkeys flag has a cresent and a star. Sergio, you are a star. Thanks for making this part of Mileetas Adventure what it is. I would never have gone to Albania, drank so much coffee, eaten cake for breakfast or get hooked on Gelato (the best icecream ever!).
</p><p class="MsoNormal">We celebrated with pizza, beer and gelato while writing blog.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsagPTxsUFMVOnYsXAOaCC7kgfACWEb-DgVnIJMxWPwliyKCsPNcmD8quSMzjMG3jvDVEEZHlmgwk8RaSC43n-Evwonp6ZvMG3DmQZcc_h1A0EwyVLfBksoWu7eN47IVEVX4-h96Rjd8/s1600/SDC12837.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsagPTxsUFMVOnYsXAOaCC7kgfACWEb-DgVnIJMxWPwliyKCsPNcmD8quSMzjMG3jvDVEEZHlmgwk8RaSC43n-Evwonp6ZvMG3DmQZcc_h1A0EwyVLfBksoWu7eN47IVEVX4-h96Rjd8/s320/SDC12837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614865205555254882" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9iD7dD0bp3vjZl0wm86ov4g7hYl5fVNDk1DLV5v4XRRj2Zx30TXrpui-qP-qriVcsckAGqLVIzvYn7YQ81BLO2AKamzfRec8kvSoBiW_73p58bKMSbIknoHZa7jEB-dkGg4IUe9NdC8/s1600/SDC12891.JPG"></a><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-67425759584060949392011-06-04T20:16:00.006+01:002011-06-04T22:30:49.511+01:00Day 15 - Etna<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE-m3-LBIXH5ge-tSSWkzHalfRq6TKB9EM3sOE5rQ_JPF1Z8X-uWXL9JxRJctJYRzGnEZjepF7QJgXmztXS65XjF2a4R7NLBFhAmp4y9CXv4nW3fquvEe3eOBjsqTutHG1gjcPSyVxZs/s1600/SDC12786.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE-m3-LBIXH5ge-tSSWkzHalfRq6TKB9EM3sOE5rQ_JPF1Z8X-uWXL9JxRJctJYRzGnEZjepF7QJgXmztXS65XjF2a4R7NLBFhAmp4y9CXv4nW3fquvEe3eOBjsqTutHG1gjcPSyVxZs/s320/SDC12786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614447901454337266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8lAs9uNYQ9n-Z4ZLbCSYC_CgZt9Ilq9jjbvLH5fgSSBTBb7cdhd-lyFpReTihEGptAQb92_gsCP8-8GVXm9jzR2qetOZXmIhVmab3VawQMJOMZuDeIuLco7ODgKmx6KWnHDH2P7Nw5Y/s1600/SDC12815.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8lAs9uNYQ9n-Z4ZLbCSYC_CgZt9Ilq9jjbvLH5fgSSBTBb7cdhd-lyFpReTihEGptAQb92_gsCP8-8GVXm9jzR2qetOZXmIhVmab3VawQMJOMZuDeIuLco7ODgKmx6KWnHDH2P7Nw5Y/s320/SDC12815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614447895275381762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8OmrV4MtIULX2QgmYodVrKJvTUeCfRBqMcOwlByMl9k0L8VNysxFEdee02I8rrT1lNj5JkSEzSmcghzxdep6L_PK4MD9HM-9_yKSa0qeOQDEzmKVtCjCV1qRcUL3C2wQT7lvpI8xUw0/s1600/SDC12813.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8OmrV4MtIULX2QgmYodVrKJvTUeCfRBqMcOwlByMl9k0L8VNysxFEdee02I8rrT1lNj5JkSEzSmcghzxdep6L_PK4MD9HM-9_yKSa0qeOQDEzmKVtCjCV1qRcUL3C2wQT7lvpI8xUw0/s320/SDC12813.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614447887338473810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb9CahTsZgXXZLjsj36QLa86Gwg8Lm83n7Rcgsv1XAhEDVak3MQBx-IMNkPrzBP2IHk1ThOpxYxTld8NU-bEjhCGBb3UrqZp-EucLCUnZWwS6hpzbnS75U-exxNCpHH8OIo0s5zle6as/s1600/SDC12812.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZb9CahTsZgXXZLjsj36QLa86Gwg8Lm83n7Rcgsv1XAhEDVak3MQBx-IMNkPrzBP2IHk1ThOpxYxTld8NU-bEjhCGBb3UrqZp-EucLCUnZWwS6hpzbnS75U-exxNCpHH8OIo0s5zle6as/s320/SDC12812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614447881945684610" border="0" /></a>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/pages/le-MILIEU/370192309217">Diego's place</a>, where I'm staying is at Santa Venera. Home made breakfast of coffee, fresh bread and orange and clove marmalade. Shorts, 'T' shirt and flip flops on. We decided to take a little narrow gauge train that circumnavigates mount Etna to Randazzo. What Sergio hadn't told me was to get to the nearest station we'd have to walk on the train track to get there! Perhaps flip flops not the right footwear.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhYpsG9cFqUfpd3xsYX_RrbC_uBJzfg6LEoivJsjxUc_oHlQXpAUwZlZ8iA9HAu4eE7eK9iG-TUT2gk2peuZksiaUaxQbTzYNnBxwjBvdK8cFlB6yzIotRFA8qud2VkfUhoHmfPA6hZA/s1600/IMG_0458.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhYpsG9cFqUfpd3xsYX_RrbC_uBJzfg6LEoivJsjxUc_oHlQXpAUwZlZ8iA9HAu4eE7eK9iG-TUT2gk2peuZksiaUaxQbTzYNnBxwjBvdK8cFlB6yzIotRFA8qud2VkfUhoHmfPA6hZA/s320/IMG_0458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614475780748673138" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8jBDhDVUSfIWjtj96qL3wOfAXj2BqpDLJh7kaDlPQwKjW99-LGxK1uGE2iHidZDjOHKPLOPFFZybcHW_mnMRkTlixhwGS7tlpjyH2X9NVeQYXDEvUMq_ITUW811h0gWBk5i1eBV6DwA/s1600/SDC12829.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8jBDhDVUSfIWjtj96qL3wOfAXj2BqpDLJh7kaDlPQwKjW99-LGxK1uGE2iHidZDjOHKPLOPFFZybcHW_mnMRkTlixhwGS7tlpjyH2X9NVeQYXDEvUMq_ITUW811h0gWBk5i1eBV6DwA/s320/SDC12829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614448888002798818" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8KFvBUXXb27YlBEULZw4W4RRAEBZB3of3sxctwup9s9uL_uZ-GJCKMsTQRGeN3q86wqZI-KcWtFt_TgN_IyrWt3G3idC0NZVS3fKpKdUxg5d1EyiJAbeQu8SDMvlF7atKJk6OjxmeX0/s1600/IMG_0464.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8KFvBUXXb27YlBEULZw4W4RRAEBZB3of3sxctwup9s9uL_uZ-GJCKMsTQRGeN3q86wqZI-KcWtFt_TgN_IyrWt3G3idC0NZVS3fKpKdUxg5d1EyiJAbeQu8SDMvlF7atKJk6OjxmeX0/s320/IMG_0464.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614475781938148322" border="0" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2jnc7v8jWgsakuP8dUO7-E_IvDKMPGETjsqcWhnYJpLxQ4I5pa7ESNUItOq-aPZCwa1kl5q-KYt9g7S7DyYNSKQ-iRBoWVsyYtmSk3YDtcTo4itwFa1ijOixbFM-hk4bc2sKPDKmdqw/s1600/SDC12828.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2jnc7v8jWgsakuP8dUO7-E_IvDKMPGETjsqcWhnYJpLxQ4I5pa7ESNUItOq-aPZCwa1kl5q-KYt9g7S7DyYNSKQ-iRBoWVsyYtmSk3YDtcTo4itwFa1ijOixbFM-hk4bc2sKPDKmdqw/s320/SDC12828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614449817129644850" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp6dF0C3pBNdKwyn4gHBnsZtiSo6V3ykr_NRzhQmObK6L_TODwcHcxOCFz6VltdBNBLN5j7WRmcvl4wMWBxxqudu4yYXOkoO9dWvYml5VS4uC9Y4HrotVWzjjfaBa9_NP8STgU372P-I/s1600/SDC12826.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp6dF0C3pBNdKwyn4gHBnsZtiSo6V3ykr_NRzhQmObK6L_TODwcHcxOCFz6VltdBNBLN5j7WRmcvl4wMWBxxqudu4yYXOkoO9dWvYml5VS4uC9Y4HrotVWzjjfaBa9_NP8STgU372P-I/s320/SDC12826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614448881877549938" border="0" /></a>On the way back the train missed our stop. No problemo. The driver stopped the train, went to the cab at the other end of the train and reversed the train back up the track to drop us off at the station, before continuing on it's way back down. We walked after the train, again on the tracks when a saw something wriggling by the rail. It was a freshly decapitated snake. Perhaps flip flops not the right footwear!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAG-rkgyxnHb-NaFP6NH2JgE5yeKYQBe0M4E-UvIHHgfAAv6Y6qBobfoIy2Ax6b5kZy68qiJFfsTl1ek5-mU8mfv97gKEIEmqlrrEebQ9BDhzbD-bPKSck1VpiwP1YrZYzVAB6GaXM2Y/s1600/SDC12854.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAG-rkgyxnHb-NaFP6NH2JgE5yeKYQBe0M4E-UvIHHgfAAv6Y6qBobfoIy2Ax6b5kZy68qiJFfsTl1ek5-mU8mfv97gKEIEmqlrrEebQ9BDhzbD-bPKSck1VpiwP1YrZYzVAB6GaXM2Y/s320/SDC12854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614449833452630706" border="0" /></a></p><p>Mileeta had been parked keeping the donkeys company. A ride to the clandestine farmers market being held in an orchard of (permisson?) trees took her over the 4,000 miles so far.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsZIJR-uyhXFqq9wLX7WrO7eFBqYZB8F6CRygH8tAEnpUunl3ZxpSV79v244gndZNoUTRAdS8NUHaT6YDEzP_cyTymcGg9ZSPV2bwZ-j_8bLG41l7osb8UzAlrIS3l6SfQ_196uj3ctY/s1600/SDC12867.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsZIJR-uyhXFqq9wLX7WrO7eFBqYZB8F6CRygH8tAEnpUunl3ZxpSV79v244gndZNoUTRAdS8NUHaT6YDEzP_cyTymcGg9ZSPV2bwZ-j_8bLG41l7osb8UzAlrIS3l6SfQ_196uj3ctY/s320/SDC12867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614450356816205778" border="0" /></a><p>There was also a Celtic folk group performing. New foods to try including berries from the bushes that silk worms eat, Mulberry I think?
</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BpY3HXKeNP1XbjKvpRKlNNEfgxvVmvO4LFjZTNf_ehouTeVGX343CrELQHE89BcBHOOZOkDzYrI08-85xYh5EdAkhyphenhyphenR1u4l3XdYTMvjtjEYxS2lpc5o2fDuyp7V-weM7kpAWVc9fJ9w/s1600/SDC12872.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BpY3HXKeNP1XbjKvpRKlNNEfgxvVmvO4LFjZTNf_ehouTeVGX343CrELQHE89BcBHOOZOkDzYrI08-85xYh5EdAkhyphenhyphenR1u4l3XdYTMvjtjEYxS2lpc5o2fDuyp7V-weM7kpAWVc9fJ9w/s320/SDC12872.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614475770069638322" border="0" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagePb9yYkxuGne6MIbVdDqZjD6nubq_GiP4ojMeV2LY7JzZX3DGKjWQiqn4ISewCEAFiRXW-PAZfWGc5rgYGnR_cdyFNz3KoPMO1bHISVDcojaiE6qcgEc2iaYGdN0zCawZuBU7Yf-TM/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagePb9yYkxuGne6MIbVdDqZjD6nubq_GiP4ojMeV2LY7JzZX3DGKjWQiqn4ISewCEAFiRXW-PAZfWGc5rgYGnR_cdyFNz3KoPMO1bHISVDcojaiE6qcgEc2iaYGdN0zCawZuBU7Yf-TM/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614475791120452034" border="0" /></a>A group of bees had separated from a hived and formed a swam in one of the trees. They where going to encourage the bees in to new hive.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkqts980LJo33DRfaqqfckZWFQUyj_MD7ij4o9-hJj9Yv1Owi4ULdAzLzvUjtVXWWqtwZTr4ZE7aM1DjWBLFHPGaqQwYhsU8kFZ8e0zhpZfpSJMjSnEJSQ6dRjxKLHGZO6DzltXNMSGY/s1600/SDC12866.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkqts980LJo33DRfaqqfckZWFQUyj_MD7ij4o9-hJj9Yv1Owi4ULdAzLzvUjtVXWWqtwZTr4ZE7aM1DjWBLFHPGaqQwYhsU8kFZ8e0zhpZfpSJMjSnEJSQ6dRjxKLHGZO6DzltXNMSGY/s320/SDC12866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614450353983364242" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6vF9sCoQ1aWxryqHOBt7cEDZANoegTskHwJIExfaLvaGSKeilsMbkjJwhXvj16w0yAIoBz9UPtf4NG5PokBG6ZZr99oQ45kAUO-7N29IJE2sPN545DAtOcIF_MED5OLHnK6Ap-gf9tk/s1600/SDC12865.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6vF9sCoQ1aWxryqHOBt7cEDZANoegTskHwJIExfaLvaGSKeilsMbkjJwhXvj16w0yAIoBz9UPtf4NG5PokBG6ZZr99oQ45kAUO-7N29IJE2sPN545DAtOcIF_MED5OLHnK6Ap-gf9tk/s320/SDC12865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614449843787441762" border="0" /></a>The dogs' name is Curva (Curve as in corner), he was found by the side of the road.
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlm0xIZf90HOQZw-iLI8oD0GD5J5DSi357s7tYzMhudTWeyNuCwpBcd7uH27vTyVwQ65VoJ3Xe3BPLzAYm8KVNt-ea8P6gja6tiGS9FLGNrRqGhzcBjU8u3TgTtjWZaPR4TyQMc6v0Yw/s1600/SDC12863.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlm0xIZf90HOQZw-iLI8oD0GD5J5DSi357s7tYzMhudTWeyNuCwpBcd7uH27vTyVwQ65VoJ3Xe3BPLzAYm8KVNt-ea8P6gja6tiGS9FLGNrRqGhzcBjU8u3TgTtjWZaPR4TyQMc6v0Yw/s320/SDC12863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614448873249271410" border="0" /></a></p><p>We rode back to base in the dark with the aid of Tom Tom. We had been joined today by Iris from Lyon, France (WWOOF) so nine of us sat down for dinner and conversation.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH-fJCxmg1n40lcUdwOTWj_IN0jSflFN4-cQogkM-a-kEThjFwDm3PC7Uoleo3wCBlD5occG1HoxVwPAD5Kr1Ax3hPn8zH4gBrveG8bLiV6cZYSgBtsxFHWsay4fnGEvpzReXZPIsEMU/s1600/SDC12853.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH-fJCxmg1n40lcUdwOTWj_IN0jSflFN4-cQogkM-a-kEThjFwDm3PC7Uoleo3wCBlD5occG1HoxVwPAD5Kr1Ax3hPn8zH4gBrveG8bLiV6cZYSgBtsxFHWsay4fnGEvpzReXZPIsEMU/s320/SDC12853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614449822660217810" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-47023627703713137332011-06-03T21:39:00.009+01:002011-06-06T10:33:08.547+01:00Day 14 - Catania, Sicily<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw2dPV7ehPMNzFbT0v8ncc-v-1SQNxQxEI6t5xwq8NKo8XC-IAPKxUtNqM8JhS5FhgRVNjCldYKolKxdOf4uBX6hrEINWIwjuUhzWQMJq00c7xWT8_lD6tzI__mi3LkGLxZLz-Xmwc1U/s1600/SDC12780.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw2dPV7ehPMNzFbT0v8ncc-v-1SQNxQxEI6t5xwq8NKo8XC-IAPKxUtNqM8JhS5FhgRVNjCldYKolKxdOf4uBX6hrEINWIwjuUhzWQMJq00c7xWT8_lD6tzI__mi3LkGLxZLz-Xmwc1U/s320/SDC12780.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614101355187912546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnbxgZjh-uc5ZtlqrnyZCecZlV0COBQBrHaf5ERpxsI3-3RflMFs6SpvLmN9z_O5Z7haxu5B1BT4ScQ2hPI9LaD5_yTq5vYl2st48PWLwy3NsNCwOg1_w_N3C7GwuQpQyy7_fG9UQh-0/s1600/SDC12779.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnbxgZjh-uc5ZtlqrnyZCecZlV0COBQBrHaf5ERpxsI3-3RflMFs6SpvLmN9z_O5Z7haxu5B1BT4ScQ2hPI9LaD5_yTq5vYl2st48PWLwy3NsNCwOg1_w_N3C7GwuQpQyy7_fG9UQh-0/s320/SDC12779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614101350271027906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsNpAlm_cK49u2K55oSpzy93a3VSbhr2F8D53WrAQ1rBJVQ64AmhKzG5lLj87Fxk27X1HhYKZ8LPzHuvNy9krK6wSiX9QOf4pdzjKW4TeO-lSOoOyifR2TZW76q-YPCnNIem2cZcx6TE/s1600/SDC12778.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsNpAlm_cK49u2K55oSpzy93a3VSbhr2F8D53WrAQ1rBJVQ64AmhKzG5lLj87Fxk27X1HhYKZ8LPzHuvNy9krK6wSiX9QOf4pdzjKW4TeO-lSOoOyifR2TZW76q-YPCnNIem2cZcx6TE/s320/SDC12778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614101024673138514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWudSLFwE0xGjr2u995QK8UBv5yVVq86SATymR_otykBlkLKw6Mah7aHWHKanxITIIn5Y1pxHJX2U3VWkaq3ac6afv0yDJo6FsUD7CF-AONlqhhvJYHxjXOUtXVfr2VcHGN8dU2FFXlQ/s1600/SDC12772.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWudSLFwE0xGjr2u995QK8UBv5yVVq86SATymR_otykBlkLKw6Mah7aHWHKanxITIIn5Y1pxHJX2U3VWkaq3ac6afv0yDJo6FsUD7CF-AONlqhhvJYHxjXOUtXVfr2VcHGN8dU2FFXlQ/s320/SDC12772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614101008406404306" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB">We got the 01:00hrs ferry from Igoumensia. Same ship that I took out, so here are the photos I didn't manage to take before. As we boarded a car on our deck started to bellow smoke from the engine bay. Sergio, you boats and fire are becoming a common theme (see earlier bolg ref fire on ship). We had a beer and sandwich and made ourselves as comfortable as we could in the general deck seats in the bar. We could have got a cabin but it would have cost more. We had no trouble sleeping, that hasn’t been a problem all trip.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0F7V368wg_KA45LMVT4MC2KeNGeTEqkvp-vP0MzPVwmXq4AEZNuLA60UfWr1KTdJRywYzQAryMuzaimrksC6tP7zDHnwdeuGboZPMLheF295kOKxCvcln6ZpdSNa729f_SQc94glb3Y/s1600/IMG_0384.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0F7V368wg_KA45LMVT4MC2KeNGeTEqkvp-vP0MzPVwmXq4AEZNuLA60UfWr1KTdJRywYzQAryMuzaimrksC6tP7zDHnwdeuGboZPMLheF295kOKxCvcln6ZpdSNa729f_SQc94glb3Y/s320/IMG_0384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614102175881135170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNC3JkUHCC-WhHvixwS38TzrnN9KKbLd2vAZKycnS6N1aEoMUfd3S4h4uD0q2ASi90rN-XbpX9caSgtthXt_2jInuX-GbG4nZE3KMD5qcy8zRJtYFgwqZZNU5SDahx32UXgcgi4N6eQ/s1600/SDC12776.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TNC3JkUHCC-WhHvixwS38TzrnN9KKbLd2vAZKycnS6N1aEoMUfd3S4h4uD0q2ASi90rN-XbpX9caSgtthXt_2jInuX-GbG4nZE3KMD5qcy8zRJtYFgwqZZNU5SDahx32UXgcgi4N6eQ/s320/SDC12776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614101019715606802" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJxSzNcbPtQc03nKbMxJDLIp9JDiVYbm7a35EibQISJzdA2gtpM1XSNwc9b06hyn4J-4rEFtQSI5QMQqxPD70_k9ODszhTCgTSW3O8PhRvgrAxy4gMtdXEpCw670tvpLtJZ_tpqM9Y7w/s1600/IMG_0380.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJxSzNcbPtQc03nKbMxJDLIp9JDiVYbm7a35EibQISJzdA2gtpM1XSNwc9b06hyn4J-4rEFtQSI5QMQqxPD70_k9ODszhTCgTSW3O8PhRvgrAxy4gMtdXEpCw670tvpLtJZ_tpqM9Y7w/s320/IMG_0380.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614102169517867842" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB">We arrived in </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Brindisi</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> and made our way to the quayside by the marina. Yes, you’ve guessed it, the morning fix of coffee and a small cake. The café/bar was called ‘Betty’ Hmmmm. I went to wash my hands and as I left the washroom a beautiful lady introduced herself in Italian, shook my hand and then followed me back to the table where she greeted. Sergio. It turned out Sergio had arranged to meet Monica. She had travelled from </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Lecce</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> to join use (Sergio really) and had recognised me either from my blog or the fact that I stuck out like a sore thumb amongst all the chic Italians.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWGxdJ-1GFQnNotRc57zgjgBL9LUoXoUGirA6nyMotCgfelXB8fOYIpBzoqJura7G-cKtIXFg_VFEsYaKSeYqQsQTB1VsKKXK9qT1dVo7bJF1836JaSZsM6yIBlVw23LWLVMCAN-duuI/s1600/IMG_0388.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWGxdJ-1GFQnNotRc57zgjgBL9LUoXoUGirA6nyMotCgfelXB8fOYIpBzoqJura7G-cKtIXFg_VFEsYaKSeYqQsQTB1VsKKXK9qT1dVo7bJF1836JaSZsM6yIBlVw23LWLVMCAN-duuI/s320/IMG_0388.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614102184314934018" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R9j0tEfRBTJw8dGd-rKkcczicGncubYBG85Vh_mYYwyJTgBl87lxghagQ-mq77JlZqL8nRxd_sOr9qcQUG3LHwFVNZIy09jT_3betZmMesjgVxH1jzjgzyxDNzn13XQnqAlDo69F-eE/s1600/SDC12781.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R9j0tEfRBTJw8dGd-rKkcczicGncubYBG85Vh_mYYwyJTgBl87lxghagQ-mq77JlZqL8nRxd_sOr9qcQUG3LHwFVNZIy09jT_3betZmMesjgVxH1jzjgzyxDNzn13XQnqAlDo69F-eE/s320/SDC12781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614101366557309058" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKc5RLeeGaMBXwOCNCO4YA8ei7Ij0k9GLA-rVXfWE3z4sBuQlmo2bo-Um7RANpFzn3gWyGONlM3E29l2QQmzuTbucWepwiPQFHqhNPsF6rSSteze38KidQ0_r4OMr49EaOPU_wYYiBo4/s1600/SDC12782.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKc5RLeeGaMBXwOCNCO4YA8ei7Ij0k9GLA-rVXfWE3z4sBuQlmo2bo-Um7RANpFzn3gWyGONlM3E29l2QQmzuTbucWepwiPQFHqhNPsF6rSSteze38KidQ0_r4OMr49EaOPU_wYYiBo4/s320/SDC12782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614102159674277970" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB">We started our ride South West at 11:00hrs arriving at Villa San Giovanni to catch another ferry at 17:00hrs. The ride was soleful (sorry bad pun, soulful) from the heel to the toe of Italy then to Messina, Sicily and on towards Catania. We are staying on the side of the only active volcano in Europe, mount Etna at an organic farm owned by Diego. It used to be a vineyard and orange grove which is being restored with help from Alfio, Orazio and volunteers from the <a href="http://www.wwoof.it/">WWOOF</a> programme. I stayed here 2 years ago and it’s interesting to see how the place has developed with more buildings restored, livestock and water and power projects. They are almost self sufficient.
</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3rBKiY8BOJXWJnSoRB8uo0BMviuHIoCneK0T6ssNTFcFGKeExG0EXwF65GJAiJ3dy4Nd4Y0fVLKlqSgRiUkUPowVNSi6fRfaoUVDK_abS9D8pi7NSZqn65V06W8xxSoKtpBqqrCjvP8/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3rBKiY8BOJXWJnSoRB8uo0BMviuHIoCneK0T6ssNTFcFGKeExG0EXwF65GJAiJ3dy4Nd4Y0fVLKlqSgRiUkUPowVNSi6fRfaoUVDK_abS9D8pi7NSZqn65V06W8xxSoKtpBqqrCjvP8/s320/IMG_0396.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614104472577053250" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH1DBoHyxQtZX6HzNc_AWm8LpiC968AkRuw5ZkIAG51DW83rS4Ez0qwKP1f-5RtAR21CtdfWZYH1_klqgZDCvVs9G6a6SPwfQIBqLIOPClnkLl732wQUH2NAwSGX78f-SHSy3pggORlk/s1600/IMG_0406.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOH1DBoHyxQtZX6HzNc_AWm8LpiC968AkRuw5ZkIAG51DW83rS4Ez0qwKP1f-5RtAR21CtdfWZYH1_klqgZDCvVs9G6a6SPwfQIBqLIOPClnkLl732wQUH2NAwSGX78f-SHSy3pggORlk/s320/IMG_0406.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614104473949796994" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB">For our meal this evening, everthing was sourced from the farm and neighbours. We arrived to see the dough going into the brick bread oven, watched our salad be picked, saw the free range chickens that laid the eggs that went in to the quiche, drank the local wine and finished with honey in it’s comb. The conversation was stimulating as you would expect from a group of people who don’t have a TV and are fascinated by every aspect of their work and environment.</span></p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-42558419035177692422011-06-02T19:52:00.011+01:002011-06-02T21:40:54.556+01:00Day 13 - Igoumenitsa via the excellent E952<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lXCrk9BXhFK3fXdmUqxLNadfvCqkKApgTAFKytym5GNkxF7RLhbA84T8eSGRAw8rlB2IwBJ6xD8LYQ39UPEfXoEjpsaUdswNSnAZngziWGvtymejOKz-OZlgrrQ01MqbPXmmgRGclBg/s1600/SDC12759.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lXCrk9BXhFK3fXdmUqxLNadfvCqkKApgTAFKytym5GNkxF7RLhbA84T8eSGRAw8rlB2IwBJ6xD8LYQ39UPEfXoEjpsaUdswNSnAZngziWGvtymejOKz-OZlgrrQ01MqbPXmmgRGclBg/s320/SDC12759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613713145539867762" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjsQNDkZXCD_MbKDvUhJdUrR-7juH5nSFQdH3cGrKWaz3dYzygx-V7P4OzSClvouipsOgV_8_BGpf94KOF-2QOj7ArUXc-aMMs4ryuhnJod6WzU4Pe1ynlPXz7Xumh1uNBmCRCBfz8-k/s1600/Igou+Map+day+13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjsQNDkZXCD_MbKDvUhJdUrR-7juH5nSFQdH3cGrKWaz3dYzygx-V7P4OzSClvouipsOgV_8_BGpf94KOF-2QOj7ArUXc-aMMs4ryuhnJod6WzU4Pe1ynlPXz7Xumh1uNBmCRCBfz8-k/s320/Igou+Map+day+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613709814853265298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VOCNNxO5kZPJhCgplehGFqJm4G7eyU24_L_DViSFn_VUOwwN-O6GHe2NHakCLEY0MYA4JT9ynjVn6IP-HHCVnXvTH9bYRLe3B8enYWnRi3nf07WnBQike9tFn3meb77G5mW88DVQ_8o/s1600/DSCF3987.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VOCNNxO5kZPJhCgplehGFqJm4G7eyU24_L_DViSFn_VUOwwN-O6GHe2NHakCLEY0MYA4JT9ynjVn6IP-HHCVnXvTH9bYRLe3B8enYWnRi3nf07WnBQike9tFn3meb77G5mW88DVQ_8o/s320/DSCF3987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711612849776722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfZE1BQXdYQGApde29xaGfyt16SrCzBjQWeD4NUQ_EHnMts95JUfsS3XdsSuiPLEjOWjxSAK34oyI8hAaVP9kuSeDxkcR0a5EC6lyCLpQbPbeDtxluR-suW8R78qtfP8wEfE4EfXQQks/s1600/DSCF3977.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfZE1BQXdYQGApde29xaGfyt16SrCzBjQWeD4NUQ_EHnMts95JUfsS3XdsSuiPLEjOWjxSAK34oyI8hAaVP9kuSeDxkcR0a5EC6lyCLpQbPbeDtxluR-suW8R78qtfP8wEfE4EfXQQks/s320/DSCF3977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711060380934130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYimwawBnnhbYQ0604ZXt_lhf8eD2y5Uesqn419vu2nbp1Rr9I0lub4mNROKndWrsmk7VB1-6RsT1mVIlPrBWywYpDgoY98tyvF1eZo71zUrA-zsBJkfoLo6z_RM8WCyKiqYNJFtyfiHs/s1600/DSCF3975.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYimwawBnnhbYQ0604ZXt_lhf8eD2y5Uesqn419vu2nbp1Rr9I0lub4mNROKndWrsmk7VB1-6RsT1mVIlPrBWywYpDgoY98tyvF1eZo71zUrA-zsBJkfoLo6z_RM8WCyKiqYNJFtyfiHs/s320/DSCF3975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711052287169106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90cAv00EC9Pz347547Q0AShET6lnnY_6V5nYRbeN-Vd9DprM70AVvEdbnG-ke6bCYUm7Wmn6RH41ECZtlH1ggSoaoRtXEIOlbkK0s8y4nArpE-vWvskau69_s61awTM8U7nnAPq0z7cM/s1600/DSCF3966.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90cAv00EC9Pz347547Q0AShET6lnnY_6V5nYRbeN-Vd9DprM70AVvEdbnG-ke6bCYUm7Wmn6RH41ECZtlH1ggSoaoRtXEIOlbkK0s8y4nArpE-vWvskau69_s61awTM8U7nnAPq0z7cM/s320/DSCF3966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711048131673586" border="0" /></a>
We left the campsite just as three coaches of school children arrived, a lucky escape. Sergio was nominated as navigator today using Google Maps app on his iPhone. Reading the signs is all greek to me.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrnNiaePvtIgT4oOPu3XRX_rrN93kTFep0M-BHvXxzfDZAVuaY-DNqaeqZOEijQTpRTd7ZL9Z5rKxDEF6QDaHme6h7DtvT-kN3l7ZZyr-tTvHrYHqfHxxf7D7wU1WyKf6R6xOCGC6ZOQ/s1600/SDC12767.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrnNiaePvtIgT4oOPu3XRX_rrN93kTFep0M-BHvXxzfDZAVuaY-DNqaeqZOEijQTpRTd7ZL9Z5rKxDEF6QDaHme6h7DtvT-kN3l7ZZyr-tTvHrYHqfHxxf7D7wU1WyKf6R6xOCGC6ZOQ/s320/SDC12767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613713148592183026" border="0" /></a>He planned the route when we had internet connection and the GPS function showed our location against planned route. He would periodically check after junctions. We had to back track a few times but that was no problem because the route through the mountains was excellent for the rugged BMW's.<p>We mainly rode the E952 then joined the E55. We stopped for a breakfast ice cream in the village piazza of Makrakomi (which was the only meal we had until the evening (proper Kebab). I used all my 8GB memory on filming the drama of the ride.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObXagAzwNcmBNCJjOOKGW9JnvXGpGIIFqdHCsGBWZolfHaaJRkAaMWn4T78aXl3Y7dWx5qMBuOV6BTHgKQ-r4c3AUgYiz4Gvlkx9ovaDYPa4rTiVP8BvN9ZjKX35ah1HeS4STEz2YfGw/s1600/IMG_0349.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObXagAzwNcmBNCJjOOKGW9JnvXGpGIIFqdHCsGBWZolfHaaJRkAaMWn4T78aXl3Y7dWx5qMBuOV6BTHgKQ-r4c3AUgYiz4Gvlkx9ovaDYPa4rTiVP8BvN9ZjKX35ah1HeS4STEz2YfGw/s320/IMG_0349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613716627358620978" border="0" /></a><p>Our ferry to Brindisi wasn't leaving until midnight/01:00hrs (or whenever) so we took to the green (sandy beige) lanes again in search of a beach. We settled on the beach at Mytikas. The sand was the size of risotto rice, which was pleasant to walk on and easy to brush off.
</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe0oxuS6R5GWowCgJjdHpg7-UcQ-WQUdruCOCffQsyfkDvMW5sVOv3JvUs7P5_fmYFKeVe_1Hxqn77vOy-K7whGSZQe0razB3vfmL5XBPSkOd42PX975AcBHbZcBfWuIWe94oetg74qA/s1600/DSCF4009.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZe0oxuS6R5GWowCgJjdHpg7-UcQ-WQUdruCOCffQsyfkDvMW5sVOv3JvUs7P5_fmYFKeVe_1Hxqn77vOy-K7whGSZQe0razB3vfmL5XBPSkOd42PX975AcBHbZcBfWuIWe94oetg74qA/s320/DSCF4009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613713143914775362" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8OD3_7XY29YuQTOWIiAVsytJrJAlpmfeiHPHG7p6cocszIjQMaU6vSvWey51AN2nqMdT0VIbo38o1VPRAePWMhlVwQwEZYontUxJmbvkdtbpOwJV7SCKvTbr1NQu6NXvBV2I6UcoXOo/s1600/IMG_0361.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8OD3_7XY29YuQTOWIiAVsytJrJAlpmfeiHPHG7p6cocszIjQMaU6vSvWey51AN2nqMdT0VIbo38o1VPRAePWMhlVwQwEZYontUxJmbvkdtbpOwJV7SCKvTbr1NQu6NXvBV2I6UcoXOo/s320/IMG_0361.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613716634477578962" border="0" /></a>We had the beach to ourselves, who needs the caribean when this is just a ride away. The sea was a little rougher but than we'd been used to but, warm and just as refreshing after 250 miles and 6 hours of energy sapping technical riding. I'd recommend the E952 but not for fragile sports bikes or those that are spooked by lots (I repeat lots!) of 180 degree hairpin bends, landslide rocks, goats, uneven or no tarmac in places. The views are uninterrupted and stunning. Lake Techniti Limni is aqua marine blue and the surrounding forests a lush green. </p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAywZHnZGP28L1YeGWz4WCb-B4XzDIjNONc8F_0bchZtgQlv2PKs6K7q5gzo0fFyqjXRMH3137HI9DoSVw4t46E8uDvtJaH2_24N9z9O1jjc2wWDsMKkv-boXsmEeiEVh697M6opoZfAI/s1600/DSCF3980.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAywZHnZGP28L1YeGWz4WCb-B4XzDIjNONc8F_0bchZtgQlv2PKs6K7q5gzo0fFyqjXRMH3137HI9DoSVw4t46E8uDvtJaH2_24N9z9O1jjc2wWDsMKkv-boXsmEeiEVh697M6opoZfAI/s320/DSCF3980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711604735934450" border="0" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEPtNnljO1FgvGyO89fyxnlCEK_7kBpTRluv5l5PJSiLgMDv0fOtm0E_0OKowyia6RxOsivwVt-o-cr2DOq5xDU-boenbSdzm8RzU7atzRZdugSmwB2Z_ivUaIy8JastMGC40ixFFe4A/s1600/DSCF3986.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEPtNnljO1FgvGyO89fyxnlCEK_7kBpTRluv5l5PJSiLgMDv0fOtm0E_0OKowyia6RxOsivwVt-o-cr2DOq5xDU-boenbSdzm8RzU7atzRZdugSmwB2Z_ivUaIy8JastMGC40ixFFe4A/s320/DSCF3986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613711610658679922" border="0" /></a>The only jinx for Day 13 was an unexpected rain shower on the last 2 miles in to Igoumenitsa. I forgotten what rain was. It was heavy but brief. We bought our ferry tickets, had Kebab and went to find an internet cafe. Will be back in Italy tomorrow.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucH2k7hx2cdXIAIieH77MRzmD1EH2lACfqcpKqqPraYUlioQ-tEGlrePs-n0gZ_ecKa07_ldy_kB8BOftTS7oqAnvxtqzxK0rjf-_R7sT2FV6SlrDddTuXAtiBZhPEs5fWi5jrP_Do-w/s1600/DSCF3993.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucH2k7hx2cdXIAIieH77MRzmD1EH2lACfqcpKqqPraYUlioQ-tEGlrePs-n0gZ_ecKa07_ldy_kB8BOftTS7oqAnvxtqzxK0rjf-_R7sT2FV6SlrDddTuXAtiBZhPEs5fWi5jrP_Do-w/s320/DSCF3993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613713137896779474" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHtsp0IgW24TNii4NR8YyUULBCLueC8kXS7YcQ_sY86vvQZNGOBz5mcbHd_EX89AcPe8eF9TM8rwW47V6VVlUtixPZTA5SEl9aSidHutJcT75koXFGwpNZbimNLpbTJiRnDAwn1hZQpY/s1600/DSCF3996.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHtsp0IgW24TNii4NR8YyUULBCLueC8kXS7YcQ_sY86vvQZNGOBz5mcbHd_EX89AcPe8eF9TM8rwW47V6VVlUtixPZTA5SEl9aSidHutJcT75koXFGwpNZbimNLpbTJiRnDAwn1hZQpY/s320/DSCF3996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613709813661380610" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBJHQshs96vFJeiNgkZsiyGcRCLM3rNc7zsrufgl4ifArZm8kYXjklXUxbPy6btrfcjwXfjNr4Lj6CaOwGWmOjHfNUTYrfmpbB_Ty389Xzu89gGjCT_w-GV21hh6z9AK3euSTVXg0Cno/s1600/IMG_0362.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBJHQshs96vFJeiNgkZsiyGcRCLM3rNc7zsrufgl4ifArZm8kYXjklXUxbPy6btrfcjwXfjNr4Lj6CaOwGWmOjHfNUTYrfmpbB_Ty389Xzu89gGjCT_w-GV21hh6z9AK3euSTVXg0Cno/s320/IMG_0362.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613716644177436930" border="0" /></a>
Superb pictures again credit to Sergio.Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-59914736802182377092011-06-01T21:23:00.007+01:002011-06-01T22:05:24.519+01:00Day 12 - Stylida near Lamia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8-jnElRmLWVIJVCqyPRRG5eZdKsAu6zdTH6gsCPkw-4veBiir67d0sj0WqAxfGcmOQ-krgdXvxtpaKXc-anxwJdQ3AC1CyK35dwvGsP0ala5XpU7x7H-kW_Ad1ZEVzdGc_MhIco2zrs/s1600/SDC12738.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8-jnElRmLWVIJVCqyPRRG5eZdKsAu6zdTH6gsCPkw-4veBiir67d0sj0WqAxfGcmOQ-krgdXvxtpaKXc-anxwJdQ3AC1CyK35dwvGsP0ala5XpU7x7H-kW_Ad1ZEVzdGc_MhIco2zrs/s320/SDC12738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613350819387733010" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEfVX0YpsZ_b57BcVmgsZuCnaOT9L6JQLwvRFoo23m90NDyAc4xREZo_2p38VBIJbzEiX8JQbo_Gsu58ZjwQrGRhDJUmmJOMgHILcFAjbi1JnmMMvzplAykdgbdW-datjW7oC4-06nJs/s1600/IMG_0323.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZEfVX0YpsZ_b57BcVmgsZuCnaOT9L6JQLwvRFoo23m90NDyAc4xREZo_2p38VBIJbzEiX8JQbo_Gsu58ZjwQrGRhDJUmmJOMgHILcFAjbi1JnmMMvzplAykdgbdW-datjW7oC4-06nJs/s320/IMG_0323.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613350815565783186" border="0" /></a>
355 miles today, there got it up front this time. The ride it's self was uneventful. We made sure we kept to the speed limit, which is difficult on my bike because the KMH is a smaller radius to the MPH numerals. Not a lot of difference between 120 and 130, a needles width.<p>I taught Sergio how to take corners and he instilled in me the (Italian) importance/imperative/necessity of having a coffee and a cake in the morning. "We need to find a bar" (cafe) is ringing in my ears. The weather got hotter the further South we rode, estimate late 20's early 30's.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Sd8YnpeQWtMKAmplN4cuKURbM58nec2e16nWG2yC9lzVsEtiG3GkGd-GpAuM84cbTbZB0IMy3n1vjZ8j8ub-lQ9D-Fs-CnL-cyP6BFJMLPSfWlNXBbtkAbv5GbTJg7iBk1pQo_60BWE/s1600/Day12+steliade.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Sd8YnpeQWtMKAmplN4cuKURbM58nec2e16nWG2yC9lzVsEtiG3GkGd-GpAuM84cbTbZB0IMy3n1vjZ8j8ub-lQ9D-Fs-CnL-cyP6BFJMLPSfWlNXBbtkAbv5GbTJg7iBk1pQo_60BWE/s320/Day12+steliade.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613360232753796370" border="0" /></a>We are at Stylida near Lamia. We found a campsite the <a href="http://www.campinginterstation.com/">Camping Interstation</a>, with green grass, bloomen and a bar serving Amstel and Heineken. Three guess who runs this campsite. The barman, in his orange 'T' shirt, is the owners son. Greek father, Dutch mother and his name is Stelio, the barmaid is Anna. A few drinks in and were reminiscing about 'Manear de Owl' and ' Pippy long couse' (I lived in Nederland for 2 years from the age of six) which will mean nothing to most of you but was part of my childhood TV viewing.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGpeaIfhgYDUa7xWVg1ZI7V0S4MPRf2PWe9eLmEb67JgaWPZ3CieVyYC8TUooiRZPymLcx554XLAjBav5VxWzsDiRiA6bFjASh_ISW571dKjCFJZTyUFwBiSojgAvl27iU5HwiWIrgGU/s1600/Spiro+%2526+anna.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGpeaIfhgYDUa7xWVg1ZI7V0S4MPRf2PWe9eLmEb67JgaWPZ3CieVyYC8TUooiRZPymLcx554XLAjBav5VxWzsDiRiA6bFjASh_ISW571dKjCFJZTyUFwBiSojgAvl27iU5HwiWIrgGU/s320/Spiro+%2526+anna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613351479256061906" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-32ffBm0gUkxBTCkBuu0SO0Vkt8Y1fKReG2OPssH2AjL8TV9aO9XjFtPbpl_fhN5Rc6Okqn-Mf61QvuqIc4HJrUIC-DCMiqRDeDhwZGgUNwN1Hl7oIKshe6kfKDOvNZLq4KuqDNF3EM/s1600/IMG_0310.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-32ffBm0gUkxBTCkBuu0SO0Vkt8Y1fKReG2OPssH2AjL8TV9aO9XjFtPbpl_fhN5Rc6Okqn-Mf61QvuqIc4HJrUIC-DCMiqRDeDhwZGgUNwN1Hl7oIKshe6kfKDOvNZLq4KuqDNF3EM/s320/IMG_0310.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613350813611205490" border="0" /></a>We broken the golden rule of bike touring, which is TSB: tent, swim then beer. No other combination, unless it starts with T. We arrived swam in the sea and got on the beers, hence my tent looks like a bouncy castle at the end of a party. Still at least it's up not like last year in deepest darkest (Basque Separatist region) Spain when my brother tried to sleep wrapped in his tent fly-sheet before it thundered and lightning in the middle of the night.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbPWm9HKhF6SgS8-AEiUYivu2DQ5GcE8qAPILaJLBXLVzT5UBDeqh5OnSMv7Srd_EhRXxwciEpCUnbr2ehxdRp5Ssxt2Bli6gqS4bx3O9T64PwC9AkStxV6u68QkNTYBGrkHQqkXLgdU/s1600/SDC12752.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbPWm9HKhF6SgS8-AEiUYivu2DQ5GcE8qAPILaJLBXLVzT5UBDeqh5OnSMv7Srd_EhRXxwciEpCUnbr2ehxdRp5Ssxt2Bli6gqS4bx3O9T64PwC9AkStxV6u68QkNTYBGrkHQqkXLgdU/s320/SDC12752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613351475603786402" border="0" /></a>We had pleasant evening in the local town piazza, at La Piazza restaurant sitting out al fresco . I think it's great when the old folk sit out and socialise. We need some of that in the UK. The youngsters were posing on there mopeds and in their Carlos-fan-dango cars, but our bikes were the stars that night. A barmy evening.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlw5MdwnmXBS1WOoqr8pf8tGcm2LN-AE8UG30UlIYxHPGzMTn7Rl6VofetXam-XpjUd6CJzj3P_gedMB51yg7wqiH0OzslZ3heYHE6xe258K5uMo3UNuUuyzZ-q3R3ZTfFgSxkgbxhoE/s1600/SDC12746.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlw5MdwnmXBS1WOoqr8pf8tGcm2LN-AE8UG30UlIYxHPGzMTn7Rl6VofetXam-XpjUd6CJzj3P_gedMB51yg7wqiH0OzslZ3heYHE6xe258K5uMo3UNuUuyzZ-q3R3ZTfFgSxkgbxhoE/s320/SDC12746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613351120221538850" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkopDpfDaXUGMN76_OoWU0w-vnCLRP9LvtpWlUgA0bXazl3W9NGV65qGYEhKdD3fU1I9_nUKCk4gttJjVobLNeuK1-upKlSo4Bbskui49FI6sxUy8ICKTj_dkY9x28JsvYhfGkDpLaemk/s1600/SDC12745.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkopDpfDaXUGMN76_OoWU0w-vnCLRP9LvtpWlUgA0bXazl3W9NGV65qGYEhKdD3fU1I9_nUKCk4gttJjVobLNeuK1-upKlSo4Bbskui49FI6sxUy8ICKTj_dkY9x28JsvYhfGkDpLaemk/s320/SDC12745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613351115910169170" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvvfN03qeEiWt3i9oExLAi1c2MMf0Mfi0BcDhgi-ScndxTYHp4Ts92P-oUbPYf-LygdPDWYWth4Ahsbs9rPFDbZYnjgZfrKXbMlp886PqNd393bUMWEiOAkez0Mlm8VRb9_RIece88kOM/s1600/SDC12748.JPG">
</a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-10128541182413400392011-05-31T16:01:00.009+01:002011-05-31T17:12:43.544+01:00Day 11 - Istanbul - Alexandroupoli<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgF9grbKEYnmyHHM0sX6jlbsuK6TmIiZ9UBtHb0RCfJxhq7lLuuSPlNCKf4XKCVteGltGa63n8PMyBPlUFpY7Jdif0PPvdoW9Yp2yu8GKHK1HMSjkK2AFhD05EY3HjXsC7LGG3ktZV-A/s1600/SDC12723.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgF9grbKEYnmyHHM0sX6jlbsuK6TmIiZ9UBtHb0RCfJxhq7lLuuSPlNCKf4XKCVteGltGa63n8PMyBPlUFpY7Jdif0PPvdoW9Yp2yu8GKHK1HMSjkK2AFhD05EY3HjXsC7LGG3ktZV-A/s320/SDC12723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612908272703782610" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwsolTZEnrd_0iQdTwoUBOyQraEjWq_23UyDLguALhp6m-4lNvQvriO4m3TP9ieaAKV0XLWdfIsz30s1d4bmdiXMZWug9P5NtiX8R2UPvBvOf47Y2xZOxDw2bYpat9qKWp50HvCDUCDM/s1600/SDC12716.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwsolTZEnrd_0iQdTwoUBOyQraEjWq_23UyDLguALhp6m-4lNvQvriO4m3TP9ieaAKV0XLWdfIsz30s1d4bmdiXMZWug9P5NtiX8R2UPvBvOf47Y2xZOxDw2bYpat9qKWp50HvCDUCDM/s320/SDC12716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612910495400862626" border="0" /></a>While writing my blog last night there was obviously some bedroom action going on in one of the adjacent rooms. I tell you this because she was very loud and it went in intervals for over 2 hours! Now that's what I call stamina, or there where several blokes.<p>We set our alarms to get an early start back to Greece to try and avoid the traffic, ha ha. We ended up going round in circles trying to find our way on the motorway in a Westerly direction. It was impossible, four lanes plus hard shoulder of gridlock in every direction. When we did move every inch of space would be aggressively possessed by a vehicle, it was too close for comfort and was an invasion of personel space. We found the best tactic was to ride two a breast. That at leased the cleavage was protected and we each had to only concentrate on attack from three sides.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCyaq0Z2E9LWYdojtl9DDvLzgYi6D4Ein0sHh7BFza_CfJeFb-Pfn_F9C3m0-JAyK7eRJwE9TIPy53gOnGQ3TzKcXzsVsccyzOiAE1uSkxe3HEm59afs-9xilC1w0exVKi2ItmnkbBuQ/s1600/DSCF3961.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCyaq0Z2E9LWYdojtl9DDvLzgYi6D4Ein0sHh7BFza_CfJeFb-Pfn_F9C3m0-JAyK7eRJwE9TIPy53gOnGQ3TzKcXzsVsccyzOiAE1uSkxe3HEm59afs-9xilC1w0exVKi2ItmnkbBuQ/s320/DSCF3961.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612910263398662050" border="0" /></a>We left Istanbul, with cloudy grey skies, on the E80 toll motorway and used it as far as we could without going out of our way or ending up in Bulgaria. We turned off and tried to get the credit on our 50 Lira toll cards refunded but the officials were having none of it. We rode through Corlu which seemed to be rubbish processing area. We joined E84/E90 dual carriageway, the road we took previously, through Tekirdag. It was just as potholed with oily tarmac everywhere.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNW7Cf9M0dfND6dk15PUc7roW3qit3WcMJPLQQd9pnybWtOL24hFN-tH-zyuUyHjZBg41CNUMIJFHEkJCzwx77yzCLgJeaBNG_IlyOV3J8pbDf29z7FzFthf7XxV3_KCMA884tQHt1Wk/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNW7Cf9M0dfND6dk15PUc7roW3qit3WcMJPLQQd9pnybWtOL24hFN-tH-zyuUyHjZBg41CNUMIJFHEkJCzwx77yzCLgJeaBNG_IlyOV3J8pbDf29z7FzFthf7XxV3_KCMA884tQHt1Wk/s320/IMG_0235.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612913455952434626" border="0" /></a>When we where a couple of miles from the border we saw a Police road block, nothing we hadn't seen before, but this time the police (three with guns) were standing in our path and indicating that we pull over and stop. We obliged and got off our bikes with a smile and produced our documents (they like looking at documents). Once the documents were scrutinised and found to be in order, one of the police men announced "Speeding!, radar". They didn't have a speed camera but we weren't going to argue. He then wrote on a piece of paper and explained speed limit 90 KMH (55 MPH) and he said we were doing 112 KMH (65 MPH). OK we may, we may not. It was obvious from the way one of the police men was frantically filling out tickets we were not going to get off with a caution. OK how much? 290 Lira (£120). What! For maybe doing 65 MPH on a now empty dual carriageway that ends at the Border in a mile or so, yeh right, if this isn't extortion from foreign tourists then I don't know what is. He saw our expressions and we said are you sure. He produced a table with fines on it. Sergio pointed out he had made a mistake because the table allowed for lower fines the bigger the motorbike cc. The tickets were amended 140 Lira (£50). We opted to pay customs at the border.</p><p>The customs turned out to be the same guy I had bought my visa from. He sat in smoke filled hut, with a sliding window so low I had to crouch (in the stress position) to converse. He was on the phone and was going to deal with us in his own time. We had no Lira, we used it up on fuel, so we were going to have to pay in Euro. He wanted 55 Euro each (5 more than expected) and wouldn't take credit card (only time he smiled when he told us that). I asked for a receipt (he stopped smiling). The receipt was for only 105 Lira. Dodgy bastards.</p><p>The Greek authorities were friendly and curtious and I now see their roads and drivers in a new light.</p><p>We're back at the same campsite, tents up, swim in the sea, sunbathe, shower, food and bed.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1q3xoyhWzPvj3Sr0R5h1yO-_o-HHsGOiSQMHFo7hKQMD4fLekpNv8iTYpsc7gl__H-inYsimvoNqRs4hbX-cb3F54OjSIjC1xihxYYANvonhzUQGOmCp-GC6Ap6wEWT55vLJxMyp7yc/s1600/SDC12690.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1q3xoyhWzPvj3Sr0R5h1yO-_o-HHsGOiSQMHFo7hKQMD4fLekpNv8iTYpsc7gl__H-inYsimvoNqRs4hbX-cb3F54OjSIjC1xihxYYANvonhzUQGOmCp-GC6Ap6wEWT55vLJxMyp7yc/s320/SDC12690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612908262935232562" border="0" /></a>
We've ridden in to town. Found an internet coffee shop called Flocafe, a bit like Starbucks but with free WiFi.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AqXDxW0FZg2p2s86EeqQGTwL3_WeiWpTZhmcBhUtwvSzbqHxZM3G4io9mTR3YP9VqqOw6Wm_5xO9mGV1bjdCrkmFirPq4aT6Et7WCaZqrt1NCaNO1v46OWFLXidZjrxQfb81Hh2GmLs/s1600/IMG_0245.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AqXDxW0FZg2p2s86EeqQGTwL3_WeiWpTZhmcBhUtwvSzbqHxZM3G4io9mTR3YP9VqqOw6Wm_5xO9mGV1bjdCrkmFirPq4aT6Et7WCaZqrt1NCaNO1v46OWFLXidZjrxQfb81Hh2GmLs/s320/IMG_0245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612912866494658290" border="0" /></a>Sorry forgot to post mileages for the statisticians. Yesterday and today both c.230 miles.
Mileeta has now done over 3,000 miles this trip!Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-9707093378120309642011-05-30T20:44:00.011+01:002011-05-30T22:50:36.387+01:00Day 10 - Riva Beykoz, Istanbul<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJZ-U_VYJn5Z0_ezzhvxPYi1wm8s-kAhGYTliODHAd-lKBEi5Y8imx-OOuaxf3I8hqe50LyDo0eYPBF6JxbyU3ApLDmslAz9KPEQyKFcsDj5ZZxnR1MljefRq59QYuOtHc1WBz3yBk-U/s1600/SDC12686.JPG">
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWxgshyvOknmwt10-AHbBc1xmkve4LHcGQP9NFaGMkCWhDsJU8IkhC1kp_5Cq_dNCbsBgHbdb6zxxzE1AD4HhN0RDuS1BNdgFtaJeje6pius4Mi8w2MegAR0LI5PnwDuY6IXv9kfL2kI/s1600/SDC12682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWxgshyvOknmwt10-AHbBc1xmkve4LHcGQP9NFaGMkCWhDsJU8IkhC1kp_5Cq_dNCbsBgHbdb6zxxzE1AD4HhN0RDuS1BNdgFtaJeje6pius4Mi8w2MegAR0LI5PnwDuY6IXv9kfL2kI/s320/SDC12682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612623366389551554" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9mHefOsq_5D7vLinvepgVP6FIgpFGQxe3MncBfK6XtwSN1x3ZwKFN6VGDe-xeeTRxt12i_GN0wT5-y87a9NA6ePDGUDKcoKC8t67cOgmjgpIPc69LyQEvG_MeAQ9XAGTP8__b4Tf1GA/s1600/SDC12675.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9mHefOsq_5D7vLinvepgVP6FIgpFGQxe3MncBfK6XtwSN1x3ZwKFN6VGDe-xeeTRxt12i_GN0wT5-y87a9NA6ePDGUDKcoKC8t67cOgmjgpIPc69LyQEvG_MeAQ9XAGTP8__b4Tf1GA/s320/SDC12675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612621261989530242" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJcJc6xD7V2dvvDQNmIjWxgKzTqRcijhcfrm474wNkFvkDVvUoi-NpYOP-F19jmshajyYIvkXVALFXXt64QbH-ghek9rWiV746I1lF5otUqKDnsYmzFU-aGYa3Yuk6eR8dBEVCSTQz40/s1600/SDC12674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJcJc6xD7V2dvvDQNmIjWxgKzTqRcijhcfrm474wNkFvkDVvUoi-NpYOP-F19jmshajyYIvkXVALFXXt64QbH-ghek9rWiV746I1lF5otUqKDnsYmzFU-aGYa3Yuk6eR8dBEVCSTQz40/s320/SDC12674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612621259030247122" border="0" /></a>
Best meal so far last night in a locals Greek/Bosnian resturant. A fresh sea food delight with squid as the main coarse and great local wine by the jug.
Public hoiday in the UK, what better way to celebrate than with Turkey.
Rode to the border with Turkey on the E85. We saw a large bird of prey swoop down on to the motorway and catch a mouse from the grass verge. We also saw a large convoy of Greek miltary vehicles on the oppersite carrageway. Is there something we have miss, not had any news since left home.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlC5qw3W_sZObl64jMZIRuBrwjRzNYqS4m99W8-7iap7uT1WMzGht5Hw973vpf0ASMr4mZDC0aVlHMiNBTXpzjCO3617Rc4fYBHeNnv1gXGQUz9bZ-UC8OZoRNYR7DHBbpAjawDrAULk/s1600/SDC12694.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlC5qw3W_sZObl64jMZIRuBrwjRzNYqS4m99W8-7iap7uT1WMzGht5Hw973vpf0ASMr4mZDC0aVlHMiNBTXpzjCO3617Rc4fYBHeNnv1gXGQUz9bZ-UC8OZoRNYR7DHBbpAjawDrAULk/s320/SDC12694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612622300735722642" border="0" /></a>We got to the border and went through Greek passport and customs no problem. We then crossed a bridge over in to Turkey which had respective countries military guarding. When we got to the Turkish side we had the first of seven (yes 7!) document checks. He was very abrupt and only wanted vehicle ownership documents, second wanted .... I won't bore you with the details, surffice to say my earlier tricks for Albania were not going to work here. I purchased a visa but Sergio being Italian didn't need one? Shengen agreement I think. UK are not in EU. At the third check I got refused entry! They were not satisfied with my nice white insurance certificate. They wanted a 'Green Card' ? Which is a different type of insurance with offical looking stamps etc. So I had to leave my bike and walk back to the Duty Free mall and get one. Sergio joined me and it was his turn to rescue me. We found a post office but nobody was in it, Sergio asked around and the impression was he was on a break. Then one of the people pointed us to an office across from the post office that could do insurance. A young lady did the honours and for 27 Euro I had 3 months insurance for Turkey on a BMW K1200 GT. Great. Then I had to chase different officials for 3 stamps and 2 signatures in my passport. All done got to another barrier where passport, insurance and ownership documents finally checked and barrier was lifted to enter Turkey. Phew!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabEXLcBRZSEHoKxxhx4bcuLZ-ZeNyzYdtv1Wzc5Ke9Tfvrz5BlLsRLn5J0Mo6EVlx3-GhH-PN6y-qWk4BBU_6refgAHQ-oMuNzl5B44xOZwPs93JVTcpW34fbRHkgdjwnSy998HAEL6A/s1600/SDC12696.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabEXLcBRZSEHoKxxhx4bcuLZ-ZeNyzYdtv1Wzc5Ke9Tfvrz5BlLsRLn5J0Mo6EVlx3-GhH-PN6y-qWk4BBU_6refgAHQ-oMuNzl5B44xOZwPs93JVTcpW34fbRHkgdjwnSy998HAEL6A/s320/SDC12696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612622305115546946" border="0" /></a>The dual carrageway was worse than the back roads of Greece and the drivers a hazard. We saw people walking down the central reservation, two women crossing and trying to push a small child through the armaco barrier, horse drawn carts, no lane descrimination, vehicles driving in the oppersite direction down the hard shoulder..... shall I go on? Bloody dangerous. Cars would tailgate inches from the back of the bike. Not good.
We headed towards Istanbul on the dual carrageway and then switched to the bumper car race track they call the E80. We reached a toll point but there was no way to pay or take a ticket. We watched cars using a plastic oyster type card. We continued on the basis that we would deal with it at the other end. At the other end we were approached by two guys insisting we had to buy cards from them. When I said they were too expensive the price and currency altered. We declined there kind offer and skirted acroos the traffic queues to an offical looking building. They wanted 50 Turkish Lira each! We tried to explain that was too much and we only wanted 1 or 2 trips on the road. We were getting nowhere, when a young guy getting a top-up explained that that is the lowest credit card they sell but each trip is only 3 Lira. We had no option. We wished we had stayed on the madhouse dual carriageway.
The cayous continued and the traffic got worse as we approached Istanbul. We were looking for an exit that would take us to Kumkoy on the West side of the Bosphours at the Black Sea. We saw no exit and before we knew it we had over shot our target, where riding across the suspension bridge and had arrived in Asia. Target exceeded !
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fmiBUDNf1vnYlxQBYBI3sxtMzHh5ypNRAPQCkGAgwkMW0Y9Dh9-048NQIhvMcLRyv18XVVBLBIBrzGnvRe1xlZbbfU2EcjxPp06mbb-6v1MkGSeIVm7mQrgyh6_B6HELxy6Z8OMbkb0/s1600/SDC12698.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fmiBUDNf1vnYlxQBYBI3sxtMzHh5ypNRAPQCkGAgwkMW0Y9Dh9-048NQIhvMcLRyv18XVVBLBIBrzGnvRe1xlZbbfU2EcjxPp06mbb-6v1MkGSeIVm7mQrgyh6_B6HELxy6Z8OMbkb0/s320/SDC12698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612623360452519570" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8njknDA0tk49hyphenhyphenq3AovfYzAj1IlnpKMUX9-2uyvuqGIc5cCmGPxqNRKtN1XyI5gfa2whT1lnjcxO_gRyJLiEipsYYUb8BJkAnBUI0SKtw7rKLqLLNzrnEhMyxsAcqhEbr-e25E4Nqn6w/s1600/SDC12705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8njknDA0tk49hyphenhyphenq3AovfYzAj1IlnpKMUX9-2uyvuqGIc5cCmGPxqNRKtN1XyI5gfa2whT1lnjcxO_gRyJLiEipsYYUb8BJkAnBUI0SKtw7rKLqLLNzrnEhMyxsAcqhEbr-e25E4Nqn6w/s320/SDC12705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612629179280714194" border="0" /></a>We decided that rather than trying to fight the flow of traffic again we would turn off and camp in Asia. We looped around and under the bridge to a town called Beykoz (we don't know why but, I'm sure my daughter could sing a song from the Wizard of Oz play she's in that might explain it). I asked a guy at a petrol station for "Camping, Camp" and made a triangle jesture with my arms. He said "Riva, Riva, nice camp, straight on". We took him at his word and by asking others along the way found Riva. Riva is a small sea side town on the Black Sea, that has never seen foreign tourists. On the direction of others we ended up green laning again in an attempt to find said campsite. When we found it we kept our distanced and decided it wasn't for us. It looked like a refugee camp with structures of plastic sheeting. We had visions of being abused, robbed and killed. We retreated back to Riva and booked in to hotel with a pool, two twin rooms with breakfast and parking for the bikes in the back garden for 50 Lira each (£25). We celebrated exceeding our aim of reaching the furthest east in Europe with fresh sea bass from the Bospherous and local white wine in a resturant on the beach, while watching the fishing boats return up the eastury and after dipping our toes in the Black Sea.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJF24d0T8XFfxhFbDQWdg0AA_7521xzfnVvOuNAT_55CTksvRYRQ_5BJgrWUqiDWoYDbdpuhyphenhyphenAzNUoNFooMjnIBAPmXadBfr7kXoLJIv7665gkrKjpcMR3xdahd7iVf-4Rl5iFCEpYrw/s1600/IMG_0222.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJF24d0T8XFfxhFbDQWdg0AA_7521xzfnVvOuNAT_55CTksvRYRQ_5BJgrWUqiDWoYDbdpuhyphenhyphenAzNUoNFooMjnIBAPmXadBfr7kXoLJIv7665gkrKjpcMR3xdahd7iVf-4Rl5iFCEpYrw/s320/IMG_0222.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612626369880271618" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nE37j_g2oQS7RwyrL6Ti06zHv_ct3xy6rs1DOdeAJYX0MvRMSyY8aDh02lhPftrewQ0x_7ctAobciP_ajaq5by5m_-jImSgB8fiWiV05u8B84eczIq-PWzOkDKgXNmJ_GaIfgkM3Ar8/s1600/IMG_0207.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nE37j_g2oQS7RwyrL6Ti06zHv_ct3xy6rs1DOdeAJYX0MvRMSyY8aDh02lhPftrewQ0x_7ctAobciP_ajaq5by5m_-jImSgB8fiWiV05u8B84eczIq-PWzOkDKgXNmJ_GaIfgkM3Ar8/s320/IMG_0207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612624584489591442" border="0" /></a>I love the irony of celebrating acheving our target with beer and the mosque in the back ground, still, if this evenings anything to go by the omar will be getting his own back at 05:00hrs tomorrow morning.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqdGQd-YGZZaUT5dKZ3w4-ATfWrz-ukK8pYkjiLOjJNRu16B8nd8ISTb1ZA09PZJqW_N7mujZcudmdf1WSvC5TwFlOXRhG2Ed_M44RCLNwZtUmolK3QAaGlezT6GybawdWZKf0WMQmLQ/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqdGQd-YGZZaUT5dKZ3w4-ATfWrz-ukK8pYkjiLOjJNRu16B8nd8ISTb1ZA09PZJqW_N7mujZcudmdf1WSvC5TwFlOXRhG2Ed_M44RCLNwZtUmolK3QAaGlezT6GybawdWZKf0WMQmLQ/s320/IMG_0215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612624586435237458" border="0" /></a>Following the meal we walked back to the hotel and noticed that some lads were watching TV in the local barbers. I articulated in my best Euro could I have a haircut. I was shown to a seat offered tea and one the lads went off to drag the poor barber either from his bed or , more likely, from the local bar at 22:00hrs. The result, I've got a Turkish haircut and very good it was too. The works: head, ears, nose and eyebrows.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d8O8mY2H9IUNnc_qE6-4fFNT2eyc3BAv4Ot-WR26403M3FkxKM-mW4jCj6IQszo_Q3KSf8mxTPxQhVbELJx76WwRrqhTVluA2womOEKAPo7861hZMTKyhTng2rh1ONW8uMDbC3Dcpgo/s1600/IMG_0232.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d8O8mY2H9IUNnc_qE6-4fFNT2eyc3BAv4Ot-WR26403M3FkxKM-mW4jCj6IQszo_Q3KSf8mxTPxQhVbELJx76WwRrqhTVluA2womOEKAPo7861hZMTKyhTng2rh1ONW8uMDbC3Dcpgo/s320/IMG_0232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612626376133083426" border="0" /></a>
It will seem funny not riding East any more.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKit0NLxllUUKxG8gxswn0O7DV5DnZ_CmNmhb5IVpT696PqDjF2yUlqnxx41HhL8ARCJPo3V0VIYYA1kDMQ-fX2X8-LXOnzHjhNoBVGxVScq-lQ0_gjHpiuLj2TrNELdSVQf0CuyJ-gQ/s1600/riva+map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKit0NLxllUUKxG8gxswn0O7DV5DnZ_CmNmhb5IVpT696PqDjF2yUlqnxx41HhL8ARCJPo3V0VIYYA1kDMQ-fX2X8-LXOnzHjhNoBVGxVScq-lQ0_gjHpiuLj2TrNELdSVQf0CuyJ-gQ/s320/riva+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612629175898232834" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-8111476534349406522011-05-29T14:18:00.017+01:002011-05-30T06:59:45.987+01:00Day 9 - Katerini - Alexandroupoli<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sVEKliHA3Fha9o2Dn7BKLsUmu9dfCAVgJoLU0gDM1Ry-2O5rpymp-lr32KlPe1OJutg8F6D-TwgNdXRfvGZ1ZQo8sV15j2qsvHdAA6_oOyLYTpaAkCU4DlDvxe8cuHG2rkEXsjlJ4eg/s1600/Alexand+map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sVEKliHA3Fha9o2Dn7BKLsUmu9dfCAVgJoLU0gDM1Ry-2O5rpymp-lr32KlPe1OJutg8F6D-TwgNdXRfvGZ1ZQo8sV15j2qsvHdAA6_oOyLYTpaAkCU4DlDvxe8cuHG2rkEXsjlJ4eg/s320/Alexand+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612384695258631458" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fAwC0ustUoVRvqWaH7gDWp3Q60s2blRILQ0QcT0v9g1xSp31T-PtDLSd2OtnnX_-WOEeiikktF74A0F3Fr9A01iAnk3tFVgUAv8lOMEZSmrRqb7wevyDPFPSH7sX3eq1WtzmmaMchkI/s1600/IMG_0157.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fAwC0ustUoVRvqWaH7gDWp3Q60s2blRILQ0QcT0v9g1xSp31T-PtDLSd2OtnnX_-WOEeiikktF74A0F3Fr9A01iAnk3tFVgUAv8lOMEZSmrRqb7wevyDPFPSH7sX3eq1WtzmmaMchkI/s320/IMG_0157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612142752578105186" border="0" /></a>
<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlLxoBw-fjPyvT5FRfvzrWupoHpojyW041XhTYbuadMhUNQT61GT3EI5SB55KZKp3iqLDx7D-Zzt_aa036SqNhws5Mlapj1cvHS5cxvy4-T1clrqNSv9otD6G8n4deu_I45tveRpfdGM/s1600/SDC12656.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlLxoBw-fjPyvT5FRfvzrWupoHpojyW041XhTYbuadMhUNQT61GT3EI5SB55KZKp3iqLDx7D-Zzt_aa036SqNhws5Mlapj1cvHS5cxvy4-T1clrqNSv9otD6G8n4deu_I45tveRpfdGM/s320/SDC12656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612130320195267282" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUzHLu_1NaMJ40I9drvzoRNmjU5NCa8fwmZ2IFSgehwBEiKlWoBMGfZ4se_4w4roi-MP_S_i4Jc59wR3D_5N6zOcBsw31vzSk1uGUXoV5fMT_eDOQS8u6LsXXpFbgcsQcNlqCUVWxqNI/s1600/SDC12646.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUzHLu_1NaMJ40I9drvzoRNmjU5NCa8fwmZ2IFSgehwBEiKlWoBMGfZ4se_4w4roi-MP_S_i4Jc59wR3D_5N6zOcBsw31vzSk1uGUXoV5fMT_eDOQS8u6LsXXpFbgcsQcNlqCUVWxqNI/s320/SDC12646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612130314228637186" border="0" /></a>Today we were not going to be over ambicious. Took our time this morning and had a coffee and crossant at a place on Katerini beach. Rode the 230 miles via Kavala on the beach road with Fleet Foxes on the ipod. The magnificent viaduct runs through Kavala. We got a municiple campsite on the beach with free WiFi in Alexandioupoli. Sergio went for a swim in the sea. I blogged, charged kit and pottered. Heading in to Turkey tomorrow. There are hardly any roads on the map and were not sure what camping will be available so might get some food before we leave Greece in case we end up camping in the rough. Late start and ealy finish with time to chill on route after yesterday which seemed like the longest day. Not very interesting for the bolg but tomorrow is another day/adventure.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCUuUkG2u6TrDgSdtNC9n7-rQ90CZrkhQ-4f2USjAZcKpdO4XO36q-rXqBCQJHJl6DCca-mNavFgYM2t7rAz8nOz1c3gj7ksjlTNMxQIvQo1L0W80ykITxEqGCAw6lR37b6r72sGfk_c/s1600/SDC12659.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCUuUkG2u6TrDgSdtNC9n7-rQ90CZrkhQ-4f2USjAZcKpdO4XO36q-rXqBCQJHJl6DCca-mNavFgYM2t7rAz8nOz1c3gj7ksjlTNMxQIvQo1L0W80ykITxEqGCAw6lR37b6r72sGfk_c/s320/SDC12659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612132379267807042" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI3LbU0TdDnB_NQPpGuz73KeMU7LBk1CslR077DyZtuCBRHaES00-ljjq1Nl3j97TAg7bj00ghVUqbnmWE70-NUb9xQaxDf2SkGNBIC1Er3zKmB8r0pgTo1fKoE5j_x1pwwTmvT62Qpw/s1600/SDC12662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI3LbU0TdDnB_NQPpGuz73KeMU7LBk1CslR077DyZtuCBRHaES00-ljjq1Nl3j97TAg7bj00ghVUqbnmWE70-NUb9xQaxDf2SkGNBIC1Er3zKmB8r0pgTo1fKoE5j_x1pwwTmvT62Qpw/s320/SDC12662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612132911653710386" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA0w3CGljXy7jhUSN1301wZg7GXhOzL86AETrFvEwYV0GSpSpMerDT_TgAPkEf-Vb856cyVpUmbOZhEdo6jcwoGi9avb2yGtiiwGFhyphenhyphenUSdCY8d2YQD_OmJBlY5Bdm0DtQlD6pI8qXA7k/s1600/IMG_0165.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAA0w3CGljXy7jhUSN1301wZg7GXhOzL86AETrFvEwYV0GSpSpMerDT_TgAPkEf-Vb856cyVpUmbOZhEdo6jcwoGi9avb2yGtiiwGFhyphenhyphenUSdCY8d2YQD_OmJBlY5Bdm0DtQlD6pI8qXA7k/s320/IMG_0165.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612143192355610546" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J9e1rRgHeQzr6pXLSi0c5XRSIR5J5N08zqtsBSPEBmomyHgqgPqC6qQaVOzqepHc1jW00rmausXmSJJZDpVbmSQ9OxzaCyERBMhCVf8dAFuc3dZ0oPp_QYvP8mGSGFM7Hy25iUUq5HM/s1600/SDC12663.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-J9e1rRgHeQzr6pXLSi0c5XRSIR5J5N08zqtsBSPEBmomyHgqgPqC6qQaVOzqepHc1jW00rmausXmSJJZDpVbmSQ9OxzaCyERBMhCVf8dAFuc3dZ0oPp_QYvP8mGSGFM7Hy25iUUq5HM/s320/SDC12663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612133407504493090" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCOmUKCKis0xQg1aFqr3jGLGpgyFeuOvV12Rx-sgQBELwZlHE4KjXRYf9iAUCkCW0ZWRWWpT9DG0KU9ARcatuQJ9fiRU-DM8l6s0SDHgezh3SJ4OqX0TZ0Sspc98vdGlCkLDQxkS7KGg/s1600/IMG_0167.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCOmUKCKis0xQg1aFqr3jGLGpgyFeuOvV12Rx-sgQBELwZlHE4KjXRYf9iAUCkCW0ZWRWWpT9DG0KU9ARcatuQJ9fiRU-DM8l6s0SDHgezh3SJ4OqX0TZ0Sspc98vdGlCkLDQxkS7KGg/s320/IMG_0167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612143646829252530" border="0" /></a>
<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ></span>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-25611244590539778932011-05-29T07:17:00.013+01:002011-05-29T15:17:17.156+01:00Day 8 - Igoumenitsa to Katrina via AlbaniaFerry timetable online was wrong! Sergio managed to make it to Brindisi after a tyre fitter temporary repaired his bike's burnt drive shaft gaiter and checked lubes and brakes. It had taken him 11 hours. He then got a ferry to Vlore, Albania last night arriving at 6 am but miles away from me.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnIk82rxorXFpAsubraE-lj5n95uPHi0sKCvZmV5hu_7G_Ri9lQ17MuVnTFsnN_wO9RuzifmV9lj8gGAxvLzKbqrbiQkSauDJKXgb1Gl9KaY-6Ctnu5CtHHwCt20t3YIhQyHAlKwE5yw/s1600/SDC12667.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnIk82rxorXFpAsubraE-lj5n95uPHi0sKCvZmV5hu_7G_Ri9lQ17MuVnTFsnN_wO9RuzifmV9lj8gGAxvLzKbqrbiQkSauDJKXgb1Gl9KaY-6Ctnu5CtHHwCt20t3YIhQyHAlKwE5yw/s320/SDC12667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612115884776698770" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxhWtv_raPxFIfQa5p-88Ysr1WcoMU_QC4tll5Mh9jNvEmbBZO9HZ4YhqQMLOeHHlaAfO7S3H4gyKZmGKEuTBe-5-OHIqNjJFzJVCIxuIhC0HbKToDhiGXNMQFvLLGg67hyphenhyphenyOzyl-tus/s1600/SDC12571.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxhWtv_raPxFIfQa5p-88Ysr1WcoMU_QC4tll5Mh9jNvEmbBZO9HZ4YhqQMLOeHHlaAfO7S3H4gyKZmGKEuTBe-5-OHIqNjJFzJVCIxuIhC0HbKToDhiGXNMQFvLLGg67hyphenhyphenyOzyl-tus/s320/SDC12571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612116971666349970" border="0" /></a>After getting off the ferry at 22:00hrs I rode past the desperate types and stray dogs loitering around the port. To the town hotels on the front but they didn't have secure parking and Friday night was in full swing. To make matters worse my Tom Tom did,t have maps for Greece or Turkey loaded. I got out the michelin map and looked at the route out of town it was twisty and over mountains.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-Tr6hejUkhrlvAmPhNkmjg2Q8D4CeeGv7bBj4YA11Bv3pxJ1OwqPrmYCSBCvfDeX2WQUMbqw1vpjXcpkw6WlxpsdY5Hwk9swYlNGz7crY6pl-1yKq7UbQ3mDkCnbZZ-OjVXT-OGbvQY/s1600/SDC12600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-Tr6hejUkhrlvAmPhNkmjg2Q8D4CeeGv7bBj4YA11Bv3pxJ1OwqPrmYCSBCvfDeX2WQUMbqw1vpjXcpkw6WlxpsdY5Hwk9swYlNGz7crY6pl-1yKq7UbQ3mDkCnbZZ-OjVXT-OGbvQY/s320/SDC12600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612116967609868706" border="0" /></a>The short distance I ridden I'd ascertained that the roads where in a bad state of repair, stray dogs on the road and pitch black. I found a petrol station with a cafe attached. I ordered a hot sandwich and contemplated my limited options. It was midnight still warm and only 4 hours before it got light. I parked up discreetly behind LIDL and tried to sleep by Mileeta. The night sky was amazing never seen so many stars but, the barking and howling from the dogs roaming around was disconcerting. I had got in contact with Sergio, he was delayed disembarking and had the same problem as me but worse re satnav not working, no map and been given bum directions on very dodgy roads with a repaired bike.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HrNxPOaaVlOeXLW9dgiC25ba1btRL_E7cUro1kfSaCACtG_3WQ4tUqGJt2RUiRDFmApZ_P7BNtwyNl0hNMvtIQ7gI159HRvs5Y32HOfLmiEyjtto6Rd9O-hAbTFPY_1YTxKv5T7hxcM/s1600/SDC12585.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HrNxPOaaVlOeXLW9dgiC25ba1btRL_E7cUro1kfSaCACtG_3WQ4tUqGJt2RUiRDFmApZ_P7BNtwyNl0hNMvtIQ7gI159HRvs5Y32HOfLmiEyjtto6Rd9O-hAbTFPY_1YTxKv5T7hxcM/s320/SDC12585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612118722346720690" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLw62RxOT9c8lxDQNT5pcSalTOBXYLXrTAXqAwDe74uiGYRIYW1CODvalPNeL7DaBR9xTql5yfGrgbV239-Iv8kqxg3iCeVkNVtq03YfYFVLv-iaeD7pzL71Yz914CWMwRvc0fYzT8mQ/s1600/SDC12593.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLw62RxOT9c8lxDQNT5pcSalTOBXYLXrTAXqAwDe74uiGYRIYW1CODvalPNeL7DaBR9xTql5yfGrgbV239-Iv8kqxg3iCeVkNVtq03YfYFVLv-iaeD7pzL71Yz914CWMwRvc0fYzT8mQ/s320/SDC12593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612118718911137954" border="0" /></a><p>The mission was on. Repatriate the Scillian Mid Life Rebel. I rode through the sunrise and mist to the albanian border at Kakavia. Queued for half an hour and was asked by the Greek passport officer "What country you?" I replied with all possible answers: UK; British; GB; England, but non worked. Then I remembered Lois Pryce having the same problem so I said "London, Arsenal". He immediately understood and reeled off football plays names that meant nothing to me but I smiled and gave him reassuring "yes's" to each. Right now for the Albanian passport officer. Wasn't sure what entry documents I needed or if I had insurance, so I stayed seated on Mileeta and only gave him my passport. The queue behind me was getting longer and more impatient. When asked for "Moto papers" I made a half hearted attempt to get of my bike, the officer then said in quick succession "number, number", his colleague got up from his plastic chair and stood behind Mileeta and recalled the number plate in an undissypherable (apologies spelling) language. Passport stamped then waved through by customs and I'm in Albania! Not half a mile up the road was a police road block and they were armed. I rode very slowly and grinned my biggest grin and wasn't asked to stop. I came across three more and used the same strategy, except one, which did,t look to me to be the same. I had dumper truck in front of me I hid by riding close and out of there sight line until they didn't have time to respond. I was through, phew!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPDwmxZQ15PsdpxGFqQfH4g_Fxb9NpZ12SBoj9bGvFDhmrJiQstitvQQXrfU6bYqfCFhQxqo970vMgDiPt9DuIXzrro9WF65y-8GoyVMySQJRhU8QMVdAr260CcGyIhwdVJtbL5rWRfA/s1600/SDC12601.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPDwmxZQ15PsdpxGFqQfH4g_Fxb9NpZ12SBoj9bGvFDhmrJiQstitvQQXrfU6bYqfCFhQxqo970vMgDiPt9DuIXzrro9WF65y-8GoyVMySQJRhU8QMVdAr260CcGyIhwdVJtbL5rWRfA/s320/SDC12601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612120586158420386" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeBihy4u-KaQY8XwiPIJgooZX8zDacrixB4KCiyaN0G8VN1lPKXyOeKMG9Rk6oOmj1Ub_387vocXhMazc3JWshw1jJ3KPGAB-_IEHfQXBNF2D4w_qSsGY8r54g1ci5SjVF1Y7UCEIoV8/s1600/SDC12595.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeBihy4u-KaQY8XwiPIJgooZX8zDacrixB4KCiyaN0G8VN1lPKXyOeKMG9Rk6oOmj1Ub_387vocXhMazc3JWshw1jJ3KPGAB-_IEHfQXBNF2D4w_qSsGY8r54g1ci5SjVF1Y7UCEIoV8/s320/SDC12595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612120580783922482" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YpeCMtkBfxaRx12ySni0hBnTcL3Sp4-BrAYDOtosHK3YPxTIyJfCsE5ey1Ldp2N7bhLGd_KTsd-9fPhHiV_P2lbZPYGysMLpI6Z1syuiZjgwIVRg5Qqv-Psao_Q5QFC-MUiYnEn2u9M/s1600/SDC12604.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YpeCMtkBfxaRx12ySni0hBnTcL3Sp4-BrAYDOtosHK3YPxTIyJfCsE5ey1Ldp2N7bhLGd_KTsd-9fPhHiV_P2lbZPYGysMLpI6Z1syuiZjgwIVRg5Qqv-Psao_Q5QFC-MUiYnEn2u9M/s320/SDC12604.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612121493029618690" border="0" /></a>The country side is stunning, no fences just like Switzerland and grass meadows with wild flowers that stretch from the valley up the side of the mountains. There are lots of, what looked like, giant mushrooms in regular rows across the meadows. They were concrete pillboxes. I was surprised to see flocks of sheep and herds of goats being tended too, but I suppose with no fences they have to. Almost every car was an old type mercedes.</p><p>The road I was expecting to meet Sergio on went from open plains to a valley with aqua marine blue river running below. At one point there were stalls selling live trout in tanks. The towns and houses all looked to be half finished. Part concrete shell, part finished.</p><p>I'd been riding North on the same road for about an hour and a half, when I decided to pull over at a petrol station which was on hill. I got a cold can of fanta and stood by Mileeta surveying the road ahead for a motorbike, while trying to make contact. When we did, it turned out we were on different roads and passed each other. We arranged to meet at a road junction. I waited in the sun for 40mins but, the sound of a another boxer engine and the sight of a smokie R1200R approaching from the distance and finally a grinning Sergio, made it all worth while. By the time we finally met up it was 13:00hrs and we still had to retrace my steps South back to Greece.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P5Mc3WiPF2FZ8W7NEi9nb3fi6LJ2Pwf2OccdBNwXLmaUO6FiTqpGWNWS3Ni4SoYX4-5pJV4-UfUBxM0pculX79wl-NCDSHn0zCRlcbfDyzMLaqennMEQ5vkQRLE-0gGThedz-45G9EY/s1600/SDC12616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P5Mc3WiPF2FZ8W7NEi9nb3fi6LJ2Pwf2OccdBNwXLmaUO6FiTqpGWNWS3Ni4SoYX4-5pJV4-UfUBxM0pculX79wl-NCDSHn0zCRlcbfDyzMLaqennMEQ5vkQRLE-0gGThedz-45G9EY/s320/SDC12616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612125448816995922" border="0" /></a>My paranoia was diminishing now that we were two Rebels. The road blocks were a breeze, now we had the challenging of getting out of the country without fines for wrong documents. I'd already thought of this and had planned to use the football banter if it was a man officer. If a lady officer, I had put the picture of my family, that, Adam left on my bike back at Gatwick (day 1), in the clear plastic wallet with bike docs. It was a lady and she spent more time looking at the photo with a bit of encouragement from me saying "that's my wife, my daughter ..." I know very sexist but you women love a family photo.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_59LOLNy5L_BVj4VoiwKN4kb_0mL811OrG_TZauycoJY_CF6kwyBrpF-hT9eZyYBFmjv-i9C7rAjCZC_W8Xb8Un6d5BULCtoEzmQyfFn1U4Ke6g-0wLS9Ld8Arakl9NpugJ1Z4rBA_jQ/s1600/IMG_0146.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_59LOLNy5L_BVj4VoiwKN4kb_0mL811OrG_TZauycoJY_CF6kwyBrpF-hT9eZyYBFmjv-i9C7rAjCZC_W8Xb8Un6d5BULCtoEzmQyfFn1U4Ke6g-0wLS9Ld8Arakl9NpugJ1Z4rBA_jQ/s320/IMG_0146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612138336140581554" border="0" /></a><p>Back in Greece we turned left to ride the E90, a great recommendation from Theo, it was like riding in Austria again but with dodgy road surface. Instead of taking the "racing line" it was more a case of take the "trail riding" line. Dodging fallen boulders, potholes and undulating tarmac. At one point we reached a "road closed" sign and found that half the road had collapsed into the river some 400 feet below. We rode through, nothing was going to stop us today.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pt9zaAqJzlvAtPo7lMNtcoVhWGI8de93hxYJaGzzFhwU6Uc6hEs_uRkDiIJHcpIimxVK0S1zJd0xoagqkjcETNVZbqDmuGwUYXngbpBnu_RxwQ6Ly_whfQOO1f5fs4EqZtdtkySUDlI/s1600/SDC12633.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pt9zaAqJzlvAtPo7lMNtcoVhWGI8de93hxYJaGzzFhwU6Uc6hEs_uRkDiIJHcpIimxVK0S1zJd0xoagqkjcETNVZbqDmuGwUYXngbpBnu_RxwQ6Ly_whfQOO1f5fs4EqZtdtkySUDlI/s320/SDC12633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612126303438918306" border="0" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpV6Cg_TfVDfMnf3jONhK2m9Zw2y8EpU7n8Uoat_v_Yu7lnAoTBeo5xPd8RpxhZOuQuTZlX8Qg8UWHIA_BGeEp1tHztau9SJGPZSE1uTdFrxgiSyq8WoA09QK65zPuQBY7SXkDO0_Om0/s1600/IMG_0147.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpV6Cg_TfVDfMnf3jONhK2m9Zw2y8EpU7n8Uoat_v_Yu7lnAoTBeo5xPd8RpxhZOuQuTZlX8Qg8UWHIA_BGeEp1tHztau9SJGPZSE1uTdFrxgiSyq8WoA09QK65zPuQBY7SXkDO0_Om0/s320/IMG_0147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612138335828146530" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToCi_7EXeCjXA09EgJF_4gdwCSHiLt06ETH4053vUnhie40qWUX3K9ivqzioyYg26XhMNekxT9JOEfbUaTqnn7RikAKNkOfEL1DdrhpNQcKhlKh1ivZLMAcaw62L5M7nl-LWoT1gcCAg/s1600/IMG_0149.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToCi_7EXeCjXA09EgJF_4gdwCSHiLt06ETH4053vUnhie40qWUX3K9ivqzioyYg26XhMNekxT9JOEfbUaTqnn7RikAKNkOfEL1DdrhpNQcKhlKh1ivZLMAcaw62L5M7nl-LWoT1gcCAg/s320/IMG_0149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612141550768998162" border="0" /></a>We hadn't seen any campsites so far on route and no Tom Tom. We could have camped rough but had no food. It was 16:00hrs so we decided to head for the coast at Thessaloniki. I spot a sign for an 'ancient site' and suggested we take a detour and have a look. The road to the site was a dirt road that turned in to a proper green lane and went on for about 2miles. Anticlimax, there was nothing to see other than a large mound covered in red poppy flowers. We didn't fancy retracing the route we'd just taken so, a look at the compass suggested it might be better to continue. How wrong, some time later we emerged from the meadows and fields back to the road that now seemed perfectly good for the purpose.</p><p>The sun was getting low in the sky so from Omali, we headed for the motorway. When we arrived in Thessaloniki we found a very industrial town and no camping. It was getting dusk and to top it all by headlight bulb had blown!</p><p>The map was showing camping symbols further South so we took the E75 and got off at Katerini, and followed signs to Olympic beach, stop for fuel and got directions to a campsite along the beach. Ah! Camping Kristi, I love you. Tent up in the dark with head torch and mosquito repellent, shower then back on bike to an italian restaurant for calzone and beer at 22:30. Knackered!</p><p>Today's miles where 430 (mostly in the wrong direction), rode from 05:00 to 20:00hrs, Mileeta has gone over the 2,000 miles and are in another time zone +2hrs ahead.</p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-30134975555325241822011-05-27T13:21:00.008+01:002011-05-27T14:43:05.472+01:00Day 7 - Brindisi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3j8rMi3cgOTtygyehfapCDpV-0gruX0Lpbj6g1oxhpxMxlWTW8VjLfNIgt6BsHOTVTjYSdoyEqsXfXVxzynuHSQu8f-SqFUdkQDtaAm-bVQxiukJJe7SOmfnXrwQPCIlSGr4yl5d1OM/s1600/SDC12543.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3j8rMi3cgOTtygyehfapCDpV-0gruX0Lpbj6g1oxhpxMxlWTW8VjLfNIgt6BsHOTVTjYSdoyEqsXfXVxzynuHSQu8f-SqFUdkQDtaAm-bVQxiukJJe7SOmfnXrwQPCIlSGr4yl5d1OM/s320/SDC12543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611387108253546322" border="0" /></a>
I pitched the tent so it was in the shade for the morning sun, but found in the morning, when packing away a family of arthropods (millipedes) had made home under the ground sheet. Cold open air shower this morning, I think they call it invigorating, I call it: good job the sun is shining and I've got my big blue towel.<p>I had a chill-out day today. Only 90 (+48 I'll explain) miles to the ferry terminal at Brindisi. So took a packed lunch and went to find a special beach away from the crowds that only motorbikes can find.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAUSq3QwIJj6NQ5gWlAu4yxyZpkoWgx2OpNrYEUM6R1YVtQqThMOW-deVCXS8ftswbruG5fi6PeD8VvS8trMLcdmR_y-7Tz0KPWdQ5bbF61QTSwTT8mrpb-dOHxHOKdh5x1rbMaENRec/s1600/SDC12548.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAUSq3QwIJj6NQ5gWlAu4yxyZpkoWgx2OpNrYEUM6R1YVtQqThMOW-deVCXS8ftswbruG5fi6PeD8VvS8trMLcdmR_y-7Tz0KPWdQ5bbF61QTSwTT8mrpb-dOHxHOKdh5x1rbMaENRec/s320/SDC12548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611387627319242018" border="0" /></a></p><p>Mileeta decided on our choice. We got stuck in the sand! I got off her and she just stood there with no stand, as if to say "it's too hot, this is our beach". Who was I to argue. The sea was crystal clear and as flat as a mill pond this morning. Got out of my bike gear before digging and hauling her out. Not easy fully loaded. How those Paris-Dakar boys do it I don't know. Got her on to the rocks then went for a swim to cool off. Bugger, I'd left my blue towel at Campo Freddio, 24 miles away! Spent time sunbathing, swimming and had my lunch at my own private beach. Contemplated leaving my towel but, decided to ride the 48 mile excursion to save it.
</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPE7M-o6v9d4_IeGW0JARSOdZKPzSLklVSYqM7Ezi_QGqpP9fpaXW9h-l2HN2DkwIZ_N9GLjnJ9Zqm5QfR5hHInuJTvyq_4csfT8ORcvWes0BYaH9tjxY29Ua8ReCT_U1PCsIOwNzJ50/s1600/SDC12554.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 435px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPE7M-o6v9d4_IeGW0JARSOdZKPzSLklVSYqM7Ezi_QGqpP9fpaXW9h-l2HN2DkwIZ_N9GLjnJ9Zqm5QfR5hHInuJTvyq_4csfT8ORcvWes0BYaH9tjxY29Ua8ReCT_U1PCsIOwNzJ50/s320/SDC12554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611389006676815906" border="0" /></a><p>Got a text from Sergio to say he was on route to join me at ferry terminal but only got as far as Palermo (Sicily) when his rear brake overheated and melted the final drive oil seal, producing copious amounts of smoke.</p><p>I got to the ferry port at 13:15 and went to the Blue Star ticket office (Biglietteria) to enquire about availability and details. It turns out that today, there is only one ferry and it leaves at 14:00hrs! Not 18:30 as we had thought. Next ferry is tomorrow at either 11:00 or 18:30 hrs. I tried calling Sergio but got no reply so sent him a text to say that I was going today and would wait for news or him in Greece, Igoumenitsa. I bought the excellent value 27 Euro ticket.
</p><p>Sorry guys no photos of the ship due to a mad rush through the bueractratic red tape of having separate tickets for bike and me and being checked three times. I was the last to board, or just in time, before setting sail for 8hrs to Greece on the Ionian Queen. Hope I don't have to use these, bye bye Italy.
</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHoV3oJVnkOgTGIy1laK5DG9yVpC4sLK3jx_WDgOWrMxG-glh3tHmd7VL-E_GRllqM8uFY8XEtppqVLxdR5xAawS4jdyoE_TcrMwOLUOQ0bkIMsQShJbWLOe3qvEi1WxXkjvQq1E8UkY/s1600/SDC12556.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHoV3oJVnkOgTGIy1laK5DG9yVpC4sLK3jx_WDgOWrMxG-glh3tHmd7VL-E_GRllqM8uFY8XEtppqVLxdR5xAawS4jdyoE_TcrMwOLUOQ0bkIMsQShJbWLOe3qvEi1WxXkjvQq1E8UkY/s320/SDC12556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611389011460648354" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-51794983728998657852011-05-26T15:37:00.006+01:002011-05-27T14:12:28.727+01:00Day 6 - Bari<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JUCODGFYgPzTh59Av41burQS6iHUi7jfgmHepRHBtRjlgPNkN6gaPC4EvdL-fxpbJuYATYc4JvK9qrmH98f8RfGxCbEBum9k89ycGMqWl5_XYFnlYSY-uzy3cf43dJZkt3t_wUoBCUk/s1600/SDC12502.JPG">
</a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjLpOPpm8VcXhlEe-qxHYf5EXBirL6gLF6fg-sBzVY77B_RUocD-GTNQoY12vxXiTgUbeKyFI_wFgAPT5l0iFXiwCcgLjOZVkq-78_g1_pXnJDZ6RfYgEna6XC7qEJZ2z_4UbFHstCrI/s1600/SDC12516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjLpOPpm8VcXhlEe-qxHYf5EXBirL6gLF6fg-sBzVY77B_RUocD-GTNQoY12vxXiTgUbeKyFI_wFgAPT5l0iFXiwCcgLjOZVkq-78_g1_pXnJDZ6RfYgEna6XC7qEJZ2z_4UbFHstCrI/s320/SDC12516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611378913051700514" border="0" /></a>
After a good nights sleep in the olive grove, I woke this morning to piece and quiet. The only noise was a single bird song. Not the type I'm used to back home i.e. the french president chanting wood pigeon "Sarcosi, Sarcosi". No this was different, unless the pigeon was taking the piss and calling me mad to be doing this trip, it was a Cuckoo!<p>I left at 07:00hrs and got 100 miles in the bag before fuel and breakfast stop. I totalled 365 miles today. I managed to get some twisties in too while crossing to reach the East coast. Some say I'm inspirational; well there is plently of parking in the shade. Other say I'm mad; well the truck says it all.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzseF57-7ha8bK-MYIan7_D_URmMfyYysLnbuqXzeZ2CZ08gqrJoQXQYH0-ulNjtxjl5wJ7B6EsHXwtdMnlRPmqwZ3fEystqmxj4aoF4m0DjbSSUinjTUUh5OStp0q0ZB8f0uZi1a_Es/s1600/SDC12504.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzseF57-7ha8bK-MYIan7_D_URmMfyYysLnbuqXzeZ2CZ08gqrJoQXQYH0-ulNjtxjl5wJ7B6EsHXwtdMnlRPmqwZ3fEystqmxj4aoF4m0DjbSSUinjTUUh5OStp0q0ZB8f0uZi1a_Es/s320/SDC12504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611378901584064450" border="0" /></a><p>I came across a pack of cute white fluffy sheep being herded away down the road in front of me. When out of the blue, six of them at the back turned and ran straight at me with there teeth gnashing and barking. I was saved from being ravaged by the shepherd, who whistled and they stopped, turned and sauntered back to blend in with the rest of the flock. Who's ever heard of white fluffy sheep guard dogs!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JUCODGFYgPzTh59Av41burQS6iHUi7jfgmHepRHBtRjlgPNkN6gaPC4EvdL-fxpbJuYATYc4JvK9qrmH98f8RfGxCbEBum9k89ycGMqWl5_XYFnlYSY-uzy3cf43dJZkt3t_wUoBCUk/s1600/SDC12502.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JUCODGFYgPzTh59Av41burQS6iHUi7jfgmHepRHBtRjlgPNkN6gaPC4EvdL-fxpbJuYATYc4JvK9qrmH98f8RfGxCbEBum9k89ycGMqWl5_XYFnlYSY-uzy3cf43dJZkt3t_wUoBCUk/s320/SDC12502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611380897128101346" border="0" /></a><p>Tried the Tom Tom campsite search and tried a couple on route to Bari. They were both not up to much so carried on and tried again coming in to Bari. Being a fan of the original film the "Italian Job", I couldn't resist the one I choose, the irony of it made me laugh. So I turned up and the first thing I did was get my trunks on and swim in the warm (not Dubai hot) waters of the Adriatic. Tea tonight and pack lunch for tomorrow cost 8 Euros with a decent bottle of local vino. I'm at "Campo Freddio" LOL</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC6p_Aw-C69u85czPVMO2qT4o2EnfMBrQ-bL45Fff4uC-QVBkW4dmzqGumEAruZSEruw08oJVPPTawObkUw6ecMAYkILx6JbHFSpHdW45833DyPbb0lQyOxz1L8hQKBGkZ3nYmRar3uw/s1600/SDC12511.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjC6p_Aw-C69u85czPVMO2qT4o2EnfMBrQ-bL45Fff4uC-QVBkW4dmzqGumEAruZSEruw08oJVPPTawObkUw6ecMAYkILx6JbHFSpHdW45833DyPbb0lQyOxz1L8hQKBGkZ3nYmRar3uw/s320/SDC12511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611378905828216322" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYclc-lL3xNdxoXEK-TuhjgixszMSngAerR3sWbD51uw4bAN1Mrki5SczHNK47yn01BACv3bZ-9yeDq2OcY0YmRyS0DqGBgzIVFgtM9uxeP0363idk0oK5d8sRE3r4kpReO67k8t60NwU/s1600/SDC12526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYclc-lL3xNdxoXEK-TuhjgixszMSngAerR3sWbD51uw4bAN1Mrki5SczHNK47yn01BACv3bZ-9yeDq2OcY0YmRyS0DqGBgzIVFgtM9uxeP0363idk0oK5d8sRE3r4kpReO67k8t60NwU/s320/SDC12526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611379757775329650" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23kl0zIHPZN2mkWQ5jUvB_jIHaTqBRYbyj9CKa9DA7t1lbEswIewpe7HjBnA7yvGHWxwJGsoBLZyMnigYyjzkS1AVlYbDyGNPmXjemZIvT0eYSQlnJCAvkSFdWqvLquJGqtClzCuKZfQ/s1600/SDC12537.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23kl0zIHPZN2mkWQ5jUvB_jIHaTqBRYbyj9CKa9DA7t1lbEswIewpe7HjBnA7yvGHWxwJGsoBLZyMnigYyjzkS1AVlYbDyGNPmXjemZIvT0eYSQlnJCAvkSFdWqvLquJGqtClzCuKZfQ/s320/SDC12537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611379761348207378" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GZbqsRDOpmysJQ0L4BfozFRHqdxvJUhVw5pPxQx0QMZcHXvoPlVqoB95BO7cfmMmJ5zWIyvxmMiFoGcm-BDYWhonuAIyPcW6agqIK1K9aFsfzzwwlfW8qRLvmrYkG7ei3iTF154I27E/s1600/SDC12531.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GZbqsRDOpmysJQ0L4BfozFRHqdxvJUhVw5pPxQx0QMZcHXvoPlVqoB95BO7cfmMmJ5zWIyvxmMiFoGcm-BDYWhonuAIyPcW6agqIK1K9aFsfzzwwlfW8qRLvmrYkG7ei3iTF154I27E/s320/SDC12531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611379754821735186" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-65449543899547916002011-05-25T17:25:00.004+01:002011-06-10T20:36:11.202+01:00Day 5 - Perugia, Umbria<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjk6EktXtmH1aemXGrdQqBWSQdOynH7JeQ4Zi9XpGYei6pxN1nyMeGxXBnMU7TyEtcfHmtPweaMZ3JK9GaTyn-g62B7lSASU8pAarXYs5uF_LzmnghsftrBEntoKhF8_n4sWXC0NGHg/s1600/SDC12499.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjk6EktXtmH1aemXGrdQqBWSQdOynH7JeQ4Zi9XpGYei6pxN1nyMeGxXBnMU7TyEtcfHmtPweaMZ3JK9GaTyn-g62B7lSASU8pAarXYs5uF_LzmnghsftrBEntoKhF8_n4sWXC0NGHg/s320/SDC12499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610691750510004914" border="0" /></a><span style="" lang="EN-GB">My tent stayed inflated! Don’t know why it drooped before. It might have been the wine I spilt on it; I’m told it can have that affect.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Rode from </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Venice</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> to </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Perugia</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> (300 miles). At </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Florence</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> (</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Firenze</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">) I stopped to make a call to my mate Theodore who lives in </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Livorno</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> to see if he was around to meet up but, unfortunately he was working in Scilly until Friday. So rather than heading to the West coast, I continued down the spine of </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Italy</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">. I alternated between the autostrada (motorway) and the back roads. This enabled me to get the miles done while enjoying the countryside. Also getting off the autostrada gave me a break from dodging the pothole repairs and drivers that don’t indicate and drift between lanes. It’s as if they can’t decide which bit of road to use.Vineyards became rolling hills with old Roman villas dotted about the landscape. Each villa seemed to have the obligatory tall skinny Italian Cypress trees. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">I called Sergio to see if his BMW R1100R motorbike brake parts had been replaced. They had, so he will be joining me to tour </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Greece</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> and </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Turkey</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">. He and his bike were on a Ferry last year when a fire started in a lorry on the car deck. They had to abandon ship in the life rafts. His bike runs and has a suntan from the smoke damage. He found out the other week that, the brake lines had also suffered, hence the repair. We arranged to meet in </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Brindisi</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> on Friday to both catch the ferry to </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Greece</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">. I must be mad getting on ferry with him, him being jinxed and all.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxXZ_J_nb-UCEp6ytV8clTss_uhZkv0op6sVZEyRIoPKRUCVL2Yys4jsi-0LJp6bebTJnd_GVlLPRjMpq6f8TNv2VqF4Nk0_rmSAuapodw9YIw-1RPcbR85ZRnzYtYl1y1gaLY-IXqRQ/s1600/SDC12501.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxXZ_J_nb-UCEp6ytV8clTss_uhZkv0op6sVZEyRIoPKRUCVL2Yys4jsi-0LJp6bebTJnd_GVlLPRjMpq6f8TNv2VqF4Nk0_rmSAuapodw9YIw-1RPcbR85ZRnzYtYl1y1gaLY-IXqRQ/s320/SDC12501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610691756064620354" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">My campsite tonight is called “Il Rocolo”. Rocolo is an old Italian word which has been forgotten and unused. It means the home, the shelter where hunters rest and eat during the night, waiting for the morning and the start of the hunt. There is a Rocolo inside the campsite and it was used by hunters before the war (its construction dates back to the twenties). The hunters would set nets in the olive trees. Then at dusk and early in the morning would go to recover the prey and any during the night that were caught in the nets. The campsite is on a hillside (the hill of trinity) and was once a terraced olive grove. Some of the gnarly ancient trees have been left which provides some shade and matches nicely with my olive green tent. Good find, the staff are friendly and they speak good English. No pool but has free hot showers and a bar with free internet access and all for 14 Euros.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstOSmA36JiPn7BkTlixnPgcyEJoknpsH8uZDYAjmleoS_xwSRcaLjcQOmQ5nx3_lKUra4YXBPl3qULP15BEOBj8eFzqqEjxI4xJ3kScNHZVOGdhtqZJkeJ1u1ef5d8m5hevWJEGuhul8/s1600/SDC12500+-Rocolo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstOSmA36JiPn7BkTlixnPgcyEJoknpsH8uZDYAjmleoS_xwSRcaLjcQOmQ5nx3_lKUra4YXBPl3qULP15BEOBj8eFzqqEjxI4xJ3kScNHZVOGdhtqZJkeJ1u1ef5d8m5hevWJEGuhul8/s320/SDC12500+-Rocolo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610691761151878226" border="0" /></a>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-75102708642161617932011-05-24T17:15:00.010+01:002011-05-25T17:24:02.217+01:00Day 4 - VeniceLeft the lads to do the Gottenburgh Pass in Austria. Rode for just over 200 miles (3hrs) and have seen off my first 1000 miles.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCPtQSFkEtOAajHAPzibo1CFR8bI22x5FF9WYvKNm8Zg1IjskY5jD73B6Y7CQoLQdX-Q3Ja2U5LbpmwgvGwcrRXEZlM5W3tTtNaXJ-7EX9WX-5hntbkGymF9tJehDd0Y5eNHgutPwd-E/s1600/SDC12427.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCPtQSFkEtOAajHAPzibo1CFR8bI22x5FF9WYvKNm8Zg1IjskY5jD73B6Y7CQoLQdX-Q3Ja2U5LbpmwgvGwcrRXEZlM5W3tTtNaXJ-7EX9WX-5hntbkGymF9tJehDd0Y5eNHgutPwd-E/s320/SDC12427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610343316040889842" border="0" /></a>
Arrived in Venice at 11:30 am but, made the mistake of riding over the "Ponte delia Liberta" causeway, only to find parking a large bike in amongst the scooters a nightmare. Half a dozen police ladies were waving their batons and blowing on whistles at the stationary traffic jam, like that would help. Me (not the Police, large bottoms) very hot and really needed to cool off and get in my civvies so, headed back to the mainland then skirted around the coast until I found a very nice (expensive big RV land) campsite at Fusina. I think this may be the campsite my brother Haydn stayed at when he work out here yacht fairing. Hayd, Club Conti ring any bells? For some reason they have got two double- decker London buses parked by the entrance. I know it's a 'summer holiday' but a bit sireal. Perhaps 'Cliff' left them here. Made use of the excellent facilities to get a bit of personal administration done (army term for: sorting out washing & kit).<p>My pitch looks out over the lagoon to Venice, which looks literally like a floating city. I was startled while hanging out my washing and a huge ship glided past my tent not 20 metres away, with the crew looking down from the bridge way above me. Buses and ships, getting really sireal now.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31bitNcP9PoziX7XReSJ25CpU7C51Q21Dp8m9l7SM3a9V_i6G5ikM_ea9i3qE0264pWz-vPE3uV789dfWP2R5O03Bmp1JxECJUpCfWZuCrhBNwr-Sbyz25hxgCp24TFMPg3ocAz-PLOs/s1600/SDC12448.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31bitNcP9PoziX7XReSJ25CpU7C51Q21Dp8m9l7SM3a9V_i6G5ikM_ea9i3qE0264pWz-vPE3uV789dfWP2R5O03Bmp1JxECJUpCfWZuCrhBNwr-Sbyz25hxgCp24TFMPg3ocAz-PLOs/s320/SDC12448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610353505107269314" border="0" /></a><p>Camp set-up, got a passenger boat to Vienna. We followed a huge cruise liner in and past the biggest luxury super yacht I've ever seen. It would put the boats in Puerto Banus to shame. Navy blue & white livery and called "Carinthian V5", I think. Will have to google to see who owns.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRteYWzL8ikhOlJZRLb3gsuYxbx3KHUJc51gQaRG2xZhWIdl6UmXGdofF_Bgs8G6v-9s3myFFnIPj1EIUPyaJ_-JcCg9YtwtcrDQHqwYfvdJnx_TafAbnFZB_bozKeLZIKoM3wZ702VI/s1600/SDC12445.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRteYWzL8ikhOlJZRLb3gsuYxbx3KHUJc51gQaRG2xZhWIdl6UmXGdofF_Bgs8G6v-9s3myFFnIPj1EIUPyaJ_-JcCg9YtwtcrDQHqwYfvdJnx_TafAbnFZB_bozKeLZIKoM3wZ702VI/s320/SDC12445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610343319860748498" border="0" /></a><p>I explored the maze of streets and canals of the San Marco & San Polo districts. Crossed the Grand Canal twice: over "Ponte dell Accademia" this was impressive but, nothing compared to the bridge with shops on it, the "Ponte di Rialto", amazing. Appears to be made entirely from white marble. I think this was either used or the inspiration for the film "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer."</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWDpSYulnz6dj5J-zIFX37WZ1rdL0wkpAoHXlZMQdKbINwjbShLKrbhZ7DBJxdK_m6qYEMbeGPqExVFpkXb3g7Otb8bJ7Ykq-CYmCKV3SM7rQe23EqD0wdtIYW7b6ANBhBH_ORuym_HY/s1600/SDC12453.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWDpSYulnz6dj5J-zIFX37WZ1rdL0wkpAoHXlZMQdKbINwjbShLKrbhZ7DBJxdK_m6qYEMbeGPqExVFpkXb3g7Otb8bJ7Ykq-CYmCKV3SM7rQe23EqD0wdtIYW7b6ANBhBH_ORuym_HY/s320/SDC12453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610343335073629938" border="0" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_nJ39wNiYuBiDe_vc6otv88ibW43U5SUc3RmCNtWUww4Pj9oNuBOOFUmfT9qRYzWyJWQGpwUcVP2pKNb6mtu_X3b3lCeR0qNUzzlUbMLy6WG06xD30gUQILMYIh1C0E7xlJYwQmBEWA/s1600/SDC12476.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_nJ39wNiYuBiDe_vc6otv88ibW43U5SUc3RmCNtWUww4Pj9oNuBOOFUmfT9qRYzWyJWQGpwUcVP2pKNb6mtu_X3b3lCeR0qNUzzlUbMLy6WG06xD30gUQILMYIh1C0E7xlJYwQmBEWA/s320/SDC12476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610343342228679538" border="0" /></a><p>I should have brought my satnav, very easy to get lost in the lanes. I must walked a few miles. Still, it gets the legs and buttocks exercised after the riding. Decided not to buy any Murano glass or masks. Had a lovely half bottle of chilled Soave white wine, while watching the boats and people, before getting my boat back to camp.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveuGa_8rwxrMMveH0mzN3iBGkY_A86E72Xvde10xma4QFqrLXifujYvAXaqQfIea2ffgpBqp-oJl44CoG0OuJgRrk3gYFyXKYRtvx_1FlDIRcLmRDhHtTUOS4hLw33NNh-tTBwIci_7s/s1600/SDC12487.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveuGa_8rwxrMMveH0mzN3iBGkY_A86E72Xvde10xma4QFqrLXifujYvAXaqQfIea2ffgpBqp-oJl44CoG0OuJgRrk3gYFyXKYRtvx_1FlDIRcLmRDhHtTUOS4hLw33NNh-tTBwIci_7s/s320/SDC12487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610350490454604178" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDwprQFURD1nMHnthn_kD1rlYHYkrZ5-3H1pOrcNSyktSo-xUEJgX8pYGjbSp2M9X4iTwJD1-A5MKz3l0O-Nh6Efkq5fUbGH7gpK_TGWcRzdsNt57hneQc2soPL5Sg98TnLUEouOX2uE/s1600/SDC12458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDwprQFURD1nMHnthn_kD1rlYHYkrZ5-3H1pOrcNSyktSo-xUEJgX8pYGjbSp2M9X4iTwJD1-A5MKz3l0O-Nh6Efkq5fUbGH7gpK_TGWcRzdsNt57hneQc2soPL5Sg98TnLUEouOX2uE/s320/SDC12458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610350477159753170" border="0" /></a>Writing my blog in the bar, going to order my pizza shortly. Having trouble communicating with the Aussie bar man, he insist on giving me happy hour rates. Thanks for the comments guys. The page views are emulating my mileage.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaK-a1POxFbNLataK8ck8wExE_J-tqaWg7XKY4aUZcMdzJ29gl8R1cL9IqUVm3o-rTQC3_0vlmfb66exkXFREVhxAad_gdYsz9wDae0lgmUEzvIbWzCA6W59dghxpk-qnY6l5GaiwvWg/s1600/SDC12498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaK-a1POxFbNLataK8ck8wExE_J-tqaWg7XKY4aUZcMdzJ29gl8R1cL9IqUVm3o-rTQC3_0vlmfb66exkXFREVhxAad_gdYsz9wDae0lgmUEzvIbWzCA6W59dghxpk-qnY6l5GaiwvWg/s320/SDC12498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610346097659514866" border="0" /></a>Pizza and Greece salad arrived, while waiting for movie to upload! May not upload have only bought 2hrs of WiFi. (It didn't, so this blog is a day late)
We didn't make page 3, moobs not big enough, but check out Deans report in <a href="http://issuu.com/magazineproduction/docs/seb_magazine_issue_16_june-july_2011_ezine?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Fdark%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true">South East BikerMagazine on page 26 & 27 </a>and/or check out his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKGSDGziRvg&feature=player_embedded">video</a>.Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-11319922072146936422011-05-23T16:57:00.005+01:002011-05-23T19:27:53.894+01:00Day 3 - MaltaYoghurt and muesli for breakfast. We left Innsbruck past the olympic ski jump, respect to Eddie the eagle, must be mad or on the Jaegar. We took the E66 then the B99/E100. The road climbed then followed the side of the valley with lots of great bends.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWaxwAYuQ-ufgOV4-9tqn58dYT1h-k5NPALWJd1ldEK_i6KPFos4YoSvpTU0itmhM2bP3DzHEUBdQ5sKCpDOGVIRLmMjCChO0tnsKpXzFhg_5F6umx8SmogWHTiYdMiLPePHcqtTkOMY/s1600/SDC12429.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWaxwAYuQ-ufgOV4-9tqn58dYT1h-k5NPALWJd1ldEK_i6KPFos4YoSvpTU0itmhM2bP3DzHEUBdQ5sKCpDOGVIRLmMjCChO0tnsKpXzFhg_5F6umx8SmogWHTiYdMiLPePHcqtTkOMY/s400/SDC12429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609977057793952994" border="0" /></a>
We headed south and crossed the border in to Italy with the sun shining and the temperature rising to 26C. Lunch in a village called Toblach Dobbiaco with the snow capped Dolomite mountains for a backdrop.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXvgaQQ6HNaZxCO0GRenC_rTrxuP2Bi-x6Qc_P-HsZUQ-3z93Y5oA-piPltZqOOe9Gun2vTDgDStNIpkMgr0N4AZjvkZff_cBA65yP3Bmzg0_AYBTt1uifHxo4kXJuL2UU24i_lJZyek/s1600/SDC12424.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXvgaQQ6HNaZxCO0GRenC_rTrxuP2Bi-x6Qc_P-HsZUQ-3z93Y5oA-piPltZqOOe9Gun2vTDgDStNIpkMgr0N4AZjvkZff_cBA65yP3Bmzg0_AYBTt1uifHxo4kXJuL2UU24i_lJZyek/s400/SDC12424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609978100104517650" border="0" /></a>Back in to Austria. Arrived in good time at Malta and met with a cold beer by our hosts John & Roslyn at the Gasthof Hochalmspitze (try saying that after a few beers (we did)).
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis44lUbGNfO9TbGpgX9ZZHkuwUVJt6bBUyUq4dp82aFUH5ZF2b-3cWQKamrcZ12CiX7ktYcIy37qF9MYmmJOxYFdo33tg6PB1OlqHQ1p56gzo9pJlHVyykM5cUJ8csLgbArUA5y-QsjcE/s1600/SDC12430.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis44lUbGNfO9TbGpgX9ZZHkuwUVJt6bBUyUq4dp82aFUH5ZF2b-3cWQKamrcZ12CiX7ktYcIy37qF9MYmmJOxYFdo33tg6PB1OlqHQ1p56gzo9pJlHVyykM5cUJ8csLgbArUA5y-QsjcE/s400/SDC12430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609978816176097074" border="0" /></a>Survived two near miss's today. Following a lorry with boxes of lift components (won't say which but, they are one of my work suppliers and not the obvious one) and a piece of plastic wrapping flew off, which I had to duck. Later-on a ginger cat ran out in front of me. I missed it, not enough time to determine if 'it' was a him or a her. Garfield has one less life, I have 0.2mm less brake pads!<p>Last day with John, Gary & Marcus, off on own tomorrow. Thanks lads you've been great company (ps - Alli, Chris & Karen, they send their love) I know, I've slept with them !</p><p>
</p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-91442411045151656192011-05-22T19:55:00.008+01:002011-05-23T00:23:04.845+01:00Day 2 - Innsbruck<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPso8tzfaYOtKrCIaULTzCvx6bxuEU7Vr_Pd3XZ6P1ViDr9f-YAZUZu9w42PnSaTbcG-Am5IOkKdpf1ZaP13k50UIoZqLomKmuV5WmYdn533BJma7_3PJvgP0Mo2WjZDaVsI6J3xIOur8/s1600/SDC12415.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPso8tzfaYOtKrCIaULTzCvx6bxuEU7Vr_Pd3XZ6P1ViDr9f-YAZUZu9w42PnSaTbcG-Am5IOkKdpf1ZaP13k50UIoZqLomKmuV5WmYdn533BJma7_3PJvgP0Mo2WjZDaVsI6J3xIOur8/s400/SDC12415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609626977128478658" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyazL3Ud0Gap2t_bz5Bm-kVEERKJL454UFmsUwWoVF4UjMQIVpDKX1NVSaGUAa2MTvvdx9fvD1p2w1DKSdkARPHW15_jg7stGY8crLXH55_F9Rpf_ydb9LxfRkaeIVRwCtYJGYw7gdWD0/s1600/SDC12414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyazL3Ud0Gap2t_bz5Bm-kVEERKJL454UFmsUwWoVF4UjMQIVpDKX1NVSaGUAa2MTvvdx9fvD1p2w1DKSdkARPHW15_jg7stGY8crLXH55_F9Rpf_ydb9LxfRkaeIVRwCtYJGYw7gdWD0/s400/SDC12414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609626665807985570" border="0" /></a>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">My tent deflated while we were at the bar! Re-inflated and it stayed up until 05:00hrs. I think I found the problem; a bit of the tent fabric was trapped under the valve. I’ll have to see if its cured next time I use it, otherwise its go and buy a conventional tent. For team photo, checkout next months SEB magazine.
</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">We had a farewell breakfast with Dean and Rick of coffee, crossants, orange juice and croquet monsuire in the local French town square. We had a scenic ride in the morning sun through </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">Germany</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">. The roads where perfect with some superb twistys that got the brace of GS’s and Tigers at knee scraping angles (I’ll try and up load a movie I took). See if you can spot the hedgehog in the road.
</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">We had lunch in </span><span style="" lang="EN-GB">a Bavarian truckers café, curry wurst and chips. We then continued East towards Bregens, Austria when the skys ahead turned to a threatening black and grey. We skirted along the periphery of the storm but eventually we got it. Mileeta behaved and seemed to enjoy being water cooled. My draggin jeans, however, did a good impression of a thursty sponge. We stopped before entering Austria to get our Vinettes (10 day road licence, heavy fine if caught without) We got a break from the rain and got properly kitted out in our waterproofs for the ride through the snow capped mountains and numerous tunnels to Innsbruke. Only 300 miles today but a milestone was achieved, Mileeta’s odometer trip over the 50,000 miles!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">After a bit of a search, we found a modern hotel in Innsbruk (all though it is actually called ‘The Basic’ hotel) with a large room that sleeps four for 35 Euros each. Hot shower, a *late meal and a bed tonight.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">*PS - even later for me, waiting for movie to upload :-(. Can't leave room because room key card keeps the power on and a time limit on WiFi use!
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-GB">
</span></p> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dziOVtYW54sLF9dilJ_ynMMS0gVVQ059_untarXTIXxN7OY9R-H0As6cdjHG8PvoFQ9X813r_BTg2kdQI5Pqw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-21050330374182858312011-05-21T19:38:00.007+01:002011-05-21T20:10:51.096+01:00Day 1 - Strasbourg<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPHhNDX8v2cIGyJwoZYItIddWmdoqD3Q7H1lS2EAcuIwo6TykNdDUISo5Xv3EmRJAWfzLuCDmEwA6-WUvdrl97pb_57L5OeyORW_LIDjUDlrQoq27-ilrW0RTWDixiHjJYGwTVaqMP-k/s1600/CIMG2358.JPG">
</a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRpZV0G7eYzrIpTrGybc1Rzw3pjJz9CtoqZZTuCbk1vwsmOJ8y-ONTik-RHP72sbEICfCwNC3zo7g9A2k_xwlE_XPrcvWLeKP06KP_oBGhY6wmHhzAcavMmSeknM9Ksr777jj6k2dBbI/s1600/SDC12409.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRpZV0G7eYzrIpTrGybc1Rzw3pjJz9CtoqZZTuCbk1vwsmOJ8y-ONTik-RHP72sbEICfCwNC3zo7g9A2k_xwlE_XPrcvWLeKP06KP_oBGhY6wmHhzAcavMmSeknM9Ksr777jj6k2dBbI/s400/SDC12409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609242889609800610" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87UDafmkOSQY9v6_lsih4XIYvVLS1AIuOTt19v4muTztr6iMLgOVTVZqOzATXdflW2Fhnf3JQxiJW4Eg0LZBJIYZUn0vE6c5PvVungKiBRk9KAENK7EO9Rq6U0ug4EN1BPoJKoxVle_0/s1600/CIMG2348.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87UDafmkOSQY9v6_lsih4XIYvVLS1AIuOTt19v4muTztr6iMLgOVTVZqOzATXdflW2Fhnf3JQxiJW4Eg0LZBJIYZUn0vE6c5PvVungKiBRk9KAENK7EO9Rq6U0ug4EN1BPoJKoxVle_0/s400/CIMG2348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609242467332995282" border="0" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZQxSZ-UJukpC23Fiayw9Y6xGv5ty2Hu-n9lvfOL_F1xf3nuQMO-yTPjVVwFfGO3EqtA860r8narbM0oieHl61yYKRlGsO9x0XQJcDDOj2e-KuWAQuSArs2KnU7Vcr_p78bCoawvHV2c/s1600/CIMG2344.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZQxSZ-UJukpC23Fiayw9Y6xGv5ty2Hu-n9lvfOL_F1xf3nuQMO-yTPjVVwFfGO3EqtA860r8narbM0oieHl61yYKRlGsO9x0XQJcDDOj2e-KuWAQuSArs2KnU7Vcr_p78bCoawvHV2c/s400/CIMG2344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609241990411749906" border="0" /></a><p>Arrived at McDonalds at 02:30 to find my son Adam waiting to see us off. Recieved a text from my brother to say that he would not be joining us due to food poisoning. Marcus and Gary arrived first followed by Dean and Rick. We then got a phone call from John to say he had overslept. All part of the adventure. We left at 03:45, when I found a laminated photo with good wishes messages on my bike, nice touch.</p><p> </p><p>We made good progress (as the police call it) to the Eurotunnel terminal, just in time to get our booked train. We had a great ride on the uncongested roads of France. The weather was dry but initially some mist which burnt off by the time we got to Reims. The temperature increased from 6 degrees to a peak of 30 degress throughout the day. We rode for 435 miles to a campsite (selected by TomTom) near Strasbourg. Six Euros for our pitches and dutch beer on tap. Bit of a technical problem with the inflation of my tent. The airbed inflater was not up to the jon and blew the fuse on my aux power socket outlet. We adapted my tyre compressor with a pipe from Ricks' tyre inflator kit to get tent erected. Supper was six times cheese burger and chips (with mayonaise). Beer and bed.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPHhNDX8v2cIGyJwoZYItIddWmdoqD3Q7H1lS2EAcuIwo6TykNdDUISo5Xv3EmRJAWfzLuCDmEwA6-WUvdrl97pb_57L5OeyORW_LIDjUDlrQoq27-ilrW0RTWDixiHjJYGwTVaqMP-k/s1600/CIMG2358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPHhNDX8v2cIGyJwoZYItIddWmdoqD3Q7H1lS2EAcuIwo6TykNdDUISo5Xv3EmRJAWfzLuCDmEwA6-WUvdrl97pb_57L5OeyORW_LIDjUDlrQoq27-ilrW0RTWDixiHjJYGwTVaqMP-k/s400/CIMG2358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609248104611285698" border="0" /></a><p>
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</p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-17321643941132618652011-05-17T16:12:00.004+01:002011-05-17T16:47:25.748+01:003 days to go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHEedQ-4_5bx6iuP2QoyEFFrKnEsSjKf4Xesw0n2wAmLY0wuYjbpp4B8Eob9KfpyDX6ihQ9CVl93TIcmGAv54bmdMaizfAkn4c7mw2u21kiROLyRORMeKWtQbhUXrhBOSRW2cDSY3vcY/s1600/motordupe23.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 516px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHEedQ-4_5bx6iuP2QoyEFFrKnEsSjKf4Xesw0n2wAmLY0wuYjbpp4B8Eob9KfpyDX6ihQ9CVl93TIcmGAv54bmdMaizfAkn4c7mw2u21kiROLyRORMeKWtQbhUXrhBOSRW2cDSY3vcY/s400/motordupe23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607704105147305426" border="0" /></a>
<p>Panniers are packed. None of the panniers are expanded, yet I seem to have lots of space left over. The right pannier is nearly full with my clothes but, the top box and left pannier are half empty. Oh well, more space for contraband. Bit worried though, I've been watching "Banged up abroad" on channel 5 (next one is this Thursday at 23:00hrs). It's a drama-documentary series telling the gripping real-life stories of travellers who find themselves incarcerated overseas. Then who can forget the gripping film "<a href="http://youtu.be/eAY4aADKk08">Midnight Express</a>".</p>
<p>Gathering from the Facebook and text messages today, my fellow riders (and I) are getting excited about going. Let the adventure begin.</p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-89930207596842935462011-05-11T12:14:00.005+01:002011-05-11T17:12:33.064+01:00Austrian Draggin Gorilla<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUMMPKO0OhN2vVUh7HoEd3FzzioNZR20w3DHlwkAIDs0vBMh1Szx5VQBFxPHzabNsMZwRL_0BSLR0dMR_MZy_dXkUl5hva6F56wKjFo095t5TGcW7HlgxWSdg79GPjbl6IABv-JC1t1o/s1600/www.hochalmspitze.com+screen+capture+2011-5-11-12-32-22.png.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUMMPKO0OhN2vVUh7HoEd3FzzioNZR20w3DHlwkAIDs0vBMh1Szx5VQBFxPHzabNsMZwRL_0BSLR0dMR_MZy_dXkUl5hva6F56wKjFo095t5TGcW7HlgxWSdg79GPjbl6IABv-JC1t1o/s320/www.hochalmspitze.com+screen+capture+2011-5-11-12-32-22.png.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605420237014123154" border="0" /></a>
<p>The first two nights accomadation are as yet unknown and dependant on where we end up in France or Germany. Our third night is booked at a biker hotel called Gasthof Hochalmspitze, located in the Malta Valley, part of the Hohe Tauern National Park, in the province of Carinthia.</P>
<P>My new Draggin Jean Cargo trousers arrived yesterday but only come in one length, long. A visit to Mum's and she made a brillant job of taking them up enough so that when walking they don't drag but, long enough to still give coverage when knees bent riding.</P>
<P>Also yesterday, used some shopping vouchers to purchase a Gorillapod. A Gorrilapod is a small camera tripod but has multiple jointed legs which can support the camera on different objects. The legs can even be manipulated to wrap around tubular objects. Not sure if it's strong enough to hold my compact digital camera on handle bars at speed but, might be OK for slow action shots.</P>
<P>Mileeta had her MOT test this evening and gave me a bit of scare. The headlight beam was way too low. Found the problem, dipped beam lever (for when loaded up) was set in the wrong position. All Ok and she passed. Then to post office to renew road tax. All legal.</P>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-27076185437073835452011-05-07T08:59:00.008+01:002011-05-14T13:03:07.141+01:00Stimulating<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRnO_0ZIfZQvhtBxj6ngOU-uzY4x42UhiUfGO7YBe2lF6i8qMUrO4AgJHRGvyzSshHvduBlfkl0K4KepkXGIycoQ3rTfWGG_RTJSgJmSS1D8J6iWFG8_18ufLP0XdRd2LnheFC6xFCdU/s1600/SDC12401.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 517px; height: 387px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRnO_0ZIfZQvhtBxj6ngOU-uzY4x42UhiUfGO7YBe2lF6i8qMUrO4AgJHRGvyzSshHvduBlfkl0K4KepkXGIycoQ3rTfWGG_RTJSgJmSS1D8J6iWFG8_18ufLP0XdRd2LnheFC6xFCdU/s320/SDC12401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604027871459904530" border="0" /></a>
<P>Less than two weeks before I go! DVLA have just reminded me this morning that I've got to renew tax and get MOT on Mileeta.</P> The first leg of the trip will be three days riding through France, Germany to Austria with three of my Mid Life Rebel mates. I'm meeting up with them on Monday evening for pre-tour drinks and, if we get time, discuss arrangements. When I say discuss arrangements, it will be more like mutual prompts along the lines of "have you got..." or "are you taking...". Going to Austria is not very direct for my route but I'm sure the scenery will more than make-up for the extra miles of double back. <P>I'm also hoping this week to catch-up with my mate from Sicily who has unexpectedly returned to London on a work assignment. Hopefully his work here will be complete in time to meet up in Bari (the heel of Italy).</P> I've been suffering from the lurgy this week but I think I'm over the worst, still it makes you think about how all the best laid plans can be scuppered by ill health. First aid kit has been bolstered with a few more tablets, just in case. Fatigue is also a factor to consider but, should have enough time to sight see and chill on route. Night riding is a possibility. I've done this before and found that it is beneficial in a number of ways: cooler; no traffic; and you get the day to chill in the sun. It does require regular stops, redbull and coffee, and I wouldn't recommend it on technically challenging roads or if your not feeling 100%. I also got some stimulant for Mileeta too, just in case she needs a boost at altitude or has to drink cheap fuel or we happen across a nice straight, empty 1/4 mile ;-).Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-25380785835182512862011-05-02T14:11:00.007+01:002011-05-03T15:15:45.683+01:00Hastings May Day Bank Holiday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfWF-8xQP81kgCsfOw_aED3zdEfjivSDDMKVbM7s4VvFK7qczxWkkcVGMwKabKaZ68ldP6CwIGW6J6jNmuqZs9nL8obG6CrZFGECBFXnXZZS5aZwCgxbyh7Y8q78TbKtK4HwZbUUWgS4/s1600/s2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 528px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfWF-8xQP81kgCsfOw_aED3zdEfjivSDDMKVbM7s4VvFK7qczxWkkcVGMwKabKaZ68ldP6CwIGW6J6jNmuqZs9nL8obG6CrZFGECBFXnXZZS5aZwCgxbyh7Y8q78TbKtK4HwZbUUWgS4/s320/s2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602108887857014178" border="0" /></a>
For over 20 years 20,000 bikers have visited Hastings every May Day Bank Holiday Monday, so it would have been rude not to join them today (see <a href="http://www.bike1066.com/">http://www.bike1066.com/</a> ). I rode for the first time with both my brothers and my son, plus Dean (who shot the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aotR2gZD21g&feature=player_detailpage">video</a>) & his mate. Unlike the mods and rockers of the 60's, we managed not to end up in a fight (see <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8259000/8259830.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8259000/8259830.stm</a> ). Weather was ideal for riding, sunny with cool breeze. We left home early, to avoid the traffic and met at the cafe next to portslade BMW Motorrad. We had fish & chips on the sea front then, we returned home the scenic route via Battle (1066), Herstmonceux and through the leafy back lanes of West Sussex.Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583613176104927323.post-61440131112287597272011-04-13T16:36:00.010+01:002011-05-11T17:10:45.729+01:00Power + Waterproof = Comfort<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBiB7nXB9PVjjFc5WQF3jn9H3jBlDkvZMMzjrd7AhOR1D6PzPlRbGusSPhzJ5ASHppVKS7NB9TV9qOqAgab6LmlnL07rIrVR6q-ao4GXtSMPNRs6n4C0MqBk-ruCqs5GzrJ-7C0WpSSA/s1600/IMG00005-20110413-1712.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwBiB7nXB9PVjjFc5WQF3jn9H3jBlDkvZMMzjrd7AhOR1D6PzPlRbGusSPhzJ5ASHppVKS7NB9TV9qOqAgab6LmlnL07rIrVR6q-ao4GXtSMPNRs6n4C0MqBk-ruCqs5GzrJ-7C0WpSSA/s320/IMG00005-20110413-1712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595106272063851122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0aUxevNUNF_FPXvw-ezoTD5uaqvbOIgzhsns4fqLKtaVW16RuR24AQ04_xxPq3DU6qMlt_rzn6cLxfVvAe6nt7pvQ5BDKhed6K0lvCQhxb3jfwqAhfhedqdmPljGlREaRMfJ3mjLxpc/s1600/IMG00003-20110413-1643.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrz0DD1G6U1C4xWo73iJeNDPtEyRJrjEY4TSwMabmzZnoOsIiu8gX-lh7CyMD1CzBBsT6drPsziWcgusjx16npptEO0oXY7to5s2X4VPRPqg3LI8mF0-_eptQJZPAWJmJ3r97ZDaC50M/s1600/IMG00004-20110413-1712.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrz0DD1G6U1C4xWo73iJeNDPtEyRJrjEY4TSwMabmzZnoOsIiu8gX-lh7CyMD1CzBBsT6drPsziWcgusjx16npptEO0oXY7to5s2X4VPRPqg3LI8mF0-_eptQJZPAWJmJ3r97ZDaC50M/s320/IMG00004-20110413-1712.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595106043190645490" border="0" /></a>
Have found that when using either the tyre compressor or tent inflater in the BMW auxiliary power socket that, the canbus shuts off power. So, I have made up another aux power socket assembly and wired, via an in-line mini blade fuse, direct to battery. The mounting was fabricated from a piece of scrap aluminium plate, painted black and fixed with a couple of screws on the convenient spare frame bracket. See picture for location, just behind my calf. I will waterproof connections, when I've decided the best way (silicon, self amalgamating tape or rubber gaiter?).
<p>I have also refined my footwear for this year. I prefer to use hiking boots, rather than motorbike boots, better dual purpose and more comfortable. My old leather hiking boots where OK but, heavy and hot in Southern Europe temperatures. So on the basis that it's our 24th Wedding Anniversary next week, I bought myself a present. A pair of light weight Solomon Gortex boots with yellow bits to match 'Mileeta' (I know...tart!). Together with my Sealskin waterproof socks, should be breathable, dry and comfy. See picture.</p>Mileetahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15291156891831445265noreply@blogger.com3