Europe 1st Sept...

[macvisual]

Off riding through Europe this Sat (1st Sept) for a two week stint, never done it before!! Heading to the boat at Newcastle on Saturday 1st Sept for the 5pm sailing, then arrive in Amsterdam about 9am on the Sunday. Return home Saturday 15th September.
This trip was meant to happen last September but was cancelled due to sciatica health problems, I couldn't walk for a few days just before the planned trip last year, had to abort and re-book for this year, so far so good.

Going to ride through Belgium, through Luxembourg and stay our first night in Metz, about 42 miles below Luxembourg in France, Colmar etc, then onwards towards Switzerland direction and maybe touch on Germany. It's not going to be a 400/500 ride each and every day, probably no more than 300 miles (max) per day and if we find a place we love we're going to stay a few days etc, it's a holiday after all. Only myself and my female partner going on this trip. We will have a Garmin Zumo 550 sat-nav and real maps etc...

My V-Strom sitting ready to go:
fresh oil & filter change - new EBC (double H sintered brake pads) fitted front and rear - new H4 Osram brighter/whiter bulbs fitted - new l.e.d. front side light bulbs fitted - tyres good, a full nut/bolt/allen key check-over tighten - Scotoiler topped up (and bringing spare oil) - a clean/polish of bike - a recent 65 mile test ride with full luggage riding two up around local tight twisty countryside for practice etc.

Looking forward to the learning curve.

[Jelly]

I did a very similar trip a few years ago, that was my first european trip too, we ended up in Saarsland, Germany, not a million miles from Metz.

We got to Calais by about 9am, then up into Belgium and then the same as you, pretty much.

We got to our hotel about 8-9pm as I recall, but we did get a bit lost, all part of the adventure though!

Enjoy. B)

[herman]

We are expecting pics, have a good one. B)

[Redmurty]

Enjoy I'm off on the 13th for 10 days pompey Caen, keep getting an urge to go all the way south to Gibraltar and climb the rock again, think I'll get over it though cheers Spud

[Barcelona Pat]

Sounds like you have everything ready for the off. You´ll have a great time and get back wondering why you didn´t do it years ago. Travelling across Europe these days is soooo easy - and you have the right approach... the flexibility to stop off and enjoy places as you go. Best of luck fella.
Pat

[jamie92j]

sounds like good fun!

post some pics when you get back........

[Ali in Austria]

As I said in the other place pop in for a beer if you get down our way.

[Kelvyn]

It will be brilliant.

[phil2378]

sounds awsome mate
have a great time and hope to see sum pics on ur return

[andymac]

Gr8 stuff, dont forget ur breathaliser kit, and puncture kit, enjoy !