Hello,
just getting my route together for next year's trip and one option would be to go through Ukraine to Odessa (always wanted to go to odessa) and then take the ferry to Istanbul (same as odessa).

On the one hand the ferry seems rather expensive (180$ 4 pers. cabin without shower/toilet but including meals), on the other hand I'd rather not go through Russia and Georgia. Aside from that taking the ferry would give me a nice break from riding and might even be fun...

Has anybody taken that particular boat?

How is it?

Any fun?

Any experiences would be welcome, since I'd rather book earlier than later (considering the only other fixed event on the trip is pretty much booked by now...).

Cheers,
buebo

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Projekt Balkan
www.buebo.de - Der tägliche Wahnsinn

hello there,

I took the ferry in 1999 with the bike. yes it was not the cheapest option. I remember a very good party until late in the morning with a lot of and a bit of vodka, that was the first night, second night was quiet. my bike was the only cargo and pretty easy to get into turkey.

the cabins are a bit small, but you are there to sleep anyway.

its a ferry, not a cruise boat, at least in 1999, enjoy

mika from switzerland

had a same sort of trip on mind too..... instead of going north again next year... may going further east to Turkey instead ... thinking about exact the same way you are hinting out...... Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, than may back north around Grease and the Balkan.

may I ask you about what time you gone to hit the road or so... may an option to join part of the way....

are you doing camping or lodging ?
what bikes and from where are you starting....

just give me a shout......

spooky

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The trouble is that he was talking in philosophy, but they were listening in gibberish.

Hello,
you can check out the planing so far at my personal website/blog: buebo.de präsentiert: Projekt Balkan | buebo.de

For all those who can't read German the basic idea would be to catch a ride in a van for me and my bike to the Enduromania in Romania. After that ride around in Romania some more. Maybe go to Moldawia and Transnistrianiwitsch (or whatever it's called again) as well.

After that ride on to Odessa, spend a couple of days there and then catch the ferry to Istanbul, meet the Girlfriend there, spend some more time.

Next step would be to ride on eastwards through Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, maybe Kosovo, then northwards through Croatia.

From Austria I'd probably take the Autotrain or just carry on home to Germany.

Mind you, so far that's just the rough Idea and I haven't even calculated the distance and done any further planing.

As for the bike I don't have one so far but I'm looking at either a Yamaha TT600R (more fun offroad but a sore behind for sure) or a Honda Transalp (more fun on pavement but to fat for the enduromania).

So what about you spooky?

Edit: I wouldn't mind riding together for some time, at least if you won't mind having your picture taken when you're dirty, drunk or mad


And as for camping: I'll be bringing a small tent and a sleeping bag along, mainly just to have a fallback option when nothing else is available. My general feeling of security permitting I would also camp more often, however if decent lodging is available for a good price (should be that way at least in Romania) I'd prefer that.

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Projekt Balkan
www.buebo.de - Der tägliche Wahnsinn

well have a look at Startseite regarding a TT600R or TT660 had some Nology spark wire off them, this guys are well in to Yamaha's...

got my trusty old KTM LR4 640 Enduro kitted with big tank like a Hybrid-Enduro-Adventure, well sorted and tricked up for any long trip..
Don't know any thing about the Balkan, part of that I did some 4x4 Offroad driving in a Lada-NIVA in Hungary, and made pictures of the dead Revolutionist in Romania in 1989 over Xmas in Bucharest for the papers.......
still want to see the beauty of this countries again....
Don't have a particular rout as yet, was just thinking about the shortest way down to Odessa and catching the ferry over to Turkey... the Balkan would be a nice round trip extension...... would ride my Bike all the way if needed.

You would have a lot of opportunities in that case...
last time I nearly crashed in to a stupid mountain biker, dropped the bike by ending up in a ditch... shouting to my mate.. "quick get the camera out" before he would try to rescue me being trapped under my bike.......

spooky

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The trouble is that he was talking in philosophy, but they were listening in gibberish.