Hi all
Further to my earlier thread, my friend and I now have a firmer route (in terms of countries) thanks to lots of information gained from you guys and the rest of the HUBB.
We now plan to travel in the last 3 weeks of June (for better weather) and our intended route is UK - Holland - Germany - Poland (now our main destination) - Slovakia - Czech Republic - Germany - Belgium - France (only briefly, to Calais) - UK.
We hope to spend the second of our 3 weeks exploring Poland; the salt mines and Auschwitz are high on our list of priorities.
We don't intend to book much accommodation ahead, but won't be camping.
Hoping for easy off-road routes in Poland - any info on this would be great.
Have now junked the idea of the BMW off-road course since the price has increased by £100 for next year. Renting gear and accommodation will result in a cost of over £600 for the weekend! Currently, I'm looking for some less expensive off-road training here in the Peak District. Any ideas? Really need to have bikes and gear provided since we don't want our gear trashed when we fall off (which I know we will).
As ever, all suggestions within this intinerary are welcome.
Thanks to all who've offered suggestions so far on my earlier thread.
Cheers
Geoff

Hi Geoff,

Note that much of the offroading in Poland consists of long flat gravel tracks with a bit of mud, not much in the way of steep climbs & hairpin bends like the Italian Alps trails we discussed via email. Check out my Smugmug gallery, there's an album from Poland in October 2006, a trip my girlfriend did.

There are cheaper offroad courses - try Geraint Jones Yamaha courses in the Brecon Beacons or Ady Smith's KTM courses across the country. Windy Corner KTM in Leicestershire may also offer a course?

Ady Smith may be running a 2 day event in the south late Feb 2008 - check Regional forums on AdvRider.

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My photos: www.possu.smugmug.com

Further to Steve's list, all of the major bike manufs appear to have someone who offers off-road riding instruction with the bikes of that manufacturer - e.g. try a search on the internet for Honda off-roading.
That was my impression when I looked at this same subject a while ago, with lots of adverts in the MCN and online.
There are also loads of people in sunny/warm parts of Europe who hire out bikes and offer off-road training, if you fancy making a holiday of it.

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Dave

Thanks Steve. Your point about the off-road routes is noted, but it might be best for us newcomers to off-roading, especially with 1200GSs. I guess it's really just a question of going with a decision. No doubt we'll get to the other stuff eventually.
Thanks also to you & Walkabout re off-road training. I'll follow these lines of enquiry.
Cheers
Geoff

Hi Geoffcrowther,

I am from Cracow so maybe I am Polish expert... Drop me a line if you have any problems with destination. Waiting for you in Cracow...

Hi Sambor
Thanks for that. What do you think we should see or do in your country? We'll be there for around one week.
Cheers
Geoff

Depends if you have to get your off-road experience with big traillies? Otherwise, if you are happy to do it on light bikes then try Marianne at Motorcycle trail riding with Trail Rides Wales The bikes and loan clothing are a bit.. battered, but do the job if you're not too particular about boots being held together with gaffa, the trails are wonderful and Marianne is a good and easy going instructor. They run big traillie weekends too, but that would be on your own bike.

Thanks for that, Clare. No, don't want to use either of my big trailies. Need proper tuition/experience first. I'll give Marianne a try.
Cheers
Geoff

hiya
We went the short way around europe this year.
Norway,Sweeden and some batic states down into Poland .
While in Poland we found Hitlers BUNKER , that was the place where his own men tried to kill him..
it's worth a visit.....the is a little off road around it also , we know this because we found it just by guessing where it was going throw some woods on a dirt track... came out the correct way via tarmac

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the Greenlane guide
www.greenlanetours.com

Geoff, we did a route around the Baltic this summer tha included Scandanavia, Russia, Baltics, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Germany. Poland is great. The people are very friendly. The roads are horrible...all under some sort of construction. On one road we drove into oncoming lane for several miles of backed up traffic. No one seemed to mind. On faster roads, the autos parted like the Red Sea to let us pass through. Leave a good bit of time for Auschwitz if you have the emotional strength. We didn't spend nearly enough time in Kracow. It's a very pretty town with an amazing town square. We arrived after a long day of rainy travel across the mountains from Budapest. We only booked 1 night, and we were very sorry we didn't really get time to explore. Here's our BLOG including some of your stops.
Iron Curtain Tour Let me know if you have questions. Jon