Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Ride Tales, Trip Reports and Stories > Ride Tales
Ride Tales Post your ride reports for a weekend ride or around the world. Please make the first words of the title WHERE the ride is. Please do NOT just post a link to your site. For a link, see Get a Link.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

25 years of HU Events


Destination ANYWHERE...
Adventure EVERYWHERE!




Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old 31 Aug 2011
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,049
Czeching out Poland and Slovakia: a two TA tour.

Czeching out Poland and Slovakia: a two TA tour.

My bike: 1993 Honda XL600V Transalp
My dad’s bike: 2009 Honda XL700V Transalp

Trip stats:



Total Miles: 2848.
Total Fuel: 282
Average: MPG (UK): 56
Highest MPG (UK): 65.8
Lowest MPG (UK): 41
Scottoil used: 300 ml
Engine oil used 800ml
Countries entered: 5
Wallets lost/nicked:1
Chain adjustments: 1
Punctures: nil





The time had come to set off on with my dad on our increasingly traditional, annual bike tour. The hurdle this involves is that he lives in West London, and I live in Tallinn. Previous trips had been to Sweden, France and this time Poland: midday between the two of us.

One thing I crave is mountains and that is a hard itch to scratch when the highest point in the Baltics is a slight swell of 316m above sea level. So needless to say, given we didn’t make it to the Pyrenees last year, I wanted to reach Poland’s south, and no question!

Preparation began about two weeks before when I started trying to figure out my packing arrangements after trying to manage bulging panniers and a stuffed hold-all across the back seat in France last year. The bike has an E45 Givi topbox and 2 smaller Kappa (Givi in disguise) E21 top-loading panniers.

Topbox: Approx 10kg
Tent poles, sleeping bag, two pots, GPS, various loading cables/chargers, pair or trainers, pair of flip-flops, tarp, toiletries, couple small LED torches, waterproofs, puncture repair kit, leatherman and waterproof gloves

Pannier 1: Approx 7kg
Some tools: mole-grips and short torque wrench, multimeter, engine and scottoil, cable ties, spare front and rear inner tubes. On top of that 2 litres of burning spirits, some more cooking gear, some dry foods, my wood/meths burning stove, a back up MSR pocket rocket and gas canister.

Pannier 2: Approx 5kg
My tent (only fitted because the poles were in the TB) and pegs, my small pillow, and my ¾ length thermarest.

Pillion seat: Approx 4-5kg
Small rucksack with clothes, poncho, small rollbag, bungees, cotton sleeping bag liner, maps and a good book.

Tooltube 1: Spanners, sockets, ratchets and screwdrivers to remove the fairing, wheels, brakes, seat and tank: if it needed more than that, I couldn’t fix it by the road anyway. (tyre levers hose-clamped to the rack)

Tooltube 2 (sealed off drain-pipe) 1 can of emergency tire repair spray.

Day 1 & 2:
So on Friday 5th August, I got on my fully laden bike and followed my wife’s car, with our two dogs peering at me from the boot window, to a friend’s farm house where we relaxed for an evening, before bidding my lovely wife and our dear canines farewell the next day at about midday. A lightly sprinkled ride of 90 mins saw me filling up in Pärnu, Estonia’s summer resort town (although not that day!) and then I started the ride south, crossing into Latvia 45 mins later. I arrived in the lush suburbs of Riga at about 5 pm and met two of our friends who not only put me up for the night and garaged the bike, but also took me out for a nice meal although I did manage to get garlic butter on my only shirt within 3 minutes of getting my éntrée…, followed by wine and cheese back at theirs!! What a great start to the holiday!
!




More to follow.... and some pics
__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Last edited by Warthog; 1 Sep 2011 at 07:09.
Reply With Quote
 


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Slovakia, Hugary (Poland?) end of August advice please! speed_demon666 Route Planning 12 7 Aug 2009 12:03
Travel advice for Czech, Poland and Slovakia please Alex Smith Route Planning 8 26 Sep 2008 16:49
Czech, Poland, Slovakia advice needed! Tybalt Europe 4 22 Oct 2007 11:46
Poland / Slovakia - Krakow / Tatra mountains Wheelspin Europe 20 3 Apr 2006 02:18
Slovakia-Poland linza Travellers Seeking Travellers 1 11 Aug 2004 16:12

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
Ecuador June 13-15
Bulgaria Mini: June 27-29
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Aug 14-17
Romania: Aug 22-24
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)

Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:55.