European Adventure 2016 on a KTM
 

Hiya guys,

Perhaps it was an overdose of merriment or caffeine over Christmas 2014, maybe it was the imminent return to work after another great trip somewhere in Australia on my "Big Girl" (my affectionate name for my KTM) or possibly a mid-life crisis coming into play - whatever - it was time to take the plunge and realise a life-time dream to travel Europe.

Of course I could always find an excuse not to do it but something told me this was my time and so the planning began.

Where do I start? This is all foreign to me. My desire to ride the worlds best roads was high on my list as well as my love of architecture and both WWI & WWII history ... Yes - Europe it is.

After recommendations of two books John Hermanns 'The Alps and beyond" and Toby Ballentines 'Motorcycle journeys through Western Europe' I was hooked. Thanks to the input of fellow HU members on a blog (click here) http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-advise-80618- my desire grew even more & with my 5 month leave from work approved, I was on a roll.

Fast forward with my route done - not set in stone but done nevertheless the government red tape with exporting my bike sorted, saving finances to compensate for the abysmal currency exchange rate and the tough decision to sell my KTM 690 - my dream has progressed to the point that my bike has arrived in the UK and is waiting for me. I will arrive on May 19 and will set off in an anticlockwise tour of The UK before heading across the English Channel on a ferry to Cherbourg in France. I'll then be travelling in a clockwise direction around Europe - hopefully 5 months later returning to my starting point.


Shooting video and editing is a hobby of mine and armed with my GoPro and a camera drone, I hope to take some footage for a record of my adventure. I'm no film maker by any means but i get a kick out of experimenting with camera angles and editing ...

So if any of you guys happen to come across a guy parked under a signpost on a KTM 1190 with a look of bewilderment on his face and swearing at his GPS ... that will be me ... please say G'Day...

I have set up a Blog - Any comments will be gratefully appreciated - goodness knows I'll appreciate anyone who shows an interest when I'm sitting on the side of the road in the wet and cold - desperate for a coffee. I hope to post my adventures here as well ....either way - I'd like to say a big "thank you" to members of this site for all your help in making my dream a reality ... it's plain to see a little Christmas merriment can be a dangerous thing :)


The following are links to
MY BLOG SITE 'WHERESPHILSITE' https://wheresphilsite.wordpress.com/ and
MY VIDEO 'TRAILER' - to tempt your interest ...http://youtu.be/BsWwbu36vB8


Cheers Phil

Hi Phil, you'll have a great trip. Not done all of that route but done good chunks. The Alps are fantastic, I loved Romania and the highlands of Scotland are truly beautiful (once you accept green comes at a price...).

Not sure when you hit the south west of the UK but suspect i'll not be able to offer you a bed for the night as i'm off to Africa for 3.5 months on 28/5. I will check in on your blog though.

For me a least your youtube link above is not working (asks me to log into google).

Cheers
Andy

Hi Andy ,

Will hit south U.K. Around 1st week in June .. Im jealous about your Africa journey.....sorry for confusion my accommodation is sorted it was a figure of speech.my bad..... I deleted that part...thanks anyway... You tube link is working now... I really am looking forward to Scotland, the lakes and Wales on my UK Leg.....we are isolated here in OZ .....but it's not without its own beauty...and isolation....you can ride 800 kms a day here in the outback and not see anyone....

Cheers Phil

Love the video - really looking forward to the rest of it now!


Best stay off the motorways and main roads in the UK then. You can ride 800kms and not miss a single member of our 60m population ;-)

Highlands, Lakes and Wales will keep you very happy though - all beautiful.

Phil
Have a great trip fella
Hope you'll keep us all entertained on this now you have started the thread lol
Ride safe

Wayne

Might be better than dodging kangaroos and emus.....Andy ... Then again?...:scared::scared:

G'day Wayne .....this is all your doing. Lol... I'm going to have to give it a go now hey. ?.. Cheers buddy

Hey Phil, good luck with the adventure. Your story sounds a lot like mine. I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of the same places you are going when I'm there next year.
I dig the video trailer, nice work. I'm interested to see how your footage with the drone turns out. Was just saying the other day I might look into the feasibility of taking one myself.
Enjoy.
Brett

Hi Brett..
Well the drone was always on my list as I said I like to muck around with video, but this one was my second choice .. I originally had an Airdog on order which is a true follow me drone and a great concept.. Delays in production saw me have to abandon this and go for the one I have now.. It takes really good hd video but is limited to basic functions.. Have been experimenting lately and I think I can make it work ..we shall see. cheers mate..

Give us a shout (PM) before you hit Scotland, I can help with route planning and possibly a couch to sleep on in Edinburgh if we are at home
Gino & Fiona

Hi Gino,
Thanks very much for the offer of a couch but I have my accommodation in Edinburgh booked23rd & 24th May just down the road from Royal Victoria Hospital....It happens that's as far ahead as I have sorted ....I may run my route options north of Edinburgh by you though if you are around... As I have a few options....
Cheers Phil

No worries, looks like you have highlighted the good options, make sure you get to Applecross, then the coast road up by Gairloch to Ullapool and then Lochinver is superb. If you need a hotel in Lochinver, go to the Culag, tell them I sent you and they'll knock a bit off the bill.

Agree with above..... And go for the Bonar Bridge to Tongue (YHA there is great) and then west on your green route (or vice versa). Give john O'groats and the far north east miss - not in the same league as the rest of it.

Great,,, yes I have applecross marked, and have now added Gairloch to Ullapool....thanks for the heads up on the Culag hotel Gino.....

Brilliant,, I was after a consensus on that part of the trip .... Got it Bonar bridge - Tongue..and YHA....cheers bier