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European Crisis trip
Hello fellow travelers,
As you maybe know, I planned to start a RTW in April, but our worst friend Covid-19 change my plan and I guess some of yours also. My bike and me were ready to travel, so as soon our government authorize us to move again, I started a summer trip across Europe without really defined plans but wanted to travel by off-road riding a maximum. Ignition On, let’s go for the French Pyrenees, I wanted to go in Spain but at this time borders are still closed! Anyway, I rode through the TET from Saint Jean de Luz to the Lac de Salagou, where I joined some friends. On this track I found a nice wild camp into a hunter camp a friend joined me to ride into the mud :D Saint Jean de Luz https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Hunter camp : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Pyrenees: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Friend who join me https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Then I had some fun riding in Mont Ventoux and Verdon national park before I reached Italy. Mont Ventoux : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Verdon : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 France in Video : In Italy I followed the Italian alps from south to north and met a nice group of Italians riders where we rode together on the Strada dei Cannoni. Riding into the Alps is always great, looks at the views!! Wild campsite https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Colle del assieta https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Colle del Sommelier https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Strada dei Cannoni: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Italia in video After a little stop at Lausanne in Switzerland, I decided to cross Germany and Denmark as fast as possible to ride in Sweden... Lake Leman: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 |
Arriving in Sweden with a better weather than in Germany, I took again the TET track, I had seen that I can reach the north cape by mostly off-road through Sweden, Finland and Norway, so goooooooo.
Sweden was a little bit disappointing after riding in Pyrenees and Alps, it’s flat and you're riding into forest and then lakes, and then forest again and then… You get the idea… ;) But I had some fun and nice sunset and you can found some great shelter fully equipped for wild camp Lake sunset : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Shelter : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Lake and forest :) https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Tjorn island https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 At Ostersund, I took a break to do the bike maintenance, and check my route. I discovered that due to the Covid crisis, borders to go to Finland or Norway are closed from Sweden, what a shame I’m in the middle of Sweden and no way go get out of that country! But hopefully one little border with Norway just opened! So I decided to go down there and continuing my route in Norway Side. Valve clearance checked: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Sweden video : |
To be at the same latitude than Ostersund but in Norway, I had to made a 1000km detour. But I am riding on-road now, it worth it, the scenery and the roads are much better than in Sweden.
After my first wild camp at the border, I decided to do a challenge day, riding to the solar circle in one day. Leaving at 9am arriving there at 1:30 am so 16 hours riding and almost 900km. I didn’t stop during the night because sun never goes to sleep!!! I pitched the tent at 3am and the sun was still shining! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Norway country of the roof top garden! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Polar Circle 1:30 am : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Now direction the North Cape, the road goes through lakes, fjords, ferries, bridges and tunnels with amazing landscape! But arrived at the north cape, weather changed dramatically from 24°C and sunny to 6°C into the clouds! But I made it North Cape with an AJP PR7!!! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Now I’ve to go back to south, I met Thomas a German guy riding also motorcycle, we shared our route during two days, we split to go in our own way. I heard that the Lofoten Islands are something not to miss when you go to Norway so let’s take a look!! And It was a good idea to take some other ferries! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 After that fantastic ride in Lofoten, I’ve some trouble with my bike, no more electricity, after checking the battery I discover that the stator doesn’t gives enough volts, I have to change it. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 While ride bergen took care of my bike I visited the city of Bergen https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 During the route to take my ferry back to Denmark, I meet my friend who joined me in the Pyrenees. She decided to visit by herself Norway alone. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Norwegian alps the Trollstigen: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Geiranger : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Norway video : www.longridezone.com |
I went back in the French alps by Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, not the fastest route ;) , but I met a lot of nice people, and discovered some sand riding in Netherlands.
Vercors https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Col du Parpaillon https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 That was good to be back in the alps, but now Spain is open so lets go discovering that country. This time I’m crossing the Pyrenees but on the Spanish side. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 After Pyrenees I crossed the Bardenas Reales a desert made by 4000 years of natural erosion! ! Beautiful!!! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 After the riding in the north part of Spain I decided to reach the southern part, which is also the southern part of Europe nice isn’t it? Lets get a ride to Tarifa, by crossing Sevilla and some cotton fields. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Tore del Oro Sevilla: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 In front of me Morocco, the first country in Africa after spain. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Spain video : Now I can’t go further, ferries are not open to cross Mediterranean see to reach Morocco. So I decided to come back to France by Portugal. I discovered the south, the Algarve area with a nice weather in October there and nice beaches. And going back to the north by the historical National 2 from Faro to Chaves, with some detour close to Lisbon to go to the western part of Europe at Cabo da Roca by following some of the Portuguese coast. some good food here in Portugal : https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Cabo da Roca western part of Europe: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Longest beach of Portugal maybe in Europe? 60km long!!! https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 End of the N2 cat Chaves close to the Spanish border it’s time to go back home https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0 Portugal video : 30000 km and four and half month later I’m back home just in time for the new lockdown here in france ☹ But that was an amazing trip with a lot of new discovery, met nice people across Europe. Want now to discover more! Where can be my next destination? Should I wait the end of the Covid crisis? www.longridezone.com |
Some outstanding photos here. I particularly liked the photo at Verdun.
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I love those beach photos from Portugal.
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Great report and pic's - looks like an outstanding trip !!!
Thanks for taking the time & sharing |
Happy new year,
Wishing you all lot of nice ride for 2021https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cbb80d154b.jpg Envoyé de mon Redmi Note 8 Pro en utilisant Tapatalk |
good
great trip and great video
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The pictures were totally mesmerising and gave me a huge motivation to plan a trip of my own very soon.
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