1 Month European Adventure... Advice on Route/Roads to take Please
 

Hello Everyone, This is my first post. I posted this in the ADV Rider forums as well but I thought Id come here to seek more help and or advice on my journey.

:biggrin3:

I am planning a trip from the UK to Romania and back for next summer. (2011)

I plan to ride a Honda Transalp From Hoek Van Holland, into Germany, down the Rhine to the Black Forest & Lake Constance.

From there, I would follow the Alpenstrasse to Konigsee, then into Austria. In Austria I would visit the Grossglockner and Gesause National Park.

From there, I would ride to Brno in Czec Republic. Then Find a route down to Transfagarasan in Romania from the north, then down into Curtea de Arges, then go west (Rm. Vilcea - Horezu - Novaci) and do the Transalpina road (DN67C) to Rinca - Obirsia Lotrului - Sebes.

After that, I would travel through Bosnia going south to Dubrovnik in Croatia via Neretva valley, Mostar, and Kravica waterfalls.

Coastal Ride From Dubrovnik Up to Slovenia, Highway 66 with an island trip to Krk.

Then from Croatia into Slovenia, riding along the soca valley.

Then into Italy, where I've got my route covered thanks to a guy on the ADV rider forums. Next up Switzerland, where Ive got a route sorted also going from east to west through the alps.

After all of that, Id like to go up through France into Belgium where I will visit Bruges and then head home again to the UK.

When in France, apparently
The D964 from Neufcahtel to Sedan would be a good route back up towards Belgium. perhaps it will be possible to ride the Col de la Bonette...

Ive given myself 1 month and £2000 to cover this trip in.

What do you all think of it and can you point out any actual roads for me to ride? Ive got most of the locations just not a specific list of roads to travel on... time to get the road maps I suppose next. ANY ADVICE MUCH APPRECIATED!

Nobody want to help this guy?

It sounds that the guy has a definite plan and most hubbers don't see any problem with it, the last thing anyone requires is people saying 'go here, go there. don't do this/that'.
I'm sure the guy is not being ignored and wish him a good trip.
:thumbup1:

Zimon,
Im equally newcomer but may have some experiences riding mostly in the Asia region. Just do it Man! You have a good route there and believe me that the thrill of an adventure.
Im riding UK and Europe this Fall and hope our path cross. Safe ride.

Hi Zimon: Will you be posting a ride report with HU or on a personal blog. In 2011, my wife and I will be doing a similar european ride. Also, we are planning to travel along the coast of Slovenia and Croatia on our way to Greece. Currently, our plan will be to enter Slovenia from Austria. Then, we will travel the coast in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, and into Greece. I have not traveled that area. From my map, it appears that you pass through a small portion of Bosnia-Herzegovina before getting to Dubrovnik. If you write a trip story, I would be interested in the roads and border crossings, in that coastal region. Thanks.

We might be doing something similar next year. Given that we won't be able to take a month off next year we'll just do two to three weeks and go either down the Croatian coast through Bosnia-Herzigovina, Montenegro, and Albania to Greece or down the Spanish coast towards Gibraltar. Haven't really decided that yet. Any idea what time of your you will be going? Maybe we could hook up somewhere on the road for a couple of days

Hi Zimon, I can help you with your Romania - Transylvania - Transfagarasan highway leg of your trip. Just let me know what you need. Each year we get several overland travellers that stop by, so be sure to do the same :)

Cheers, Paul

Hi Zimon,

if you need assits for Germany (an tips for Austria), i can help. Please let me know what you need. But between 21.09 and 06.11 i am on tour in middle east.

with best regards from germany

dirk

The Croatian Coast is the best road I've ever ridden.

You could fill have your trip with alipne passes in the alps/ dolomites and not even make it to easter europe.

Don't have to much of a plan, just a vague idea of where you want to be as half of the fun is making it up as you go along!

Looks like a well planned month Zimon, enjoy!

You'll love it even more, if you keep your plan 'flexible'.

With regard to "any actual roads for me to ride", just pick the twisty ones on your maps . :mchappy:

In Switzerland, any road with a 'Passe' in the name, like the Furkapasse, is pure magichttp://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s/thumbup1.gif :thumbup1:
good info here: BikeCam Liste - Liste aller P�sse

Also we found a gem of a hotel in Brugge, right in the old town, called the Hotel Imperial, on Dweersstraat.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8O9ZgVmcjyw/TJ...otos%20417.jpg

Btw, don't mind Colin Farrell, Bruges is a great place http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ilies/rofl.gif:rofl:

In Sedan, the town campsite is great.
Its right central, on the riverside.

Enjoy your trip Zimon.
beerchug
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...img%20/%3E.gif

My Bike
 

Thankyou everyone for your replies... above is my Bike and me, I really appreciate everyone's responses. I will be sure to visit that hotel in Brugges!

Its getting exciting now. I hope some of our paths do cross next year, would be really great to meet other bikers along the way. There are 3 of us doing the trip. Me, my Brother and My Dad.:scooter:

mate i live this side of the hook (Near Harwich), pending when u are here give me a shout get a free bee wet or if need dose on my living room floor or camp in garden

Hi Zimon

this is the place, where we live

<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="Google Maps /><small><a href="Google Maps" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Größere Kartenansicht</a></small>

I grew up in the black forest and the alps are my backyard :D

Just give us a notice when necessary, there is always a garage, a guestroom a hot shower and of course beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="beerchug" smilieid="249" class="inlineimg" />beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="beerchug" smilieid="249" class="inlineimg" />beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="beerchug" smilieid="249" class="inlineimg" />beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="beerchug" smilieid="249" class="inlineimg" />

btw, all :scooter: travellers passing by are welcome at our place

Thomas & Andrea

Miles-to-ride

Your Plan sounds good to me. I'd definitely put Montenegro on the list. Costal roads (crowded in July/Aug) and back roads (empty year round!). Best road was from Cetinje down to Kotor. I also liked the dirt road in Albania from Lake Ohrid (Podgarac) to Girokaster along the Greek border. And I would spend more time in Transsilvania. What else? Oh well, I did an eastern Europe/Balkans tour 12500km and 20 countries in 69 days last year and I liked every bit of it. No problems at all, even Kosovo was brilliant. Just stay off the main highways, use the back roads!
See the map of my trip here:
Motorcycle Tour Eastern Europe - Google Maps
Photos are to be found here: 2009_Europe pictures by frankinasia - Photobucket - find the Albums sorted by country half way down on the left.
Hotel prices on the Balkans were an average of 20€. Passport needed for Serbia and Kosovo, green insurance card covered all countries except Kosovo where a 2 week insurance set me back 20€.
Have a good trip!
Greetings from Paragauy
p.s. I only got stopped for speeding in Montenegro and Serbia. In both cases just a warning, no fine. The cops in Montenegro - after showing me that I was going 101km/speed limit 60km - went on to admire my bike, offered me a chokolade cookie (!) and send me on my way :-))

European Trip
 

Hi Zimon,

You certainly have done some planning for your trip and it sounds wonderful.
Myself and Russell will be riding through that part of the world in May/June 2011 as well and we should hook-up.

We havent got our route that well planned, we just know we want to go from London to Hong Kong/Singapore in May-June next year. We are doing it to raise money for breast cancer here in Australia.
See our website here: The Pink Way Round :: Home :: :: A motorcycle odyssey by two Australians half way round the world to raise money for breast cancer

Other that the Transfagarasan in Romania we dont have the route planned as yet, other than Prague and Paris. We would like to do a bit of Italy as well but may not have the time - we have only 10 weeks. What made you decide the route you have planned - was it exploratio, riding experience or scenery?

Also of note we will be riding Transalps, not as flash as yours though :clap:- ours are '88 models but still a hell of a lot of fun! :funmeteryes:

Send me a PM and let me know the dates you will be in Romania, and surrounding countries and perhaps our Trannies can get together and talk about how bad riders we are! Looking forward to doing this jeiger

Cheers,
Tricky

Thank you people for all your generosity and kindness, and fantastic advice on my route planning!!!

Here is a short video diary of my trip planning:

YouTube - Transalp Ride To Romania (Part One)

I am riding in aid of the UK mental health charity Mind. If anyone wishes to donate to Mind by sponsoring me to ride this adventure, they can do so by visiting:

Simon Smith is fundraising for Mind - The Mental Health Charity

:thumbup1:

Zimon,

I have just got back from a 'little' ride in which we came back from Croatia via Slovenia and rode along the western border parallel with the Italian border and then along the Soca valley to Bovec, this is a spectacular ride on quiet roads, from Bovec we headed to Kranjska Gora to cross into Austria another brilliant road but the road the other side of the border was closed so we had to turn round and cross via Tarvisio. Slovenia is a superb destination...enjoy!

Oh and you may want to pack a really decent rain suit along with your sunnies!

I will try to add some pics when I figure out how to resize 'em..

Soca pic.jpg

I know it doesn't give a great impression of the valley but I like the pic!

A nice edit (in my opinion) of some of the footage,
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOwW5wGEjMc



From Simon.