Dave,

The house buying was simple enough.
Organising and supervising the renovations was loads of fun !
Fighting the beaureaucrats so that I can move there permanently only got sorted last year when Bulgaria joined the EU.
And then I got diagnosed with F*cking Cancer !
Still, I'm fixed now and raring to go !

I could sense that you had it all figured!!

Good travels Gus, and you will enjoy the journey as much as the arrival.

__________________
Dave

Hi Gus

Where abouts in Bulgaria are you heading for? Would be interested to hear how you get on, the final route/crossings, where you stop along the way etc etc. I've recently bought an apartment in Bansko (Pirin Mountains) and hope to travel over in the not too distant future on my XR650R or 900ss. In fact if you're going near Bansko, maybe you could tell my Builder to get off his fat a*se and finish the work off for me! Cheers and good luck

Bob

Hi
just a thought, given the amount of time you have - it may be worth having a look at the Autozug.DE website . Basically its a german motorrail network that takes bikes . It can be very expensive but if you catch it right then it works out reasonably . Guess your nearest German station would be Dusseldorf , you could then get off in Italy or Austria the next morning !!
Personally i only use it one way
Chris

Hi Bob.

My place is down near Elhovo but I'm planning on visiting some friends up near Bansko so I'll give your builders a kicking !

I've started shaking down my old Guzzi in preparation for the trip.
She's 30 years old and has done 140,000 miles - mostly by the previous owner I have to say, so she's used to long distances !

I'm doing the usual stuff, stocking up on spare innner tubes and cables, I'll be popping into Mandello Del Lario en-route anyway, should I need any parts, but any suggestions for what other preparations I should undertake ?

In Croatia-Serbia you can driving very funny without anyone problems. You dont have prejudice, Serbia is nicely country with beauty nature, and you dont need visa for this country. If you have any problems with motorcycle, I can help you in Serbia. Cheers

Hi Gus,

On my trip to Malta last october,with adventure 950,I used Super Fast ferries from Igoumenitsa to Bary and return,in aircraft seats,wich cost to me Euro 188+euro 57 fuel surcharge.Here you can find all prices for vehicles,cabins etc.,All Greek Ferries routes from/to Italy, Greece and Greek islands, Albania, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel. Ferries in Greece. Sea Travel Ferries to Greek islands. Greek Ferries/Boat/Ship Schedules for Italy Greece Albania Turkey + Greek Islands. Greek Ferrie

The route from Igoumenitsa to Thessaloniki via Metsovo is a fantastic,with lot of curves and nice places to see,like the Lake of Ioanina and all mountains around you.The whole distance to Thessaloniki is about 450-480km,wich you'll cover it for aproximately 6-6,5 hours.Bulgarian border is a 120km away from Thessaloniki.
Once you come here, I can meet you for a ,just let me know,I'll send you my mobile by private message.

Cheers,
Simon

Cheers Folks !

The route planning is coming along nicely, and the bike seems to sense a long journey is pending and is getting all excited !

Hello Gus,
I live in southern Bulgaria, so was interested to see you have a house in Bg too.
I've done most of the routes to Bulgaria from UK, and, while the route through Italy is a good one, especially at the time of year you want to go, I don't think you will get across Greece from Igoumenitsa in one day. The first couple of hundred miles are through very mountainous country, where, although they are working on improving the road, it is still a bit iffy in places. At Thessalonika you can turn north towards Sofia, or carry on east towards the greek and turkish borders, and my place.
I've not done it, but I'm told there is a ferry from Ancona to Patra, and that the road is much better to Thessalonika.
The route I use now is from the channel ports up to Ostende, then turn south-east down the german motorway network, stopping my first night at Vienna, which is about 14 hours travel at 70 mph. Then east across hungary on the motorway, towards Arad, and soon after leaving the motorway near the romanian border turn right at a roundabout to Timisoara, crossing the border before you get there. At Timisoara follow signs to Drobheta, where I stay the second night, there is a large hotel on the right hand side of the road in the middle of the town. Third day stay on the same road through Craiova and to Alexandria, then down to the Danube, and over the bridge to Ruse.
If I can be any more help contact me via our website sakarhills.com
Regards,
Martin T. Jeffes
Sakar Hills Touring Park
Harmanli

I did UK, France, Italy & Greece in 2005. A week should be fine to get to Bulgaria.
In March some passes will be closed but others (eg Lautaret/Mont Genevre between France and Italy should be open)/ Border crossings are fine and all you will need are your license, your V5 and Insurance certificate/greencard.
You might get cold crossing the top of Greece as it gets pretty high up.
From Igouminetsa I'd have thought you'd get to Bularia in 2 days easy riding.
Have fun.

hi there,
so, i think u choose the right option riding thru italy & greece 4 your final destination. u can take the ferry easily from ancona to igoumenitsa (usually leaving about 5pm, spend the night on board and reach the igoumenitsa harbour the day after 8am. it should cost u about 90eu. one way, for a pulman seat not the cabin. easy borders procedures get thru italy to greece and bulgaria. paperworks: bike registration, passport. no one ask me for bike insurance, or any international driving permit in greece like in bulgaria too.
getting thru the balcans was really nasty 4 me (2002), police in serbia and croatia, seeks for victims with the radar gun. u must to respect the speed limit in most of cases 40km/h... but u must 2 be careful from the cops in bulgaria too. they like to shoot the veichles with the radar, and then asking 4 money...
well, if u'll decide to do in that way let me know, when you'll arrive next to mandello del lario or milan (the place where i live), i'll be glad to have a talk and a or what else with another "crazy biker".

Thanks again for the new tips guys !

Martin, I'd found your website elsewhere, nice to find you on here as well.
When and If I get the time I'll be over for a glass of Rakia !

Hi,

I went through France into Italy via the Mont Blanc tunnel, spent a bit of time in Italy, went to the Dolomites (awesome!) and along an amazing road throught the Alps to Austria, out of Austria into Slovenia, from there into Hungary, then south through Romania and into Bulgaria. It's a good trip and none of the borders are especially problematical.

Matt

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

I have done a lot of riding in Europe and have in one way or another done both these routes you are thinking of. It has been three years since my last trip to be fair but I can't imagine that much has changed. I would forget about the dollars if I was you, Euro will be accepted most anywhere and is easily changed in any of the Eastern European Countries with a standard rate. The dollar will change constantly so you are never quite sure where you stand with it at the moment.

If you want to sail from Bari, Italy to Greece it couldn't be easier. Totally hassle free and loads of help on the ferry to secure your bike from other riders if you don't know what your doing, which I didn't. The language barrier is not a problem anywhere either but particularly in the Eastern European countries just learning even how to say please and thank you will make a huge difference to how you are treated. They really don't expect you to know any words so it's a good idea in my book.

No worries at border crossings either as there is none in the west and a quick flash of your passport in the new Euro states is enough. Once you hit Serbia, Bosnia, Romania and Bulgaria etc you will need proof of insurance only. A green card can be easily gotten from your insurance company at home for no extra charge I imagine and if there is some countries where they wont cover you eg, Serbia and Kosovo right now then it can be bought at the boarder.

If I can be of any help to you with anything just let me know. You'll have a blast.

PJ.