Southern Europe Offroad trip
 

Between early July and End August, I’m doing a loop of the Mediterranean from 3 to 9 o’clock.

I’m riding my BMW X Challenge with soft luggage to northern Greece via the slab and then heading north through the Balkan region via Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia, then slab across northern Italy/ southern France (probably fitting in some of the tracks on the Italy/France border, possibly Corsica, but less likely), then the length of the Pyrenees, northern Spain and the length of Portugal.

I’ll leave the bike in S Spain in preparation for a Christmas Morocco visit.

I’m looking for as much dirt as possible.

The very approximate timeline is

• Early/mid/late July: Balkans
• Late July/early Aug: Alps
• Early/Mid Aug: Pyrenees
• Mid/Late August: N Spain and Portugal

Mainly camping or cheap hotels/pensions.

Anyone doing anything similar or live in the area and want to drink a beer?

Hope no offence is taken if I say I’m teaming up with a mate for the Pyrenees already, but always like riding with one or two people in interesting/ off-pavement areas. I’ll drink a beer in the evening with anyone, but wasn’t intending on helping to man-handle a novice’s big rig or lead somebody around who can’t be bothered to navigate themselves = Let’s call it a partnership of equals.

Are you in the same place at the same time as me?

Drop me a line via PM or an email via my website.

Have a great summer.

Sorry, what brand of X-Challenge was that? :innocent:

RBA X Challenge

Re-Badged-Aprillia X Challenge :scooter:

Made in Italy, with Swedish suspension and Austrian motor.

It was you who reliably informed me that the only thing German on the bike is the software mapping on the EFI and the badges on the side. "The bike that BMW disowned" (and discontinued after 2 years). :clap:

A little update:

I'm now going to ride transit across Germany/Austria/Hungary (3 x 600plus km days on a thumper... ouch! :funmeterno:) to western Romania in order to ride a bit of dirt between Brebu Nou (Enduromania HQ) and Brasov. After that to Bulgaria for a (hopefully quick) bit of business, then to Albania to pick up my Balkan trail northwards as described in post #1.

Bloody hot in Albania! Heading north. Rough timeline next couple of days:

Tonight (16July) I'm in Berat
Thur: Peshkopi
Fri: Kukes

Internet is a bit patchy in Albania, so if relevant, an SMS to +44 7 eight one 2 941 eight six 7 probably best.

Teachers! ;)

Spanish Biker, Simon, is doing another HISS in the Pyrenees but you may be back in the UK by 1st Sept. Otherwise it's a fab event to do some trail riding with like-minded folk :)

Have a safe trip :)

Unfortunately I'm back at work on 28Aug

Head north and into the mountains. Great scenery, great off road and at least its a bit cooler. Was there 10 days ago and it was alrady very hot in the lowlands!!

Shkroder, Albania today/Saturday
Monday Podgorica, Montenegro

Many thanks to Blazo and Tonka for the beers, conversion and help. Much appreciated.

The bike now has a shiny new front brake line off a wr450 from the Podgorica Yamaha dealer. It'll be great to have 2 working brakes again!

Back up into the hills to the site of the HU Montenegro meeting. Will fit in a rest day tomorrow. Likely to cross into Bosnia on Thursday.

At eastern end of the Pyrenees tomorrow/4th August. Heading west.