Hello folks !

I am currently on my way back home after touring around Africa for 2 years on my 1975 vespa. Currently in Ankara, I will be in Istanbul tomorrow and from there on I am not very sure which route to take.

I know there is a lot of mountains on the way in the balkans, what would be the shortest possibility to avoid areas where icy roads/snow are more certain during december ?

Would appreciate every advice, thanks !

cheers from Ankara,

Chris

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Hamburg - Kinshasa - Nairobi - Khartoum - Beirut - St. Petersburg - Hamburg ( powered by a 1975 vespa 125cc ) 2011/2012

Stay as far south as possible for as long as possible, which means a ferry crossing to Italy.
Staying as near to coastal routes as possible should avoid most high ground.

You might meet this guy going in the other direction!
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...istanbul-67825

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Dave

chris.perjalanan, do you have a blog of your trip ?

Walkabout, no chance, the other guy will be at warp factor speed and everything and everyone will be a blur.

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'

Officially now in a minority living in London!

Money running short to buy decent food and s, how could I affort a ferry ?! No suggestion for a route by road ?

I am on a tight scedule too as I wanna be home for chrismas but 4 days UK - Istanbul - UK ? You gotta be kiddin´ me ...

No blog, sry unfortunately cannot upload pics directly here maybe posting something when i am back home.


cheers,
chris

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Hamburg - Kinshasa - Nairobi - Khartoum - Beirut - St. Petersburg - Hamburg ( powered by a 1975 vespa 125cc ) 2011/2012

Chris, PM sent!

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'

Officially now in a minority living in London!

Fair enough, there's another planning factor; money.

My short reply about taking a lowland route points toward "skirting" the Black sea as a general route - this could avoid the Alps, as would taking the Mediterranean coast.
I don't know that area - Bulgaria/Romania basically - but any good map should show a way through.

The weather ain't helping that's for sure; there is more snow forecast for central Europe right now with the cold front to the East and a warmer one further West promising a lot of moisture/precipitation/snow. That's the biggie factor for me, not withstanding lack of cash.

ps On second thoughts, looking at google maps in satellite format, I would aim to head toward a series of capital cities which appear to be located in lowland areas and in valleys that lie between adjacent high ground.
As a rule, these routes are good major roads linking the capitals which should, therefore, be maintained in bad weather.
Viz, the capitals of Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and Austria - thereafter, west into Germany.

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Dave

No no no. The earlier suggestion is way better for evading snow, ice, and other forms of misery. Avoid the interior, particularly where mountainous (Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovakia and Austria). Note that almost certainly you'll find some misery regardless--it's wintertime. If not prepared to wait out any really bad weather, think carefully about a fallback plan of leaving the bike somewhere along the way and taking public transport home for the holidays before returning to your trip.

Cross Greece through Thessalonika and follow the coast roads through Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovakia, into Italy. stick to the valley as long as possible past Milano, then brace yourself to cut down to the Med coast, then through Monaco into France. Again stay on the coast until you find a suitable straight shot north to the ferries to England.

Avoid even minor mountains unless you've got a clear weather forecast...and even then. I've seen scary, scary ice on the main highway through Monaco, and those are not big mountains at all. Same with the French Massif Central--little bumps, but again remember it's winter. Plus: weather in Italy is usually cold and wet, and the whole country is packed with mountain ranges so minor they hardly appear on maps, any of which can generate snow and ice almost without warning...at the end of a day of riding in the drenching rain.

Or you might hit wonderful weather the whole way, in which case you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. Hope that's helpful, and good luck.

Mark

Just got a quote of 108 € for the Igoumenitsa-Ancona ferry with Minoan Lines. Fastferry was a few euros more (if you sleep on deck)
Probably less than all your accumulated costs if going around overland.
Less fatigue, warmer, predictable and you get to sleep!
Quote was for a bmw650. Scooter might be cheaper.

It's quite possible that chris.p is on the road by now, but --- a ferry was always my preferred option for this time of year, that is within one week of the shortest day of the year (to throw another factor into play).

Anyway, from a quick check of a European weather map there has been a big dump of snow in the area of Milan/Turin, there is more expected for the general area of Romania and, very significantly, there is a lot of fog in central europe (warm air over cold ground = fog, every time).

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Dave

I agree with the other posts.

1. The weather here in central Euope is closing down with lots of snow and freezing rain so as soon as you get near northern Italy or Slovinia and Austria expect the worst.
2. If you go on the motorways then you will have to pay road tolls which will be expensive, alternativily forcing you onto A or B roads taking longer and may be covered with snow and ice.

good luck!

Hello,
he stayed with us for 2 days and yesterday midday when it stopped raining in İstanbul, he is on the road again..His face book account has been hacked in Egypt and we were friends before that, I uploaded some news and photos on his facebook page for his parents and friends..He is really in a hurry to be back in Germany..
His bike is repaired here,no more lights and starting probems..I think he has made the most km.on such an old vespa...
Spirit of adventure,always happy to be beside travellers in İstanbul.
Here is the link.
https://www.facebook.com/cbosse2?fref=ts

I feel he has some finance problems..didnt say anything..So if you can get in touch with him,please please please,host him in your country..today hosted by a biker friendly guy in Haskova/Bulgaria..I think his old handsome vespa will make it to germany without any problems...

Wish you all the best.
mehmet zeki avar
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12

We had to get from Istanbul to The Netherlands a month ago, on bikes.
I waited @ Istanbul, had a look around and the weather was mild for a few days.
We drove to Sofia, then through Servia into Hungary. At Budapest, head to Wien (Austria) and into Germany.
This way, you follow the Donau and stay low.

I am aware that your speed will be different on the Vespa, and that it is a full month later now. But nevertheless, someone might find this info interesting ;-)