list of things good about this campsite
 

1 Georges can escape the elements under the protection of a cabin

ciao ciao Italia until next time
 

great place, people, roads, just go (take plenty of sheckels with you)

Footnote: in Italy I managed to loose my wallet and my fancy GPS unit. Both were handed back to me untouched, not bad huh? (not the loosing part DOH). Come on Italia you rock

13,000 km, 9 countries & counting
 

Its hard not to reflect on what we have done, where have been and that the trip is starting to come to an end. We are almost at half distance (although my fagpacket sums suggested we would do 16,000 km in total) and happy to be here.

Today was a typical day, we were deposited into Greece at 5am, though satnav only recognises a total sum of 5 greek roads (no map as we cant carry the 15 or so required), we have a dark visor on, we have turned off the motorway into the city and loose our way. Its foggy and Froopin cold (a lil above zero me thinks) and starting to rain. However, we have 50 euros cash, a credit card, full of fuel and we have Georges. I relax a little, it'll be alright lad. The sight of crashed cars and mopeds abandoned hither and there add to the ambiance.

We didnt expect to come to Greece, but we wanted more time in Italy (and also were off to the IOMTT at last minute) so the ferry is quicker (than via Slovenia et al as planned) but we have no language or even the minimum 2 small pieces of internet printed translation (as we have for the other countries). Greek, is well, greek to us.

The sun comes up, the mist hangs in the valleys like a big duvet and the mountains slowly reveal themselves to us as we find our way north. The satnav stays on the same road for km on-end (despite the fact we change from narrow mountain pass, to motorway then onto another motorway). It all works out.

I was surprised to see so many young folk in the city milling around (and this was before 7am) quite what they were all doing (except the three miniskirted ones) is beyond me.

Another good ride, though landslipped rocks have been a common feature to dodge, I guess they have more important things to be doing.

Each day is a journey for the mind and body moreso than for the bike, who does everything faultlessly as I keep banging on about. We have been tested and by some miracle we are all in one piece and happier than ever, no doubt more to come but we are fit for it whatever it may bring.

We are pretty much free spirits I suppose, that is until the money runs out. Worry about that another day unless Father hits the lottery numbers (come on Sid, get your act together).

Good times Boss

- Greece, half 6 this morning

Lake Ohrid, Macedonia
 

Looking south, dark bank on the right is Albania.

Great, quiet roads up through rural Mkd - even the woofs are friendly

1 of the resovoirs in Mkd, nr E border with Alb
 

taken from the road. We also took one from the dam as the gate was open, we got told off - oops.

50km south of Skopje
 

just after we found some gravel mid-corner that damn nearly got us ;-)

cheers Georges you menace

another year older DOH - but damn the beer is el cheapo
 

we cant deny the math but we will try our best to be a better man

it's a good ethic, we try (and no doubt end up being very trying)

Georges stays in the garage, we go out to dinner with friends and I manage to end up in the nightclub until 4am.

Georges is getting a service and a few odd jobs done next week - sweet, good lad

Oh heck, I also wrote my first song, lyrics and a tune and all. haha good times

beer

Braddan Bridge, IOM TT races (practice) overcast, mild, 7pm Wed May 30th
 

man, these lads can ride. The rest of us are mere mortals, safe ride lads and lasses

Gary Johnsons CBR 1000, Ian Mackmans Norton
 

bike porn for the petrol-heads

TT 2012 - a quick taster
 

15 times TT winner Dave Molyneux passing Ballig Farm at 130 mph+

filmed on my camera - better in the flesh

some TT, some beers,
 

MACEDONIA - day 1, take 2 & ENGLAND - day 1, take 2 12th June 2012

Report from the IOM TT as follows:

Some of the closest and safest racing for a long time, sadly 5 visiting motorcyclists died on the open roads, terrible, we abhor it.
I marshall the entire time, on the main at my usual spot at Greeba Castle and also I moonlight two sessions a few miles down the road at Ballig Farm a fast 130mph sweeper, its pretty spectacular to say the least. Again, luckily we have no incidents at all other than an electric bike which comes past on us on fire and which we manage to pull in. Antonio Maeso is keen to get off it and the extinguisher comes into action for the first time I remember.

We manage to get through an adequate amount of liquor and also fit in a trip to the local casino (some TT racer was sat next to me and I got chatting and had to be introduced to as I hadnt recognised him - oops) we fall out of the place at 5am just in time to see the sun coming up.
In addition to the racing, several useful things occurred to me during this time. Firstly, we need to consider perception. Generally my trip causes surprise and some astonishment. To me, it seems quite natural, although I will occassionally question my sanity. I am told yes, people could do this, but who would? I am not certain I have an answer or even if this is the right question. The matter remains, wandering around on a large motorcycle seems quite reasonable. However I must not loose sight of the task in hand, a further dozen countries where my research and language ability will absent.

Further, I recognise how damn tired I have been. Realisation that we have been living on our wits for the past month. The best ingredients for good health (regular cardiac exercise, a good diet and plenty of sleep) have been totally absent, a combination of which is definately unsustainable.
We pine for the freedom of wandering, which provides a huge sense of freedom and some adventure too. It is a very good way to travel in my mind.

I cannot help but think of the possibilities of where and what I may end up getting myself into, it can become foreboding on the one hand whilst completing liberating on the other.

Perhaps not lastly, it has brought about a realisation that this is not the end of the trip it is only just the beginning. With several ideas being hatched for the next and subsequent wanderings, somewhat on a grander scale.

We decided yesterday that we had to visit Romania (so that means Bulgaria too). Being an organised fellow, I have printed half a map of Romania and the motorway network (which we do not want to use) and have a few cities that we should visit, so thats some kind of plan. After this, its north I suppose though I would like to go East to catch up with the pictouresque Croatia and Slovenia, though these may have to wait due a rapidly diminishing timeframe and outgoing cashflow. We can look forward to Germany et al and also the final destination of Scotland, which has been on my list to visit for several years although never finding an excuse to go.

I have my chain & sprocket kit for Georges and hopefully his bill wont be too painful in a day or two, roll on and we can get on the road again and Georges can do his stuff. Of course, I have to finish off these things and say ciao ciao to my Amigos in Macedonia first, its been a good visit, but I can never escape the pull of the road and the journey ahead.

We left Skopje under black skies, returning under a blue one and as promised it was indeed summer when I returned as the low pressure system had moved on. It was coming up to half six in the evening, the temperature was 30+ degrees c. Pleasant if a little too much, good job we are going north (east).

The Mkd motorway now has more tramlines driven into it by the trucks, perhaps the heat has softened the road, they do seem deeper, too deep for a unwary motorcycle at speed. The main road in town has a TV type of cable hanging from a tree into the road, just ripe for catching an unwary motorcyclist. The local road safety message is a little surprising, more dangerous than riding in TT week in the Isle of Man? Good question. Things in Mkd like this are difficult to understand, like the common problem of litter which seems to commonly haunt the rivers. I cant understand it, perhaps there is nowhere to put the rubbish I suggest, but seemingly not its apathy on a almost national scale. The ongoing renovation of my digs is progressing, the exterior has new insulation, plaster and paint. Some landscaping and other touches means I dont quite recognise the place. A friendly bathroom cockroach welcomes me so I feel fine. It really does look a different place.

Its good to meet my amigos again, I am relaxed and happy. We take a Serbian beer called Jelen at a local place down the road, the only public pool for miles. Its my Amigos Sons birthday and Daughter has a new tatoo of a cat, so we cant chuck them in the pool. The beer is decent, similar to a Cobra, afterwhich we have dinner in a place quaintly named 'new life'. The local type of pizza with pork meat I sample is excellent, mine is a sicilian or 'Chihuahua' as the menu seems to say and which is not half bad either. The mosquito life are fortunately only occassional visitors.

Its quite warm to sleep, though my 5am start to catch the plane helps.

Dukes stylish and cost effective rain wear
 

Dave 'crasher' tells me they sold like hot cakes last year, I'll pass thanks ...

Macedonia
 

the observatory, 30 km north (west?) of Kumanova at sunset


its several thousand years old, I took a 'seat' in the rocks and pondered about the universe

northern Macedonia
 

as above, part of the ancient observatory

how to loose friends and poker chips
 

A Macedonian poker table :)