merci beacoup Macedonia
 

friendly country, some nice landscape, clean air, Georges liked it too ;)

Keep it coming!
 

Really enjoying your unfolding story! Thanks for posting. One question, though, I think I must have missed something about how you got to Macedonia. I'm figuring you got a place to stay, left Georges and went to marshall at the IOM? Then flew back to reunite with Georges? And friends? Didn't quite catch the details. Great ride reports! bier

got to say your blog/tread has been a really entertaining read,thankyoubier

Hey Blader54,

after seeing the pre-press TT coverage, I decided I had to go to the TT, so I booked (edit: last minute) flights from Skopje Mkd to London, London to IOM. I left the bike with a chap recommended to me, as Georges needed a chain & sprockets. I flew back 10 days later to collect him :)

I write most days but dont post as it needs editing so it is understandable. when I cant post piccies you get my ramblings I am afraid....

cheers man,

Carlzrx,

too kind m8, cheers

the trip is entertaining, the words hopefully will do it justice and should make a good read for us pair when Georges and I are past it :)

Romania - Transfargargasan
 

Not the best road in the world Jeremy you prat, with that road surface, potholes, sheep, cattle, no no no

It is better coming north to South as the road gets gradually worse this way (rather than tother way round).

However, it was a decent ride, the snow just about allowed us through (the sign on the South end still said CLOSED)

The start of the road I was greeted with a dead dog in hte middle of the road, then just after a yellow motorbike/scooter (?) which was crushed and under the middle of a truck. Not sure if they are all OK, the blue lighted meat wagons (3) were leaving just as I arrived.

Romania - Transalpina
 

Now Jeremy THIS is a good road :)

not many pics as I have 9 minutes of video.

they are still fixing the road after the winter, but some great corners, mostly smooth and tight, felt a little like a squashed TT course (which is a good thing) Think of the Mountain road, add Glen Helen section and a few braddan bridges, you got it :p

Thnx Zixx, I'm up to speed now. Love the references to Clarkson......always wondered about that road...good to have a real report! Roll on, man!

ROMANIA - the exit
 

I was ready to move on from Romania, I then found this road, oh man it was sweet. Great views, sweet turns (that sounds American), love it

I just expected a quick run out of Romania, it surprised me no end

merci :)

Hungary - the entry and the exit
 

No welcome to Hungary :( here is the countryside just over the border


Here is Budapest waking up at 5/6 am (dont they get up early, the place was buzzing with peeps)

Austriaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
 

Let me start by saying I was quite grumpy, the trip home bahhhhhhhhhh

I then went to Austria.

As we know, I hadn't a clue when I arrived, I can definately report that I do not like Austria.

Nopes, never. I feckin love Austria, Georges does too beer


The roads were amazing, the people friendly, the views stunning. I didnt stay long enough but thats OK because I am going back.

We loved Italy for the roads, the feel of the place, but Austria does tip the balance as being our favourite country of the whole trip.

Well done Aus, you rock. merci beaucoup ;-)

Moody Austria
 

We met Helly on this lake, paragliding pilot and apprentice guitar player.

We took a beer as the sun went down, he played a little and we chatted.

Thats the trouble with travel, you meet so many people much cooler that you so much so that wonder why do you bother lolz

He said a really nice thing when he went. 'See you again Nick, we should meet again I think in life you should meet everyone twice'

I took this as a compliment (as I am greedy) but mostly I thought it was such a nice thing to say to a stranger.

Helly you rock and gl with the guitar man ;-)

merci beaucoup from Germany :)
 

thank you, thank you to everyone who has helped us, waved at us and supported us on the trip.

We have found that people are genuinely good, though sometimes circumstances (or the devil if you believe such things) dictate that they may not act in the best way. Of course, those bad people in the world might just be bad, you cannot have everything in this life.

we are not home yet and so I hope to keep Georges on the road and get back in one piece.

I will edit the blog thing and finish it as a momento for my old age (stop laughing at the back). Aswell as finish the second short story I am writing and also maybe add to the four songs I have already written for the debut album.

What next? Scotland for 10 days with Georges as a separate tour I booked months ago.

and then? Probably Asia back end of this year for 2 months.

and? Another trip is planned, not quite sure yet, but more wandering and Georges is likely taking a break this time.

cheers

zixx & Georges beer

Hey zixx and Georges! Thanks for a great ride report!! Really enjoyed it and picked up some good ideas for my next trip!

12,000 miles, 18 countries
 

Georges arrives home and is ready go again - what a boy :)

cheers



cheers Blader beers