Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - To the Med and back . . .

Let me start off by saying that many people wouldn't class my trip as anything more than a 'weekend break' of sorts but, for me, it was quite an undertaking! I've been coming to the HUBB for about a year now, and the longest motorbike trip prior to this was an extended weekend away. So, for me, 15 days was an undertaking! It's also whetted my appetite for bigger and better!

I basically rode by myself down through France to Cannes, and back up through Monaco, Northern Italy, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland Luxembourg and Belgium.

2348 Miles; 15 days; 8 different countries . . .

Paris
I went to Paris first, mainly to watch the end of the Tour de France, which I love. The atmosphere was amazing!

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Cadel Evans, having won the Tour on the penultimate day's time trial!!!

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Mark Cavendish winning Green

Staying at a friend's flat alone reminded me of something a speaker at Ripley this year said; "big cities can be one of the loneliest places". Despite loving Paris, I'd have to agree. Having only just started my trip, riding alone was starting to feel quite lonely . . . NOT a good start!

Leaving Paris on day 4, I stayed overnight just outside Lyon on my way to the Med.

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Camping here turned out to be excellent, even for one night! I met two English families (I don't speak much French, so deep conversation had been out up until this point) who were very interested in the bike and my trip. Talking to them, finding out about their travels, started getting me into the feeling of my own journey.

Cannes
I'd never been here before, so was interested to match the 'Hollywood glitz' with the actual fact. Being a big film fan, I was quite excited by the Croisette and Palais, having seen it online numerous times (empire online, once a year!). I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that Cannes is as normal a French town as any other, in many ways (for me, at any rate). I was very impressed by the Boats (or should I say liners - they're HUGE!)

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Harbour at dusk

Outside one of these behemouths (it was bigger than my House in england) I saw a Vayron.

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I worked out that if I paid no tax (which I do, if HM Gov is reading!) and spent NOTHING for 30 Years, I might just be able to buy one! Unfortunately, I couldn't tax or run it. I can't drive, so it's a mute point really!

I was by the Med. for two days; the first it rained ALL DAY - not what I'd come for! On day two, I travelled by train to Antibes; having been there 15 years ago, I was looking forward to 'walking down memory lane', as it were:

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Needles to say, with the weather like this, you can't help but enjoy yourself!

I was, by this stage, itching to get back on the bike . . .

On day 8, I rode north to Lake Como in Northern Italy. I took a detour through Monaco:

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At one square mile and 34,000 inhabitants (according to my Altlas), where I live in England is far bigger! It seemed a lovely place; shame I was only passing through . . .

COMO
Lake Como (even for the night) was lovely. Having got there early evening, and starting to get cooking on my dragonfly, a German man came and offered to share the food he's made for his family with me - apparently I looked like I needed helping out! Opposite my tent was an English family, who also offered to take me with them to find a Pizza. Compared to Hotels, camping is MUCH friendlier in my experience, and I met some lovely people. Reading this site, I think everyone else appreciates that meeting others is a major draw for travelling.

Near Stelvio - Italy
This was my first major day riding in the Alps. It was exciting, nerve-wracking, scary, wonderful and peacful, all at the same time!

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I stayed here for a rest day, and it was beautiful. It was no more than a little town just outside Stelvio, and I spent my rest day (day 10) wandering around, leisurely, looking at my Alpine surroundings and listening to 'Musikfest', a group of local musicians entertaining us with a variety of musical offerings. As a Music teacher, I found this very interesting!

For part of the day, I sat on a bench outside a local Church in complete silence (it was Sunday, and no one was around), looking at the Alps and the valley in which I found myself and was, at that precise moment in time, the most peacful I ever remember being in my whole life. I thought about how I'd ridden there, listened to the complete lack of worldly distractions and just was.

One of the things I've found difficult in my life is being still, quiet and enjoying just being part of the world. The hectic nature of my everyday life always seems to get in the way. I was, I have to admit, scared by the idea of being alone for the duration of my trip, having to come to terms with this 'enforced' solitude. The first 5 days were hard in this respect, and I genuinely thought about coming home. Sitting there, quiet and serene, in the Italian Alps, I felt more at peace than I ever remember. I realised there and then that I was VERY glad I'd carried on . . .

Zurich
Day 11 was a bit of a Top Gear day, and I'm not ashamed to say it! The main reason I'd stayed near Stelvio was so that I could ride the 28 to Davos - Clarkson et al once described it as "the greatest driving road . . . .IN THE WORLD!". I had to go and see what all the fuss was about! Sitting in Davos having a drink later that day, I'd have to say it was excellent, and the scenery was epic! One thing I found about Switzerland was that I could have stopped every 5 minutes to take a photo' of the scenery (with my bike in the foreground, of course!) it was that lovely. Riding through sweeping bends, river flowing to my left, tree line to my right, Alps all around, the odd Swiss train (very distinct, to me at any rate) passing by; it was heaven!

I even 'liked' (once it was over and I looked back on it!) being stopped by the Swiss Police. I was pulled over coming off an Alpine pass as a routine measure (I could see many other people being pulled over) and asked for my driver's licence. Having handed over both parts (card and paper), he wasn't interested in my insurance, but checked my V5. When this was all OK, he turned his attention (inevitably) to my exhaust. I had the OE can replaced with a thinner, Scorpian can to enable me to carry balanced panniers. I kept repeating, politely, ONLY for the road (his english was good, thankfully); this seemed to keep him happy. He seemed surprised I was travelling alone, asked me about my camping and told me to have a good holiday. I told him his country was beautiful, which it was, and rode on.

It was a LONG day's ride. I was really looking forward to having a good night's sleep in my tent . . . . unfortunately for me, it was August 1st - a national day of celebration. There were fireworks until midnight, and the camp site had its own party until 2am. I won't repeat what I said at the time . . . .