I will pass through Budapest this Monday. If you will have a litlle time we can meet for beer.

Nikola,

This isn't fair.... You will be in Budapest and I will be somewhere in Kornati (sailing for a week). Leaving tomorrow coming back on next Saturday/Sunday. Next time maybe :-).

Details of "good value for money" accommodation (recommendation by Andras, owner of Power Bike shop in Budapest) are as follows:
The name of the pension is Cziráky pension (pron.:Ziraky)

Address: Budapest Cziráky Panzió ***

1121 Budapest, XII. district, Rácz Aladár u. 139.

Telephone: + 36 1 274-4759

Fax: +36 1 274-4761

Contact person: István Cziráky Mobile: +36 20 364-4215

Bed and breakfast is charged 45 Euro.

It seams that Chris is going to be the first guest from HU community, so his comments would be appreciated.

Maybe on my way home :-)

I'm posting my reply to our email conversation to the forum as someone else might find it interesting.

Hotels in Krakow are pretty crowded so you need to tell me the exact dates of your arrival and departure from Krakow. I'll see what is available and help you to book one. Take a look at this booking service in English to see some available hotels (not many...): http://www.visitpoland.com

If you want to see Morskie Oko [a beautiful glacial lake in High Tatras] you need to take the border crossing I mentioned - Lysa Polana. On the Polish side, there will be a parking and most likely an exchange service so make sure you get some Zloty's, almost 4 for one Euro. When you quit the parking place, you can turn right to Krakow if you are late or turn left to Palenica Bialczanska. If you turn left, I think you'll have to pay right there an entrance fee to the Tatra National Park. It's not a lot, about 3 zl. Then drive a few kilometers to the last accessible parking place at the Palenica Bialczanska. Pay a parking fee, I heard it's 30 zl but I might not be up to date and make up your mind about getting to the Morskie Oko. A 9 km hike is easy but takes time that you would not have much and would spend better at the lake's side. Alternatively, you can take a horse cart for 30 zl on the way up and 15 zl on the way down (found these prices on internet, cannot promise). Up there, you can either seat and enjoy magnificent views or take a hike around the lake or take another hike to an even higher lake Czarny Staw. Google for "Morskie Oko" to see pictures of the lake, you'll find many of them.
It seems you'll need at least 3 hours, make sure you can afford it before you turn to Palenica Bialczanska. I'll email you my mobile phone number so you could call me for help if you get into troubles and hit a language barrier. If I'm in Krakow when you come, we can have some beer.

Good luck

When and where are you setting off from, I'm heading over to Slovenia faily sharpish on Saturday, I'll keep an eye out for you! sounds like you've got a fairly busy itinerary lined up!

Rich

i will be poking around some where there arounfd that time ,keep in touch are you into dirt bikes i am going to isde in slovakia
david

Day 1.
Leaving Saturday morning from Cork in Southern Ireland, driving 100 miles to Rosslaire Ferry Port, crossing to Pembrooke, driving 500 or so miles accross the UK to Folkstone, crossing to Calais on the Channel Tunnell. Will spend the night in Calais.

Day 2.
Will Hit the road hard early Sunday morning and depending on how I'm feeling, will attempt the 950 odd miles to Budapest. If Im overtired or not making sufficient progress, I'll pull up for the night.

Days 3 and 4
Fit new tyres to the Blackbird, enjoy Budapest for a day or two.

Day 5
Hit the Tatra Mountains for a day on may way to Krakow, 300 miles approx depending on route. Spend night in Krakow.

Day 6
Blast off from Krakow early for the 940 miles to Calais.

Day 7
Calais to Folkstone, Folkstone to Pembroke, Pembroke to Rosslare, Rosslare to Cork.

All followed by one month's bed rest!!!

Sounds like lunacy, I know!!

Disaster!! Last night having just collected bike from mechanic I had a smash with a woman in Volvo Jeep reversed out of driveway on top of me.

Damage to bike, bent fork stanchions, broken mudguard from collision. Smashed indicator/mirror, bent brake lever and bent helibar when bike fell over. Also nasty scratches and dinges to tank, side fairing and pipe.

Damage to me, squashed nuts from getting crushed between me and tank.

Driver admitted it was her fault and has agreed to pay for damage does not want to claim from her insurance. That's little consolation given that trip is shelved for the moment. Have taken a weeks holidays from work and everything. I'm gutted, to say the least.

Looks like end of October before I'll be able to take time again to go. Does anyone know if the weather will have closed in by then? Will Tatra Mountains be snowed in?

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond to my thread, and providing all the advice, hopefully I'll meet some of you another time. If any of you are coming to Southern Ireland please give me a shout.

I'm so sorry to hear what happened... I was about to warn you about drivers in Poland but you didn't have to go that far... my sympathy for you.
By the end of October in southern Poland you'd have temperatures between about 0 and 10C. Roads should be free of snow even in Tatras but often wet due to slow evaporation. Mountains themselve could easily be in snow by that time.
You are welcome to Krakow but I'd rather recommend you an Irish coffee rather than a cold beer.

See you this year or the next one!

I hate to be a cynic...but tell your insurers now and try to get details of hers - just in case. Lots of car drivers seem to think you can repair any bike with 50p and a bit of sellotape. When she finds out what it will actually cost she might change her mind and then you have big problems. I have seen this happen..... And what about the damage to your prospects of having children, the mental anguish, fear of getting on a bike again..... must be worth a fortune ! Joking, but that helps keep insurers on the ball - you might need that threat if she gets difficult....

Sorry to hear about the accident mate, glad you're ok.What Wheelspin said though, report the crash to your insurance and the Police. No need to take it any further now but if she changes her mind later and you havn't reported it you're shafted!!

On a brighter note when you do get to Budapest there is only one place to stay http://www.bikercamp.hu/

Walking distance or a short metro ride from the center, run by very friendly people and you will nearly allways meet fellow travelers to swap stories with.

Good luck with the bike and the (rescheduled) trip

Ian

Sorry to hear about the accident. I've just done a 4 day loop from Krakow around the high Tatra's and back, good trip on nice roads. I've left the bike in Krakow, and will be picking it up in early November to bring back to the UK. let me know if you're around then.
Sean

Bike nearly back on the road. Major damage has been repaired. Plastics and tank are in the shop for some plastic welding and a respray. Had frame checked out by a guy with a lazer and the good news is that it's not bent.

Being in the legal business, I am more of a sceptic than the next fella, and for that reason I made sure to report the accident to the Police and to inform my insurers as well as getting Mrs. Volvos's details.

In Fairness to Mrs. Volvo, she has been true to her word so far and has paid me cash for the replacement hardware:- fork stanchions, brake lever and handlebar. I was able to get everything from a breakers. She has promised to to pay for the respray etc when it's finished.

I'm actually quite shocked at how reasonable she has been, but then again, I'm being particularly reasonable myself. I told her that I was ok and that I just wanted the damage to the bike repaired. Ireland has become a very litigious society in recent years and she is probably so relieved that she is not being sued that she is happy to pay up.

Should be back on the road next week and if I can wangle a few more days off work I might try and get a few days away on the bike. Thanks everyone for the interest.

If you're headed to Romania here's a tip:
Europa Hotel N46 14.297 E24 53.335 (WGS84) clean, modern and have great welcome and a garage at the rear of the hotel- ask!
Too late for Budapest but if you go there again stay at BIKER CAMP Zsolt Vertessy H-1089 Benyovszky Moric u40 at N47 28.720 E19 05.910 very nice people- rooms or camp- secure house and parking (rottweiler present!! and I kid you not!)

If you need parts, bike shop called MOTOLAND might help - at N46 41.491 E23 37.646
Happy riding!

Bert