Ireland to Georgia Summer 2011

[Nifty W650]

Hiya,

34 year old male seeks to escape the recession soaked rat race of Ireland 2011. He is looking to pilot his trusty W650 all the way to Georgia and back over the course of 6 - 8 weeks. Bike & Owner have done 3 week trip around other parts of Europe last year and both held up pretty well.

I like riding motorbikes but I'm far from a biker. I just find that bikes are a cracking way to explore new countries. Alas, I haven't really got that much knowledge of how to fix the bike if something goes wrong (but the bike is very well behaved, will have an extensive service before I head off and I'll have breakdown cover for the EU segment of the trip).

The proposed route would take in the more out of the way sections of Germany, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and then along the north coast and on to Georgia & Armenia. On the way back I'd like to swing by the southern coast (soak up a few skin ageing UV rays) and swing up through Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and yada, yada, yada all the way back to the ferry.

Some days I like to cover monster mileage and others do sweet feck all. I'm very fond of nosing around a UNESCO site during the day and then painting the local town red at night.

Accomodation would be a mix of camping, hostels, pensions, hotels, luxury 5 star resorts or whatever takes my fancy at the time (or whats available).

I'm pretty easy going and have no apparent social dysfunctions (at least in my slightly jaundiuced opinion). I intend to have a rough plan of the trip but allow plenty of wiggle room to change my mind (if the trip takes me to Scandanavia instead ..... so be it).

Anyhow, I'd be interested in hearing from somebody who might be interested in tagging along for some or all of the journey.

I'm kinda pencilling in travel from June-ish to August-ish.

Any takers?

[Wildman]

Cool trip. Next year for me maybe. Have fun!

[vdh-be]

Hi,
I've been to Armenia & Georgia last summer. Info: Caucasus Tour 2010 on Facebook. Take a look!

[Knight of the Holy Graal]

've been there in August 2010 by motorcycle, too, riding overland from my hometown in northern Italy to the Azeri border and back.

I can tell you that Georgian and Armenian people are really friendly and landscapes gorgeous.
Entering Georgia from Turkey (Sarp border station) has been really easy: after about 90 minutes to exit Turkey due to a veeeery long line of cars and coaches, it took only 10 minutes of formalities to enter Georgia, with Georgian policemen that let me and my girl pass to the front of the line to let us in very shortly (with many "Welcome to Georgia" and smiles for us): the easiest border crossing out of Europe ever, for me.
If you get into Turkey from Georgia at Posof-Vale border, pay attention on the Georgian side: road turns suddenly from asphalt to gravel and small rocks right some km. before the border beyond a hump (you don't see the beginning of the gravel part at all while you ride, and it would be easy to fall if you ride fast).
Traffic police are everywhere, friendly, helpful and they never bothered us.

English is not widely spoken, better if you could learn some words of Russian.

Pay attention to the roads: even the smoothest tarmac may hide deep potholes, so don't ride fast even though you think you could.
Main roads are OK or quite OK, but secondary roads are very often in bad conditions with gravel and scattered potholes.

Traffic either in Georgia and Armenia is often crazy, cars pass one another even if the curve is "blind", so don't expect that nobody is coming against you on your lane even though you would not dare to pass due to lack of visibility: between Gori and Tbilisi I've even seen a family on a Lada pass the Police with roof lights on and white continuous line!

You'll find good accomodation, don't worry (see also this thread of mine http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...caucasus-54816).

While in Georgia, don't miss the Georgian Military Road that is simply stunning, and in Armenia... well, don't miss anything there!

If you need more info, feel free to ask.

[Caminando]

Originally Posted by vdh-be

Hi,
I've been to Armenia & Georgia last summer. Info: Caucasus Tour 2010 on Facebook. Take a look!

Thanks VDH.

I've had Georgia on hold for a while and think I'd better do it soon before fuel prices and other stuff prevent me.

I'd like to read your tour info: any chance of posting it here instead of Facebook?

Ta!

[vdh-be]

We used Facebook because it was the easiest way to report on our trip and upload photos. All you need is an email to make an account (you don't have to share anything if you don't want to). For us it was an easy way to stay in touch with home.
Gr,
Vincent

[Caminando]

Originally Posted by Knight of the Holy Graal

I've been there in August 2010 by motorcycle, too, riding overland from my hometown in northern Italy to the Azeri border and back.

I can tell you that Georgian and Armenian people are really friendly and landscapes gorgeous.
Entering Georgia from Turkey (Sarp border station) has been really easy: after about 90 minutes to exit Turkey due to a veeeery long line of cars and coaches, it took only 10 minutes of formalities to enter Georgia, with Georgian policemen that let us my and my girl pass to the front of the line to let us in very shortly (with many "Welcome to Georgia" and smiles for us): the easiest border crossing out of Europe ever, for me.
If you get into Turkey from Georgia at Posof-Vale border, pay attention on the Georgian side: road turns suddenly from asphalt to gravel and small rocks right some km. before the border beyond a hump (you don't see the beginning of the gravel part at all while you ride, and it would be easy to fall if you ride fast).
Traffic police are everwhere, friendly, helpful and they never bothered us.

English is not widely spoken, better if you could learn some words of Russian.

Pay attention to the roads: even the smoothest tarmac may hide deep potholes, so don't ride fast even thought you think you could.
Main roads are OK or quite OK, but secondary roads are very often in bad conditions with gravel and scattered potholes.

Traffic either in Georgia and Armenia is often crazy, cars pass one another even if the curve is "blind", so don't expect that nobody is coming against you on your lane even though you would not dare to pass due to lack of visibility: between Gori and Tbilisi I've even seen a family on a Lada pass the Police with roof lights on and white continuous line!

You'll find good accomodation, don't worry (see also this thread of mine http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...caucasus-54816).

While in Georgia, don't miss the Georgian Military Road that is simply stunning, and in Armenia... well, don't miss anything there!

If you need more info, feel free to ask.

Thanks Knight...what you say connects with what I have found out so far. Good info! Ta!

[Nifty W650]

Hey vdh-be,

I had a look at your facebook group and I must say your trip looked great.

Any particular highlights of the trip that you would recomemnd as " must see"?
Any particular lowlights that you'd advise "don't bother"?

[vdh-be]

Originally Posted by Nifty W650

Hey vdh-be,

I had a look at your facebook group and I must say your trip looked great.

Any particular highlights of the trip that you would recomemnd as " must see"?
Any particular lowlights that you'd advise "don't bother"?

My highlights:
Turkey:
Capadocia, Road of stones (near Kemaliye), Nemrut Dagi, Ararat mountain, easten Turkey is great anyway
Armenia:Yerevan (for relaxing and drinking cognac),
The roads in southern Armenia
Georgia:
Military road to Kazbegi
Road to Mestia
Cave city in Vardzia
In 2009 a did an eastern europe tour of 6 weeks. So on your way back:
Greece: Meteora monasteries
Albania: from Sarande to Fier (coast way), boat trip on Lake Koman, Berat and up to Lake Ohrid
The route from Ohrid to Kosovo (near the Albanian border, it's a national park Mavrovo?)
Montenegro: everything! Bay of Kotor is a must see!
Croatia: Dubrovnik then up to Mostar in Bosnia and back in Croatia to the Plitvice lakes
Coninue back home
If you have the time this will be a GREAT trip!!!

[Nifty W650]

@vdh-be... A great trip? It would be an absolutely smashing trip.

However time constraints might limit whereabouts I can or can't get too.

Was Georgia/Armenia hard on the bikes? I see you needed new tyres; were they new tyres at the start of the trip?


In other news..... I see that there is nobody foolish enough to want to join my little expedition.

C'mon people! it might not be the very worst experience of your life.

[vdh-be]

Roads in Georgia and Armenia are ok. Eastern Turkey had lot of road repairs. We did some offroad as well. Tyres were new (heidenau K60) but raer tyre was gone after 11000km.
Watch out for the police in Armenia, they are well equiped with speedguns and video! We had a speed ticket (city limit) but afterwords they invited us for lunch and they payed Very friendly policemen!

[xander2]

Originally Posted by Nifty W650

@vdh-be... A great trip? It would be an absolutely smashing trip.

However time constraints might limit whereabouts I can or can't get too.

Was Georgia/Armenia hard on the bikes? I see you needed new tyres; were they new tyres at the start of the trip?


In other news..... I see that there is nobody foolish enough to want to join my little expedition.

C'mon people! it might not be the very worst experience of your life.

Hey man....

still looking for a companion?? I might be interested. I've got about 6 weeks starting early July. Rode the Balkans to Turkey 3 years ago and had a smashing trip, wouldn't mind doing it again...

[Nifty W650]

@Xander2

Howdy?

I had thought my little trip was looking doomed by a complete lack of uptake. In fact I was considering maybe going on a bicycle trip instead (notwithstanding a complete lack of aerobic fitness).

But in answer to your question, yeah. I am still on the lookout for somebody to join in the fun.

Early July would probably suit me pretty well too. Can you send me a PM (I don't have enough posts yet) with any info you think I might want to know.

Cheers

Jamie

[EyeCake]

Hi
I am new to this site but have been thinking about a long trip for 3 years possibly RTW and finally now I have time to escape this gloomy country
I am from Dublin And planning a long trip along approximately the same route leaving about start June as a a kind of test run
I was planning on traveling alone on a Gs but I am slightly worried about traveling alone in some of the Eastern companies but thought I would give it a go but it could be good to meet and travel partway
I am interested in photography and don't want to be tied to a tight schedule but free to explore and change at will
I will be attending HU meet next week in NI

[Nifty W650]

Hiya Eyecake,

I was thinking of going to the Meetup thingamajig in Enniskillen next week. But it looks as though its gonna piss rain (what an adventerous soul I am) and I'm also kinda busy.

I'm not too fussed about tight schedules myself and am way more interested in the getting to the destination rather than the destination itself (I don't think my life will be any less complete if I don't actually make it to Tbilisi).

Let us know if you end up heading out on this route. By my calculations I am thinking I might leave here sometime after the 1st week in July. (I don't have to come home until the second week of September).