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Southern Europe Offroad trip Southern Europe Offroad trip
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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  • 1 Post By pheonix
  • 1 Post By chris

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  #1  
Old 19 Jun 2014
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Southern Europe Offroad trip
Between early July and End August, I’m doing a loop of the Mediterranean from 3 to 9 o’clock.

I’m riding my BMW X Challenge with soft luggage to northern Greece via the slab and then heading north through the Balkan region via Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia, then slab across northern Italy/ southern France (probably fitting in some of the tracks on the Italy/France border, possibly Corsica, but less likely), then the length of the Pyrenees, northern Spain and the length of Portugal.

I’ll leave the bike in S Spain in preparation for a Christmas Morocco visit.

I’m looking for as much dirt as possible.

The very approximate timeline is

  • Early/mid/late July: Balkans
  • Late July/early Aug: Alps
  • Early/Mid Aug: Pyrenees
  • Mid/Late August: N Spain and Portugal

Mainly camping or cheap hotels/pensions.

Anyone doing anything similar or live in the area and want to drink a ?

Hope no offence is taken if I say I’m teaming up with a mate for the Pyrenees already, but always like riding with one or two people in interesting/ off-pavement areas. I’ll drink a in the evening with anyone, but wasn’t intending on helping to man-handle a novice’s big rig or lead somebody around who can’t be bothered to navigate themselves = Let’s call it a partnership of equals.

Are you in the same place at the same time as me?

Drop me a line via PM or an email via my website.

Have a great summer.
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  #2  
Old 20 Jun 2014
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Sorry, what brand of X-Challenge was that?
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  #3  
Old 20 Jun 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch View Post
Sorry, what brand of X-Challenge was that?

RBA X Challenge

Re-Badged-Aprillia X Challenge

Made in Italy, with Swedish suspension and Austrian motor.

It was you who reliably informed me that the only thing German on the bike is the software mapping on the EFI and the badges on the side. "The bike that BMW disowned" (and discontinued after 2 years).
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  #4  
Old 24 Jun 2014
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A little update:

I'm now going to ride transit across Germany/Austria/Hungary (3 x 600plus km days on a thumper... ouch! ) to western Romania in order to ride a bit of dirt between Brebu Nou (Enduromania HQ) and Brasov. After that to Bulgaria for a (hopefully quick) bit of business, then to Albania to pick up my Balkan trail northwards as described in post #1.
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  #5  
Old 16 Jul 2014
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Bloody hot in Albania! Heading north. Rough timeline next couple of days:

Tonight (16July) I'm in Berat
Thur: Peshkopi
Fri: Kukes

Internet is a bit patchy in Albania, so if relevant, an SMS to +44 7 eight one 2 941 eight six 7 probably best.
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  #6  
Old 17 Jul 2014
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Teachers!

Spanish Biker, Simon, is doing another HISS in the Pyrenees but you may be back in the UK by 1st Sept. Otherwise it's a fab event to do some trail riding with like-minded folk

Have a safe trip
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Striving to live the ordinary life in a non ordinary way
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  #7  
Old 17 Jul 2014
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Originally Posted by pheonix View Post
Teachers!

Spanish Biker, Simon, is doing another HISS in the Pyrenees but you may be back in the UK by 1st Sept. Otherwise it's a fab event to do some trail riding with like-minded folk

Have a safe trip
Unfortunately I'm back at work on 28Aug
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  #8  
Old 17 Jul 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris View Post
Bloody hot in Albania! Heading north. Rough timeline next couple of days:

Tonight (16July) I'm in Berat
Thur: Peshkopi
Fri: Kukes

Internet is a bit patchy in Albania, so if relevant, an SMS to +44 7 eight one 2 941 eight six 7 probably best.
Head north and into the mountains. Great scenery, great off road and at least its a bit cooler. Was there 10 days ago and it was alrady very hot in the lowlands!!
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Old 19 Jul 2014
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Shkroder, Albania today/Saturday
Monday Podgorica, Montenegro
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  #10  
Old 21 Jul 2014
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Many thanks to Blazo and Tonka for the s, conversion and help. Much appreciated.

The bike now has a shiny new front brake line off a wr450 from the Podgorica Yamaha dealer. It'll be great to have 2 working brakes again!

Back up into the hills to the site of the HU Montenegro meeting. Will fit in a rest day tomorrow. Likely to cross into Bosnia on Thursday.
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  #11  
Old 3 Aug 2014
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At eastern end of the Pyrenees tomorrow/4th August. Heading west.
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