Leisurely European trip anyone??

[Chris1200]

Folks

I'm heading off for a 2-3 week trip in Europe around early August 2009.

I don't do 500+ miles per day......
what's the point??

I'm not on a mission to get to as many countries as possible........
I'd rather enjoy a couple than see many more.

I don't camp.......
Tried it and hated it so it'll be cheapish B&B's/hotels.

I don't go to art galleries and museums.........
Just not my thing.

In the evening I don't go to bed at 9pm.......
When I'm on holiday I like to have a few s.

I don't live on lettuce leaves........
I like REAL food too much.

I don't have to ride every single day when on holiday........
Again, this comes down to the enjoyment of a place if it looks good.

I'm not planning to go to Turkey, the Balkans, etc.........
France, Northern Spain, Germany, Northern Italy is far enough for me.

I don't plan my trip route in advance too much......
Where's the adventure in doing that?

So........
If you're an easy going person who can live with the above then you're more than welcome to join me. I'm not insisting that I plan the route, your input will be worth as much as mine. Usually I book the ferry then go wherever the wind blows me.

I don't really like the idea of having a trip all planned out as it takes away the element of surprise etc.
No definite date as yet but end of July/early August is realistic. Coming from Northern Ireland I'm likely to go via UK ports so I can meet up with people at any southern port.

Interested?? Then me know.

Chris

[Chris1200]

.............................

[muddy-pup]

Done it hundred of times . best way, drink/'eat with the locals, no planning just follow the sun, the only bummer is catching ferry back also the only thing i plan !!! made it sometime's enjoy your trip (avoid andorra)

[Thoward]

Hi Chris,

I read your threat with great pleasure.
I think we would get along quite well.

For July and August of this year I have planned a 6-8 week motorcycle tour. This is in fact the first larger tour that I do. I am looking forward to it very much. :-)

Maybe we can ride along for a while. Perhaps down the French coast down to Barcelona. This is really a great city, with loads of awesome stuff.
We´ll see where it takes us from there...

Let me know, what you think.


Cheers,
Thilo

[Chris1200]

Hi Thilo
Sorry for not replying earlier. Yes, Spain is definitely on my radar. I was there on my bike in 2005 and had a fantastic trip, although I have never been to Barcelona.
The region of France just north of Barcelona is particularly beautiful......Carcassonne, Agde etc.
Having said that, I think your own country is difficult to beat. I love the Rhine Valley around Koln, Koblenz, Boppard, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Kaiserslautern etc. I was there last year for 2 weeks.
I am sure we could meet up for a while this summer, share some s and a lot of laughs. Do you have any definite plans yet?

Chris

[Thoward]

Hey Chris!

I´ll be attending the summer jam festival in cologne until July 5th. From there I will head south along the rhine towards France! Then the general direction is towards the spanish border. I haven´t fixed any dates for this.
When are you leaving the island?

Thilo

[Chris1200]

Hi Thilo

I am hoping to leave Ireland by mid-July at the latest but earlier if I can. It depends on when I can leave work. Are you coming from Northern Germany?

Chris

[betterfastermore]

Hi Chris,

I live in Wiesbaden, just west of Frankfurt. How far south are you thinking you might go. I am going to the Faro bike rally in July and I would like to do a trip through Italy in Aug. I am looking for other riders who might be interested. I know you said you don't like to plan too much, but depending on where you are going I might want to join up with you.

BFM

[Thoward]

Chris,

I live in the "Sauerland". An area with a lot of hills and woods in the northwest of Germany, about 80km east of cologne.
But like I said, I will be starting the trip from cologne. At the moment it looks like I will be visiting some friends in Germany and France in the first weeks of July. After that I will go towards the Pyrenees, I guess.

Looking forward to meeting you for a nice bottle of french wine or spanish ...

Thilo

[Chris1200]

Greetings BFM

Yes, Wiesbaden...........I had an interesting few days there last August, mostly centred around the Irish bar (the one downstairs). It appears to be a popular hang-out for some of your buddies! I stayed with a girl I know in the city centre, just by the Turkish Quarter so everything was within walking distance. That was the second time in 2 years I've been to Wiesbaden but last year I was also in K-Town for a night.....crazy place!!

I don't really have any plans to go as far as Faro, but I'm quite sure we can meet along the way for a few days, perhaps South of France area? Let's keep in touch over the next few weeks and when I have firm dates I'll let you know.

Chris

[Chris1200]

Hi Thoward

The lure of is always a temptation not to be missed! South of France is a perfect place to be meeting. The area around the Pyrenees is great for bikes and I've had a few trips there before. Just on the southern side of the Pyrenees (in Spain) is a great little town called Bielsa. It's small but I arrived at an opportune time when there was a festival in the region. I had a marvellous 2 days with local people even though no-one there spoke English and I do not know a single word of Spanish. How it happened I'll never know! We'll keep in contact and get our plans together.

Chris

[betterfastermore]

Chris,

Sounds good. Funny thing about that Irish pub, Scrooges, I live one block away from that at the Kaiser Thurmes. The just renovated the place and its now called Murphey's, but it's the same ol' bar.

Stay in touch, S. France sounds good. I am up for anything.

BFM

[Bruno Paul]

Hi
Sound very fair to me.
I am planning a trip over there for end august or early september.
Would be nice to meet you, just about the same ideas in mind regarding
traveling and enjoying it !

Actually in Mexico city, I speak fluent french and Spanish, and have some folks in the Bordelais, making incredible wine !!

What bike do you ride ?
I am looking to buy one, in europe (tenere xtz660, or gs650 type)
any ideas ?

Hope to meet you ! & good luck