All Around Europe
 

Hi,

My partner and I are planning on taking a trip to Europe. The idea is to take about 6 weeks in September, start in Austria head down to Slovenia and then follow the coastline clockwise...so, Slovenia, across Italy to France, spain, portugal, spain again, france, belgium, netherlands, germany, denmark, germany again and then down to the czech republic and back to austria. If you read that as you look at a map it will follow the coast all the way...should be a nice ride, with stops here and there to take day/two day trips inland.

After the trip the plan is to possibly stay in Austria/ somewhere else we like for a year or so. Perhaps working with WOOF (or the like if they do that sort of thing in Europe).

So, any suggestions, hints, tips, things to watch for?
I was considering buying a bike over there, but now I think Id prefer to take my own bike (Hayabusa).

Thanks for any help.


[This message has been edited by Tathagata (edited 07 June 2005).]

Hi Tathagata,

Sounds like a great trip, but what the hell is WOOF, besides something the dog does!!

There is weeks worth of reading on this site between travellers stories and HUBB posts, so use the search function and get reading.

I am also planning a trip to Europe and I'm taking my bike, but if I was doing your trip, I would be buying a bike over there. I am shipping my bike because I need a Carnet to go go through Iran and Pakistan. UK and Aus AA cannot work out how to issue a carnet to me with a UK registered bike. Then when I get back to Aus, I will have to do a permanent import, so it all gets too complicated. You won't need a carnet for your trip.

Do a HUBB search on Green Card for Europe (3rd party insurance) to find out all about this (you will need it). There is an advertising link on this page to someone that can organise it for you.

I have not travelled by bike in europe yet, but plenty on this site can help you with info. I did spend several months in europe, including eastern europe and spain in 2003, and I can say its all great fun. Croatia was a favorite. As you would expect western europe hits your budget hard, with the UK and Italy ranking as most expensive countries I visited. Eastern europe was fairly cheap, but not asia/india cheap. Spain was about same as Aus, portugal a little cheaper.

Where are you in Aus? You should consider getting along to this year's HU rally - see info under HU Meetings.

Skillo

Hiya Skillo.

WOOF is one of those organic-hippy-farm-type things, you work on the farm and they provide your accomodation and meals. I think the acronym stands for Workers on organic farms or something like that....my partner knows that stuff.

Im in Canberra, Ill look into the rally and see how it all goes. I had heard mention here of green cards, so Ill take your advice and search on it, thanks.

Hi Skillo,

Have you contacted the RAC yet? I would have thought that if your bike is UK reg getting a carnet should be a mere formality?

Tathagata: I strongly suggest going North first, otherwise you risk getting some seriously shitty weather towards the end of your trip. In Germany most bikers de-register their bikes in October or November. Expect cold, rain and lots of fog. When the sun does come outm though, the autumn leave3s are very beautiful.

I also think that 6 weeks is a little short for the distance you are planning. Why not do just Southern Europe and go North next year? Take your time, there is so much to see and do.

------------------
Salut from Southern France, the bikers' paradise,

Peter.

Hi Peter,

Yes I have contacted the RAC and Aus AA. I can get the carnet in UK for a UK registered bike if I provide a UK address and a bank deposit to cover the carnet liability. I don't have a permanent address in UK - but there are ways around this. Anyway I was hoping to use an insurance policy to cover the liability, but RAC want UK based insurance and UK insurance want UK assets as assurance - I dont have any UK assets. Aus AA don't think they can issue a carnet on a UK registered bike.

So I am caught unless I deposit enough in a UK bank security account to cover the carnet liability. Why is it all so difficult......

Then of course I would also have to do the permanent import process into Aus. it never stops....

Regards
Skillo

I also schould do the north first because of the weather.

If you come to the Netherlands your're welcome to stay here;
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000047.html

@Beddhist; 6 weeks to short ?
This guy has a Hayabusa http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Thanks for the tips guys. We are currently revising plans (6 weeks would make the trip easy on the Busa, with 4 weeks to rest afterwards, hehe).

Thinking now that we may do the lower half of Europe and spend more time looking around. Then after winter we can do the upper half.
Hole up in Austria for the winter (wow, a white christmas....awesome http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif ).

Going to try to make the HU Rally in october, but cant book it yet.

Thanks everyone, I cant wait to get this moving.
And thanks Freek, Ill take your details and contact you a bit closer to the time...your place looks so cool, I cant wait.