Many thanks to all who contributed to this post. You've all been very helpful.

It's been a long time between posts because I pulled the plug on the trip last year, but it's definitely on for this year!

My plan is to arrive in the UK in mid-August with a bike already purchased, registered and insured using a good friend's address near Bath. I've allowed a week or two to get down to Rome, possibly via the "Route de Grand Alps" (thanks Gunne). From Rome, I'm participating in a two-week tour of South-Eastern Italy (Puglia, Basilicata) with other members of the Dante Alighieri Society in New Zealand. After that tour, which starts and ends in Rome, I plan to zip back up to San Marino for the Sept 16 round of MotoGP (yes!) and then after that I'll have 6 weeks to do whatever I feel like doing. I'll probably start with an exploration of the mountain roads in the lake region of Northern Italy (thanks again Gunne and Graeme and Nick and Pecha), and I'll aim to check out both the MotoRestaurante in Bassano and the Due Ruote bar in Peschiera del Garda. And Nick, if I get anywhere near Mantova, I'll definitely drop you a PM. After that I'll work my way gradually South, aiming for a variety of well-known and not-so-well-known destinations.

Eventually I'll hang my head and trudge back to the UK, leaving the bike with my friend to flog (sell) and head back down under.

Ciao a tutti!

Tim

Brilliant, Tim, I'll be waiting for your news.

Regards
Nick

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Nick and his 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré