Trip around Europe

[Redwineracing]

I am planning a trip around Europe starting from the UK heading off through eastern Europe and on to Italy spain etc back through France and then home.
This will be my first long distance trip and my first trip to the EU any advice welcome

[backofbeyond]

To kick things off I'd suggest you consider your route and your finances and then take twice as much money and cover half the distance.

[carlzrx]

ive just come back from a 4 week trip around europe,i like you am a complete novice when it comes to long trips.
if i was to do something similar again i would....
1/ not take half of my tool kit from my garage "just in case" pah
2/ make sure id got 2x rolls of gaffer tape and some zip ties
3/ leave my top box at home
4/ make sure id remembered my punchure repair kit
5/ not rush the first few days just for the sake of covering miles
6/only take half of what you think youll need,trust me
7/ a good tent,rollmat and doss bag are worth there weight in gold,everything seems better after a good nites sleep
and last but not least.....

8/ relax and enjoy those moments of....wow would you look at that...

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by carlzrx

ive just come back from a 4 week trip around europe,i like you am a complete novice when it comes to long trips.
if i was to do something similar again i would....
1/ not take half of my tool kit from my garage "just in case" pah
2/ make sure id got 2x rolls of gaffer tape and some zip ties
3/ leave my top box at home
4/ make sure id remembered my punchure repair kit
5/ not rush the first few days just for the sake of covering miles
6/only take half of what you think youll need,trust me
7/ a good tent,rollmat and doss bag are worth there weight in gold,everything seems better after a good nites sleep
and last but not least.....

8/ relax and enjoy those moments of....wow would you look at that...

Yep for all these points, with some reservations about using a topbox - they are OK if it means that you can get by without side panniers; then it is great to have a narrower bike overall, even though the bike has become more top heavy - so it depends where you are going/what you are doing.

[Redwineracing]

My plan is not to have a route but a general direction I want to go. I will avoid all motorways. there will be no rush to get anywhere and when i start to run out of time or money(or both) i will head home
As for tools i will take the absolute minimum. (the bikes original tool kit) Breakdown cover(need to look in to that)
Clothing = My riding gear - 2 of everything and a set of water proofs.
Tent doss bag etc.

[billi0]

just came back from an 11 week tour of europe . take a second groundsheet for your tent, youll be camping on all sorts of hard surfaces.plenty of zip-lock bags they have all sorts of uses, and finally a bit of luxury an msr coffee filter fits in a small mug (if you like proper coffee) good luck with your trip

[Peirre O`Bollox]

Originally Posted by Redwineracing

Breakdown cover(need to look in to that)

Take a look at the German ADAC plus Mitgliedschaft for €79.50 per year
Informationen über die Standard-Tarife der ADAC-PlusMitgliedschaft PartnerPaket

The ADAC is the German equivalent of the AA/RAC/AAA.
The plus aspect of the above is the recover/repatriation of you & the vehicle back to the UK.
For more info, just search on HU or Google ADAC to see what other think of it.

[Chris1200]

Originally Posted by Redwineracing

I am planning a trip around Europe starting from the UK heading off through eastern Europe and on to Italy spain etc back through France and then home.
This will be my first long distance trip and my first trip to the EU any advice welcome

I've done a few Euro trips in the past. Every one of them has been fantastic but the best one ever was in 2008. I arrived in Roscoff with no return trip booked but I knew it was gonna be 3-4 weeks long. I had a basic idea of where I wanted to go and the specific things I wanted to see (no more than 4 or 5 from memory!) but in between them I had no idea and I didn't want to have a long list of targets to meet so here's what I did:


When I got off the boat I drove a short distance to a town called Morlaix. I pitched up at a quiet coffee shop in glorious sunshine and pulled out my map. I knew I was heading for Bordeaux, that was my first planned place but I wasn't in a hurry to get there. I picked out 6 potential overnight stops and I simply rolled a dice to see which one I was going to that night. I ended up in La Rochelle, a beautiful town, and the next day I went to Bordeaux.
I spent 2 days in Bordeaux, then on the day I was leaving I got my map out again. I knew I wanted to get to Millau eventually but again I was in no hurry to get there. This time the dice sent me just over the Pyrenees to a small town in Spain called Ainsa. A little bit out of the way, granted, but I included it as an option because it would give me an experience of the Pyrenees. It's surrounded by mountains and a fabulous National Park. I ended up staying there for 2 days too and then I went off in the direction of Agde in France...a stunning seaside resort....and then to Millau.
Anyway, the dice took me in all sorts of directions and to all sorts of places that I would never have planned to visit and the sense of adventure was quite incredible to say the least. I spent 3 and a half weeks using this method of travel and whilst I did end up in the occasional rubbish location they were few and far between. Ultimately I travelled through parts of France, Spain, Italy and Germany not knowing from one day to the next where I would be.
The key to making the dice experience work is to pick potential locations that you are happy and prepared to end up in. There's no point rolling the dice then being disappointed with the result and choosing to roll it again until you get the 'right' answer. If you're brave enough and you're not the type of person who always has to have a routine then I would recommend it to anyone who wants a bike trip with a difference.

[Percyadv]

Hi,
I did 12 Countries outside the UK in two weeks, I had a ball.
I planned to do or visit one thing everyday and enjoy the journey (some parts more than others).
I didn't show my passport after I left British waters until I checked in to come back to Blighty.
Carry what gives you confidants (there's no right or wrong).
Quick drying clothes are excellent, chose your underwear with care (a lot of time in the saddle).
If you want anything I can offer give me a shout.
Enjoy - It's all a memory way to soon.
P.S. make a few notes everyday, its well worth it later.
Ian.

[Redwineracing]

I will not be in any hurry and hate motorways I think if I am careful i have enough money for over a year I am trying to work out the best way around the world with as little shipping as possible so Russia and Mongolia will be on my route. Still trying to find out where border crossings are and where to ship bikes from etc