Hello Nicola,

OK, you've grabbed my interest in a trek going east.
I understand you're based in Melbourne (Aus), just over the water a few km from where I am, the north of Tasmania.

I just came back again from spending three months mostly in France, mid May to mid August, where I have bought myself a bike and have it in storage until I go there end of next May 2013 for my next adventure for another three months, where I would like to go through Italy and into Slovenia, then up through Austria.

But for 2014 I like your idea of heading more into eastern block countries.

Coolblackbird's trip looks good too, and is in fact pretty well what I had in mind at this stage,
I have my bike stored in the north west of France, up near Angers, and it takes me around two or three days to get myself down to the south east in the Drome area (Rhone-Alpes) where I have a family home I stay at sometimes.

The bike I have is Yamaha TDM 850 twin, all set up for touring.
But I thought if I were to be more adventurous I could look at moving to a different moto. My TDM has served pretyy well on all the roads and tracks I have riden this year. My French assurance (we call insurance) is with AXA and I can pretty well go anywhere in Europe, Russia included.

So, yep, I would be interested to be in the loop and start discussing ideas.

Keep us posted,
Paul

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