This title is a song by Twisted Sister.
What a ride, what an experience. I’ve learnt some useful lessons for any
future trips and collected memories that’ll last a lifetime.
The views, the riding and the different places
made up the trip but the people were the glue that brought it all
together. From the crazy ex-Spetsnaz guy
in Israel to new friends in Germany, family in the UK and everyone in
between. Of course none of this would
have been possible without the unwavering support of my wife who single headedly
managed our family in Jordan while I was having a jolly around Europe. Thank you darling.
One of the things that struck me during the
ride was the kindness of strangers.
Before I left I read lots of opinions on the internet and heard plenty
of horror stories about motorcycling through Europe. Most people seemed to be intent on scare
mongering based on news headlines out of date hear-say. During this trip I never felt threatened and
I didn’t witness anything that made me think that I was heading into
trouble. Maybe that’s because most
sources exaggerate for the extra drama, maybe it was because I employed a
healthy level of common sense or maybe I was just lucky. I think it was down to the first two. The second of which included 3 very basic
rules; don’t ride at night, take my time and avoid major cities. As a result, I was pleasantly surprised by nearly
everyone I came across; offers of a bed for the night, a free drink (and often
lunch) and a willingness of people to tell me about local sights, roads and
eateries came thick and fast along with questions about the bike and the trip.
I think that, on the whole, people recognise
that a motorcyclist has chosen a method of transport that makes them inherently
vulnerable, it’s a method of transport that leaves you at the mercy of the
people and environment you’re riding through.
There are some people who would take advantage of this for their own
benefit but most react with kindness. It
was great to find my fear (mostly the fears of others really) completely
unfounded.
I ticked of 14 countries during the ride and
one of the most common questions I’ve been asked is which one’s where the
best? In third place is Greece. I really didn’t know what I would find in
Greece but for some reason my expectations where set to “low”. It’s fair to say I was very wrong. Greece is fabulous, once you get into the
sticks the roads are empty and zigzag over beautiful mountains, not the same as
the big European passes, but fantastic in their own way. Just when you think you’ve seen all Greece
has to offer it hits you with a new riding sensation, a vast plain, a sea view,
off-road tracks that go on for so long that you think you’re never coming
out. It’s simply great adventure riding. The cherry on the cake is the people who are
lovely. Romania is in second place. I have to caveat that by saying that I don’t
include the south of the country where the roads a bad and full of HGVs. However, from the start of the Transfagarasan
northwards it is an amazing country, full of extremes. For example, the Transfagarasan its self is
amazing, if you took the Isle of Man TT circuit, draped it over the
hills of Glen Coe and asked an angry 2 year old to “draw” some extra road then
took out the straight bits you would almost be there. It’s simply ridiculous, but oh so much
fun. Once you’ve finished you can head
off-road into some amazing countryside.
The towns and villages are the same.
One minute you’re in a modern western town then next you riding through
a village where it’s clear that the horse and cart are the main form of
transport. For its contrasting
awesomeness it has to be in the short list. In first place: Bavaria.
Extraordinary in its beauty, full of genuinely lovely people who share a
great sense of humour and a passion for their small patch of Germany. This is made evident by how well kept
everything is, from the flowering window boxes perched on most window sills to the
healthy livestock in the perfect fields and stacked winter stocks of logs. If I had to leave the UK tomorrow you’d find me
here.
Another frequently asked question is; “So you
did it alone, weren’t you really board?”
The short answer is no. I’m
perfectly happy in good company… The
longer answer is that by being alone you’re more approachable and I
make more effort to talk to other people.
I’m not saying that, on the odd occasion, I wouldn’t have said no to
having a friend to share the evening with but generally I was very
content. On the longer stretches I would
have liked some company but I’m riding so I can’t talk anyway instead I pass
the time singing in my helmet. I’ve
never recorded any of it so you’re lucky that I can't let you hear it, I say that because 1. I can’t sing. 2. I
can’t remember the words to any song in full and 3. I tend to mix hymns, pop
and children’s songs. The children’s
songs are a new thing for which I blame my 2 year old. A typical song might go something like this:
I would walk 500 miles,
and I would walk 500 more,
just to be the man who,
brought you your bow of burning gold,
bring me my arrows of desire,
because I’m a flippy flappy scarecrow,
with a flippy flappy hat,
I can shake my hands like this and I shake my
feet like that…….
That could be on repeat for 10s of miles before
I start talking, out loud, about the benefits of a flippy floppy hat in the
burning hot sun of the desert. Do you
still want to be a fly inside my lid?
Didn’t think so.
Before I sign off this blog I have two final
points I would like to make for the dedicated few who have lasted this
long. Firstly, blogging is fun but it’s
also hard work. Some evenings I really didn’t
want to do it but I am very happy I did as I now have a great record of my
ride which I’m going to turn into a coffee table book to bore people with. If you go on a trip then give it a try. Finally:
This trip was easy to organise and easy to
do without breaking the bank. If you’re thinking “I would love to
do something like that but….” Then pack your bike with whatever you want and
ride to Dover £25 gets you into France, £10 gets you into a camp site and a
fiver in Lidl buys you a days food. Can’t
be assed to plan? Then don’t, just get
on your bike and ride.