Day 1 - On The Way

Friday 27th June 2014

The two riders saddled up and rode south at a gentle pace down through Westeros towards Kings Landing. The next day they would embark for the short crossing over the Narrow Seas to Bravos. Winter is coming, thought Dave.....

Oops, wrong story.....

Setting off

So of course it rained on the first day. After two weeks of sunshine we got 20 miles down the A1 south when the heavens opened. After an hour of howling wind and lashing rain we took refuge in a Little Chef for coffee and sympathy where we met three bikers from Ipswich on their way home from a tour of the Scottish Highlands who had the same idea.

Shelter from the storm

Back underway in drying weather for the run down to Crofton Park in South London to the home of my son Jake and partner Val. Stage 1 complete.

We enjoy an excellent night in the local Beer Emporium for burgers and real ale, where we are entertained by Peter, a giant Seth Efrican chef, three sheets to the wind but full of amusing stories. 

Father and son

And so to bed. Tomorrow the Channel Tunnel, Buell friends and the Lauwe Party.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 26 - Farewell Transfăgărășan

Image
Monday 21st July 2014 We set off early, keen to explore more of the Transfăgărășan. The road winds down the Capra River valley as twisty as a snake. We drop below the treeline and into dark shade dappled with blinding stretches of sunshine. There is hardly any traffic this early. first coffee stop The road surface is a mixture of patched tarmac with quite a few undulations but thankfully very few potholes. It's fast sweepers, blind corners and occasional hairpins. We are soon riding high above the eastern shore of a huge lake glimpsed fleetingly through the trees. It stretches on for miles. There is a coffee shack half way along and we stop for cappuccinos and a better view of the lake through the pines. It's getting rather warm now. Lake Vidraru Riding round a sharp left handler we suddenly find the end of the lake and a huge dam across the steep valley beyond. Here the road crosses the top of the dam and dives into a tunnel. There are gift shop
Read more

Day 11 - The Eagles Nest

Image
Monday 7th July 2014 7am and time for Brötchen & butter from the camp shop. By 9am we have the panniers and luggage off the bikes, suspension adjusted to compensate, and then it is off to the Kehlsteinhaus. Misty morning in Berchtesgaden This chalet-style building was commissioned in 1937 by leading Nazi Martin Bormann and presented to Adolf Hitler as a 50th birthday present in 1939. It stands 1800 metres above sea level. Old Adolf didn't like it much though and only visited 14 times. He had a fear of heights, didn't like the cold and wouldn't use the lift for fear of lightning strikes . The chalet and terrace   We park at the foot of the mountain and join the queue to buy combined bus and visitor tickets. Private vehicles are no longer permitted to drive up the winding road to the summit but the fleet of buses here provide a spectacular scenic drive up the side of the mountain. Amazing views We disembark at the bus park 160m below the house
Read more

Day 34 - Oh No! Not Another Damn Castle

Image
Tuesday 29th July 2014  Drawbridge & Gate to the 2nd level We passed the 4,000 mile mark on yesterday's bimble, but today it's a day off the bikes. We're going to a castle! Orava Castle is built on a hill overlooking the village of Oravský Podzámok, on a bend in the River Orava, in north eastern Slovakia. It was first mentioned in chronicles dating back to 1267 but there had certainly been fortifications long before that. It was added to many times from the 15th century to the 18th. Sadly it was badly damaged in a fire in 1800 that apparently burned for 14 days. It was again restored into what we see today.   Entry to the castle and St Martin's Chapel inside the walls costs €6 (but only €3.50 for the old git). All visitors must be in a group with a tour guide. There are English-speaking tours every few hours, so we joined Michael, our guide, for the 11am tour.   Pretty girls in period costume It is not for the unfit. Apart from the steep slopi
Read more