So with the channel crossing booked for Saturday and a date in Bologna for the factory tour on Wednesday and permission from our wive's we set off for a week's adventure.
The first day we arrived at the Eurotunnel for the crossing and set the Sat Nav to avoid the Toll/ Motorways and ended up in Bergen in Belgium after a full days riding. We covered 300 miles and ended up at a hotel that looked like a chateau, nice but in the middle of nowhere.
Second day we set of in thick fog, the last thing my mate said as we left the hotel was remember that we are riding on the other side of the road, of course i ignored that untill he caught me up on the wrong side of the road and i could see him shaking his head then i remembered
. We stopped in Florences
for a coffee and walk around then lunch at Bastenaken
where we gatecrashed a church fete and were met by lovely welcoming people and enjoyed a lovely BBQ for lunch.
Then on to Stuttgart via the autobarn. This was OK but not the natural habitat for a TRX, riding for half a tank of petrol with the throttle on the stop was different to the UK but i soon got bored, although the need to keep checking your mirrors for BMW M5`s or Mercedes CLK`s who`s drivers normally had a mobile phone stuck to their ear kept the mind active.
Next stop the Mountains..
Stopped at Hayingen for coffee
then onto Bregenz for a lunch.
We both got flashed by our first speed camera, we really must try harder !!
Once clear of Bregenz traffic we caught up with a line of traffic and as I pulled out to overtake the line a BMW 3? pulled out of the traffic as well and we then played Yeeha for half an hour before he turned off. I would catch him up through the traffic but as soon as it was clear he would just clear off, well driven and very fast. When we had had enough for the day we stopped at a hotel in Schiers in Switzerland. When we arrived it started raining so the owner moved his new Audi A4 from its garage and let us use it, top bloke.
The follwing morning we traveled from Schiers to Davos via the Fluelapass,
this road is absoluely stunning and well worth a visit if you are in the area. Then coffee in Susch then set off for the Stevlio Pass.
Another great road with 20 minutes of 1st gear and lock to lock haipins untill we got to the top. We met a Aussie guy who was on holiday in Europe for 6 weeks with his family and he had a couple of old Desmo singles and an AJS back home and was going to the Factory as well. So we had lunch at the top then on the way down came across the road blocked by a lorry stuck on one of the hairpin bends, in the que to get passed were a couple of British registered Austin Healey 3000`s and an old 911 so we squeezed through and headed for petrol. Whilst we were getting petrol and having a coffee the Healey`s pulled up so we had a quick chat with them, all was going swimmingly until one of the Healey drivers realised he had filled it up with Diesel . We were still a long way from Bologna so decided to stay at Trento. The ride to Trento was stunning with mile after mile of twisting mountainous roads where the TRX was really in its element.We found a nice hotel in the middle of Trento who`s owner is a big old boy who rides a Hayabusa and is a top bloke.
So onto Bologna, 176 miles to cover with the tour starting at 11:00, so breakfast at 08:00 then hit the Auotroute. With a petrol a stop to factor in we had to make good progress or we would be late. When we pulled up to pay the toll at the end of the autoroute we did`nt have a ticket so we got a summons instead,
oh well.We pulled up at the factory gate and I was told that I could not park on site but my mate could, he didnt
much though. So i parked on the road and was then told there was nowhere to leave my leathers and stuff and i would have to carry them with me. Well that was not going to happen and in the end i left my stuff under my mates bike and we started the tour.
The factory tour was OK but we treated a bit like children, Keep up, dont cross the lines,dont touch,no photo`s all that sort of thing. The tour took about half an hour then we went onto the meuseum and that is great. All the bikes and all the history, i was amazed at how big the Moto GP bike is, i was expecting a tiny little thing but its proper sized and everything. Then it was into Bologna to find a hotel with a garage for the bikes, get changed then get out for a drink and some dinner.
Thursday morning up and set off for home and see where we end up. 6 tanks of fuel and 670miles later we ended up at Metz in France, that was after running out of petrol once
Then the following day strike out for home. Back through the Eurotunnel and around the M25 which is just a joke, 4 lanes of stationary traffic for mile after mile, i know it was a Friday afternoon but still shows just how crowded the south of England is. Then as i came off the M11 onto the A14 a myopic old duffer in a van nearly had me off the bike, i could`nt believe it i had done 1700 miles across 6 countries in europe and was nearly killed 10 miles from home, well he wont miss his drivers door mirror as he obviously does`nt use it. What a fantastic bike we covered 1700 miles in a week, the TRX used about 200ml of Oil and ran faultlessly all week. So get out and explore you will be amazed at what you can discover, mostly people who are pleased to see you and welcoming.
There are no seats on the Eurotunnell !! but it is smooth, and it only lasts 20 minutes. Not done it on the bike yet, but have used it several times in the car ( You just sit in the car, doors open, theres nothing to see anyway!)
Great write up mate, & I am glad you mentioned the Stelvio pass, it is on my list of roads to ride before I die!
