schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Here is some more.Clockwork Orange said:
Living the Dream Solo Around the World Trip
- Thread starter schalk vd merwe
- Start date
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
The next day I left for Lucerne and arrived on the Western side of Lake Lucerne. I checked the price of the Ferry crossing but in the end I decided to rather drive around. It took about 2 hours and got a camp site right close to Lake Lucerne on the East side. That night it was Macaroni and cheese for dinner again.
The next day I was on my way again going south. I eventually arrived at the St Gotthard tunnel which at 17 km is the 3 rd longest tunnel in the world. The plan was also to do the longest car tunnel in the world later on in the trip. That one will be 25 km and is in Norway. The St Gotthard twin train tunnel in Switzerland at 57 km is the longest tunnel in the world but the one in Norway is the longest car tunnel in the world.
After the St Gotthard Tunnel I aimed for the small town in the south of Switzerland close to Lake Lugano. As it borders Italy the Swiss people there speak Italian. My friends Peter Fluckinger and Patrizia Lombardini were expecting me. I met them next to Lake Malawi on my Africa leg of the trip. The next day was my birthday and they took me out for dinner to a restaurant next to a beautiful lake on the Italian side. I stayed two nights. As my GPS only had the west side of Europe on I went with Peter to buy myself a normal Garmin car GPS the next morning. It already had all the maps on and it only cost me the equivalent of R 1000. I then said my goodbyes to these lovely people and hit the road towards Italy.
The next day I was on my way again going south. I eventually arrived at the St Gotthard tunnel which at 17 km is the 3 rd longest tunnel in the world. The plan was also to do the longest car tunnel in the world later on in the trip. That one will be 25 km and is in Norway. The St Gotthard twin train tunnel in Switzerland at 57 km is the longest tunnel in the world but the one in Norway is the longest car tunnel in the world.
After the St Gotthard Tunnel I aimed for the small town in the south of Switzerland close to Lake Lugano. As it borders Italy the Swiss people there speak Italian. My friends Peter Fluckinger and Patrizia Lombardini were expecting me. I met them next to Lake Malawi on my Africa leg of the trip. The next day was my birthday and they took me out for dinner to a restaurant next to a beautiful lake on the Italian side. I stayed two nights. As my GPS only had the west side of Europe on I went with Peter to buy myself a normal Garmin car GPS the next morning. It already had all the maps on and it only cost me the equivalent of R 1000. I then said my goodbyes to these lovely people and hit the road towards Italy.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
TVB
Grumpy Mutt
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Mens weet Schalk, weereens maar dis prentjie mooi :thumleft:
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Italy
I left Switzerland for Italy. My First destination was to be Portofino. On my Africa trip I was refused entry into Israel from Egypt. If I could have made it to Israel I would have taken a ferry and it would have dropped me off in Portofino. That is one reason why I came here in order to make the trip complete. So I took a very long way round to get to my original planned landing spot in Europe. The 2 nd reason why I came to Portofino was because it is such a beautiful scenic route.
From Portofino I stayed all along the coast towards Pisa. One thing about Italy is that it is a motor cycle and scooter riding area. There are literally thousands of bikes around. When a bike or scooter approach a traffic light they just pass all the cars and push in, in front of all the cars. Amazingly the impatient motorist has no problem with that and it seems to be the going thing here.
I used the road all along the coast and through small towns. Arriving at the town of Pisa in late afternoon I managed to find a campsite about 20 km north of the city in a rural area. I used my Google on my phone as my Tom Tom did not work in Italy hence the reason I bought a cheap Garmin car gps. The Garmin did not come close to the Tom Tom when searching for accommodation and for that reason Google came in handy.
The campsite was quite nice and I first went to a restaurant inside the camp for a couple of beers. By then it was dark and I decided to just sleep on my mattress in the open. It turned out to be a big mistake. Big ants started to consume me in the middle of the night and on top of it, it started to rain. There was no time for putting up the tent and I just pulled the canvas of my tent over me and my luggage. The next morning I pitched my tent as I wanted to go and visit the leaning tower of Pisa in town.
Then it was off to the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. There were thousands of tourists like at all tourist attractions in Italy. I managed to get an American tourist to take photos of me with my camera as proof that I was here and also in order to have them in case I do another book one day. I belief the next book is going to be by my wife and the title will be something like this. “How to stay married for 40 years to a solo around the world rider”
The following day it was off to Rome. I used mainly toll roads as it takes forever through all the small towns. In the small towns some of the roads are so narrow that a car from the front and a bike with panniers would not be able to pass each other. On top of that I only had a 3 months visa and another 16 000 km was still awaiting me. The toll roads were amazing. All the points are unmanned. As you enter a highway the machine gives you a ticket. You can cross from one highway to another no matter how many times. When you eventually exit the system at Rome you put your ticket in the machine and it then print the amount. You can then either pay cash or card at the machine. Totally self-help with no humans in site. Adapt or die.
Again I found a camp site in Rome. I came here for two reasons. One was that the bike was running to cold and I wanted to buy a thermostat from Motorrad BMW. The other reason was that I wanted to go the Colosseum and also the Vatican City to see Michael Anglos art on the ceilings.
The next day I was off to Motorrad BMW in the center of Rome and not too far from the camp site. Also I needed a bit of food supply and a small gas cylinder for my stove. After arriving at Motorrad I ask the reception lady if there is anybody at spares who could speak a little English. She took me to an Italian guy behind the counter at spares depart. Immediately he told me no English. I then wrote the bike in question down on a piece of paper and I also showed him the VIN number on a photo on my phone. I then showed him on his computer what parts I need. No parts he says. I then enquired if they can order it for me. The answer again came “No English” I then thought stuff you too. What happened to me later on, on the trip in regards to Morrad BMW plus this experience made me swear I will never ever buy another BMW product. I have been riding and owning bikes for 53 years now and have never seen such bad service and this was my first BMW product. When you travel around the world you need a bit of back up and if the one dealer after the other treats you badly you tend not to support that brand. When I was up in Africa of all places my wife could courier any part of my little Yamaha to me within 3 days. I am no whiner and can handle difficult situations but incompetent people get my back up.
Then it was off to go and buy the little gas cylinders for my little gas stove. To my surprise all the camping shops in this ancient city of Rome is closed as the Italians take 2 to 3 hours lunch breaks. Well when in Rome you do like the Romans do.
On the way back to the camp site and passing the Vatican City I saw about 20 000 people in the street queuing to get in. So there goes my dream to see Michael Angelo’s art. I just don’t have that kind of patience. The food supplies was no problem and I bough some more pastas and other goodies.
The following day I loaded up and went back to the camp shop which fortunately was open. They sold me two gas cylinders which later turned out to be the wrong ones.
On a highway to Florence I stopped for fuel and something to eat. As I sat outside on a bench eating a German guy and his daughter came to sit with me. It turned out they also came from Germany to see the Vatican City but also came back due to the masses.
In Florence I followed the Google map to the camp site a little out of town. Again the roads were so narrow and just wide enough for one vehicle. I reached the camp site on top of a mountain with a nice view. The intention was just to stay one night. I always chat to other tourist and I then sold one of my books to an American lady.
I also met four South Africans there who is travelling in a camper and came specially to see the MotorGP at the Mugello race track. As a big Rossi fan I would have like to see him in action in his own country but at R 3500 a ticket and a long road still ahead I turned that idea down. The Mugello race track is in the beautiful Tuscany valley less than 30 km away but it was only Thursday now and the race is on the Sunday and the Visa clock is ticking.
I left Switzerland for Italy. My First destination was to be Portofino. On my Africa trip I was refused entry into Israel from Egypt. If I could have made it to Israel I would have taken a ferry and it would have dropped me off in Portofino. That is one reason why I came here in order to make the trip complete. So I took a very long way round to get to my original planned landing spot in Europe. The 2 nd reason why I came to Portofino was because it is such a beautiful scenic route.
From Portofino I stayed all along the coast towards Pisa. One thing about Italy is that it is a motor cycle and scooter riding area. There are literally thousands of bikes around. When a bike or scooter approach a traffic light they just pass all the cars and push in, in front of all the cars. Amazingly the impatient motorist has no problem with that and it seems to be the going thing here.
I used the road all along the coast and through small towns. Arriving at the town of Pisa in late afternoon I managed to find a campsite about 20 km north of the city in a rural area. I used my Google on my phone as my Tom Tom did not work in Italy hence the reason I bought a cheap Garmin car gps. The Garmin did not come close to the Tom Tom when searching for accommodation and for that reason Google came in handy.
The campsite was quite nice and I first went to a restaurant inside the camp for a couple of beers. By then it was dark and I decided to just sleep on my mattress in the open. It turned out to be a big mistake. Big ants started to consume me in the middle of the night and on top of it, it started to rain. There was no time for putting up the tent and I just pulled the canvas of my tent over me and my luggage. The next morning I pitched my tent as I wanted to go and visit the leaning tower of Pisa in town.
Then it was off to the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. There were thousands of tourists like at all tourist attractions in Italy. I managed to get an American tourist to take photos of me with my camera as proof that I was here and also in order to have them in case I do another book one day. I belief the next book is going to be by my wife and the title will be something like this. “How to stay married for 40 years to a solo around the world rider”
The following day it was off to Rome. I used mainly toll roads as it takes forever through all the small towns. In the small towns some of the roads are so narrow that a car from the front and a bike with panniers would not be able to pass each other. On top of that I only had a 3 months visa and another 16 000 km was still awaiting me. The toll roads were amazing. All the points are unmanned. As you enter a highway the machine gives you a ticket. You can cross from one highway to another no matter how many times. When you eventually exit the system at Rome you put your ticket in the machine and it then print the amount. You can then either pay cash or card at the machine. Totally self-help with no humans in site. Adapt or die.
Again I found a camp site in Rome. I came here for two reasons. One was that the bike was running to cold and I wanted to buy a thermostat from Motorrad BMW. The other reason was that I wanted to go the Colosseum and also the Vatican City to see Michael Anglos art on the ceilings.
The next day I was off to Motorrad BMW in the center of Rome and not too far from the camp site. Also I needed a bit of food supply and a small gas cylinder for my stove. After arriving at Motorrad I ask the reception lady if there is anybody at spares who could speak a little English. She took me to an Italian guy behind the counter at spares depart. Immediately he told me no English. I then wrote the bike in question down on a piece of paper and I also showed him the VIN number on a photo on my phone. I then showed him on his computer what parts I need. No parts he says. I then enquired if they can order it for me. The answer again came “No English” I then thought stuff you too. What happened to me later on, on the trip in regards to Morrad BMW plus this experience made me swear I will never ever buy another BMW product. I have been riding and owning bikes for 53 years now and have never seen such bad service and this was my first BMW product. When you travel around the world you need a bit of back up and if the one dealer after the other treats you badly you tend not to support that brand. When I was up in Africa of all places my wife could courier any part of my little Yamaha to me within 3 days. I am no whiner and can handle difficult situations but incompetent people get my back up.
Then it was off to go and buy the little gas cylinders for my little gas stove. To my surprise all the camping shops in this ancient city of Rome is closed as the Italians take 2 to 3 hours lunch breaks. Well when in Rome you do like the Romans do.
On the way back to the camp site and passing the Vatican City I saw about 20 000 people in the street queuing to get in. So there goes my dream to see Michael Angelo’s art. I just don’t have that kind of patience. The food supplies was no problem and I bough some more pastas and other goodies.
The following day I loaded up and went back to the camp shop which fortunately was open. They sold me two gas cylinders which later turned out to be the wrong ones.
On a highway to Florence I stopped for fuel and something to eat. As I sat outside on a bench eating a German guy and his daughter came to sit with me. It turned out they also came from Germany to see the Vatican City but also came back due to the masses.
In Florence I followed the Google map to the camp site a little out of town. Again the roads were so narrow and just wide enough for one vehicle. I reached the camp site on top of a mountain with a nice view. The intention was just to stay one night. I always chat to other tourist and I then sold one of my books to an American lady.
I also met four South Africans there who is travelling in a camper and came specially to see the MotorGP at the Mugello race track. As a big Rossi fan I would have like to see him in action in his own country but at R 3500 a ticket and a long road still ahead I turned that idea down. The Mugello race track is in the beautiful Tuscany valley less than 30 km away but it was only Thursday now and the race is on the Sunday and the Visa clock is ticking.
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
Tom van Brits said:
Hi Tom ja Europa is pragtig. Hoe gaan dit nog daar op die eiland ?
Mooi Schalk, dankie vir die lekker saamry! :thumleft:
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