Norway to South Africa. 37 000km. Solo.

[KTMRICK]

:sip:

 

[Robski]

I got the ferry over from Sweden to Denmark, and arrived at my friend Julie's apartment in Copenhagen that afternoon. She planned a party that night for me, which was fun. The next day we then went up to her parents lake house, and spent a few days there. Her parents were very accommodating, and I got on with her father very well, who allowed me to mow his lawn with his ride on mower, with beer in hand, and the local radio station playing through the radio headphones. While walking the dog with Julie, we came across cannibalistic slugs, which grew to about 12cm.The would be in groups of about 5 - 20 devouring each other. We also saw a fox run across the street. I have a soft spot for Scandinavia. It is very clinical, clean and expensive, but the country sides are amazing and everything feels very safe. Even in the forrest's, the moss grows over the rocks so in case you do fall, you are welcomed by a cushion on spongey green stuff!

On the ferry from Sweden - Denmark.


Lunch with Julie's family at her parents summer home.


Leaving Denmark.


I left Denmark with a lunch box of padkos which Julie and her mother had made for me. Each sandwich with little inspirational notes written on the wax paper. It felt good to be so far away from home, and be welcomed so lovingly by them. Off to Germany I headed.

 

[Robski]

I headed swiftly through Germany to Munich, where I was going to buy a topbox for my bike. I camped at the oldest hostel/campsite in Munich, which is about 75years old. It was only operational in summer, and it was conveniently positioned close to the area where the Oktoberfest is erected each year and attracts millions of people each year. I went to it when I was 16, and that was enough to keep my desire to want to go back there for a while. I stayed in Munich for 4 days in the pouring rain, as I really didn't feel like having to pack up my tent and have to put everything wet into my panniers. This was a feeling that would change in time to come. Hey, right now I was still showering once a day! Germany has a strong interest in bikes, and travelling on bikes. So I only really got noticed when people stopped to take a closer look and see the word Africa, and that usually got their interest and they would the ask 21 questions.
I left Munich with a top box and headed to meet up with my best mate Matt in Berlin, who was doing his summer travelling and was currently staying in an apartment with two lady friends of his. They welcomed me too, very warmly. Matt and I had a few good parties in the city that is constantly abuzz. I spent 4/5 days in Berlin before feeling it was time to move on.

I don't know why, but I cannot seem to find any photo's of Germany.

 

[jimjim]

:happy1:

 

[The Rock]

I don't know why, but I cannot seem to find any photo's of Germany.

damn!

 

[onderbroek]

Sub

 

[DikZol]

Kanniewaggie!  Epic trip.  Sub

 

[Robski]

Austria was the next country in line, and riding along the winding roads through the Alps was amazing. Seeing those snow capped mountains even though it was mid summer, was special.

A tractor parked in a little town where they were having a tractor fair?






I stayed the night at a campsite on the hillside, and in the morning went for a walk up the mountain. the views at the top were amazing. The cows grazed on the hillsides, at steep angles. I don't know how they keep their balance and wondered how many had tumbled down.

I rode to Liechtenstein, a tiny country of only 160kmsq sandwiched by Switzerland and Austria! From the picture of my bike parked on the hill, I could see the whole of the country, in one valley. It was raining so only stayed for two nights.









I spoke to my friend Jo, who's family owned a villa in Tuscany. She told me it was hot and sunny, and compared to the summer I was dealing with further north, I happily took up the invitation to go spend a few days down there. I rode from Liechtenstein, through Switzerland, into Italy and strait down to Tuscany! Sun, here I come!

 

[Riaanrw]

Ya! We riding again. Will being it indoors or outdoors, at least the RR is "coming" again.  ;D

 

[mischiefjay]

:thumbleft:

 

[rcerrie]

sub...

 

[Hanno]

big SUB! This is what most of us on here can only dream of doing in our lifetimes. So if you need any encouragement sharing your experiences this is it. 

 

[Robski]

Thanks Hanno 

 

[Robski]

Riding through the South, to a region of Switzerland I had not previously travelled, I stopped off at a petrol station. As many of you probably know, in Europe you are the fuel attendant, you pump the fuel and go into the store to pay for your petrol, which I rather like. Anyway, I walked into the store and the person behind the counter was not speaking German, not French but Italian. Guess there is a small part of Switzerland which still speak Italian, make brilliant panini's and serve coffee in the Italian manner.

Coming down from the Alps, passing lake Como, heading past Milano I really started to feel the Mediterranean summer for the fist time since I had arrived up north in Norway. And felt what it was going to feel like for the next few months riding in my full kit.

I arrived at the villa on the hills over looking the walled town of Lucca. A beautiful part of Tuscany. Dry, the sound of Crickets, citrus trees, vineyards, winding mountainous roads, the faint smell of lavender in the air. Joanna was just arriving back the shops, and welcomed me warmly into her family home, introduced me to her extended family and showed me to my room. My mother is Italian, and I grew up on pasta 3/4 times a week, was always allowed a sip of two of the red wine that was on the dinner table and always loved the Parma ham and Salami we got on occasions, so there are no points for guessing that I was in heaven! I stayed there for about 5 days lounging by the pool, playing tennis, going for rides around the area, visiting ice-cream shops regularly, joining in on the dinner parties in the grand eating hall, and eating lots of Parma ham at every opportunity! I knew this life of luxury I was living for these few days was going to come to an end soon enough, so I lapped it all up.

I rode up from Lucca along the coast passing through over 150 tunnels to Nice in France, about 40kms west of Monaco. The ride was brilliant, and was able to open up the throttle nicely along the roads. Winding it up to 210 in parts, and then testing out the Mitas along the tighter winding roads.

 

[mischiefjay]

:thumbleft:
Keep it coming.

 

[Robski]

I lived in Nice for just over a year in 2005/2006, so I had quite a few friends still there. I was only mean't to stay there for 5 days, while I was waiting for my Drift HD cam to arrive (New on the market at the time) from Action Camera France. But it took 3 weeks to be delivered as they hadn't received stock yet, so I had some party time. I even had time to start a holiday romance with a pretty Swedish girl.. and an Austrian girl  
I got back into the 'South of France' lifestyle quickly and really enjoyed it.I did a few day trips from here, into to Italy, into the mountains, along the coast, up to really old villages precariously perched on steep hills. My friend Matt met up with me again here, and joined in on the festivites.



Swedish chick I met


"English" menu... Spot the problem!




Leaving Nice was difficult, as I had been there for a while and made new friends this time. But I needed to keep moving and get to Africa!

 

[The Rock]

nice!  :thumleft:

hope you didnt have too much of that "analcolic" beer!  atch:

 

[Dirt Junkie]

enjoying your RR keep it coming  :thumleft:

 

[mischiefjay]

And the ladies had nothing to do with you staying longer.
Haha. 

 

[Robski]

And the ladies had nothing to do with you staying longer.
Haha. 

Not at all. haha.