Elan Valley in my new Jacket

On Saturday I went out looking for a new Textile jacket. My trusty old Hein Gericke 'Journeyman' is starting to show it's age, the Velcro is failing, the arms near elbows leak in the rain, (I guess the waterproof shelltex membrane has cracked), not bad though - 8 years of riding, including trips on the continent. I would go with another hein Gericke, but last year they went into Administration in the UK, shame .. I really liked their Tuareg Jacket.

I've been researching textiles for a while now. Been out trying a few on over the months - tried the RST Explorer, RST Paragon and the Richa Toureg at both Kidderminster Motorcycle Mart and Streetbike in Halesowen. The top-end Klim gear is out of my price range, so the RST, Richa etc were both reasonably priced jackets. However, I can't get over the quality of the BMW Rallye Jacket Andy was wearing in Scotland. The Cordura and finish of his suit were superb, so Helen suggested we head off to Clarkes BMW in Rednal - the ticket price was £150.00 more than the others, but recent reviews in ABR suggested it was worth the price (if you ride a BMW that is, it has BMW roundels on the sleeves). Anyway, they had my size and immediately the fit, quality, comfort seemed far superior. I really like the piped collar as I find the tough textile around the neck always chafed my neck doing all of those life-savers on a long trip - none of the others have a piping on the collar, and I like the idea of the removable liner too, the panels that clip down for ventilation, and the real  winner for me - the vent zips that run the length of each sleeve, this has to be great for touring Europe in a hot summer - even the sleeves detach if you are feeling brave ! Finally I do like the colour - kind of matches my GS, and got to be a bit cooler in the sun too. Anyway, thanks to Helen, she managed way over 10% knocked off the ticket price (now for the matching trousers .. hmmm have to save my pennies).

So,  Sunday (3rd August) decided to make an early start and head off to Knighton on the Welsh border to try out the new Jacket. really comfortable on the bike, I kept the waterproof liner in but used the sleeve zips later in the day as it got warmer. Definitely a good purchase. I was enjoying the ride so much, I headed down to Crossgates Cafe nr Rhayder, then onto the Elan Valley via the mountain road. Back home thru' Herefordhsire (Hay on Wye, Leominster) and Tenbury Wells. 200 miles in total. Here's some pics:

Look at that Vista !

My new Rallye Jacket !!

Claerwen Reservoir Dam

HUBB 2014

Just thought I should report on my first HUBB visit. After a wonderful time riding around Scotland with Andy, we headed for the HUBB event (Horizons Unlimited Bulletin Board) at Castle Donington - weekend starting 19th June.

The HUBB is a gathering of Overland Adventurers - catering for Adventure Bikers, Cyclists and other Overlanders who keep up-to-date with each other, and share information via an on-line forum set up originally by Grant and Sue Johnson see: 'Horizons Unlimited'. The weather was great, camping was a bit noisy - right next to East Mids airport but that didn't put off us hard core adventurers!!

I met my daughter Hayley there too - she arrived via train to meet me,  and bought along  her tent and kit she used for Explorer Scout trip to Canada last year. Hayley is mad about this kind of round the world adventuring, and I somehow see her getting her own bike one day and heading off into the distance like a lot of these young people do these days. I could really see her eyes light up during the New Zealand presentation !

We both enjoyed the talk and slide-show of the chap who rode his Honda C90 step thru' from Malaysia back to the UK - hilarious - watching him get up to base camp Everest without a Jacket,  but the highlight for me was meeting Ted Simon - the godfather of adventure travel - he was doing the RTW stuff before Charley and Ewan, and I thoroughly enjoyed his books - Jupiters Travels (RTW on a Meriden Triumph in thge 70's) and Dreaming of Jupiter  (his repeat journey on a R80 GS in the late nineties early noughties). See here for Ted's website.

We spent some time with the GS Club, Mike the bike, Ronco, Trogan who made us very welcome - thanks guys. All in a all very informative and fun event. Definitely would go again another year.

Here's some pics:

Me and Ted Simon !!

Hayley next to Sam Manicom's bike 'Libby'.

This bike has seen all continents !!

 I've just finished his second book Under Asian Skies, and bought a copy of Distant Suns from Birgit his girlfriend - who features in UAS and DS. She signed the copy for me.

The Landy Types

GS Club Stand

Andy chilling out after that Scottish trip

Slow Bike Race

Aghhh

It's Doughnut Time !!

Away we go!

Getting ready for my Scotland trip with the GS Club. We're booked to end the trip at the HUBB, Overlanders event at Castle Donnington see here:

HUBB UK 2014

Aye, Scotland it is then ...

So, this year due to other commitments I wasn't doing a bike trip. However, I just canny stay away, so I've teamed up with my mate Bluemooner over at the GS Club UK, and all being well we are going to have a crack at the Highlands if the weather holds up. Never been to Scotland - so watch this space. Hope to do some wild camping too .. that means camp anywhere you like ;-)

See the Tab at the top or go here, we should be off in June:

Go Pro

I got one of these Go-Pro thingies, present from the Mrs while in SW Florida at Christmas. Great fun, here's my first effort on You Tube:

Southern Bavaria & Austria part 18 - Journey's End

So I made it back home safe and sound. It was great to meet and ride down to Garmisch with other members of the GS Club UK - Mike, Dave, Ron, Davey Boy, Andy, Rich & Sue, Paul and others.

Equally good was taking a week by myself to tour around Southern Bavaria and parts of Austria. At first it seemed strange - riding alone to places I had only a vague idea about, but I soon got to really enjoy being alone and not having to look in the mirrors, or look ahead worrying about keeping a group together. Once at my destination, I often found someone interesting to have a conversation with, even as with my Czech friends, when the understanding meant heavy use on sign language and pointing. I did try not to do the usual Brit' thing and keep shouting louder in a hope that they will understand

My plan for after the BMW Motorrad festival in Garmisch was to ride the Grossglockner which I did - 3 times, and would have done it one more time, but could smell burning rubber, and the weather started to cloud over and a huge scary storm began. Earlier in the week I managed to ride the great Stelvio and crammed in the Timmelsjoch too. On the way down through Austria to the Grossglockner I went via the Gerlos pass, and stopped to look at the Krimmel waterfall. Later in the week I discovered Hallstatt, one of the most scenic places I have ever been to. While visiting the Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden, I got chatting to some very friendly German bikers who informed me about the Rossfeldstrasse scenic route around Berchtesgarden, they suggested I must take this toll road because it was a must see panorama. I duly set-off and wasn't disappointed, it was amazing. Later in the week I got to visit Colmar in the Alsace region and ride around the Vosges taking the Route de Vins. A very nice place I would hope to return to in the future.

Click  here to see a video of my Ride around the Grossglockner I took with my camera velcro'd to my tank bag !

The Highs:

• Although the Stelvio pass was great fun to ride a staircase of hairpins up and then down the mountain, I then took off to the city of Merano where some bikers explained to me how to get to the Timmelsjoch pass. It was late in the day, and I soon found out this pass closed at 20:00 hrs until 07:30. I found I had a race against time up thru' the St Leonards Pass up the Mountain on traffic free twisties, to find I had the pass to myself - got through the barrier at 19:15, and the pass was was perfect for bikers. I then had great fun winding my way through a very traffic free Sud Tyrol, back up to Garmisch. It was all I could do to stick to speed limits. The sun was setting, and riding through green valleys of farmlands was the best Sunday evening ride ever. The rest of the group didn't make it through (I thought they were ahead of me but spend longer on the Stelvio in a cafe) and missed the pass, ending up spending the night in a guest house.
• Rounding a corner to discover the lake and the little town of Hallstatt. This place was mentioned in my guide book by Toby Ballentine, but I had no idea it could be so perfect. Set on the lake, with real Austrian wood cabins, I had no intention of staying, yet ended up camping for two nights at a great camp site right next to the town with great facilities. I recommend to anyone a visit.
• The Grossglockner Pass, and Pasterze Glacier. Just look at the photos, perfect for motorcycles, and seeing 'covered' Aston Martin test cars, was good for cars too.
• Gasthoff Friedberg, recommended by someone on the BMW club forum, their website doen't do it justice. It was in the most amazing location, and very friendly.
• The Deutsche Alpenstrasse. I intended to ride this from Garmisch to Salzburg, but in the end I ran it from Konigssee to Lindau East to West. The sun was shining and there were hundreds of bikes twisting through a variety of scenery that included lakes, forests, mountains, valleys, farmland, more mountains, more twisties, a small toll road near Reit Im Winkl near a mountain lake. Perfect.  

The Lows

• Getting nicked with the club by the Austrian police for not having a Motorway Vignette. Particularly annoying since I knew about this beforehand but was following the group on their Garmin routes that didn't mention the motorway junction. 60 Euro fine - ouch, but I did think we had been done for speeding.
• Lightning bolts in the middle of the road coming down from the Grossglockner, then getting soaked.
• 475 Miles in one day from Bouillon to Garmisch and having to pitch a tent in the dark - twice !

Total miles : 2880

More Photos:

Bouillon

The Black Forest Germany on the famous B500



Garmisch

Mottorad Days Festival

Stelvio Pass (Italy)

Timmelsjoch Pass (Italy to South Tyrol)

 Gerlos Pass and the Krimmel Waterfall

Gasthof Friedberg (Guest House)

The mighty Grossglockner, Austria

Pasterze Glacier (Grossglockner)

Hallstatt (Salzburgland, Austria)

Eagles Nest

Konigssee (Berchtesgarden, Germany)

Neuschwanstein Castle (Nr Fussen, Germany)

Lindau (Germany)

Colmar (Alsace, France)

Chemin des Dammes (Chamouille, Picardie, France)