Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge May I go now???

very cool I envy you. I would love to be on that ride with you!

Great story/pics Bedouin,me and Sabine are setting off in the morning, cathing the ferry from Kiel and ariving in Göteborg at 9am on friday.
See you in Jonköping

Nick

Ok, we finally made it to Copenhagen at 08:00am this morning after missing the 22:00 (original plan) and then midnight ferries out of Rostock to Gedser (Denmark).
After yet another night ride from Berlin to Rostock (the fourth in a row now) we just missed the midnight ferry by 5 minutes so we went into Rostock for a coffee until the next ferry at 02:30.
Don't ask me how we manage it but we plan on leaving a city at 16:00 and end up leaving
at 22:00.
Fortunately this ride did not include my battling with the weather (as was the case with the previous 3 sectors: Florence to Munich, Munich to Nuremberg and Nuremberg to Berlin - where we encountered heavy rain and hail ... just to keep me on my toes ).

Anyhow, a few more pictures ...

the first set are before leaving Berlin and will no doubt amuse our American friends:





You may have guessed it ... CHECKPOINT CHARLIE! It's still manned.










And of course, let's not forget the 'bike in unusual places' pictures ...
(I am, as can be seen, very well connected with the US military brass and was able to place the bike in this position )











Bye Bye Berlin ... on our way to Rostock.




After missing the ferry we went into Rostock town for a coffee (at 01:00am) until the next ferry at 02:30.

This square was strictly for pedestrians only so when I rode straight across it (and everyone started looking at us) Kathy (being of Germanic origins and extremely law abiding) started panicking at my total disregard for the law.
I simply explained to her that ... I was Greek.

In the first picture, the bike can be seen in the distance, under the red umbrella.





A ship totally to ourselves???





Ok ... so the child was playing a bit.




We are staying at a hotel overlooking the river ... we should be getting amazing pictures of this great city.

P.S. We currently have 3.300 pictures and Kathy remarked that we have accumulated roughly the same amount of pictures ... as kilometres!

It sounds like you and Kathy are having a great time (except for a little weather ). It's great of you to allow those of us less fortunate to live vicariously through the two of you.



And we're not the least bit envious

Looking forward to an exciting slideshow Friday night...

No cane this year, Thanassis?

Wow! What a great trip, Have a safe return.

Yes, absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Wish I was there!

You take some great pictures.
And you take some great rides.

To all friends,

Thank you all for your kind words.
For a sole motorcycle going a longish way a few words of encouragement sometimes mean a lot (I know this, I have gone on enough long rides ... without them).

I sincerely hope you are enjoying these few pictures etc. and I only wish I had done the better job I intend to do later.

Dear Cuz (hehe),
Realised it was end of Jan and your trip was on its way. I would have loved to have joined. Seems you having a great time as always, and its lovely to follow your trip via the pictures you post. Seems you are having a awesome time both in terms of touring and experiencing the mechanical wonder of your ride. I have new respect considering the mileage you are doing.
I leave you with a quote:
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." Thomas Paine
I unfortunately am in the fatigue process, a process you covered many yonks ago.
Safe miles man and kiss the co-pilot for me.

Ok guys ... so I lied.


This is what I had planned to do after the rally in Bankeryd ... (i.e. ride from Bankeryd to Karskrona to get the ferry to Gdynia in Poland and continue south etc. etc.)




On the Sunday night of the rally I decided we ought to do this country some justice and at least see Stockholm.
We did even better and went further north to Bengt's (Piper) town Uppsala (an amazing mini Venice only cleaner, neater and quieter) and then on to Stockholm where we stayed for 2 nights.

On the last night in Stockholm we decided to change our route slightly as follows:
Stockholm to Helsinki (Finland) -> Talinn (Estonia) -> Riga (Latvia) -> Vilnius (Lithuania) and then to Poland to continue south, exactly as originally planned.

At the time of this writing we are on a ship almost at the port of Talinn (Estonia) having left Helsinki this afternoon.






Ok, some pictures of Copenhagen and Uppsala (Bengt's /Piper's town north of Stockholm) :


Just outside Gedser port in Denmark (last Thursday):




Copenhagen:















Bye bye Denmark - Hello Sweden!






N.B. I have skipped out the Bankeryd (Eurorally) section altogether as I am still limiting this to the 'bike in unusual places' pictures concept.



Uppsala, on Monday after Bankeryd (Rally) - (We are following Bengt and Anki):













Kathy taking a break from the photography:



Kathy back on the photography:












That's it for now, the next installment will be pictures from Stockholm and Helsinki (Finland).

Ok let's go see what this Estonia is all about ... hmmm.

Your pics, and reports, are great! Please keep 'em coming!
Many are following your travels.

Godspeed,
Uncle Charlie

Great pictures Thanassis. Thanks for sharing. looks like you are on an amazing trip.

Awesome pictures from a great photographer.
What I love about you is that "slightly" is a odd 2500km's and four countries later hehe.
I also like the way you guys just "own" monuments by placing the bike wherever you think is the best spot for pictoral purposes. Even if its in the middle of the street.
Have a good trip guys and a safe return.

excellent photos- more of Kathy too!

Absolutely amazing as far as lounge threads go this has got to be one of the best I have seen. I am soooo jealous of you the pictures are minted. 12/10 for your pictures and writing. I think most of us would love to have been along with you on this ride. I am just awe struck.

Oh, yes. Amazing journey, amazing people. The (not so) original plans was to head for Stockholm, but since my bike got the electrical flu , Thanassis and Kathy offered to join me up to Uppsala to "see me home" and head for Stockholm later that evening. I'm happy both my home town and our capital showed their best sides. Thanks again, Thanassis and Kathy. Godspeed!

It's funny how sometimes you hear "Sweden" or "Scandinavia" and think only of snow, rain, etc..., but it looks absolutely GORGEOUS right now, and my Envy-o-meter just broke!! I can't stand it any more!!!

Thanks for the photos, and speed safely my friend.

(By the way, the black Speedmasters ARE the fastest)

Great pictures. What a great trip you are having and thank you for sharing it with us.

Looking forward to seeing some pictures of Estonia and Lithuania.

Oh, and some more pictures of Kathy

As Poland and Gdansk is still on your trip tour plan, we are back home and waiting for your arrival.
Beata & Pawel

Great saga, can't wait to hear more, As like greg commented, my envy meter IS off the scale. Ride safe.

mike

As promised here are the shots (perhaps too many but I couldn't decide which one's to leave out ... so I didn't) of the bike from Stockholm/Sweden and Helsinki/Finland:

We are currently in Riga of Latvia after having covered Estonia.
We will be leaving Latvia for Lithuania tomorrow after which I will submit an update covering Estonia, Latvia (where we are now) and Lithuania.
This will probably be from within Poland on Tuesday.





Pictures from Stockholm (Sweden):
============================










































It looks like I am doing a Syrtaki dance here but I am not.
I am just waiting patiently (and entertaining Kathy who is already on one of the decks with a cool drink in her hands) to load the bike onto the ferry heading from Stocholm to Helsinki.




Helsinki ... here we come!





Pictures from Helsinki (Finland):
============================


















Abandoned for a cup of esspresso (while Kathy went souvenir hunting)... but still in sight.








Yes, I did park wherever was artistically necessary ... several times ... ahem, more than several times!





A quick getaway ... legal issues etc.




Only to come back again for this one:




This is one of my favourites.
What cannot be seen here is that there are approximately 90 steps leading up to the bike.
The bike is parked with the sidestand just millimetres from the edge (and from tumbling down ... forever!).
Kathy had to lay down on the steps to get this one ... bless her!




Yep! Patiently waiting to load the bike onto yet another ferry ... this time from Helsinki to Talinn in Estonia. Too tired to dance this time ...




As I said the next update will cover the Via Baltica (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania).

Mixed emotions!




Definitely an UNBELIEVABLE looking trip, scenery! Keep them coming, even if I whine like a baby!!! And tell Kat she is a GREAT photographer, although your ability to artistically park is unmatched!

Dang Thanasis,
You'll park that bike of yours anywhere!
Love the pics, keep 'em coming!
Uncle Charlie

Keep up the good work!

Nothing to add, just a personal thanks for the great tour.
Looking forward for more.

----------------------------------------

Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I will try, in my way, to be free (Leonard Cohen)

-------------------------------------

Hank

Great pictures and comments, my friend! By looking at the pics you also seem to have luck with the weather. Let's hope your journey will continue like that! Just ride safe!

We want more now Thanassis!

Got to see more of you two and the bike in spectacular places...
............................................and non parking areas!

/Johann

Yes i agree johann, we are all back at work and Thannassis is still working his way around europe...............more pics please

"Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man!"

And...we continue to be blessed by all these great photos and text of this adventure you and Kathy are experiencing, Thanassis!

(thanks for the update)

And it just continues... Brilliant! I'm speechless...

Thanks, so very much, for sharing your photos and adventure.

Dave