Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events A very special road trip - Part 1

My wife has a framed picture that says:

"Make new friends but keep the old; one is Silver the other is Gold"

These words sum up my recent bike trip with my son recently.

We set off from England on Sunday 19th April & took the tunnel to Calais & then rode 500 miles to Mulhouse, France in 12 hours, me on the KTM, Luke my son on a Suzuki GSXR 600 We stopped for the night in a Formule 1 & dined on a Quick Burgers & Coca Cola's.


Early start next morning after a continental breakfast & the weather was not looking good but the Gods were smiling on us as we always seemed to be behind the rain. As we entered Switerzerland via Basel we paid for our Motorway passes & were given a swiss coin each to "buy chocolate"
At the first fuel stop we got fuel, food & coffee & could have got more goodies we were so inclined ! (look at the sign for Magic X above the services in the picture)



Then back on the road, passing snow topped mountains & through the Gottard Tunnel as most of the passes were still closed due to snow



As we entered Italy the driving & speed instantly changed & once again I got overtaken by a guy on a Burgman on a bend with his waterproof leg covers flapping in the breeze
Late afternoon we arrived in Iseo to meet up with an old friend:



Tuesday was a lazy start as we only had a couple of hours on the road before we arrived in Venice & as the ferry for Greece didn't leave until the evening, it would have been rude not to have a walk round this great city



Luke had a last minute dive accross the front of a 40 foot truck to make the slip road to Venice but hey! that's normal Italian driving

That evening we boarded the Ferry for Igoumenitsa in Greece



Now I have to say that Anek Lines Ferries are first class & as a smoker, I was in heaven. No having to go on deck & freeze my nuts off for a smoke & we even had a cabin with a window,sweets & a bowl of fruit. Anek Lines I salute & thank you but I would especially like to say a big thank you to our host, Thanassis, who had arranged it all. If I could be have as good a host has he was to be, I would be pleased but anyone who really knows him, knows that already
The next 25 hours were spent in great company, eating, drinking,laughing and putting the world to right We passed Albania, Corfu & finally arrived in Igoumenitsa, Greece at 8pm on Wednesday to start part 2 of the trip....
to be continued

Sounds like you had a lot of fun Martyn.... looking forward to part 2

Glad to here you had a good trip mate, will try to catch up with you next week.
Dave

Why did you keep this trip a secret to me!?

Ok, now i know... if i had known you where heading down there i probably would been standing with the bike at the Gottard Tunnel waiting to meet up and go with you down south!

Iseo... Venice.... the ferry trip to Greece.... Corfu..... it all brings back memories from last years ride that forever will stay as a trip of the lifetime for me and Nilla..


Now... give us part 2!

I am waiting for the rest of the story with excitement... and a bit of envy

WOW! Sounds like great fun Martyn! Looking forward to the rest of the story!

Glad you had a good trip, but I have 2 questions/observations for you -




Why the Hel have you allowed Luke to dress like a Power Ranger?? I thought that you had taught him the black is the only acceptable colour for leathers!!






Even with Luke along, you still cannot break your habit of meeting strange men in hotels can you??