THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 14

“IN THE END …”

One day or other, each journey find its end. So did the Breakdown Ride after more than 5500 km or about 3500 mi. After two weeks nonstop riding in dual sport manner along some awesome more or less remote areas through south Eastern Europe, my black beauty and I started early in the morning into our last riding day. The trip followed some well known back country roads from Southern-Salzburg back to my chosen hometown Vienna.

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 13

“DOLO’S AGAIN”

This day of “The Breakdown Ride” led my black beauty and me from the flat Italian plains near the river “Po” right into the Dolomite Mountains, and further to my homeland country Austria. I’ve ridden the “Dolo’s” a few times during the last years, and each time they proof being a true riding highlight. This time was no exception. But have a look at yourself …

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 12

“TUSCANY’S HILLS”

After 12 days and more than 4000 km or 2500 miles in the saddle, in my mind a kind of travel fatigue started. But, already being in central Italy, this was no excuse for getting weak/pausing the trip. The hard offroad parts had been already passed, and now it was an easy ride. So the journey along back country roads through the scenic Apennines Mountains in the area of Tuscany continued …

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 11

“AMALFI COAST”

One of Italy’s most famous coastal roads follows the winding Amalfi Coast. On the eleventh day of our journey, Чернотa and I went up early for avoiding the tourist masses along this sightseeing road. Afterwards, our journey left Italy’s western coast for the central Apennines Mountains, with their impressive landscape. More about it, you will find in the following ride report. Enjoy …

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 09-Part 2

“THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE”
(Part 02)

The unplanned alternative route was better than estimated : Чернотa and I passed some very scenic areas in the Pindos Mountain Range along our comfy tarmac ride, which led us to the Adriatic Coast / the city Ingoumenitsa, where our ferry to Italy was leaving in the evening. Like mentioned in the first part, some new material brake downs occurred, and also a mayor delay happened …

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 09-Part 1

“THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE”
(Part 01)

You surely remember, that I changed my plans on the eighth day of my journey due to safety reasons related to the unbearable heat and an uncommon noise coming out of the engine. Instead of following the Trans Euro Trail off road further westwards through Northern Greece, I stayed on tarmac and rode from the coast of the Aegean Sea, right through the mighty mountains of Greece to the Adriatic Coast/the harbor of Ingoumenitsa, where the plan was to take the ferry to southern Italy in the night.

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 08-Part 2

“CALCULATIONS”
(Part 2)

The longer a journey with the motorcycle get, the more you will have to adjust your plans. Especially in the event of unexpected happenings. On this day of the “The Breakdown Ride”, which still followed the Greek Trans Euro Trail, I forced myself, for my own safety, to make a major adjustment relating to the incoming route.

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 08-Part 1

“CALCULATIONS”
(Part 1)

The longer a journey with the motorcycle is, the more you will have to adjust your plans. Especially in the event of unexpected happenings. On this day of the “The Breakdown Ride”, which still followed the Greek Trans Euro Trail, I forced myself, for my own safety, to make a major adjustment relating to the incoming route.

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 07-Part 1

“TET GREECE”
(Part 1)

Day seven of my journey started very unpleasant. Members of the Greek Border Police woke me up for an identity check in the very early morning.
After this surprising nightly incident, Чернотa and I followed our planned route and entered the Greek Trans Euro Trail nearby the borderline with Turkey. The whole day we stayed on the Trans Euro Trail and followed it North-westwards along very hard climate conditions.

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 06-Part 1

“NEXT STOP : GREECE
(Part 1)

The name of this journey: “THE BREAKDOWN RIDE” wasn’t taken by accident. The last days of adventurous back country riding, most of the time along the different TET routes took its toll: Two further small breakdowns happened on this riding day along our way to Greece. Here’s the first part of the write-up of this adventurous day …

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 05-Part 1

“SOUTH WESTERN BULGARIA”
(Part 01)

During the third day of following the Trans Euro Trail in Bulgaria, it showed out again, that this country is totally underrated concerning the possibilities, it provides for adventure riders. This day, Чернотa and I followed the TET further through West Bulgaria. After another scenic ride, we passed the capital Sofia and hit for the mountains in the South West of the Country.

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 04-Part 1

“HILLCHAINS OF TET BULGARIA”
(Part 1)

For this adventure I choose the name “The Breakdown Ride” for one reason: Along this journey Чернотa suffered small, and some bigger breakdowns. Also at this day, which followed the Trans Euro Trail in Bulgaria, a repair was needed for making progress. Besides that, the dual sport ride following TET Bulgaria was superb!

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 03-Part 1

TET ROMANIA”

It showed out, that after two days living on the bike, I’m back in my daily “adventure-mode”. I’m not talking about the necessary tasks like managing the shelter life, planning for fuel stops or food-organization, but rather in the ways of my general thinking:
First my thoughts often rotated about the left behind everyday life, like: work, family, private issues, …, and now, whilst traveling, such thoughts have nearly vanished. My thoughts changed and were about the other simple tasks like: gaining distance, keeping to the planned route as close as possible, finding detours, taking some nice pictures and get over all the small and big hurdles, which such a ride is coming with.
In hindsight, this change in my ways of thinking during this adventure (and also other adventures) was like a mental holiday. But to whom do I tell this? Each of us motorcyclists knows the therapeutic effect a proper motorcycle ride brings with it!

But now, enough of this bla bla, here’s the first part of my ride report of day three of the breakdown ride. This time, Чернотa and I rode in a well-balanced dual sport manner along TET Romania into Bulgaria. Enjoy!

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THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 02

“SOME SAND AGAIN”

The plan for day two of my adventure was reaching the foothills of the Romanian West-Carpathian Mountains. Therefore, my black beauty Чернотa and I had to handle first a good amount of the Hungarian-Southern-TET Section, to pass the border between HU and RO and to ride some easy and impressive back country roads along the Romanian and Serbian borderline. This is the ride report about a great dual sport day in the saddle along perfect route- and weather-conditions.

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THE BREAK DOWN RIDE-DAY 01

“FIRST BREAKDOWNS”

“Carefully spoken, my mood was down at the bottom. I was really upset due to the undergone events of this first day of my adventure. First a close call which resulted in a broken fuel line, now some hated electrical problems and the worst: My just fresh washed riding gear was now a wet, muddy and stinky clamshell, which I’ll have to wear for the next two weeks …”

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 10-Part 2

“DOLOMITES”
(Part 2)

This is the continuation of my ride through the famous Dolomite mountains in north-eastern Italy. If you haven’t already read the first part, I recommend you to do so. You will find the first part ➡ HERE ⬅.
So, lets start with the second part of day number ten of my “COVID DETOUR RIDE” within some of the most famous areas of the European
Alps.

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 10-Part 1

“DOLOMITES”
(Part 1)

Due to the gaining pandemic and the uncertain travel conditions I was now, instead of somewhere along the Trans Euro Trail on Sardinia Island, in northern Italy on my way back to Austria. Overall this change of my plans was OK for me.
I was lucky to get not trapped on one of the Mediterranean Islands. Leastwise I had the chance to ride through the famous Dolomite-Mountains, which I haven’t been for a long time.

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 09

“BACK TO MAINLAND”

Travelling along the uncertain pandemic conditions forced me to skip the next intended goal which was Sardinia Island. Instead, shipping from Corsica to Sardinia was the famous “Plan B”. So Чернотa and I took the ferry from Corsica to the Italian mainland-city Livorno, from where our ride back homewards to Austria/Vienna continued.

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 08

“RELAX”

The last night I made the decision to skip my plan of shipping over to Sardinia, which is the Italian neighbor island of Corsica and has also a nice part of TET to offer. The near future of the pandemic development especially in Italy was very uncertain back at the time of my journey. The last thing what I needed was to get trapped on one of the Mediterranean islands. So I booked a ferry ticket from Corsica back to the mainland of Italy for the day after the next day. That meant for the incoming riding day on Corsica Island, that I had more than enough time for getting back to the northern part of Corsica. So I improvised a quick plan for doing some “unusual” sightseeing along my way.

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 07

“TET CORSICA”

Do you know that feeling when you are very upset about the bad weather whilst riding a motorcycle? On the seventh day of my tour my patience was stressed to its limit. The bad weather with rain, very cold temps, snowy mountain peaks and bad view accompanied Чернотa and me nearly the whole day along the TET Corsica …

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 06-2

TET CORSICA”
(Part 2)

This is the continuation of my ride along the Trans Euro Trail Corsica (part of TET France). If you haven’t read already the first part, I recommend you to do so. You will find the first part ➡ HERE ⬅.
So, lets start with the second part of day number six of my “COVID DETOUR RIDE” which followed some nice remote tracks through the mountains of Corsica …

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 06-1

“TET CORSICA”
(Part 1)

Trying to find some sleep on a ferry without having a cabin is in general an uncomfy undertaking. Thinking about myself how smart I am, I made the plan to sedate myself with vodka. That worked very well, and I faded away quickly in my sleeping bag, outspread in a staircase corner, somewhere at an upper deck of the ferry boat to Corsica. But I wasn’t aware about how loud my own snoring noises went, when a proper pillow is missing and alcohol affects the throat muscles. For me that was no big deal, because I don’t get disturbed by my own snoring, but for my direct neighbor at the staircase floor it was. The poor dude aside me had to wake me up three times this night …

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 05

“FRENCH RIVIERA”

Riding along the Route des Grandes Alpes in autumn 2020 was no bad decision. The roads had been nearly empty so far. The same applies to th Côte d’Azur. Usually the coastline of the French Riviera is a pain in the ass to ride due to the crowded mass tourism. This time, during the Covid Outbreak, the ride along the coastline was a constant flow without any remarkable delays, except the high populated area around Monaco and the center of the city Nice.

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 04

ROUTE DES GRANDES ALPES
(Part 2)

During the htird night the temperatures decreased sensitively, surely close to the freezing mark. I woke up around 02:00 in the morning due to a soft breeze of ice-cold wind caressing the sheet of the tent. I went out for a pee and had a look at the impressive clear starlit sky surrounded from the high mountains of the alps. Whilst watching the clearly visible Milky Way, I started shivering. No wonder just wearing underwear and wool socks. Hence, I put on an additional layer and went back into the sleeping bag, which was now operating at its comfort zone limit. I fell asleep again quickly …

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 03

ROUTE DES GRANDES ALPES
(Part 1)

Chased by cold temperatures Чернотa and I pushed forward consequently. The main goal of the riding day number three was reaching the entrance of the “Route des Grandes Alpes” before midday. This way it would be possible to do at least about 1/3 of the “Route des Grandes Alpes”, what was my second goal for this day.
This way it would be possible for us to stay ahead of the incoming first snow in the high alpine regions on the next riding day. That was the plan and probably our last chance this year for passing the incoming, about 2800 meters or 9100 feet high alpine areas!

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 02

“SILVRETTA AND SWITZERLAND”

When I got up in the morning of day number two, I checked the weather forecast and I found out, that I had to finish crossing the alps at least in the next three days. Reason for that: Cold temperatures and first big snow masses in high alpine areas have been announced.
Now I was a bit in a hurry, because the remaining distance along my route to the southern edge of the alps was surely somewhere about 1300 km or 800 mi. Avoiding getting stuck on some of the highest roads within the Alps due to the onset of winter had now grown to my primary priority!

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 01

“LET IT BEGIN”

Two of my main goals of this trip have been: On one hand side the “Route de Grandes Alps” and the other side: the Island “Corsica” within the Mediterranean Sea. From my hometown Vienna, to the entrance point/ferry port of these two goals it needs a ride which is about 1100 km or 700 mi long. So the first two days of the trip I’ll serve you a few impressions of nice places along the way to my first chosen goal, which is the entrance to the famous “Route de Grandes Alps” in Western-France. Lets start!

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THE COVID DETOUR 2020-Day 00

“PLAN C – THE FINAL CHOICE”

In the year 2020 each of us suffered from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us had to postpone or cancel detailed travel plans due to heavy lock down measures or got affected in another way of the pandemic.
My person was no exception. This is the plan behind my 4000 km or 2500 mi Covid-19 dual sport adventure …

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SHELTER & KITCHEN GEAR

ADVENTURE-MOTORCYCLING-CAMPING & KITCHEN-GEAR

When I think back to my first motorcycle journeys, where the plan was to sleep overnight most of the time in a tent, I’m always surprised how much gear I had with me back then about 10 years ago.
The more my riding style changed from simple motorcycle journeying to amateur-dual-sport-adventure-motorcycling, all the more my used gear changed too. As a result the packing list shrunk.
With the following lines I’ll show you my personal dual-adventure-motorcycling compromise, focused on the following parts of gear: tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, stool and kitchen utensils.

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TET HUNGARY 2020 – NORTHERN SECTION – Day 2

“THE LAST PIECE”

After more than 220 km or 135 mi along the Northern TET Section on day one of this ride, I tried to do the rest of it, which equals about 100 km or 60 mi. But, it happened what always happened: Plans are just plans. Due to overnight changed conditions, I had to bypass a big amount of the leftover TET Section. Nevertheless, it was still a nice riding day with my trusty dual sport adventure bike Чернотa …

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TET HUNGARY 2020 – NORTHERN SECTION – Day 1 Part 2

“SWAMP- AND WASTELAND”
Part 2 of 2

This is the sequel of my ride report concerning my first day following the northern section of the Trans Euro Trail in Hungary. If you haven’t already read the first part, I highly recommend to start with it first, before continuing with this part! The first part is available via the following link: “TET HUNGARY 2020 – NORTHERN SECTION – Day 1”.

And now let’s continue with the second part …

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TET HUNGARY 2020 – Northern Section – Day 1 – Part 1

SWAMP- AND WASTELAND
(Part 1)

Back in 2019 I already did the eastern and central part of the Trans Euro Trail (TET) Hungary. Because the Hungarian linesman is very productive, there appeared a few more TET sections in Hungary since.
I had two days off, so I made in Summer 2020 the decision to give the northern section of TET Hungary a try. It is leading from the Three-Country-Border-Point between Hungary, Austria and Slovakia straight to the Hungarian capital Budapest. This is the report about my first day along this short adventure …

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TET HUNGARY 2019-Day 04

“BACK PAIN”

I like the two simple words “Adventure Riding”: “Riding” with a motorcycle is in my opinion the modern incarnation of freedom and the word “Adventure” adds some enjoying small risks into the formula “Adventure Riding”.
This riding day no. 4 showed me well, that sometimes the “Adventure” can be bigger than estimated. In my special case it was a bit too big for my modest riding skills. But fear not, at least I managed the situation …

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TET HUNGARY 2019-Day 03-Part 01

“SANDY TRAILS”
Part 1

Since riding a dualsport motorcycle I haven’t made much experience with sandy riding conditions. My old girl Чернотa and I have been a few times within a sand pit, but there was never a constant closed sand surface for proper practicing. That was one of the reasons why I’ve chosen this part of the TET for this journey. On one hand side it is easy reachable from my hometown, on the other hand side it is providing a very long sand part. Here is the first part about solving my deficit in sand-riding on the third day of our journey along the Hungarian Trans-Trans-Euro-Trail …

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TET HUNGARY 2019-Day 02

“SPIDER BIKE”

Riding along the Trans Euro Trail, or generally riding along remote tracks means, that you have to deal sometimes with unexpected happenings. Often the riding conditions turn worse, a breakdown happens, or other things went odd which you haven’t thought about in advance. On day two of this ride, short after the early mornings entrance to Hungarys Trans Euro Trail, my black beauty and I have been confronted with a combination of bad conditions and unexpected happenings, which let us change the plan. It seems that it’s not possible for to ride a planned route in one piece. But hey, that is what makes my little ride outs adventurous …

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TET HUNGARY 2019-Day 00

“OVERVIEW”

It seems like the TET-Virus got me in 2019! After doing the eastern section of the Polish TET in April, I did just two months later the Hungarian TET. Beforehand I can say, that it was a superb ride which brought me with my six-ninety two times on my own limits whilst trying to follow it. What I learned from this ride is the following thing: Never ever overestimate your own skills! Riding about one quarter below the own maximal abilities would be good personal posture for future rides. More about the origin of this inspiration in the incoming reports of that ride.
Let’s start with the plan behind this adventurous undertaking …

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TET POLAND 2019-Day 04

“STRUCKING HOME”

It was bucketing the whole night. In the very early morning also some distant lightning started and I woke up. A look at the weather forecast was predicting heavy showers all the day in southeastern Poland-the area I was currently riding. With the less knobby back tire such heavy mud like yesterday along Poland’s TET wouldn’t be a pleasure to ride, …

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TET POLAND 2019-Day 03

WET & DIRTY

Already at the end of first day of this ride to Eastern Poland, I had an apprehensive look at the weather forecast. It announced for the third day of my ride incoming heavy showers in the area, which I was going to ride through. Often these forecasts are not reliable, but I knew from the Late Spring Ride 2018 and the Iron Curtain Ride 2018, that I’m not the luckiest guy, when it comes to the factor weather.
Also, on this riding day number three along Polands-Trans-Euro-Trail, the weather was a real pain in the ass …

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TET POLAND 2019-Day 02

“HOGS AND SAND”

Like the first night of the “Iron Side Ride 2018”, I was disturbed during these trips first camping night. Around midnight, I woke up because of a pack of wild hogs, which was rummaging around in the dry leafs around my tent.
The noises they’ve made like: grunting, sniffing and loud breathing had been very frightening to me! I haven’t had any experiences with these animals before. Horror stories of big teethed boars ripping my tent into pieces came up in my mind …

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TET POLAND 2019-Day 01

“RIDE THE LINE”

My plan for this trip was to make plenty of miles on the first and on the last day. Therefore, I created a route from Vienna to the Polands northeastern corner, which was as straight and short as possible. The sooner we would reach the TET, the better it would be! Because I haven’t planned any sights along this route, I was curious what this first day ride along many small and big roads and also some gravel tracks would bring …

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TET POLAND 2019-Day 00

“THE DRAWING”

In the year 2018 I tried with a buddy of mine to ride parts of the Slovenian TET. Due to an accident of my riding buddy and bad weather conditions I was forced to abort this plan. A year later I gave the superb TET Project (Trans Euro Trail) a new chance and planned this ride to the eastern section of Polands TET-Trail. Here’s the simple plan behind this adventure …

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THE IRON SIDE RIDE 2018-Day 03

“WEATHER”

Being alone on an adventure trip is sometimes a risky thing. You have to overthink some decisions twice before making a final choice. Hence, your choice should be a good one, because you have to deal with the consequences on your own.
Most of the time such decisions are related to simple tasks like where to go back on road for the next stop for fuelling up or to buy some food. Often also an estimation is needed regarding if a track is ride able without taking too much peril (slope, dense vegetation, road damage …) for you and your bike.
But none of these listed points is so difficult to calculate in advance like the dynamic factor weather is. On this last riding day of the Iron Side Ride 2018 this unknown factor in the adventure-riding-formula was steadily growing during this day’s riding progress …

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THE IRON SIDE RIDE 2018-Day 02-Part 1

“FORMER LINES”
Part 1

*Scratch*, *scratch*, *scratch*, …, …, *plonnng* *crinkle* *crinkle*
… that are just a few noises which you can hear while lying in a tent, trying to sleep. Often fine needles, leaves or branches from a tree falling down onto the tent sheet, or some insects are rummaging around make this noises.
During the first camping night from the Iron Curtain Ride a mouse or something similar “big” found its way underneath the groundsheet of my tent and caused an uncommon annoying noise. Normally I’m not the person which is paying attention to these noises, but this time that thing had stamina and came back again a few times during the first camping night of this ride. Sadly I wasn’t able to get this little disturber. -_-

But now enough of this, here’s the first part of the ride report of the second day of the Iron Side Ride 2018 …

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THE IRON SIDE RIDE 2018-Day 00

“THE UNDERTAKING”

During one of my day rides in 2017 I was following a short part of the Iron Curtain in eastern Austria. There I got the idea that it would be interesting to plan a ride along this former border, which found its end 1989, when the USSR began to fall apart.
So the plan for the Iron Side Ride 2018 was made, which followed the remnants of this former, continent dividing and human made continental breach. Here’s the story behind this undertaking …

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THE LATE SPRING RIDE 2018-Day 04

“BACK”

Plans are always good, but most of the time they didn’t work. This ride showed me that fact well. First the accident of my riding and support buddy, second: due to the heavy winter remaining and route blocking snow in Friuli’s heights and here on the last day of the ride: the real bad weather. But hey! No reason for wailing around –> When things go wrong the adventure starts and each step out of the comfort zone is gaining the riders abilities.

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THE LATE SPRING RIDE 2018-Day 02/1

“THE INCIDENT”
Part 1

The plan was to ride with a buddy some Slovenian Gravel, the Mangart Pass Road, two Italian high alpine connection trails and parts of the Slovenian Trans Euro Trail aka TET. The thing with plans is that sometimes they aren’t working as estimated.
The Late Spring Ride 2018 showed me well that sometimes a whole plan can go awry … .

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THE LATE SPRING RIDE 2018-Day 00

“THE IDEA”

This is the ride report of another short adventure, which a good friend of mine and I undertook in the late spring of the year 2018 with our 690tys.
With the beginning of 2018 I started to plan a new short adventure with its focus within the alpine areas around north-eastern Italy and western Slovenia. Especially the part in Slovenia was interesting due to some parts of the Trans European Trail have been included in this plan. Here’s a short overview of the planned route

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2017-THE LONG WEEKEND RIDE IN THE ALPS-DAY 04

“HOMEWARDS”

Each trip finally find its end. And so did the “Long Weekend Trip in the Alps” on the riding day number four.
Staying the last night in my homeland was nice. It started with the first views of the familiar surrounding, then the parental home, the good food and last but not least the most important point: The great sleep. I don’t know why but nearly nowhere else I sleep that well. Strange. So the last day of this ride began quite well rested …

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2017-THE LONG WEEKEND RIDE IN THE ALPS-DAY 03

“TIROL”

During my rides I often try to implement something special. On day number three of “The Long Weekend Ride in the Alps” my black beauty and I aimed for the highest point of this trip – another cable car peak station in Tirol, which is known from one of the latest James Bond movies. Besides an old construction track there is no official road leading up to this station, but that shouldn’t be a problem with a proper dual-sport-adventure-motorcycle. Here’s the story about the whole day and climbing with a motorcycle to one of the highest vehicle-reachable points in the Austrian Alps.

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2017-THE LONG WEEKEND RIDE IN THE ALPS-DAY 02/1

“UPWARDS”
Part 1

“Overwhelming!”

There is not much more to say about this idea.
The second day of the “The Long Weekend Ride in the Alps” was a real eye opener. It showed pretty well what is possible in over regulated Austria apart from well known tourism sights and often dense crowded tourism areas.

Have a look …

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2017-THE LONG WEEKEND RIDE IN THE ALPS-DAY 01

“START”

For a little breakout of the everyday life I like it to go for a ride. Sometimes smaller ones – mostly for a whole day – but sometimes also for bigger ones – like this ride here.
The most important thing for me about such rides is to leave behind the usual annoying stuff and do something exiting, challenging and uncertain. In my opinion that is what makes life worth living. This ride is such a little escape from my daily routine …

Continue reading 2017-THE LONG WEEKEND RIDE IN THE ALPS-DAY 01

2017-THE LONG WEEKEND RIDE IN THE ALPS-DAY 00

THE PLAN

In May/June 2017 I’ve done a big dual-adventure-ride along the Carpathian and Balkan Region for ten days and nearly 5000km or 3100mi. Only two months later the desire for another little adventure was again itching.
It wasn’t long before the next ride was planned. On a long weekend at the end of August 2017 I took the opportunity and went with my trusty black beauty Чернотa right into the Austrian- and a short piece of the Northern Italian-Alps.

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 10

“HOME”

The last day of the Project Carpathian Balkan was a short one. To my hometown Vienna only a few km have been left over.
On one hand side I was happy that the trip found on this day its end. I was pushing hard each day of this tour to make some mileage and was a bit exhausted because of that; on the other hand I was looking forward to coming back to my beloved ones. As often in life there are two sides on the same coin. If I hadn’t pushed so hard the last days, I won’t be now so close at home … . Interesting thoughts! But hey, I’m not the homesick guy! Believe me! ^_^

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 09

“NORTHWARDS”

Only two riding days are left until this trip – “The Project Carpathian Balkan” – is over. Two days earlier than planned. Memo to me: Next time ride and hurry less! But I know myself and I don’t think that I will take a slower pace in the future. That’s not related to my being, which wants to use the given time properly.
So my exhausting riding style, with a high amount of mileage each day will likely stay with me. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. Overall I really like to see the landscape passing by, sitting on the back of my trusty black beauty. The time is flying away …

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 08

“THE ADRIATIC COAST”

Spending a few days out only equipped with a tent and the stuff which is stow-able on a dual sport motorcycle always make me wondering about how less gear is needed for a trip like this. We are living in a world of things. In this world we are often defining our self through these things, which seems somehow stupid. Isn’t it? Whatever: After a long ride on the day before through the enduro paradise Albania, this day was a relaxing ride along nice coastal scenery.

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 07

“ALBANIA”

​Albania is a great country. Especially for little adventure riders like me, which were trying to find the small adventure with their motorcycle out there. But no planned remote trips at this journey for me and Чернотa.

Because I’ve already done parts of Macedonia and Albania a few years before, I used both countries on this trip just for transit. Few people would now think that’s sad, but I don’t think that it is. Due to the usage of mostly back country roads also a transit ride through Albania has its highlights. Trust me, you will find them further down below … ^_^

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 06

“BULGARIA”

Memo to me: Don’t use a Swiss knife with a foldable blade (and no mechanical catch) for drilling holes into the sturdy fabric of a soft luggage bag. While doing this the day before to repair the bag, I put too much pressure on the knife to get a hole in it. Due to a bad move while drilling, the knife collapsed while my hand was tightly closed around it’s handle. So my right index finger got cut between the collapsing blade and the handle. Instantly I’ve stretched quick the instantly heavily bleeding finger above my head. In this position I ran to the motorcycle for the first aid kit. With it, some additional plasters from the luggage and some electrical tape I made a working pressure bandage for the incoming night …

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 05

STRATEGICA

​While planning the Project-Carpathian-Balkan-Tour I wasn’t sure how much gravel tracks I should do per day. So I set the focus on some for me important points along the planned route and tried to make a well-balanced mix of on- and off-road riding per day.
This day my personal highlight was surely the “Strategica”. When I first read about it on the internet, this about 50km or 30mi long hilly off road track amazed me. So it was instantly added to my plan for the PCB-route.
Finally, on this riding day I put the so called “Strategica” to the test …

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 04

“ROMANIA”

Due to the little odyssey the day before (closed border, big detour, corrupt police) I was a bit behind my schedule. But day four has been an easy on, less gravel, surprisingly good asphalt and many good views were offered.
The last time before this trip I was in the year 2013 in Romania. Now, 4 years later I have to say the streets overall got better. It also looked for me like the people have more money. Not comparable with the wealthy west but the progress was clearly noticeable. Keep it up!
Now, enough of this blabla! Let’s start into this beauty of a riding day:

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 03

“UKRAINE”

Memo to me and all the other wild campers out there: When crawling plastered into the tent, don´t forget to snap off grass stems which could get in contact with the tent. Because of that I was held awake surely for about 30 minutes.
The wind was gently pushing grass stems to the outer hull of the tent. The noise in the tent sounded like a animal which was rummaging around in the close surrounding. It took some time until I was able to find out that the grass stems are the source of the noise. Besides that, I slept well, which was necessary: The incoming day in the Ukraine was a lot more exciting than expected …

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 02

EASTWARDS

​Somewhere in Slovakia – it´s short before midnight:
I am wrapped in my sleeping bag and was awoken by the sound of a distant engine noise. It seemed to get louder. Suddenly I see light beams touching the tent!!! o_O
At latest now I am alerted. The engine noise is coming closer. The light beam is now permanently pointing at the tent. The noise is now so close to the tent that the vibrations of the big diesel engine where clearly noticeable. Probably a big off road vehicle, I am not sure. I thinking to myself: “WTF is happening now here in the middle of Slovakia’s nowhere?” I slowly open the zip of the tent door and look directly into the bright light of a flash light …

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 01

“LET’S START!”

As always before such a trip, I was a bit nervous the night before. I was thinking about answers to questions, which i can´t know before i finished the planned trip. Will everything go well? Where would I stay over the night? Is the planned route doable alone? Do you have packed all the things which are necessary? So why I think about it again and again and destroy therefore the refreshing night rest before the incoming adventure? I don´t know … .
The only thing I know is that there will be some nights during the trip, where I surely will sleep like a stone, due to the exciting incoming adventures out there. So let´s start!

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2017-PROJECT CARPATHIAN BALKAN-Day 00

“THE IDEA”

In the winter time from 2016 to 17 I was thinking about a longer journey with Чернотa. In the summer 2016 I already did a nice trip to the 5 highest legal ridable points of the Alps (Col de Sommeiler, Col de la Bonette, Col de Ilseran, Stelvio and Col de Agnel). That trip was about 3500km / 2200mi long mostly on well built streets. Loads of curves, nice wild camping, but a less amount of gravel is a short summary of this trip. In 2017 I intended to do some more challenging. After a few glances at the terrain maps the next adventure quickly was found. Start and ending in Austria with a few assorted off road passages:

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