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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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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THE MOSTVIERTEL RIDE

DAY RIDE 2020_01

A new year means a few new day rides. I started in 2018 with some trail scouting through Austrias federal state “Lower Austria”. Lower Austria is divided into 4 quarters. In Spring 2020 it was time to ride, after the already explored quarters “Weinviertel” and “Industrieviertel” the Quarter: “Mostviertel.” This is the report about this day of riding …

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KTM 690 ENDURO – 100.000 km / 60.000 mi without a breakdown!

“TRIBUTE TO AN UNDERESTIMATED THUMPER”

It’s done: My black beauty Чернота crushed the 100.000 km or 60.000 mi mark!

Back in 2014, when I first informed myself about the 690ty, I learned two things: The 690ty is 1.) a unicorn and 2.) it’s very unreliable. I can’t confirm this. My black beauty Чернота proofed the opposite … .

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