Been looking forward to this trip for a whole lifetime. Land at Heathrow on the 7th of May, a day at my brother's then to Belfast, Irish in Oz has kindly offered to pick us up from the airport on the 9th. Got some accommodation in Portrush. Watch the Northwest 200 then pretty much two weeks in Ireland before heading to the Isle of Man for practice week at the TT. That's where the plans finish, need to get off the Island but am figuring it should be easier to get off than on. If not we'll be sleeping under a silver tinfoil blanket at a bus stop.
Looking at buying a bike in the UK, sniffing round a secondhand 650 V-Strom with top box and panniers to continue our journey. The idea is to sell it when we're done at the end of July.
So it's our intention to head for the continent. We would like visit as many places as we can with our intention to seek out places not necessarily on the beaten track.
This is where you blokes come in. I have spoken with GSX Barmy around some of the requirements needed to take a bike over to Europe. If you guys have any advice for us it would be greatly appreciated. Places of interest to visit, places you may recommend staying clear of, you could ask your wives or lady friends about places they have enjoyed visiting. I have been informed by management that it's not all about me, so your input is invited.
I'd enjoy putting some faces to the names I communicate with on this forum so if you would like to PM me your contact details who knows we might be able to meet up for a drink or a bite to eat.
:cheers:
Visiting Portugal too or only up north?
As you know I've had several trips of a couple of weeks around Europe, I must have hit about 16 countries by now.
There is so much to do and see, some areas are good for the joy of riding a motorcycle, and many places (e.g. city centres) which are good to visit but not much fun on a bike.
I'm sure that if I put my mind to it I could sort out a mega plan for you, but time will still be limited and only you can know the sort of thing you want to accomplish.
If I had to recommend just one thing in Europe it would be to have a few nights in the Mosel Valley in Germany. There's a trip report from 2017 on here somewhere, you may have read it.
I just haven't to round to making my own plans for a tour this year yet and I may end up just doing a week in the Mosel myself, let me know if that may be of interest.
Pete.
Quote from: Jeykey on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, 04:23 AMVisiting Portugal too or only up north?
Would like to visit Portugal but not sure I can enter Spain to get there unless things have changed. I'm not covid vaxed.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, 05:03 AMQuote from: Jeykey on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, 04:23 AMVisiting Portugal too or only up north?
Would like to visit Portugal but not sure I can enter Spain to get there unless things have changed. I'm not covid vaxed.
OK. If you plan to come down south PM me.
Thank you Jeykey will do for sure :onya:
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, 05:03 AMQuote from: Jeykey on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, 04:23 AMVisiting Portugal too or only up north?
Would like to visit Portugal but not sure I can enter Spain to get there unless things have changed. I'm not covid vaxed.
You should be fine.
This is our official advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, 09:21 PMBeen looking forward to this trip for a whole lifetime. Land at Heathrow on the 7th of May, a day at my brother's then to Belfast, Irish in Oz has kindly offered to pick us up from the airport on the 9th. Got some accommodation in Portrush. Watch the Northwest 200 then pretty much two weeks in Ireland before heading to the Isle of Man for practice week at the TT. That's where the plans finish, need to get off the Island but am figuring it should be easier to get off than on. If not we'll be sleeping under a silver tinfoil blanket at a bus stop.
Looking at buying a bike in the UK, sniffing round a secondhand 650 V-Strom with top box and panniers to continue our journey. The idea is to sell it when we're done at the end of July.
So it's our intention to head for the continent. We would like visit as many places as we can with our intention to seek out places not necessarily on the beaten track.
This is where you blokes come in. I have spoken with GSX Barmy around some of the requirements needed to take a bike over to Europe. If you guys have any advice for us it would be greatly appreciated. Places of interest to visit, places you may recommend staying clear of, you could ask your wives or lady friends about places they have enjoyed visiting. I have been informed by management that it's not all about me, so your input is invited.
I'd enjoy putting some faces to the names I communicate with on this forum so if you would like to PM me your contact details who knows we might be able to meet up for a drink or a bite to eat.
:cheers:
If youre still looking for a decent vstrom my old ones up for sale by a a shop named motorbikes4all. Got 68000 on it and still purrs like a new one. Done a few bits on it too and its only up for sale cheap.
I just found my dream bike... Search for yours https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/202304045956050?advertising-location=at_bikes&atmobcid=soc5&fromsra&include-delivery-option=on&make=Suzuki&model=V-Strom%20650&price-to=5000
Thanks Sam will check it out :cheers:
Thanks Hooli :onya:
Not long to go now. Wife is on the first dummy run packing. Yours truly has an untouched case in the corner. It's smaller than one Givi side pannier ??
Unfortunately despite my best endeavors I cannot get motorcycle insurance for a non resident. Bit disappointed by that. You can just rock up here, probably need an international license, buy a bike and head for the hills with no insurance.
We are just going to 'wing it' the cost of hiring a bike with insurance excess cover is a bit radical for a month or so. Think we will do bus, train, fly and rent a bike for two or three days when we feel like it. Be neet to ride some of the Alpine Passes.
Doesn't seem likely I will catch up with 'GSXKing' which is a bit of a shame. We will both be in Ireland they are on an airport stopover in Dublin, we will be in Belfast. Looking forward to checking out Joey's museum.
Well today was leaving day. Now not so. We have had to cancel our trip. We are quite distraught, even typing this makes me feel quite sick. I've been a diabetic since I was 24 and have issues associated with that but more recently I have been to the quack because of a shortness of breath and fatigue. I have not been able to get an angiogramme and speaking with a couple of mates, one of which nearly died but who have had similar symptoms resulting in them having stents. So on doctors advice have decided not to travel. I know I could not walk too far like I am and it would not be fair to run the risk of leaving Louise standing in Ireland while I get jump started. Now I have a day cancelling and trying to minimize our financial losses.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Saturday, 06 May 2023, 07:02 AMWell today was leaving day. Now not so. We have had to cancel our trip. We are quite distraught, even typing this makes me feel quite sick. I've been a diabetic since I was 24 and have issues associated with that but more recently I have been to the quack because of a shortness of breath and fatigue. I have not been able to get an angiogramme and speaking with a couple of mates, one of which nearly died but who have had similar symptoms resulting in them having stents. So on doctors advice have decided not to travel. I know I could not walk too far like I am and it would not be fair to run the risk of leaving Louise standing in Ireland while I get jump started. Now I have a day cancelling and trying to minimize our financial losses.
That's a shit, but obviously health comes first.
All the best. Trips and travel can be rebooked and done later, health isn't something to put on hold.
All the best to you.
??? Dang Col that is a real shame however I concur with Tony health first 🤞🤞🤞 hopefully you can reschedule 🙏🙏🙏
Absolutely health has to come first - but a real shame you've had to cancel - hopefully your insurance will cover the costs and you can re-book
Wasnt meant to happen Mate. Get well first,re book. Such a shame after all your planning.
That's a real bummer Col, hope you get well soon.
Thanks guys.
You blokes will understand how I feel about missing the bikes but it was so much more than that. Louise was packed and sorted she would hop out of bed everyday recently reminding me how many days to go. I guess things happen for a reason. Fortunately I didn't book any more than to the end of TT practice week, not even our departure from the Isle of Man.
A heads up..... I will never again book on EasyJet. Have been trying to contact them as under some medical circumstances I could get a refund or rebook. Their system says download medical declaration form, despite being highlighted it is inactive, I try elsewhere on their site and it keeps saying "please enter a valid email address" yet everyday I am getting marketing and promotional material with reminders to that same email address. To be fair Air New Zealand is proving to be no better.
Yes I have insurance but as a diabetic of damn near 40 years that is full of exclusions too.
Still the "Classic TT" is in August and as a mate pointed out Goodwood is on about the same time.
Let's get well and see. :cheers:
Get well soon mate, trips can be rebooked.
Feel gutted for ya mate. Hope you can get there in the future, but gotta get the body in better nic first. :onya:
That's a real pisser Col, I hope you get well enough to try again later in the year. Easyjet is cheap for a reason, no frills, no customer service. I hope you get it sorted.
That's a bummer Col - we will still be here to greet you when you come - take care
I'll cancel the alert issued to border farce then
Havn't mentioned to the couple who we rented their cottage from but... if anyone might be interested in going over for practice week I can mention it to them. If you are keen, be snappy.
Have spoken with the couple that own the cottage and they are keen to re let it. They are doing Europe in a campervan for the TT fortnight. 26th May to 3rd June then it's rented for race week. Reasonable rate plus feed their cats. Sound like lovely people. Cottage is close to the airport in Castletown.
Sitting in the Cardiology Dept at Tauranga Hospital waiting for an angiogram. Hopefully will get the lines flushed and the pump serviced by the end of the day :cheers:
Good luck Col hopefully you won't need a rebore 😂😂😂🙏🙏🙏
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Wednesday, 09 August 2023, 06:12 AMSitting in the Cardiology Dept at Tauranga Hospital waiting for an angiogram. Hopefully will get the lines flushed and the pump serviced by the end of the day :cheers:
ive had 3 heart attacks, but after having a stent fitted im now spot on with near perfect blood pressure, so if you need one the chances are you will be fine. good luck :onya:
Tony.
All the Best Col. A bit of a clean out, some new hoses, be like new :onya:
Well my hope of stents and a flush appears to have escalated to a major rebuild, I think that's what I'd call a triple bypass. Was told if i needed a stent they'd do it at the same time, seems i need three.
Kinda pleased that we didn't go away.
Great you blokes that have had stents are doing well :onya:
Triple bypass, that's a big one Col. Have they given you a timeframe when you'll go in?
Just a bit more work. Will be good. A Mate of mine had quad 25 yrs ago, still goes flat out. Drives tow trucks, runs caravan park, more energy than me. Same for you.
Any update Col ? :rolleyes:
No lads, no more news. Hoping to get some answers this week.
Nice day out on the bike yesterday so took my mind off medical shite :onya:
On the bike Col, thats real good.
Yeah on the bike is ok Greg. Don't think I'd do a track day though