Mick Hoey: Around the World Journey on a VFR

Around the World Journey
http://www.mhoey.eu

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3124321055_ac02333f47_m.jpg" align="left"><img src="https://2img.net/i/fa/empty.gif" align="left" height="160" width="10">Ο Μick Hoey ειναι ενας Δανος μοτοσυκλετιστης με ενα μεγαλο ονειρο που πολλοι μοιραζομαστε. Να ταξιδεψει μια μερα ολο τον κοσμο πανω στη μηχανη του. Χωρις προγραμμα, χωρις συγκεκριμενο πλανο επιστροφης...

Σε αντιθεση με τους περισσοτερους απο εμας που θελουμε μεν αλλα ...δεν, ο Mick εκανε το βημα και πηρε την μεγαλη αποφαση!
Πριν μερικους μηνες, αφησε το διαμερισμα του, παραιτηθηκε απο την δουλεια του ως επιτυχημενος τεχνικος αεροσκαφων και ξεκινησε την προετοιμασια μαζευοντας πληροφοριες, σπονσορες και υλικο για τις χωρες που θα επισκεφτει, και εφτιαξε ενα πολυ ομορφο blog για να μοιραζεται με τον κοσμο τα νεα του.

Αυτο που κανει το ταξιδι ακομα πιο ενδιαφερον για εμας ειναι η μηχανη του: μια VFR 750 του '96!

Τον Mick τον γνωρισα μεσα απο το blog του και συντομα γιναμε φιλοι. Του ειπα για το forum μας και μου υποσχεθηκε οτι θα γραφτει μελος, και οπως ειδα σημερα το εκανε!
Συντομα θα γραψει και ο ιδιος στο forum, και θα γραφει κατα καιρους τα νεα του απο το μεγαλο ταξιδι.

Ηδη κανονισαμε και οταν με το καλο ερθει στην Ελλαδα θα επικοινωνησουμε και του υποσχεθηκα μια θερμη υποδοχη απο ΟΛΑ τα μελη μας και βεβαια και καποια ωραια εκδρομη μαζι του για να δει τις ομορφιες της πατριδας μας!!



Μick, keep on riding!

A dream takes shape
August 4th, 2008

<img src="http://www.mhoey.eu/wp-content/uploads/blog/africaflag.jpg" align="right" hspace="5">Αυτη η τρελη ιδεα ξεκινησε πριν 2 χρονια, το 2006 - τοσο μου πηρε να αποφασισω να κανω κατι για αυτο το μεγαλο μου ονειρο. Την τελικη αποφαση την πηρα αργα τον Γεναρη του 2008. Αρχισα να σχεδιαζω το ταξιδι αλλα δεν ειχα πει σε κανεναν ακομα τιποτα. Συντομα ομως οι φιλοι και συγγενεις το εμαθαν -δεν θα μπορουσα να το κρατησω μυστικο!
Οποτε, εδω ειμαστε, να σχεδιαζουμε ενα ταξιδι γυρω απο τον κοσμο πανω σε μια μηχανη που κανονικα χρησιμοποιω για να πηγαινω στη δουλεια μου και να κανω διακοπες το καλοκαιρι. Θα καταφερει να ολοκληρωσει το ταξιδι; Μονο ο χρονος θα δειξει.
Τωρα και για τους 8 μηνες που απομενουν πριν φυγω απο τη Δανια και παω νοτια προς Γιβραλταρ, εχω ενα σωρο πραγματα να κανω, αλλα βλεπω σιγα σιγα οτι το ονειρο μου παιρνει σχημα. Δεν υπαρχει γυρισμος - Αφρικη σου ρχομαι!

Αυτες τις μερες αδειαζω το διαμερισμα μου και μετακομιζω στους γονεις μου. Καποια πραγματα πρεπει να πουληθουν για το ονειρο, συμπεριλαμβανομενου του 18χρονου αυτοκινητου μου...

Ας ευχηθουμε λοιπον ΟΛΟΙ μαζι στον φιλο μας Mick, ενα "γεματο" και ασφαλες ταξιδι που θα τον φερει πισω στο σπιτι του, και τους δικους του ανθρωπους, γεματο "δυνατες" και αξεχαστες εμπειριες και πανω απο ολα Υγιη

ΑΥΤΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ!!!!!!!!!



Καλή τύχη!!! Εμείς θα είμαστε εδώ και ελπίζω ΣΥΣΣΩΜΟΙ οι έλληνες VFRάδες θα μαζευτούμε για μια πραγματικά ΘΕΡΜΗ υποδοχή!!!!

Final approach
April 21st, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3455916843_78023626f8_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>Now that the final countdown has begun, which means ten days plus a couple of hours before I’m leaving my home, this also means that I will soon stop harassing you guys with all my planning stuff, and get the real thing started, all the adventures there are waiting for me out there, good as bad ones. I’m anxious to start on this adventure journey, which not only you, but also I have been longing for, in so long time.
I have straightened out some of the last things. Still awaiting the “Carnet” and the last part (Puig windscreen) from my sponsor MC Topgear. Poul from MC Topgear supplied me with a new Bagster tank bag, which arrived the other day. Nice shape that fits my need in size. Just ordered some batteries I needed for my equipment. I also purchased a book about the technique of taking digital photo’s so I can get better at taking photo’s with my “Single Lens Reflex” camera (is this possible?). So now I should be ready regarding the equipment.

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3535/3459850975_296fe254e8_m.jpg" align="left" hspace=5>Yesterday I received in my mailbox a map of España , kindly send by Brad from Murcia in south of Spain. He offered me his assistance by showing me a good curved route in the Pyrenées, which I’m planning to go for. I also told him about my planned route in Spain, so the members of the Spanish VFR Club have an idea of my plans, so both they and I have the opportunity to hook up.
Should any others be interested in meeting me on the way down through Europe (brand of motorcycle doesn’t matter - you don’t even have to be the happy owner of a motorcycle), please let me know. I will be happy to meet as many of you as possible. It is the dream that matters.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/3460311725_eab6dd302a_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>Wednesday 22th of April I have arranged a meet with the agent of Hyperpro (Jan Krohn) here in DK, to help me with the final adjustments with the front and rear suspensions (I know I bragged about the maintenance was almost done on the bike). Did some measurements on the suspension here in the weekend and found out that the front of the bike was acceptable, but the rear damper was in lack of preload. “SAG” (how much the motorcycle goes down in the suspensions with its own or at a given weight, such as luggage and rider - of cause within max. load of what the bike is capable of) was too high with full weight on the bike. This problem will be fixed on Wednesday together with a rebuild of the front legs. New glider bushings, packing’s, seals and oil, (Hyperpro springs already installed). So the suspension is removed from the bike at the moment and I will bring it to Jan Krohn (Hyperpro).
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3462174387_1e08de87ce_m.jpg" align="left" hspace=5>Today 21st of April I will visit an old friend and former coworker from SAS Technical Services together with some other coworkers and friends. We have all been invited to his place for breakfast. You don’t say no to such an invitation ;oP . This also gives me a chance to say goodbye to the guys (photos will be added from the meet up with the guys).
Tyres have arrived both in Nijmegen, The Netherlands and in Murcia, España with success.
Other than what I mentioned above I don’t have any more things to get done, except than pack ”Ussel Mammut” with my gear, fire up the V4 engine to hear the roar of the Staintune exhaust and the gear driven cams which are music in my ears. I’m pretty anxious of the day to start this adventure journey.
In other words/ language: ”Det skall bli den bäste resan i mitt liv” - Sorry guys, but this is only for the Swedish/ Danish readers. You won’t understand a thing of the Swedish comedy - the language is like Russian! Ups gotta go now, have an early appointment today - breakfast, remember?

Ready to Rock ‘n’ Roll!
April 28th, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/3482415469_601a44e43d_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>Today I can say that I’m ready to leave safe home, to head out on the road a face a new chapter of my life. Bike is serviced and packed, so am I. All things a set and ready to go. Big things are about to take shape and place, I’m heading out in the big world on my own to see all the great things, and also to mention all you good people I will bump into. You have all been brilliant during my preparations, thanks!
Got my last - (yes you read correct) document today, the “Carnet de Passage en Douane” remember this important document, that can save you from some of the trouble’s/ hassle’s regarding import duties on vehicles in countries where this can’t be avoided. Now that this is in house, I have some time to go through the gear and all my documents, to see if I remembered all the things? And the most important thing, say “auf wiedersehen” to my family and friends.
I’ve been ill for the last 4 days with a cold and fever, still coughing… might be the pigs flue ;oP So now I’m filling my body with all sorts of vitamins you could possibly imagine.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3465950133_ff5f2e7a0f_m.jpg" align="left" hspace=5>The bike has been upgraded once more, regarding the suspension, to deal with the weight of me and the gear. I spend a day in the company of my friend and sponsor Jan Krohn (Hyperpro) to modify, replace some wear parts, plus making some adjustments on the front and rear suspension of the VFR. So now the preload of the springs are within the limits, and it feels and handles a lot better now.
Did the final test ride today, both on the local roads and the motorway was tested with fully weight,me in Rukka suit, and the new Sidi boots. The result was good, it feels stable.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3484098326_b8e9bdf8db_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>My mom insisted that I should have a mobile phone with me, though I was against it, but she persuaded me. If this will give her peace in mind, so okay, I will take it with me. I have promised her to write when I have the opportunity. I will add the number under the section “mhoey” together with all the other contact info’s, so you also have the possibility of contacting me in this way, in the future. But have patience, the mobile number will not be valid before mid of May.
To finish this post, which is hard, because I always have a lot on my mind. I have invited some motorcyclist’s/ friends to come on 1st of May to get something to eat, drink and to escort me the first couple of kilometres of the journey. All good people are welcome to drop by at around 10.00 am. Address is: Mortel Alle 35, 2791 Dragør. We will leave here at around 12.00 o’clock. Look forward to see you all…
My first destination will be Odense, Funen, Denmark to meet my friend and his wife. I have arranged with him, that we will go through all my gear, to sort out for the last time, which things are needed and which are waist of energy to bring along. Always a good idea to have another to look at things with a pair of fresh eyes, and this dude is looking forward to it, you can bet on that ;op . I will stay for a couple of days in Odense to have a good time and say goodbye to some of my friends. Last thing to say: Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines…
PS: More parts on the way to you Matheu (Dr. Nijmegen). My sponsor behind the Puig touring windscreen and Bagster tank bag - MC Topgear wasn’t able to get the Puig touring screen in time, so Poul from the store has been so kind to offer me to send it to Nijmegen, free of charge. Thanks Poul. It should be there in next week approximately. You can’t imagine how much I look forward to start this adventure!
Next story is on Friday 1st of May 2009, cheers to you all…

Let the journey begin
May 2nd, 2009

<a href="http://www.mhoey.eu/photos/photo/3492916414/departure-from-home.html"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3492916414_1fd7ce8fac_m.jpg" align="left" hspace=5></a>Thanks for a fantastic day, on the very first day of my journey. Right now I’m sitting here in friends company, enjoying a Martini and thinking back on a good start. Though I did not travel far on day one, I can say that I experienced many things on this lovely start. Thanks to friends for showing up, to wave me farewell. Some all the way from mid Sealand, Aalborg and the South of Funen.
The people who showed up on my departure day was: Christer Green Henriksen, Sonnich Johannesen, Knud Dam, Bo Nielsen, Dennis Hellan Pedersen, Mikael Kristensen, Sanne (neighbour) and the Reverend (aka. Jacob). Also a big thanks to my mother and father for the support and help you offered me today, I love you both.
You might wonder how I feel right now? I can say that things haven’t really struck me yet, but time and conditions will change this. I’m ready to face all the challenges and exiting experiences waiting for me just around the corner, or over the next hill side.
<a href="http://www.mhoey.eu/photos/photo/3492909876/first-time-i-met-hans-was-in-skagen-the-northern-part-of-jutland.html"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3492909876_c9812189b0_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5></a>After reaching Odense to Hassan and Kasia, we unloaded the bike and got us self a good dinner with Kasia’s parents from Poland who also are staying. This was not the end of the day. Hassan and I started the bikes (he also rides a VFR) and headed out to the local motorcycle club here in Odense, called “Rotterne - MC Midgaard” (the Rats). Stayed there for a couple of hours to see the new club residence of theirs and had a nice evening. German members was on a visit, and thay have invited me to drop by the local club in Kiel, Germany in the start of next week. So this will be my first possibility to have accomodation in a foreing country on my ride down to Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
This was just a short update from me, you will get more of the good stuff shortly. The Honda is performing just fine. Now I will get my stuff packed and start up the bike, to head for Morud, where my friend Jens lives, we have both been invited to dinner this evening at a club member…
The GPS log of the day. (Click the link for more details).
<a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=193558">Departure day CPH - Odense, Funen, Denmark at EveryTrail</a><br /><iframe src="http://www.everytrail.com/iframe2.php?trip_id=193558&width=415&height=300" marginheight=0 marginwidth=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no width=415 height=300></iframe><br />Map created by EveryTrail:<a href="http://www.everytrail.com">GPS Geotagging</a>

Are you hungry for more?
May 8th, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3498664636_6223e94da9_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>After a couple of days in Odense in good friends company, with barbecue and saying farewell to Hassan, Jens and their friends. I packed the bike a headed North to visit Miss Viborg, a good friend of mine ;oP Of cause this was not the intended route, but what the heck, you never let a nice lady down. Stayed there for one day seeing Hald Lake and the Dollerup Hills, one of many spectacular sites in Denmark, I can be proud of as a Dane. My friend Marlene and I went on the VFR around the local areas of Viborg, visiting her mom and a German cemetary, as on this day it was the Danish Liberation day 4th May 1945, exactly 64 years ago that the WW2 ended.
<img src="http://http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/3511399482_c636db413c_m.jpg" align="left" hspace=5>On the 5th of May I went from Viborg, Denmark south down to the German border, to go to Kiel. The German department of the motorcycle club, Rotterne Midgaard MC had invited me to overnight in their clubhouse, as this is part of the “One day rule in every country”.
Reaching Kiel, after driving the hole day, I park the bike in front of the clubhouse, and got a beer right away. Nothing better than a cold beer after a long day in the saddle. Afterwards the guys helped me unload the VFR, and park it in their new build shelter. I finally got installed with all my belongings. After a good solid meal, we spend the whole evening drinking beers and talking. Thanks to all the guys in Rotterne Midgaard MC Kiel, Germany.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3511308464_7b03f44f70_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5> It was a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to stay in your club in Kiel on my first night in a foreign country. I will remember you guys for ever. I woke up to a nice breakfast and coffee supplied by Dietsch and his friends from the club.
Day 6 of my journey I was heading to a good friend of mine, Matheu Swartjes, living close to Nijmegen, in a small village called Beuningen in The Netherlands. Drove from Kiel around noon, going through the north-west part of Germany. First thing to get on arrival was a Wieckse Witte bier straight from the barrel.
So now I’m in Beuningen, The Netherlands in good hands and well supplied by my friend Matheu. He has also sponsored me a new hard drive and memory for the Medion Akoya laptop. He cleaned the laptop, before staring on replacing the memory. It was pretty messy inside, after one year of use, sorry Mat’. <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3511603824_6a2c0c23ae_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>I will do some different maintenance on the bike, like checking oil, and also planning on changing the tyre’s as well. I will stay here until Monday or Tuesday next week.
After that I will head for Belgium, to do an overnight there, before going for the Germany border again.
The clock is now 02.05 am. Matheu and I spend the day in the city, where we walked around, him waiting for me all the time, as I had to take “some” pictures ;oP
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3354/3510810667_be2ec4a754_m.jpg" align="left" hspace=5>We enjoyed a good meal and a weiss bier. Did some grocery shopping, and finally went home for a nice cup of coffee and of cause one more weiss bier.
The exact route, taking me from Odense, Funen to Beuningen, The Netherlands can been seen on, click the link: EveryTrail.com .
More news to come from Beuningen, The Netherlands. Until then Matheu and I say Prost!

Του το εγραψα και του Μικ πριν λιγο... Τον ζηλευω ...θανασιμα που αυτος κοβει βολτες στην Ευρωπη καβαλα στη μηχανη του και εγω ειμαι χωμενος σε ενα γραφειο και πηζω πανω απο συμβολαια και spreadsheets!

Τι να γινει ομως... Ετσι ειναι αυτα! Αντε και στα δικα μας καποια στιγμηηηηη!

Nieuws uit Beuningen
May 10th, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/3515668362_3f6092a461_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>Hi again folks. It has been some busy but great days here in Beuningen, The Netherlands. Yesterday I got the tyres changed on the bike, not that easy I can now tell. Four and a half hours to change rear and front tyres, including some small breaks. I got some rutine, which was the main point, in doing this. Matheu stood by the side and supported me with funny jokes and positive thoughts, but no more than that, cause I have to be capable of doing this all by my self. I learned that taking the old tyres of is harder than installing the new ones. As if this wasn’t the biggest problem, inflating them was a hurdle, as the carcase of the tyre was not pressed out to the side of the rim, meaning it wasn’t sitting correct. This can only be done with high pressure air, not a job my little transportable 12 volt dc compressor can manage. So after a small trip down to the gas station, I got the the rear tyre fixed, sitting correctly on the rim.

What about balancing of the new tyre? Just beside the local gas station here in Beuningen is a garage called “Vermeer en Kersten“. They fix cars, so I went to them, to see if they were able to help me? No one was present when I got to the garage, so I whistled, and a guy quickly came out from the backroom. I told him about my situation and what this was all about, me going around the world, and now wanted to have the rear wheel balanced after my hard try to change the tyre at my friends place. The guy’s name was Patrick and he was very friendly. He immediately put the wheel and tyre in the balancing machine, found a cone that fitted the center of the rim, and started balancing the complete assy. When he was done I asked him how much it would cost me, he refused to accept any money, so I told him I would drop by on Monday to take a photo of him, to show my gratitude.

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3515708804_2705dc87d0_m.jpg" align="left" hspace="10px">So what about the front tyre. Well the job was not done yet. Back home refitting the rear wheel and then on to the next assignment, which of cause was to replace the front tyre as well. Same procedure, and again, taking the tyre of was harder than putting the new one on. So now I had the same problem, regarding inflating the front tyre. I then got a good idea, or at least I thought so. I did promise one of my sponsors Job Hoevenaars from the “SHUURMAN BV” a visit when I got to The Netherlands. So why not visit him now, and see if they where able to help me out? Matheu and I quickly left Beuningen to drive to Oss, a city located about 35 kilometres from Beuningen, The Nerherlands.

When we arrived, I asked for Job, to say hello and speak to him. We were invited in for a cup of coffee, and sad there talking about all the stuff they had in their exhibition and my journey. I then asked him if it was possible for them to help me balancing a front wheel with a new tyre? He promptly said yes, and went to get one of their mechanics, so he could see if it was possible? We quickly found out that it wasn’t possible to do this job in their shop. But instead of sending us back home, with a wheel unbalanced, and a tyre without any air, they send us to the local bike shop in Oss, called Vos Oss Motoren. They did the job just perfectly, and guess what, neither did they want any money, they were more than glad to help me, and wished me good luck. So after 20 minutes Matheu and I was on or way out of the shop again with a balanced and inflated front tyre.

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3514921057_4beb0acc71_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>On the way home Matheu showed me the country site. I was very impressed of how beautiful the landscape is and the Dutch people’s gardens as well, they are well kept.
During the day Matheu had updated my laptop with more memory and bigger hard drive, so now I have much more space on the hard drive, about three times as much, as before.
Back home and install the wheel, and do some other maintenance, like checking engine oil, refilling the chain oiler. After that we enjoyed a nice evening meal prepared by Matheu, and of cause I got my weiss bier. That was how my Friday went…

Don’t leave a friend behind enemy lines!
May 11th, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/3521473229_a26cbfc17f_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>I should have been in Belgium by now! But now I’m sitting far away from my friends place, without any key to his house. My things and bike are not packed and ready to go!
So what they forced me to experience on a sunny Sunday here in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Well, I don’t hope for my worst enemy to go through this. It includes a whole evening listening to ”dutch schlager music”, company of beautiful girls (I admit now that your girls here in The Netherlands are fine), beer of cause, and a get away taxi ride in a Volvo in the middle of the night with an old chauffeur called Mr. Lampie.
The story is that I intended to leave Beuningen, The Netherlands today, but things was going in another way for me!

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3522208356_22aa308d55_m.jpg" align="left" hspace="10px">Sanne was her name, the girl from the party yesterday at the park in Nijmegen. I stumbled in to this lovely girl after a couple of hours at the ”Dag van het levenslied” party. It’s a traditionally dutch party, with dutch classic schlager hits. I had a few beers (ohh his drinking beers again, of cause I am), had a good talk with this girl, I could tell there was something between us, maybe she was lonely? At least I like to think ;oP
After a couple of beers or at number 6 beer, the ”Dutch schlager music” got better and better. Yes I know the name sounds horrible, but the atmosphere of the crowd is just perfect.
I intended to leave the party early with my friend, but suddenly the guy was gone! Now what? Me standing there with a lovely ducth girl, and of cause not in the mood to leave the show already. One does not leave a good party, though I certainly was the only danish guy among several hundreds of dutch people. Well I was stupid enough to participate in a “Dutch heavy schlager party”, so I had to get the most fun of it, and I certainly did.

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/3521400307_83a855340d_m.jpg" align="right" hspace=5>So one sticks to the end of the show and hope to find a place to crash, maybe at the lonely dutch girl’s place.
I assume she was about 25 years old, but no way, I was wrong again, when she told me she would turn 21 years next week. Ohh, so that was why her dad sticked around to look after his daughter, making sure she was not alone in bad company with a danish guy ;oP. But that was no problem, I got a nice evening with them all. You might wonder if I found a place to sleep? I did ;oP
Do you think I will arriven in Belgium this month?
Thanks to Jeroen, Linda and Mr. Lampie

Kαλοπερναει η κουφαλα ο φιλαρακος μας!!! Ταξιδι για τη χαρα του δρομου σου λεει μετα!
Για τις γκομενες το εκανε!! Αχααχαχαχαχαχα!!! Ωραιος!!!

Ε, ότι μπορεί ο άνθρωπος.

Αυτα ειναι 'γεματα' (απ'όλες τις πλευρες) ταξιδια........
καλή συνεχεια ........

Ωραιος ο φιλος, να μην παρει και το μεζε του?

Κατσε να κατεβει κατω και θα τον κανουμε να μην θελει να ξαναφυγει λεμε!!!

Ταξιδευτής wrote:Κατσε να κατεβει κατω και θα τον κανουμε να μην θελει να ξαναφυγει λεμε!!!

Θα του κάτσεις;

Vvag wrote:

Ταξιδευτής wrote:Κατσε να κατεβει κατω και θα τον κανουμε να μην θελει να ξαναφυγει λεμε!!!

Θα του κάτσεις;

Οχι αλλα σκεφτομουν να σε ντυσω με ενα ωραιο μινακι κ να σε στειλω να τον γνωρισεις!!!


(υγ. μην κανουμε σωβρακο ΚΑΙ αυτο το θεμα ρε! )

My way or the European way?
May 20th, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3598129963_e4059a404f_m.jpg" align="left">The old cleaning guy at a rasthof just across the border in Austria stared angry at me and pointed the sign, saying loud and clearly 50 Euro cent for using his facilities. Well what is wrong? I gave the guy 5 cent for taking a leak!
One can be sitting at an Internet cafe and write about the experience the last week or two. I rather sit in 1869 meters of height according to my GPS. Sitting here at Hitlers, Der Fuhrers Kehlsteinhaus “The Eagles Nest”. Sitting here self supplied with coffee, raisins and pistachio nuts, a German guy came by saying in the best English he knows “How romantic” ;oP
You are welcome to call me a little bizarre. I do have a complaint about the place, they do not have any wireless Internet connection, and I brought laptop with me all the way up here ;oP
After Beuningen, The Netherlands, I was of again on my adventures all by myself, of cause after a little trouble getting of of the small town. Might be because I already miss the beers and the girls?
Tried to hunt down a sticker with the dutch nationality NL, it was impossible. Hey Dutch friends, aren’t you proud of your country, or is it because your European number plates has the NL sign on these days?
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3597219231_e2c16d678a_m.jpg" align="left">Of I went for Spa, Belgium, took it with ease due to new tyres and wet weather, not a good combination. Got a glint of the Formula 1 circuit, after a stay at a nice campsite in Niveze.
Why should it take me 2 hours and 45 minutes to pack down all my things after spending a night at a campsite, rookie, or just too much crap and stuff with me? I think I can do better.
After you have spotted the pictures of the journey through Europe, I’m sure you will find out that I’m interested in the history of both WW1 and WW2. That meant I simply had to go and check out the impressive places of Bastogne in Belgium, Verdun in France, which meant a bit of touring to get to the last place in which is located in France.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/3599301300_9d616d0519_m.jpg" align="right">I already spend tree days of wild camping, in Luxembourg, Deutschland, and Austria. When I tell people I meet about this, they get frightened about spending a night in the nature. I don’t mind, nice to be out there by your self, especially if you don’t get caught. I think I got caught in Austria, in early morning, but I just pretended to be at sleep in my tent. Of cause there are disadvantages about doing wild camps, it is not nice when it’ raining, and everything is wet, and you get there with a tent that is already wet due to rainy yesterday. Ohh by the way, my tent has been leaking in the front section, this has now been fixed, at least I think, haven’t tried it yet. I treated it with silicone that comes along with the tent in the care kit. Don’t think a brand new Helsport tent at the expensive cost of some 700 Euros should leak at all.
People often stare at me when I comes through the small villages down here. Probably because of me looking like a circus with cans and gear all over the bike. Some of them come over for a chat, to hear what is going on. They are asking me where I’m heading, and for how long. I say that I’m trying to reach Cape Town in South Africa as my first goal, and then if things are doing great, I would like to do an around the world journey.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3554655796_7581cae810_m.jpg" align="left">The last couple of days was spend in Salzburg, Austria as you probably already guessed. I remember them as good days with weiss bier, and the accompanying of a swedish guy Jan with his family, of cause driving in a Volvo. It was nice to meet some scandinavians, though he had a little problem understanding my danish to start with. Hope you and your family have a nice vacation, and visit Denmark on your way home.
The girls in Deutschland and Austria, those I don’t have to bore you with. But here at the camp in Bolzano, they are nice and good looking, one of them is speaking Swedish ;oP. A lot of the northern part of Italy, is influenced by the Austrian and German people. But if you ain’t got the look, you can be nice at least, and that they are!
Looking at the map Tuesday morning at the campsite in Aigen, Austria, said me, that Bolzano, Italy would not be further away than I could reach it within 4-5 hours. I was fooled! The landscape of the Alps in Austria had a big influence on me, and I did some some stops, quit a lot of them in fact. Grossglockner, the big mountain I passed, is a paradise and playground for bikers with its 48 kilometers of high alpine road with 36 curvy bends, and reaching an altitude of 2,504 meters. But not with a fully equipped VFR with no injection, and some 80 kg of luggage. Later I thought, oohh what the hell, and I got a chase of a BMW X5 on the way down and forgot all about girls, beers, and beign careful for a while.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3591339877_eafe4f7694_m.jpg" align="right">Being here in Bolzano, Italy has chocked me once again. Went here exactly 10 years ago in the year 1999, nice city. It is like entering Hilton here at the campsite, the toilets, facilities, pool, internet and the bar is awesome. I did never have to put up my tent, I could just have passed out on the restroom instead ;oP
Yesterday when putting up the tent late in the evening, the Dutch nation saved me once again. A couple lend me a hammer, the ground here is like hard rock.
Things I learned the past weeks and can’t recommend are:
# Don’t drop your iPod headphones in the toilet, and later to find out that the toilet you picked has no toilet paper. This happened to me in Spa, Belgium. Do you need to hear if the headphones still are working?
# Don’t forget your back protector in a shop in Deutschland, and first find out some 50 km later, and at that time the shop has already closed. Touratech has promised me that they will send it to Spain at my friends address.
Ciao bella donna

Do it with style like the Italian’s
May 24th, 2009

Deciding to leave the campsite in Bolzano, Italy wasn’t that bad an idea. Of cause again I didn’t realize how long time it would take me to reach lake Como. Arriving at the campsite I found a great spot just 6 meters from the waves hitting the land. Nice, but what I didn’t think of, was that putting up the tent here, was not that good an idea. Above my tent was some 2000 watts light. You could have a party in my tent the whole night, but not that good, when you wish to sleep with the lights off. Just as I had put up my tent, I prepared my meal on the stove. Today it was time to get rid of the last freeze dried Nasi Goreng (taste like shit, only way to save this menu, is by adding raisins and enjoying a good view, without thinking too much about what you put in your mouth). During my “splendid” meal I noticed a guy coming by several times, looked like he had forgotten some things again and again. Just as he reach his barbecue down at the lake together with what I thought was his girlfriend, he turned around for some new things to get in their tent. As if the guy had Alzheimer. At the end I almost felt sorry for the bloke, here I sat with my complete meal and he was not even started to do his barbecue yet. Of cause his meal, could only be better than mine, anything must have been better at that time. Just as I was about to finish eating, the guy took one more trip. But instead of going up to his tent at the campsite he turned to me, asked if I was the one who owned the motorbike, and if I wanted, I was welcome for a beer together with him and his wife.. He was German, but instead of the normal Germenglish you normally hear, this guy spoke perfect english. I expected something like “Are you ze one with ze bike? And do you wanz zu join uz with za bier?
So this was how I met Christjane and Eric just after spending 2 hours on the camp Europa at Dervio city, lake Como, Italy. We had a few Ganter beers from their local brewery back home in Friedberg, Germany, while exchanging places to see all over the world, that the coffee on the campsite was worth a try, and cheap too. Finally where to do grocery next day. I must say I was a bit upset of them not haven been in Scandinavia yet. We agreed to do a barbecue the next day at the same time 8 o’clock pm at the lake.
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2471/3592158966_d4206c059e_m.jpg" align="right">The barbecue next day went splendid, so did my short trip to the nearby city. I entered with style, found a grocery shop after walking up and down the town road 3 times. After buying the needed items, like washing powder, barbecue food, and of cause some Splögel beers, I went to what looked like the most local bar I could find. It was called Milenese. Ordered a Cappuccino. And as I couldn’t understand what the waitress said regarding the cost of the lovely coffee, I asked her to count the money and pick them from my hand. I sat there for an hour or so, to study the locals, including the noise of Vespa’s rushing by with terrifying speed. Girls coming by looking like their Italian boyfriend could pick them up for the opera every second. Even grannies look well dressed in style fashion clothing.
One thing I was sure about, the pale Scandinavian didn’t fit in. They blew my undercover right away, just about as I was passing the street to enter the bar, they could tell that I was not from here around, but what the heck, for once in my life I got a decent size of Cappuccino, not them small sized faggot cups.
As I sat there, every some 10 minutes the traffic would stop, because some local guy had to speak from sitting in his car to the guy on the opposite side of the street, and this went over several times. Like all people in town knew each other. Thinking of back home, people don’t even bother in replying a hello on the street. And the Italian’s do it with style.
As I had finished my Cappuccino, I headed for the bike, to go back to the campsite. Only to find out after a couple of steps from the bar, that I forgot my bag of groceries. When reaching the bike, it was time for me to exit with same style as I entered the small town. I would show them Italian’s that the Scandinavian people can be as hip as southern people. So I put my big bag of groceries in one of the alu boxes, got my helmet on, and fired up the engine, one click down, and of we go. Even grandmothers would notice me when the V4 would sound loud in the narrow street. Yes I did it with style, went something like 20 cm and “klonk it said”. Now a more annoying sound started, like a guys car alarm was sound-polluting the whole area. It was my alarm! The not so hip Scandinavian had forgot one essential item. The disc brake lock in the front wheel of cause, I installed myself just some 2 hours ago when arriving. I could have killed myself. How embarrassing, a luck that I had the helmet on with the visor down, so they did not notice the change of colour in my head. I entered with style, at least I think, I got to see the locals. But one thing I’m sure of, I got noticed when I exit the town, no doubt. The guys at the bar, even the old ones where I sat enjoying my Cappuccino, where all clapping their hands as I drove by…
Sorry Danes, but it seems like I’m not the best representative to send out in the big world for Denmark.

I promise to come up with some pictures soon, if you like?

Gypsies, hookers and wild camping
June 5th, 2009

Is that a good combination? It probably isn’t!
Leaving good people, friends and countries behind, doesn’t mean one will forget all about it, and just head of for the next country to get new experiences and see new interesting things. Some things just stick in your memory, like if you have met a nice person, that you always will look back at with positive thoughts. Or if some city or landscape have made a great impression on you? So what you do, is taking it all with you in your mind, and in peaceful situations, you look back on the memories you have, and all the people you have met. Most important of this journey is not to forget, the people I meet. You guys out there, otherwise I did not have anything to tell and write about, other than my foolishness and all my mistakes.
And so I left Italy, with good feelings and memories of the people I had spend my time with. Destination was France, to be more specific, I would like to go to the Gorges du Verdon, and also spend and couple of days at ”Le Camping Moto” in (sorry I just got interrupted - while writing this post, a Russian girl named Kxenia came to me at the Internet cafe here at the campsite in Sitges, España. She asked me if I could help her with uploading pictures from her camera. But the SD card is different from the European ones, though it was a Sony, and so is the USB stick. We talked for some time, and exchanged emails. She left as the guys she is here with came. They don’t speak a word of English, so she said as she walked out of the door. “Write me, ok” I sure will… She was from Sankt-Peterburg, and damn good looking (though I have more important things to do, as uploading pictures to you guys).
Well, where did we come from, I was going to Crest for the Camp Moto, and stayed there for 2 days. The day before I wild camped some 200 kilometers from the Camp Moto, without any water. So what does one do? Well I got my Katadyn water purifier, and there was a river nearby. Only problem was that I could not get up of the steep edge of the bank, once I got down there. I took the chance, slowly crawling down the edge and reach the bottom of the bank by jumping the last meter. Build myself a ladder of stones, so I could get up again. A luck my mother didn’t caught me in doing so. She would have yield at me for doing so, and also for messing up my clothes. But I had the luck with me this time, mission completed, I got the water I needed, and I got back safe.
Next day I left for Camp Moto near crest, with high mood. Reached the place, and got me a free Hoegaarden Weiss beer, as this is part of the service at Camp Moto, you always get a welcome beer. The new owners haven’t changed on this, neither all of the other things, and I can still recommend the place, though the new owners dog and I didn’t get to be best friends on my short stay. Haven’t stayed long at the campsite before another Dane came, his name was Christian, great but calm guy from northern part of Jutland, Denmark. We had a great time, and it showed out, that this wasn’t the last time I would stumble into this guy, also met him at the Gorges du Verdun. During the evening I spend the company with Christian and two Dutch guys. They gave me a completely fresh view of driving a Harley. They did some 5.000 kilometres in no time during a short vacation of 8-10 days. Their plan was to go to Morocco in the future and from there take the way all through Algeria - Tunisia and finally enter Europe again via Italy. Only problem was that they didn’t think there were any roads suitable for the Harley’s, not even in Morocco and a lot of guys had shaken their heads, when they told about this plan. I think the real problem was their lack of time to do this journey, which was four weeks!
After Camp Moto, I fired up Ussel Mammut, of cause first spending 2 hours to pack all my stuff. Headed for Gorges du Verdun. Here it was time to save money, and of cause get the best out of the situation. So why not wild camp in the middle of the Gorges, looking at the ”Great Bear” at night, perfect. Perfect roads, and good for the tyres, but some times you just have to drive slowly and “enhoey” the view.
Next place to go, was south, before I head over for the west coast of France. To see the Millau bridge, Limoges (Oradour sur Glane), pay a visit to the city of Bordeaux and area of west France. After reaching the Millau bridge, I had to find a place to sleep, and what was better than do a camp next to a lake. I asked the guy living close to it, an old fart, if it was okay. I think he finally understood me after 10 minutes of my poor french and a lot of pointing, not to mention giving the old guy a Blanche beer. I headed down to the lake a unpacked my things, just as I was about to be ready to prepare the evening dinner, I heard a noise from the background, I immediately recognized it as when the plastic of the bike is hitting the soil and rocks. It was my bike, that tilted, though I had put the aluminium plate under the side stand. But what I forgot, was to put it in gear. Well this just had to happen sooner or later. But of cause, it didn’t make the next hour better, good that I had done some shopping of good food that evening!
Next day I inspected the damaged, which was a cracked fairing in the left side, and the left hand aluminium box now had some scratches. Well I now admit that a BMW GS Adventure is better when going out in the woods or down to a lake. But the scratches now has a story to tell!
Next morning I took it with ease, no more scratches for me. I Think I have bad luck when I’m too near of the french city Carcassonne (had an accident there two years ago).
The city of Oradour Sur Glane, is worth a visit, if you haven’t been there, though terribly things happened here, The french people have kept this old city as a memory and it is still standing as a ghost town to tell the story, so people don’t forget what happenened here during WW2. On my way up, I found a Mcdonalds in Cahors, finally it was them giving away something to me, and not taking all my money for their sleezy hamburgers, as they have done during my youth in Denmark. I had no more water so I went in to get some from the restroom. On my way back to the bike, a gypsy women confronted me, trying to sell what looked like an old gold ring. She needed the money for buying food for her children. I said thanks, but no thanks. She became really angry at me, for not buying the ring for 20 Euros, which was the start price. It ended up costing 5 Euros. Finally I got tired of this bitch, and said that she should use her money for food for her children, instead of getting her teeth’s fixed with gold. She then asked me for a cigarette, I refused. The whole family left MacD. in a new Opel Astra station car. Hustlers, but I had a great laugh
After my visit to the old memorial of a city once full of life, but now completely death. I thought it was time to find a place to camp, and after some three days of wild camping, why not proceed, things are doing well for me, not mentioning the bike of cause! So I found a forrest, with a cross road in the middle of it, and a lot of toilet paper, which I found very odd. Found a clean spot a parked the bike in the edge of the gravel road, so a mad farmer could get his french Renault fabricated tractor through. Did my dinner as always, but I thought that a shower would do good as well, now that it was some days since I had the last one. Boiled some water which I mixed with cold water to get a nice suitable temperature. Just as I stood there with shampoo in my hair, completely naked, a lightweight aircraft came across the sky in some 300 foot altitude, and as I looked up, I could also count 3 guys coming down from the sky, of cause wearing parachutes, lucky for them, unlucky for me. I thought, what the hell, they have seen me now, so I could as well just continue, what I had in progress. Just as I was over with my nature bath in public, I heard someone groan higher and higher. No way, first the aircraft, then the parachuters, and now people having sex in the forrest. What can be the next surprise? On one hand I was curious, but on the other hand, I would like to get some sleep after a hard day of riding, and the mosquito’s here were trying to suck all my blood out of me. I went to bed and fell asleep. Not more than a couple of hours later, I woke up and a van was coming my direction, I flashed the light of my flashlight, but the wanker didn’t stop. He intended to go in my direction, though he could see the motorbike and me trying to sleep at the side of the gravel road. He had to drive with one set of the tyres out in the side of the road to pass me and the bike. He went some 100 meters down at the road and reversed the car into a even smaller road than the one he was already on. I could hear that he turned off the engine, and then nothing more. I turned back to my sleeping bag, now after at least 10 bites of big nasty mosquito’s. 30 minutes should go by, and the sound was back again, this dude really groaned, much higher than the one earlier, this sounded like a wild pig, or maybe it is just the way they do it in France? This went on 5 times, then I stopped counting, the dude sure got something for his Euros, I feel sorry for the hooker. I found my earplugs and next time I woke up, the sun was shining.
A couple of days after, I did some 34 kilometres in the Pyrenees, to find out that the way ended blind, and I was standing in the middle of a national park of the Pyrenees. I camped and next morning two officials came by in their 4×4 Nissan Patrol, they woke me up, saying I could not sleep in the middle of a national park. But that is another story you have in credit… When this journey is over, I assume I tried it all!

The dude in Pamplona is crazy!
June 19th, 2009

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3614166265_108a7b1283_m.jpg" align="left">So don’t go there! After spending a couple of days in Zaragoza, so it was “Vamos Mick”. I also wanted to try something different than staying at camp sites. My idea was to meet people, so I signed up to the Couch Surfing site and got several replies back, one of them was a dude saying “Hey Mick, come to Pamplona and stay at my place” That sounded interesting, the dude was 26 years old living in his own flat, I didn’t know anymore at that time. I left Zaragoza and headed for Pamplona, and met Pepe just in the outer part of the city.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3614254533_e1983dc324_m.jpg" align="right">I followed him to his apartment, or at least I tried to! The first thing he told me about, was how to use the washing machine without leaking water all over the kitchen floor. On a Wednesday, some 3 hours in his company, he convinced me to stay until Monday morning, next week, and participate in the Matinee Summer Festival with his friends. I don’t know why I said yes to this, I didn’t really know this dude, but I had the feeling like he was great and fun company, it should show out, that he was much more! So I was going back to Barcelona again! The festival ment taking a road trip with 6 guys from Pamplona to Barcelona, starting 5 o’clock in the morning, just after returning from partying in the city all night long.
The week at Pepe´s place should show up to be very funny, nice and also very exhausting for me, due to partying almost every day. But I really dig Pepe and his friends, a week in their company has been a great experience for me.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/3599301300_9d616d0519_m.jpg" align="left">It not only cost me a pair of swimming suits (lost them some where between Pamplona and Barcelone on our road trip), my sunglasses (lost them in the pool, found 20 Euros instead), lack of sleep, visit to a gay bar (no explanation). Last thing, it cost me my hair, which the dude kept in a box. God knows why? I don´t really want to find out why he did so. This dude is crazy and bizarre, but I really like him for that, it was worth it all coming to Pamplona. When I left, I promised to return 5th of July for the San Fermin (bull´s run), and that promise I intend to keep. I wonder what I will experience next time at Pepe’s place?

The roads around Riaño aren’t safe anymore!
June 21st, 2009

As one of my friends back in Denmark just wrote in his comment and I qoute him for saying so: ”The adventures really start when things aren’t going as you planned” Well Jasper, I suppose I’m better of, than your short trip to Russia? I have one question for you. When things aren’t going as planned, is that why I’m now sitting in front of the Touratech Moteros Factory in Madrid, waiting for them to open the store tomorrow morning at 10.00 am?
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3646886427_c9f0d35834_m.jpg" align="left">The story is that after spending 2 splendid days at Marcos’s place in Santander, I left for the Picos de Europa, as he had advised me to see. I arranged with Marcos that we could meet next day some place at the area of Picos de Europa. I finally got my things packed and said goodbye to my new friend. Headed out to the coast and followed the road up to Santillana Del Mar, Comillas and finally San Vicente De La Barquera, the route he had advised me to take. Beautiful I must say, and the mountains of Picode Europa begin to show in the horizon as you progress your journey west and inland. I owe to say that Marcos is one of the members of the Spanish VFR club that have showed me an awesome welcome down here, and he is damn good at cooking food. Okay, I was going for the Picos de Europa, which is something in its own caliber. Perfect scenery, blue skye, and mountains placed like God had dropped them down from above. I found several perfect roads for riding a VFR without luggage, and had a great day touring around the area in all directions.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3648163276_9aacd10f25_m.jpg" align="right">And here it comes, why I’m stucked here in Madrid in an industrial area, in front of a closed shop, that doesn’t open before tomorrow morning? A lot of disadvantages of being here, but I should also mention a couple of advantages, I got biscuits with marmalade and Nutella, juice, water open Wi-Fi Internet, free of charge in the middle of fucking nowhere! I should mention why I’m here, instead of touring around in the Picos de Europa today with Marcos. In my hapiness of riding yesterday on my last stop, before I decided to find a place for the night, I forgot to lock my right side alubox lid. After 8-10 kilometres of bendy corners and a big smile inside of my helmet, I looked in my right side mirror and <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3648233328_c9d5a92fb3_m.jpg" align="left">something didn’t look like it used to, something was missing? FUBAR was my first reaction. I quickly dropped the happy face, braked as hard as I could, without taking consideration to my almost exhausted Pilot Power tyre’s. Yes, something indead was missing - the lid of the right alu box was gone, with the bag on top, which contained my stove, riding gloves, tarpaulin, water bag, kitchen stuff.
I quickly went back to look for the stuff, but the road had taken it, otherwise someone got himself a new but scratched Touratech alu box lid for his bimmer, together with a Coleman stove and some other dirty kitchen stuff of mine.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3648260202_a8024a3f8d_m.jpg" align="right">If someone is thinking of going to Riaña some day and discover my things in the ditch, I will offer you a reward and a cold Estrella ;oP Well shit happens, especially for me you may think, but this brought me to Madrid, and it doesn’t irritate me, other than spending time in this place in the middle of an industrial district, instead of being out on the road doing bendy corners, and loosing more items.
I think it is time for me to implement a checklist before riding like the pilots use, so I remember to secure and locked everything.
I will spend the night here on the pavement beside of Ussel Mammut, and I’m sure the owners of the shop will be surprised tomorrow when they find a Scandinavian guy blocking the entrance of the door to the shop!
Thanks to Marcos for staying at his place and the great company. I will try to head north again on my way around the coast, and I would like to go for a ride with you. I have your number and I will sms you.