Packing List .... What you need to take with you ...

[Ubertours]

warning triangle , I thought that it was not compulsory for bikes ? the adventure site suggests it is,

Its not. Not in Europe anyway, if you are really worried about it H.G. do a hemet bag with a flourescent triangle on it for under a tenner.

[viper]

Its not. Not in Europe anyway, if you are really worried about it H.G. do a hemet bag with a flourescent triangle on it for under a tenner.

Fanxs

[cpettifer]

Its not. Not in Europe anyway, if you are really worried about it H.G. do a hemet bag with a flourescent triangle on it for under a tenner.

Do they do inner bags with a warning triangle on the side..? 

[Ubertours]

Do they do inner bags with a warning triangle on the side..? 

Yea but that would make all HG innerbags obsolete overnight.

[Nok12rs]

And, most importantly, a copy of Alistair Sawday's book : Nice Places to Stay in France.  Best B/B guide ever.  Photos of the properties, a write up on the owners etc etc all in English. Perfect for those times when you fancy a night in a double bed under a tiled roof and, depending on the place, a good evening meal with wine.

If you get near Chardonnay Village, there is a great, one sitting per night, restaurant. Reasonably priced , Burgundy speciality and a good place to stay nearby.

 

[coman37]

And, most importantly, a copy of Alistair Sawday's book : Nice Places to Stay in France.  Best B/B guide ever.  Photos of the properties, a write up on the owners etc etc all in English. Perfect for those times when you fancy a night in a double bed under a tiled roof and, depending on the place, a good evening meal with wine.

If you get near Chardonnay Village, there is a great, one sitting per night, restaurant. Reasonably priced , Burgundy speciality and a good place to stay nearby.

I thought we were all boycotting France,

great food, great women, great wine, great roads, SHIT Anti-biking Government

Coman

[Mogster]

I thought we were boycotting Scotland 

[Nok12rs]

I thought we were all boycotting France,

great food, great women, great wine, great roads, SHIT Anti-biking Government

Coman

 

I am clearly not up to date.  What is the French Government up to ?  Rode through last year on the  way to Italy and was not aware of any changes in biker policies.

Only vibe I have picked up is that they are not as tolerant of hyper speeding as they once were.

A Frenchman once explained to me why, for the most part (which has been my experience over many years) their motorists are sympathetic  to and considerate of bikers. It is because, he said, most of them rode a moped as a kid and now have kids on two wheels.

On a dark and wet February evening (before satnav) I found myself lost on a D road; I had planned an Autoroute avoiding journey back from Besancon.

Not a house or a light in sight (Sunday in France -CLOSED) my map sodden from the rain (feet dry thanks to Daytona boots  ) but otherwise feeling quite miserable.

A car appears. Stops. Guy and girl, mid thirties.  Ascertains my predicament.   Gives me a plasticised map of France and then leads the way for fifteen minutes to an A route. Brilliant 

As a national pastime we knock the frenchies but I have had so many good experiences with the folk of that country.

People are people the world over and if your lucky, you encounter the nice ones.

Oh, it does help if we behave nicely too. 

Now! Scotland.........................................

[coman37]

Hi-Viz jackets, satnavs with "safety" camera alerts banned plus all manner of other petty regulations,
as stated not got a problem with the French people,food or countryside, just their pompous leaders

Coman

[mecki]

Hi-Viz jackets, satnavs with "safety" camera alerts banned plus all manner of other petty regulations,
as stated not got a problem with the French people,food or countryside, just their pompous leaders

Coman

I can't stand that pompous Hungarian dwarf either.   

[Rusty]

I can't stand that pompous Hungarian dwarf either.   

[coman37]

I can't stand that pompous Hungarian dwarf either.   

you'd do his wife tho' wouldn't you ?

Coman

[Nok12rs]

you'd do his wife tho' wouldn't you ?

Coman

She would do  No longer first Lady to First Laddie.  Will she stick around or go off with a biker 

Form an orderly queue 

[Nok12rs]

Well, a few more things perhaps, but quite a few things on the list above are better (and cheaper) purchased abroad when you need them unless you travel to Mongolia perhaps. They do have supermarkets and drug stores in mainland Europe too, you know.

Except Sunday. 

[doebag]

Quite a few years ago, I was given a packing tip.
When you come back from a trip, make three piles of the stuff that you took.
1/ Stuff you took and used
2/ Stuff you took and used, but could have left behind
3/ Stuff you took but did not need.

Next trip, take pile 1, a selection from pile 2 [ might include waterproofs for example], and leave pile 3 at home.

After doing this a few times you will have a pile of items that you always use, and no excess items. When I pack for holidays, Mrs Doebag always say's 'is that all you are taking' and the answer is 'yes, I won't need any more'

Luggage wise, I bought these recently
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0013KBX5W/ref=fb_lfb_prodpg_3
The size in the link are just right for fitting in the top box [ too big for side cases] and help share out limited space with Mrs DB !

This website [ I am sure there are others] helps with hints and useful items, if you can ignore the on page adverts and links.
http://www.onebag.com/