Right, that's it.
3 weeks holiday starts Friday night, so I'm busy planning a monster trip with the wife. :clap:
The idea is to start here, in Monza, then head out over the top of the FR IT alps to stay at a mate's house near Grenoble, then down the Route Napoleon :punk: to Lorgues at my folks' place. Stay a couple of days to sort a few things out and take advantage of their pool facilities, then down towards Perpignan. We will then follow the coast all the way down to Alicante to stay at the sister in law's place... Yep, to take advantage of her pool facilities too. :gunsmilie: Prolly stay there for a while then dream up a nice route back up towards France and then hit the coast roads towards Genoa, and back up towards home.
I'm gonna have a square arse... That will be the biggest trip I've done on a bike two up and we're really looking forward to it.
Finally got round to finding a few places to mount the GoPro, and no doubt the wife will be busy snappin' pics on the back too.
Looking at the forecast, we're really going to COOK.......... :surrender:
Just gotta find some nice but inexpensive places to stay to split some of those parts up a bit...
My next job is to read the post about what to take with me. Then I'll know how much to jack the suspension up to carry all the extra useless :shit: that the French have deemed necessary to cart along..........
Cheers
Ros
A three week tour on the GTR, that sounds like bliss. :biker3:
Have a great time and dont forget to do a write up on it when you get back or even during the trip if you can.
I'm not jealous..........no really :angry: :mfr_lol:
If you havn't already gone .... have a great time .... and don't get too hot ! :cool: :cool:
Wow.
My arse hurts.
So far, Monza to Grenoble
Grenoble to Lorgues
Lorgues to Perpignan
Perpignan to Onda....
Onda?! On a Kawasaki?! :huh:
Pictures to follow when I can find a way... :)
Tomorrow, Onda to Alicante.
We did get completely drenched in a proper storm around Lorgues. Hailstones like marbles! That really hurts!!!
It did cool us off though. The temp display on the dash went from 38 to 12! Then back to 32 all in the space of about 20 minutes.
I'll update over the next few days with some pics when I can get access to one of those computer thingies... This ipad is total shite!
See ya
Ros :banana:
Sounds bloody brilliant mate ! :cool: :cool:
looking forward to your next update ros, even with a shite iPad :mfr_lol:
Hiyq qll,
Just chilling todqy, so I ;qnqg aaargh. UK Keyboard... Let's start again.
Just chilling today, so I managed to borrow my mate's PC.
Here are a few pics of our trip down!
Some niiiiice French roads
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1172.jpg)
Lunch at the top of a big hill
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1180.jpg)
Notice we're wearing half-decent gear....
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1176.jpg)
And here are a few people we snapped whilst overtaking. NO decent gear and didn't even notice me coming up behind them...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1207.jpg)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1206.jpg)
Anyway... Onda on a Kawasaki :clap: :mfr_lol: :gun_bandana: :banana:
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1209.jpg)
This is the centre of Valencia. Notice how all the traffic lights went green for us :smiley:
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/RosbifN8-1242.jpg)
Take care
Ros
A couple more pics...
Found some shade to take a quick break in...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/Rosbif%20S2/20120817_113709.jpg)
My bike has a big nose...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/Rosbif%20S2/20120817_113446.jpg)
Arrived at a hotel, and refreshment in progress! And yes, that is the shite iPad on the table...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/Rosbif%20S2/20120815_194516.jpg)
Interestingly enough, I have found an app to stick on my phone that uploads my pics to photobucket and then I can actually post to here on the shitepad. I think this is this is the only website that actually works properly on it.
Can't type for toffee on it though...
Night all :punk:
Ros
Nice pics Rasbif.
100mph = 70 mph? I think you're proving that magnesium isn't the fastest colour :whistling:
Nice one Rosbif......I like the comment "lunch at the top of a big hill" brilliant..... continue to enjoy your tour :mfr_lol:
You've got much better weather there than we have here :yes:
Brilliant photos. As much as I like to see photos of the Uk its good to see pics from overseas members especially when they have the best coloured bike. I see you have the GoPro where I had my mounted too. Excellent choice.
Feel free to show more photos from your shitepad. :mfr_lol:
Quote from: Lonewolf on August 19, 2012, 10:43:54 AM
I see you have the GoPro where I had my mounted too. Excellent choice.
I noticed that too Steve, I currently have mine mounted alongside the glove box top left panel, and its far from ideal
I didn't even know you had a GoPro. I've recently just bought one of the new GoPro units. The GoPro 2 but I've yet to put it on the GTR.
I bought it about 3 years ago Steve, and to be honest I haven't really used it that much
I'm in the process of mounting the camera so that I can use it when I go to France at the end of this month, under the mirror is a place I hadn't considered
I assume that you have it attached with a safety cord just in case it swings loose.
I don't like the idea of using the suction cup to attach it to the body work although I think I'm right in saying that Winnie has done this in the past :yes:
Roger, if you are going to mount it under the mirror then like any position make sure the surface area is spotless. I used Autoglym intensive tar remover but meths etc will probably work as well. Stick the mount on, leave it 24hrs to cure and then off you go. You can use a tether if you want for peace of mind, (I did), but it will not come off of its own accord, they are very strong adhesive mounts.
Cheers Steve. will do, I bought some new mounts only last week, bloody expensive I thought, although I seem to have a collection of old ones in the Rev Shed, which I could/should have used with fresh super sticky double sided tape
I will make sure the surface is sqeeeeeky clean :yes:
Oh and remember to reset the camera to "inverted image" :mfr_lol:
I just spin the footage in the software.
Quote from: Lonewolf on August 20, 2012, 11:21:23 PM
I just spin the footage in the software.
Good idea ....which I guess is easier than fiddling with the Hero
I would trust either method of attachment Roger. The suction cup is superb, used it at all speeds on car and bike and never moves. I had the stick on pad under the mirror on the GTR and it was like concrete!
I haven't used a sticky pad on the GT as I can't find a suitable place that's discreet enough so I trust the suction pad on the fairing/pannier/top box.
Tether if you want to but you really don't need to.
Thanks Chris, I seemed to remember that you used the suction cup method :oops: :mfr_lol:
I'll go for the mount under the mirror which is discreet
BTW I saw a nice Silver GT at the Bridge yesterday, and it sounded lovely when he set off :yes:
Is it me or is anyone actually holding the steering wheel of the white car in the fourth picture?
Its ok I think they're using their feet. :mfr_lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c9cfseGNpU&feature=youtube_gdata
Roger - Just a quicky from last week.
Used the suction cup to secure to roof line across top of windsreen
All those bends remind me of Wolfies corner, I need a lay down now! :sweatdrop:
It looks like most Italian roads are in bad shape these days.
I noticed that during my last trip through the Alps.
I did the Grand St Bernard (Switzerland - Italy) and the Petit St Bernard (Italy - France) on my way down and the moment you crossed into Italy potholes and patchy roads everywhere and then after the French border nice smooth surfaces again.
And those barriers? :ohplease:
OK they may stop you from falling hundreds of meters if you loose it, but you can't see if anybody is coming the other way around the hairpins. And if you hit one of those on a bike you most likely go over anyway.
So I am not sure if I rather don't have them. :dots:
I did a lot of passes in the last month and to be honest I prefer the B-roads off the 'beaten track'. :yes:
Man, I found some roads in Southern France (Rhone Alps and Haute Alps) that can easily compete with the Stelvio and the best thing - no potholes and hardly any traffic. :banana:
I've had six out of last 8 weeks doing passes through europe and I agree there are equal/better that aren't so famous.
The Italian roads seem better than they were last year tbh.
Stelvio has had some work done on it and the Grand Pass St Bernard (Italian side) has had some resurfacing and barrier replacement.
Overall I was impressed/surprised with the Italian roads since last year.
Bormio however was shite and is too narrow to enjoy - at least it wasn't thick with cloud this time!
Your suction cup method seems to work fine Chris. :yes: :agree:
I've now attached a plate to the underside of a mirror and I'll give that a go
Just got back. All good! Pics coming up when I can get some blood back into my arse, neck and wrists. If not tonight, then tomorrow for sure.
It's Wine o''clock....
Cheers
Ros
Really looking forward to seeing more of where youv'e been.
Hmmm. 26Gb of photos and videos. I've selected a few that might not bore you all too much, but it's wine o''clock again...
Soon, I promise :innocent:
OK here we go. Hope you lot don't find this too boring.
It was REALLY windy for most of the trip. In fact, every day after about 11am, there was seriously gusty wind. Made riding most interesting....
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/RosbifN8-1257.jpg)
There were some sweet roads though!!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/GOPR9965.jpg)
Made it to some shelter just in time !!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/20120826_162948-Censored.jpg)
Coming into Lorgues, where my folks live...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/GOPR0133.jpg)
After Kwikasfuki made some comment about magnesium not being the fastest colour, we decided to prove once and for all that it IS the fastest colour. I topped up with 100RON fuel (hehehe gotta love Italy) and gave 'er a big 'andful. We approached the speed of light several times. The only reason we couldn't actually get to warp 1 was something to do with the exponential increase of the mass of the bike as we approached light speed. I backed off... :whistling:
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/GOPR0943.jpg)
Got caught in ANOTHER storm... It's worth noting that we took NO waterproof clothing and only got seriously wet once...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/20120812_154249.jpg)
The sun sets in a heart shape down there...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/20120824_203036.jpg)
Somebody straightened the road out!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/GOPR9873.jpg)
Taking a break with the Rosbifette to rest our weary arses and take the piss out of holiday motorists...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/GOPR1518.jpg)
This one even looks fast :punk:
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/GOPR9223.jpg)
"Oi! Who said you could use my camera?!"
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/60D_2012_08_21_1906.jpg)
In Spain, they put the bus stops ON the roundabouts..... I mean, how intelligent is that??
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/20120819_173719.jpg)
Most of the time it was about 37°C and 1000000% humidity. :sweatdrop: So we found some waterfalls, and learned that this is where they filmed the old Timotei advert... so I dived in amongst a bunch of kids, but the water was at about 5°C!! Nearly had a heart attack! :surrender:
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/60D_2012_08_21_1744.jpg)
Some strange billboards around... Hello baby!
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/RosbifN8-1233.jpg)
This is heading back up towards Genoa from Nice. We used the Autoroute a fair bit during our trip, because we needed to cover some distance. This is the last "aire d'autoroute" in France on the A8. SPECTACULAR views from up there...
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/20120829_141500.jpg)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/60D_2012_08_29_2093.jpg)
The Rosbifette liked it too :)
(http://i512.photobucket.com/albums/t328/rosbif_2000/GTR1400/Spain%202012/60D_2012_08_29_2083.jpg)
We had a terrific time, and covered more than 4,200Kms. I have to admit that some of it was drug assisted... Ibuprofen works well when your neck and shoulders have had enough... but anyway, that's the longest trip I've done by far on any bike.
Strangely enough, only two people appeared to actively seek to kill us, both of them in France. One complete tool in a transit van that whipped up the inside as people were queuing at about 100Km/h. Missed us by about an inch and a half :death: And another selfish tw@t who decided at the very last possible moment to turn left rather than continue on and turn around when it was safe. He drew 4 black lines in the road and I was very thankful for the ABS, I have to say. I might even have that on the GoPro... I have to look through hours of that to find it though................
Anyway - back safe and sound. Great holiday! Still trying not to check my emails until Monday. But then I have to drive to frigging Munich at 6:30am...........................
Take care
Ros
Great Photos Rosbif and brilliant that your other half enjoys the bike experience too. Can't get my missus anywhere near it, so it's seperate holidays every year. I can't not go, and now having seen your photos I want to get out there again.
I do fancy heading right out to Turkey. Thats where you are lucky, already being in the middle of Europe. The continent is your oyster. Enjoy. :biker3:
EB
Great pictures and thanks for sharing them ~ the sunset in particular is amazing :clap:
Excellent photos and account of your trip. I do enjoy looking at peoples photos and hearing of their travel stories.
That's just because you're a nosey git :wink:
I'm going to try and make a /short/ video at some point... Just cos i like that sort of thing
I'll post it when done :punk:
Ros
Super photos old fruit ... Looks like you had a great time. :cool:
I made a quick video....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfUJODla4w (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfUJODla4w)
I'm in the middle of making another... If this is too boring, then let me know and I'll stop posting all my shit on here....
Cheers
Ros
Thats was dead good... :yes:... I feel inspired now to fook orf on a trip with Smarty!! :biker3:
OK, this one is a bit better :punk:
That's it - getting square eyes so moff for a glass of plonk!
Cheers
Ros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-s3LP170o (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-s3LP170o)