For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey and scaled our plans back to going to a campsite we know in Turkey (Veliko Tarnovo) and returning via Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and France (outward route was France,
Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria).

In total we managed about 4000 miles with only one day with no riding, averaging about 260 miles/day and the biggest day was 475 miles.

- Only camped for the whole 15 nights

- Rode the transfagarasan

- Saw a wild bear with cubs in Romania (well, I did)

- Ran a Parkrun in Wurzburg (well, Simon did)

- Failed to stop a tent leaking (well, Mark did)

- Got stopped by a road blockage on the Motorway in Belgrade, Serbia
and had to make an exit by riding up the grass verge (steep), across
the pavement and tram tracks then illegal left turn at traffic lights to
jump back on motorway after blockage.

- Went to Sedlec Ossuary at Kutna Hora in Czech Republic and wondered
WTF the carpenter who arranged the bones was thinking of.

- Only got wet once when riding.

All in all a good break, now back to the serious business of retirement.

R1200RT blew a headlight bulb but apart from that what a great
touring bike (although panniers smaller than adventure bike style
ones).

On Wed, 6 Jul 2022 08:41:51 -0700 (PDT), Stephen Packer
<stephen.packer@gmail.com> wrote:

>For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey and scaled our plans back to going to a campsite we know in Turkey (Veliko Tarnovo) and returning via Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and France (outward route was France,
>Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria).

>
>- Went to Sedlec Ossuary at Kutna Hora in Czech Republic and wondered
>WTF the carpenter who arranged the bones was thinking of.

Loved that, yank tourist asked our guide "so, is this the 'bone
chapel', then?"

>
>All in all a good break, now back to the serious business of retirement.

Sounds good.
--
Salad Dodger
1690 FLHTK;GL1800D
Previously ...
CB1300SA8;GL1800A6;GL1500SEV;CBR1100XXX;
CBR1000FL;CBX1000Z;GPz750R;Z750E1;Z650C2;
KH500A8;KH250B3;TS250c;TS185c.

On 06/07/2022 16:41, Stephen Packer wrote:
> For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey and scaled our plans back to going to a campsite we know in Turkey (Veliko Tarnovo) and returning via Romania, Hungary,

You didn't go to Turkey, so you went to Turkiye ?

Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and France (outward route was France,

I only knew you had gone when my Mate in a small Welsh valley mentioned
Mark had gone.

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 5:41:52 PM UTC+2, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:

> In total we managed about 4000 miles with only one day with no riding, averaging about 260 miles/day and the biggest day was 475 miles.

Sounds brilliant. Would love to do one of these with you fellas at some point.
> - Only camped for the whole 15 nights

Hmm...maybe not.

> - Rode the transfagarasan

Now I'm conflicted.

On Wednesday, 6 July 2022 at 19:09:19 UTC+1, YTC#1 wrote:
> On 06/07/2022 16:41, Stephen Packer wrote:
> > For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip.. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey and scaled our plans back to going to a campsite we know in Turkey (Veliko Tarnovo) and returning via Romania, Hungary,
> You didn't go to Turkey, so you went to Turkiye ?

Heh. No, my mistake. We didn't go to Turkey and stopped in Bulgaria.

On Wednesday, 6 July 2022 at 19:43:25 UTC+1, Ben Blaney wrote:
> On Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 5:41:52 PM UTC+2, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > In total we managed about 4000 miles with only one day with no riding, averaging about 260 miles/day and the biggest day was 475 miles.
> Sounds brilliant. Would love to do one of these with you fellas at some point.
> > - Only camped for the whole 15 nights
> Hmm...maybe not.

Camping with decent kit is fine. The Thermarest 'luxury lite' camp bed is surprisingly comfortable.
Hot nights maybe not so good without aircon, but it's character forming.

On 06/07/2022 20:51, Stephen Packer wrote:
> On Wednesday, 6 July 2022 at 19:43:25 UTC+1, Ben Blaney wrote:
>> On Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 5:41:52 PM UTC+2, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> In total we managed about 4000 miles with only one day with no riding, averaging about 260 miles/day and the biggest day was 475 miles.
>> Sounds brilliant. Would love to do one of these with you fellas at some point.
>>> - Only camped for the whole 15 nights
>> Hmm...maybe not.
>
> Camping with decent kit is fine. The Thermarest 'luxury lite' camp bed is surprisingly comfortable.

I came around to those, but now with the arthritis I find I just can't
get comfortable.

I can (and still will) do *some* camping, but a bed, even in a cochroach
infested house is preferable after a few nights.

> Hot nights maybe not so good without aircon, but it's character forming.

Hot nights, digging a hole, having a shit......

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

Ben Blaney wrote:
> stephen...@gmail.com wrote:
> > In total we managed about 4000 miles with only one day with no riding, averaging about 260 miles/day and the biggest day was 475 miles.
> Sounds brilliant. Would love to do one of these with you fellas at some point.
>
> > - Only camped for the whole 15 nights
> Hmm...maybe not.
>
> > - Rode the transfagarasan
>
> Now I'm conflicted.

Welcome to being me on a similar trip with them in 2013. Fortunately not-camping was so cheap we only did it about half of the time.

Salad Dodger wrote:

> On Wed, 6 Jul 2022 08:41:51 -0700 (PDT), Stephen Packer
> <stephen.packer@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> >
> > - Went to Sedlec Ossuary at Kutna Hora in Czech Republic and
> > wondered WTF the carpenter who arranged the bones was thinking of.
>
> Loved that, yank tourist asked our guide "so, is this the 'bone
> chapel', then?"
>

In German it is quite literal too "Sedletz-Beinhaus"

--
Geoff
NTV 650

On Wednesday, 6 July 2022 at 16:41:52 UTC+1, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:
> For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey and scaled our plans back to going to a campsite we know in Turkey (Veliko Tarnovo) and returning via Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and France (outward route was France,
> Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria).
>
> In total we managed about 4000 miles with only one day with no riding, averaging about 260 miles/day and the biggest day was 475 miles.

....and was sounding so good. As was said in the other place recently, 2 or 3 night stops are good for geriatrics with a week somewhere along the way.

> SNIP

> R1200RT blew a headlight bulb but apart from that what a great
> touring bike (although panniers smaller than adventure bike style
> ones).

This an "Oilhead"?
Perfect opportunity for a nice bright LED bulb.
--
Hog
'89 R100RS '96 Bastard12
BOB#5 OSOS#31 COFF#22 BOTAFOT#122

On Thursday, 7 July 2022 at 12:30:04 UTC+1, Hog wrote:
> On Wednesday, 6 July 2022 at 16:41:52 UTC+1, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:
<snip>
> ...and was sounding so good. As was said in the other place recently, 2 or 3 night stops are good for geriatrics with a week somewhere along the way.

Trying to refuse the obvious and hold onto the illusion that being geriatric is years away.

> > SNIP
> > R1200RT blew a headlight bulb but apart from that what a great
> > touring bike (although panniers smaller than adventure bike style
> > ones).
> This an "Oilhead"?
> Perfect opportunity for a nice bright LED bulb.

It's a 2012 oilhead DOHC model. Rarely ride it at night and the existing bulbs are good enough.

I don't *think* LED bulbs were an option with the last of the oilheads and at least in the UK LED
bulbs are an MOT failure (since January 2021) so I'll stick with the H7 bulbs and curse them
when they blow!

On 07/07/2022 15:45, Stephen Packer wrote:
> On Thursday, 7 July 2022 at 12:30:04 UTC+1, Hog wrote:
>> This an "Oilhead"?
>> Perfect opportunity for a nice bright LED bulb.
>
> It's a 2012 oilhead DOHC model. Rarely ride it at night and the existing bulbs are good enough.
>
> I don't *think* LED bulbs were an option with the last of the oilheads and at least in the UK LED
> bulbs are an MOT failure (since January 2021) so I'll stick with the H7 bulbs and curse them
> when they blow!

If they point the right way, it's not a fail any more.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions/mot-special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

Stephen Packer wrote:

> R1200RT blew a headlight bulb but apart from that what a great
> touring bike (although panniers smaller than adventure bike style
> ones).

The Husqvarna 901 was fucking excellent.

Its only problem was Scottoiler related and down to not having enough
slack in the feed tube - easily resolved.

--
Simon

Stephen Packer wrote:

> - Got stopped by a road blockage on the Motorway in Belgrade, Serbia
> and had to make an exit by riding up the grass verge (steep), across
> the pavement and tram tracks then illegal left turn at traffic lights
> to jump back on motorway after blockage.

Also, fantastic lorry crash with a refrigerated trailer and tractor
unit in a ditch and across the inside lane but with trailer wheels in
the air.

--
Simon

Stephen Packer wrote:

> 000 miles with only one day with no riding

Mark and I rode on that day - when we went to score some meths.

--
Simon

On Thursday, 7 July 2022 at 21:59:06 UTC+1, sweller wrote:
> Stephen Packer wrote:
>
> > R1200RT blew a headlight bulb but apart from that what a great
> > touring bike (although panniers smaller than adventure bike style
> > ones).
> The Husqvarna 901 was fucking excellent.
>
> Its only problem was Scottoiler related and down to not having enough
> slack in the feed tube - easily resolved.

You bought a 901?
For some reason I thought you had a new(ish) Triumph.

I've been pondering on the 890 Adventure for several weeks, having had a loaner for well over 1000 miles. Surprisingly excellent, both on and off road, one up and two up.

Hog <york996@gmail.com> wrote in
news:810e41a9-97b7-4f77-8547-6fbbf8e56b6an@googlegroups.com:

> On Thursday, 7 July 2022 at 21:59:06 UTC+1, sweller wrote:
>> Stephen Packer wrote:
>>
>> > R1200RT blew a headlight bulb but apart from that what a great
>> > touring bike (although panniers smaller than adventure bike style
>> > ones).
>> The Husqvarna 901 was fucking excellent.
>>
>> Its only problem was Scottoiler related and down to not having enough
>> slack in the feed tube - easily resolved.
>
> You bought a 901?

do keep up

> For some reason I thought you had a new(ish) Triumph.
>

he bought that about 4 of your KTMs ago

> I've been pondering on the 890 Adventure for several weeks, having had
> a loaner for well over 1000 miles. Surprisingly excellent, both on and
> off road, one up and two up.
>

buy it and ride down to the Pyrenees in September.

On 07/07/2022 22:02, sweller wrote:
> Stephen Packer wrote:
>
>> 000 miles with only one day with no riding
>
> Mark and I rode on that day - when we went to score some meths.
>
You still using a Trangia? (or similar)

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On 7/6/2022 8:41 AM, Stephen Packer wrote:
> For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey

Sooo glad I did Turkey 3 years ago.
>
> - Rode the transfagarasan
>
> - Saw a wild bear with cubs in Romania (well, I did)
>
> - Went to Sedlec Ossuary at Kutna Hora in Czech Republic and wondered
> WTF the carpenter who arranged the bones was thinking of.
>
Damn. Now I want to do another trip. Aargh.
>
> All in all a good break, now back to the serious business of retirement.
>

It's a bummer when you keep seeing reports of fun rides, knowing the
chances are slimmer and slimmer your body will let you do it again.

--
The erstwhile Thomas
FJR1300, R1200GS, ST1100 (in memoriam)

On Friday, 8 July 2022 at 22:06:10 UTC+1, Turby wrote:
> On 7/6/2022 8:41 AM, Stephen Packer wrote:
> > For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip.. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey
> Sooo glad I did Turkey 3 years ago.

I've done the black sea coast of Turkey a couple of times, just not the Med.. or any of the interior.

I hope there's another opportunity.

<snip>
> It's a bummer when you keep seeing reports of fun rides, knowing the
> chances are slimmer and slimmer your body will let you do it again.

Does sound like a bummer. Still, you've done a fair amount over the years which may be a (small) compensation.

I've done a *reasonable* amount, but wish I'd done more when younger, especially in my late teens when I wasn't working or studying.

On 7/8/2022 6:23 PM, Stephen Packer wrote:
> On Friday, 8 July 2022 at 22:06:10 UTC+1, Turby wrote:
>
> <snip>
>> It's a bummer when you keep seeing reports of fun rides, knowing the
>> chances are slimmer and slimmer your body will let you do it again.
>
> Does sound like a bummer. Still, you've done a fair amount over the years which may be a (small) compensation.
>
> I've done a *reasonable* amount, but wish I'd done more when younger, especially in my late teens when I wasn't working or studying.

Yeah, I certainly can't complain, but it just shows what an infinite
amount of interesting places there are in the world.
On my last leg flying home, I sat next to a professor from India who's
been living in the US for ~40 years. We were talking about world travel
and I dropped that I'd been to over 80 countries. He's been to 147. Now
that's a lot of traveling.

--
The erstwhile Thomas
FJR1300, R1200GS, ST1100 (in memoriam)

On 09/07/2022 02:23, Stephen Packer wrote:
> On Friday, 8 July 2022 at 22:06:10 UTC+1, Turby wrote:
>> On 7/6/2022 8:41 AM, Stephen Packer wrote:
>>> For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey
>> Sooo glad I did Turkey 3 years ago.
>
> I've done the black sea coast of Turkey a couple of times, just not the Med. or any of the interior.
>
> I hope there's another opportunity.
>
> <snip>
>> It's a bummer when you keep seeing reports of fun rides, knowing the
>> chances are slimmer and slimmer your body will let you do it again.
>
> Does sound like a bummer. Still, you've done a fair amount over the years which may be a (small) compensation.
>
> I've done a *reasonable* amount, but wish I'd done more when younger, especially in my late teens when I wasn't working or studying.

Don't know about you, but I didn't have the money to travel when I
wasn't working (I didn't do the study thing).

--
Bruce Porter
"The internet is a huge and diverse community but mainly friendly"
http://ytc1.blogspot.co.uk/
There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

On Saturday, 9 July 2022 at 02:23:29 UTC+1, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Friday, 8 July 2022 at 22:06:10 UTC+1, Turby wrote:
> > On 7/6/2022 8:41 AM, Stephen Packer wrote:
> > > For the first time since 2019, Simon Mark and myself had planned a trip. We had planned to go to Turkey but it was so fucking hot in Bulgaria and the border queues between Hungary/Serbia and Serbia/Bulgaria were tiring (pushing the bike for >1 hour in the baking sun) so we lost enthusiasm for continuing to Turkey
> > Sooo glad I did Turkey 3 years ago.
> I've done the black sea coast of Turkey a couple of times, just not the Med. or any of the interior.
>
> I hope there's another opportunity.

It seems, having ruined the economy (and much of society) things are coming home to roost. Just maybe the country can be turned around (back?).
But one has to be suspicious that he is now a de-facto dictator and stepping down isn't on the cards.

On Saturday, 9 July 2022 at 17:39:43 UTC+1, Hog wrote:
> On Saturday, 9 July 2022 at 02:23:29 UTC+1, stephen...@gmail.com wrote:

> > I hope there's another opportunity.
> It seems, having ruined the economy (and much of society) things are coming home to roost. Just maybe the country can be turned around (back?).
> But one has to be suspicious that he is now a de-facto dictator and stepping down isn't on the cards.

Well, I've been to Russia and China and those are little different I'd guess.

Not on holiday in China although I did some 'touristic' stuff while I was there.

On Wed, 6 Jul 2022 12:51:12 -0700 (PDT), Stephen Packer
<stephen.packer@gmail.com> wrote:

>Camping with decent kit is fine. The Thermarest 'luxury lite' camp bed is surprisingly comfortable.
>Hot nights maybe not so good without aircon, but it's character forming.

Butbutbut...my character is already fully formed!
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk

I don't know, but I been told
You never slow down, you never grow old