Mt’s to the Stella Rally, Bardonecci, Italy 2014 (by road)

[Roey]

This was something the four of us planned late last year as an alternative to going to the TSTF in the Pyrinees again.
Mark planned the route and accommodation along the way, so firstly, a great big thanks to him.
While we all have other bikes we decided we wanted to all go on our MTs , Yoof on his 500, Pudding on his 350, me on my 350 and Ellrider on his 500 (it was supposed to be a 350 but he sneaked a 500e MZ engine into it about a fortnight before!)
The journey started Wednesday 9th July as three of us (Yoof –Nick, Worz-Pudding, and myself) boarded the overnight ferry from Hull to Zebrugge. Our plan was to meet Ellrider (Mark) just outside Brugges the next morning. It goes without saying, plenty to drink that night on the Ferry while singing along to the most camp pianist you will ever see. He even referred to himself as ‘the Queen of the seas’ !
Day 1 Thursday- Met up with Mark and rode down to Nancy on some great French rural roads. By the way, the plan was to avoid ALL motorways and toll roads unless absolutely necessary.
Day 2 Friday- Up early, nice healthy continental breakfast and on the road again to reach Grenoble. Another long day, again some fantastic French B roads, we didn’t get to our accommodation until 9.15pm so missed any chance of eating there so take away Pizza was on the menu. Our host even gave us some free beer .
Day 3 Saturday- today was the day we rode to Bardonecci and half way up the mountain to the Stella Alpina Rally wild camp site. We pitched our tents eventually amongst all of the cow turds and then we decided to ride up the mountain that evening instead of waiting till the next day. Not too technical but great fun nevertheless especially on road biased tyres. As we neared the top it started sleeting and snowing and was bloody cold. Mark and I stayed put at this point but Nick and Pudding ventured further reaching the summit. Or so they tell us! Even the customary 4 x 4’s couldn’t get as far as they did. Mark had an electrical problem so his bike was bump start only (soon sorted, bad earth). Down the mountain we all went. That evening there was an old ski type chalet that served us beer and the most fantastic stew for a good few Euros.
Day 4 Sunday. Our original plan today was to stay at the Rally and then travel through the Swiss Alps on Monday to Bern but thought it would be better to get some miles under our belts today as the estimate was 12-15 hours riding to do the distance through the mountain passes the our next stop. We decided to ride 75 miles or so to Val D’Isere to break up the journey. Firstly we met up with Chippy, Steve and Johhny P for breakfast at their campsite, thanks lads it was much appreciated.
Val D’Isere was a great ride over and down the mountain, you can see that from some of the pictures. Cheese and wine MT picnic was great in amongst out tents. Surprisingly quiet town even though it was out of ski season.
Day 5 Monday. Today we road from Val D’Isere to Bern to a fanatastic site that Mark found on the river just outside of the city. We stayed in a wooden box but it saved pitching tents as it was late again. Curry Wurst on the menu plus a few beers that night.
Day 6 Tuesday- Next stop was Koblenz, we had booked into a B&B and when we arrived found it to be a fantastic old property. Great accommodation again and the best breakfast of the week. As it was late when we arrived we popped into town and sat outside a little restaurant where Pudding has his first ever schnitzel.
Day 7 Wednesday-Final destination was Ypres/Iper in Belgium for a meet up with the Welshies again and a final night on the beer. Great site again, but our first job, after showers, was to get to the 8pm nightly sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate Memorial to the’ Armies of the British Empire who stood there from 1914-1918 and to those of their dead who have no known grave’. This has been sounded every night since 1928 except during Nazi occupation. Surprisingly big crowds and very touching.
Big meal and lots of beer drunk that night, Pudding was not happy with his steak!
Unfortunately, the old codger (Ellrider) fell over on the way home drunk and broke his shoulder, to be fair to him, he rode 6 hours the next day in pain.
Day 8 Thursday- Steady ride (extremely saddle sore by now) to Zebrugge for our over night ferry back to Hull.

So, approximately 300 miles per day ridden, just over 2000 in total, and the old Mt’s didn’t let us down again. Yoof had a puncture, Ellrider a short term electrical issue, Pudding had no problems and I had a broken wire from rectifier , what great bikes they are!
Some pics will be added below

[Drifter]

What a great trip you had thanks for the report

[Minter]

Well in chaps - sounds like a good un!

[ellrider]

Good write up but who is Pudding?

[bth2bth2]

nice one lads. good write up mick...reading it felt like we were all there with you. sounds like mark found some great sites. mark ,i hope you mend ok.
Q...would you do it again ?

brian

[Roey]

Q...would you do it again ?

brian

Yes, tomorrow

[deadgrass]

excellent endurance test for man and machine,hope you mend ok mark,great write up mick.
dave.

[CADMAN]

Sounds like a great trip you had, thanks for the report Mick. I like the way each day ended with drinking beer . Mark I hope you mend quickly.

[ellrider]

2400 miles was my round trip in 8 full days, easy maths that.

We happened to be on the Tour De France route on some stages but luckily a day ahead of them so no delays.
Other than stopping for a burger every day (but we did try to find a local Quick instead of a McD ) we also stopped at the Nurburgring where something was happening and the boys bought a few souvenirs.
The bikes coped admirably even going through the center of Strasbourg stop start at the hottest part of the day, we were melting down but the bikes coped.

Oh, and Mick bought us an ice cream for being good.

Mark

[ginger cat]

Great report .What a great trip well done lads .

Paul.