Alps or bust

[bigfatcat]

Phone ist kaput. Now in Italia at an internet cafe & can't upload photos, will do when I get back. Rode the best bikers road possibly in the world today, heading south from Brienz, through St.Moritz and am now in Livigno. Snow all around and where I'm camping is cold, but a lot more affordable. Bike is still behaving herself if as noisily as ever. Much easier to type on the bar's laptop though. Will detail the route later, but the old girl easily kept up with the fastest of the modern stuff on the twisties, but towards the bottom got complete drum brake fade, overshot a turn and cut in front of an oncoming car before coming to a stop by a barrier. Took it a lot steadier after that. Weather continues to be perfect. May head for Venice tomorrow, ear to the engine permitting. Without a phone I may be offline a bit, sorry.
BFC

[bigfatcat]

Woke up in Livigno a bit cold. Outside everything frozen solid. Lots of permasnow visible all around. Packing the frozen tent was fun. Headed south to Venice. Went through the Stelvio pass, look it up on google maps, snow at the top and hairpins galore. Venice also highly recommended, but hey, bring your own food, 16 euros for a pizza, OK, an a beer please. Bill = 28 euro, 7 for the beer and 5 for the table! Right. Lesson learnt (thieving bstard said "Venice ees espeseeve", really?) Headed east to Gorica & into Slovenia. Much more sensible, tonight camping in Bovec.
Slovenia is also beautiful, a great ride and the first country where most seem to speak english.
Went for a swim in the river, which was refreshing after a days ride, but locals thought I was mad (though it was no colder than the cornish sea). Photos when I get back.

[bigfatcat]

Its a small world. In Bovac there is a couple here travelling on small bikes.
His name was Gabriel (from Bristol) and he knows the MT club and about the Morocco trip and Simon (he organised a meet). They are on their way to India (but not by bike, dropping those off in Croatia), but still, getting across the continent at 50mph cant have been easy. Good luck to them.

[pupster]

.....It sounds like a brilliant trip.....although while you've been camping in the snow, we've been basking in the sunshine here in Blighty!!......
......Keep the blog coming & upload more pics when you can.....

[fantastic mister fox]

Good to here of Gabes and Chars progress, And sounds like you're having the time of your life.

[bigfatcat]

Just returned to the caf when I met Gabes & Chars and was told that I left without paying Cant get used to this paying for drinks afterwards. Bar girl looked surprised to see me again. This place is a kayaking heaven. Tomorrow Salzburg.

[bigfatcat]

Now back in Blighty (briefly staying in Brighton).
From Salzburg went to Czech Republic (Prague) then headed west back through Germany, Holland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, saw some great places & had one or two very scary moments. Bike still going OK, but losing oil (crack in clutch casing) and getting noisy at the top end (hopefully just tappets). Will update/add pictures when back at home.
BFC

[Wirralman]

Good story bfc, glad you got back OK. Many of the guys are away this week-end in Wye, so things are a bit quiet.
Eric

[bigfatcat]

Going through the 'Furka pass' road on the way to Hospental (does anyone not find this name funny?). This is where I had serious brake fade and 'Hospental' wasn't far off where I nearly needed to be.

[bigfatcat]

Livigno, Snow behind and tent frozen solid in the morning.
It got confusing, as coming out of Livigno was a customs post & I couldn't figure what country I was entering, but it was still Italy, as the town is a tax free state. Thought it was cheap there.