2012 - TWO-WHEELS

Jun 2012 Distance: 3'000km Ferry trips: 1 Vehicle: BMW R1200RT

As you may have already realised there was no 2011 bike trip. Yes, I missed out in life that year. General rule: don't miss out before rheumatisms take over and then it's too late.

This was the first trip with the new R1200RT bike. I had bought in April of the same year so I was eager to see how it handled on long trips.

It took me a few summers to realise that swapping my old trusty bike, the R1200R, for a heavier one, R1200RT was a big mistake. It's the same bike (same chassi, engine, gear box and panniers among others) except for two things: it has cruise control and weighs 50kg more. Yes, in terms of weight it's like placing an invisible pillion passenger at the back. Nevertheless I was off for the Summer 2012 ride.

It started on a Friday evening after leaving work. I loaded the bike, turned the key, twisted the throttle and off I was.

The first Kodak moment was at my favourite spot (picture right) south of Brunnen village.

The next stop was Bergamo, see pictures below.

Right after came Brescia. A not so famous but very picteresque town (pictures below)

If you visit Sirmione in summer, don't forget your swimming trunks.

A stop at Verona is always accompanied by window shopping and good food.

Don't miss out on a great camping place build on the fortification walls of Verona called San Pietro.

Picture: Verona Colloseum, a not so well know colosseum which is better preserved that the one in Rome.

The next stop was Trieste (pictures below). Trieste is right on the border with Slovenia, which I only realised after unknowingly crossing over the border in order to find the nearest camping place.

The next morning we left Trieste and headed towards Slovenia. Slovenia only touches the Adriatic sea through a 20km wide strip. Within this strip there is a town called Koper, in Latin written as Capodistria, the family origin of the first head of state of the First Hellenic Repubic, Ioannis Kapodistrias. (pictures below)

After Koper I headed to Croatia. The first stop was Rijeka, the trip was hindered due to heavy rainfall all day. To my good luck the next day skies cleared and one of the most gorgeous coastal roads I had ever ridden lay infront of me, a 200km stretch of excellent tarmac and great turns to make those chicken-strips* on the tires disappear. It was a very tiring stretch of tarmac as one has to be deeply concentrated in the dozens of curves that existed along the coast. It does though reward with great views of the blue adriatic sea. (Zadar pictures below)

*chicken strips = the distance between the last warn part of the tire and the edge, the smaller the chicken-strips the better a rider you are

From Zadar instead of driving along the coast of mainland I decided to jump on a ferry onto Uglian island, there is a ferry that goes from Tadar to Preko, and drive along the island. I regretted that decision once setting foot on the island as there was unfortunately absolutey nothing to see, only holiday houses with closed doors. There were barely any people in the streets. After a couple of hours driving south I had to take another ferry back onto mainland, which I happen to miss so had to wait for hours for the next one. I therefore wouldn't recommend any bikers visiting this island. From Tkon one can catch the ferry back to mainland. Next stop South was Sibenik, a magnificent city. As soon as I reached Sibenik it started raining heavily so again I was very lucky with the weather, the hairpin turns along the coast are not to be driven in the wet. (Sibenik pictures below)

After Sibenik I came across a castle called Ston. It was gettig hot, so I found a beach near the village of Klek and cooled down in the fresh mediterranean water.