From Belgium to Monaco - up and over

From Belgium to Monaco - up and over

Overview
Previously I have been cruising around in the northern part of Europe visiting friends, which has been great, but now it was time to embrace the other joy of a motorcycle trip: Riding the twisties. For besides from Norway, there hasn't been any proper roads for me to ride on. Even my trusted winding road finding GPS couldn't provide me with some real motorcycle roads. But leaving Belgium, all of that would change. The following scores are my evaluation of the roads outside of the highways.

Belgium 1/5
I have to say that this country really did not impress road wise. The surface was ok inside the small towns, but going outside of towns was quite horrible. And since the country is flatter than a Norwegian waffle, the roads are straigther than  John Wayne voting for Reagan on a horse. Belgium gets one stars since it doesn't take long to get out of the country (No offence to any Belgian readers).

Mid France 3/5
Moving into France the roads became quite different. Instead of having good surface in cities and crap outside, the french chose the opposite approach. Great surface on the countryside, and real world bump mapping in towns. The roads where not impressively twisting, but you can cruise at a legal 90 km/h and not become bored. Highways costs money and are unnecessary. 

Switzerland 3/5
Switzerland was good, and I can see potential for good twisties, but the surface was kind of crap. Some really nice roads up towards St. Bernards pass, but after the final few kilometers I was praying that my kidneys where still in place.

St. Bernards Pass 2469m

Italy 4/5

Italy had a great first impression. Coming down from St. Bernards pass was some of the best roads I have ridden. Smooth surface and no traffic. I can't remember having a smoother ride than this. The morning after it rained heavily and I chose to take the highway to eat up some kilometers. When the sun finally cleared up, I got off the high way, but sadly I was in the low lands.  Flat and straight. But cranking up some tunes and drying up in the sun was better than the rainy Aosta valley. Towards the end of the day I approach another mountain pass, and the long stretch in the planes is rewarded with some great winding roads. Skipping a tunnel, I go to the top of the ski resort near Panice Soprana. The winding road  down took me back into the south of France and down to Monaco where the warm Mediterranean greeted me. After some frantic driving inside Monaco I finally arrive at my couchsurfer-host.

The Mediterranean at last

Brussels


Overview
Beer, that's what it is folks, beer. There is so much beer in this place, it is quite hard to fathom. One bar has 2500 types of beer. I did my best and tried four, but not in that bar. Way to crowded. It was otherwise a short stay in Brussels, but I found a place for me. Or at least that's what it sounded like.

Beers 6/5
Oh my!







                                                                                                                                                           

Flemm-ish

Overview

Belgium is strange, but strange in a good way. First of all there was the prepaid gas. Then there is the drunk cop. A whole lot of chocolate and beer and otherwise great fascination with french fries, or Belgian fries. In general a great place to stay.

Chocolatygoodness 5/5

Fantastic.. nothing more to say

Drunkenness 5/5

I was lucky to be in Ghent during the annual Gentse feesten, which is a huge free music festival, where everyone is drinking and dancing in the streets. A highlight must be mentioned about a large drunk cop (not on duty) was amazed by my height and continuously said that I was good guy. Guess I am safe on the road I thought. However, after about 500 pictures taken with me and him (on his request), he didn't even remember a tall Norwegian guy the next day. Oh well, so much for a lasting impression

Ze Germans


Overview

Lübeck has become familiar to me after a few previous visits. However, those visits are usually around Weinachtsmarkt and things are a bit dark and cold. In summer, Lübeck is significantly warmer (go figure) and that opens up for a hole new set of outdoor activities. I met up with a few friends on Saturday evening (21.07) and we went out to the beach for some camping and to quote previous uncredited authors "the naked people where everywhere". Seems like German clothing are extremely sensitive to saltwater. Even my travel companions had the same challenges. Although moving back into Lübeck things turned back to normal, and we enjoyed the day after at a flee market,  hanging out in the park and eating out.

Outdoorness 4/5

This stay, I spent mostly outdoors which was in general very pleasant. Still a bit cold during the night due to a very cold sleeping bag used by yours truly. The lake and park in Lubeck should be visited, just be aware of the bees on the ground (Martin)

Nakedness 5/5

This requires no explanation.

A Day in Hipster Central

A Day in Hipster Central

Overview

Copenhagen is a peculiar place for a simple country boy like myself: The city is filled with coffee shops, modern architecture and not a single bicycle from after 1980. Because if there is one thing they take seriously it is their hipster style. 

Hipster Density 5/5

 The Copenhagen hipster is a fairly laid back creature and my host blends  in amongst them without effort. It glides across the city on their old bikes and only gets upset if one would interfere with his or hers bike lane, which is considered holy ground in hipster central.

Walkabouts 4/5

Although biking around is a great way to move about, you can seemingly walk forever in this city. And there are plenty to see. Bridges, harbors, boats, pizza huset (where you eat sandwiches), Italian ice cream and more. Bring some good shoes, lots of money and a large dose of biker patience.

Three socks, a boxer shorts and 4000 NOK 

Overview

M and LJ provides a warm welcoming atmosphere to what some would say is the slightly more shady side of Drammen. Maybe they call it shady since it is facing north, or it might be that there are some thieving scum trying to ruin everything good an holy in this world living there. Anyways, at M and LJ's place the shady side is brightened by warm coffee, cute kittens, good food and good company. The hosts gladly provides entertainment in form of video games, swimming, hiking and exiting guided tours to Holmsbu. 

Nightlife: 4/5

Great dance parties are often seen in the vicinity of Drammen and transportation is arranged by the host

Price: 2/5

While accommodation is fairly low cost, collateral costs might reach the extreme, leaving my three socks, one boxer shorts and 4000 kroners poorer after the washer demanded a sacrifice and the insurance only covered expenses beyond 4000 NOK 

Hospitality: 5/5

M and LJ's are unmatched in hospitality and they provided sanctuary for a stranded MC-traveler while waiting for repairs. The author would recommend this place for everyone.

,

Back together again

Stranded..

Some men just want to see the world burn

Stealing a motorcycle is not that hard. I had to hot wire my first bike after my ignition lock corroded. My second bike was lifter without a trace from outside my apartment. However, these retards was unable to lift my bike, but not before the jammed a screwdriver into the ignition lock and  kicking off the disc lock. How on earth does these inbred low life scum of the earth manage to not getting away with the bike I don't know,  but now I am stranded. Hope everyone is having a better motorcycle-summer than me...

Boyscouts and Motorcycle Trouble

Norwegian National Scouting Camp

After a brief stay in Haugesund, I traveled down to Stavanger, where a large amount of quasi-militant youth had gathered in a city of tents. Here I met Johannes, Ole Jacob, Espen and Svein Magne and also my mother! After spending two days in the sun eating ice cream, it is time for me to depart and remove my self from the west coast.

A Cabin in the Woods and a Flat Tire

The third day of riding brought me north east to our cabin in Etnedal. Although I arrived late, my brother and his family welcomed me with a nice steak dinner! The morning after we spend outdoors playing with my niece. In the evening we move down to Dokka to our aunts, but there my bike had other plans. The 600 km from Stavanger plus the final few km of gravel road was more than my already worn tire could handle, which effectively left my bike stranded in the woods. Looks like my bike trip will get a slight delay...

  

Departure

After every box moved, after every bag packed, after every good byes and farewells have been shared, it is the 1st of July and the contract of my apartment is ended. I can now finally begin my... wait a minute.... My new Trax luggage set for my bike has not arrived yet. Stranded, I now have to bargain to stay one more night in my old apartment. Luckily Sabrinas new room mate, Marit, was nice enough to let me stay.

The next day I spend waiting for the luggage kit to arrive. When it finally does, I spend the rest of the afternoon mounting it, and after a long day I can depart the old homestead and turn my nose south and embark on my journey. 

For those of you now uninformed about my journey, I can tell you this: For the next undefined period of time I will travel to a series of non-predefined destinations, having my bike as my only travel companion. My current progress will be kept on this page, and if you are by coincidence nearby my current location, then I would love to hear from you, and maybe we could meet up. 

That is all for now. I will try to update as often as possible for all interested readers, including my potential route for the next days.