The Joys Of Planning An Overseas Trip

Completely agree with that. It's the demarcation of another country, another currency and language - another adventure. Who will I meet along the way ?

 

If a ferry trip is a good start for your adventure then I can recommend the isle of Lewis especially if lucky with the weather.

Honda cb1000r taken in 2016

 

Yes I'd love to do the Outer Hebrides. Thought about doing it with the Missus in the car but just never got round to it. Those island hopper tickets look a good buy. Would love to do it on the bike in warm sunny weather though.

 

Yep, totally get what you're on about, rolling onto a ferry looking forward to different roads, language & food, all makes it that bit more of an adventure than doing a road trip back home.
I have done a few Euro trips over the years, my favourite without doubt was Northern Spain and Andorra this year.
I have also loved Germany, down near Bernkastel which was near enough to get to the Nurburgring to have a play & was a good trip, also did one to the French Alps, stayed at a ski lodge in Samoens which was cheap as chips in the summer, and only a short ride into Switzerland and Italy which we did. I have done most of these trips on either sports bikes or naked bikes and loved them.

 

Anyone remember a Ms Koo Stark?

This was the location for one of her "acting" roles.

 

Nice pic!

 

Isle of Lewis is in 2 halves so to speak especially if you include the attached Isle of Harris.
North is flat but has fences for sheep so progress can be, errm, swift.
South is hilly with good bends and views but no fences. You've heard of "sleeping policemen" well the Scottish employ "sheeping policemen" lol. One minute your doing three figure sweepers (with camping gear on ) next minute two or three sheep pull you down to a wary 30 mph as they wander across

The roads are good, very good, and very grippy, make sure your tyres have more life left than a normal mileage calculation!

 

Never been on a ferry with my bike. Have been on the train tough, freaking me out leaving it to the guys who tied it down. Anyway, nice trip ahead! Besides Assen, you’ll enjoy Germany, Switzerland and france! Beware of speed cameras in Switzerland! VERY, VERY expensive !! (Trust me.. my colleague was caught doing 86 in a 50 zone, cost: € 1,200.-)

But hey, driving in the mountains is awesome! I remember driving from Luzern to Interlaken, staying off highway 8 You’ll love it!!

 

Through the arch in the corner is a "honesty shop".
Ice creams ( it was a hot day), venison sausages as they looked yummy and a book on the history of the Amundsieghe (spelling?) Estate. £20 well spent.
Cracking selection of all sorts of wares. This road is a dead end of around 15 miles or so and ends at the beach where the other pic was taken.
What a lovely place.... highly recommended.

 

Good point about not riding EVERY day otherwise it's like any other job.

 

I don't know if it still applies, but there used to be a requirement at the Swiss border to buy a vignette (short-term road tax) to use Swiss roads. Might be worth checking out if this still applies.

 

Planning for any trip is always enjoyable. Picking your routes, hotels and how long to stay on the bike each day is great fun. Then there is the anticipation of the pending trip and what lays ahead. It does not get anyt better, well yes it does; riding the trip.
Wessa

 

My Hebridean cousins once explained to me..... Amhuinnsuidhe......pronounced approximately Aven-Sue-ya. Mh in Gaelic is a ‘v’ sound. Abhainn means river and all those English river Avons are probably the ‘river river’ from the original Brythonic (Briton Welsh) name. Suidhe means ‘sitting’ which makes more sense when you see the way the river descends to the sea like a banked tier of seats.

 

Yes it does. You can buy one in advance from the Swiss something or other office in London (online), they expire January the following year. I think they are about £30.

 

The last time I rode in Switzerland you only needed a vignette if you use their motorways.

 

I normally put that on me salad

 

Not done it for a good few years now, but the road from Hutton - le - Hole to Egton Bridge via Rosedale Abbey (and Chimney Bank .... wheeeee .... oh shit!) used to be full of kamikazee sheep. Probably still is. Roll on summer ... I might get to find out.
We used to go that way from York (or latterly Pontefract) to Grosmont when visiting the North Yorks Moors Railway. Been a while since I lived in York!