Stage 11: home sweet home (Galicia)

After 12 hours of riding, really 8 hours riding plus some time for technical stops, maintenance and supplies... :), and after 5000 km, i am now at home!
Today i woke up early in France and came directly to my home... Just little stops to take photos like in Desfiladero de Pancorbo (Burgos), a "field of gold" in Leon and a sign of the "Camino de Santiago".
By the way, i came riding along the way to Santiago almost all day...
I have learned some things of this experience, as an example it would be great another travel plan, i mean, less stops, to use complete days for riding and moving faster between places where i would stay complete days... And It would be great to meet with friends around the trip, i missed this... But may be next time.
Anyway i finished with a huge grin...
Probably my mobile phone will be switch off until friday because i need vacations of this vacations... I am seeing my bed now... i am going to have a good rest right now. I know that my bed missed me... :)
Tomorrow, when i wake up i will start planning any new adventure!
Thank all of you that support me in this trip.
Cheers
This blog was closed in Galicia (Spain) , wednesday, july 3th, 2013.

Stage 10: Tarbes (France)

Wheater: hot.

I will stand tonight in Tarbes... Near of Spain, just crossing the Pirineos, and even nearer of Lourdes...
i should go to Lourdes, but i am not into religious tourism... So "not now, tomorrow" or for spaniards, this is what Jose Mota says: "pero ahora no, Mañanaaaa" ;)

Today i continued crossing France going down towards Spain. I did just 1 stop before i get in Tarbes.
My stop was Toulose, and i am happy to have been there, the right size of city for me, a pleasant stroll, it was nice.
I dont know to much about Touluse, but may be i come back in the future. I left some photos of the river "la garonna" and the main square.
Well to say the truth i stopped to in a highway rest area... You pay a lot of taxes for using the highway, but the rest areas are really ideal for resting, little public parks by the highway. I had a sandwich there and i enjoyed, it was quite near of the Pirineos ...
And finally, Tarbes, a little city with some interesting public spaces. I saw it in a hurry because i think a storm is coming...
And tomorrow the forecast is rain from here to Miranda de Ebro. 4 hours of rain, i missed my waterproof stuff ;)
So let see what happens.

Photos:
Tolouse 2
Rest area
Tarbes 2

Cheers

Stage 9: Lunel, near Montpellier (France)

Weather: sunny and hot.

I woke up in San Remo and ended up my today's trip in Lunel.

I only made two pit stops...
First in Monaco, i had to feel how it is riding in the very streets used in Monaco's F1 grand prix.
To say the truth, Monaco is just a bunch of streets and there are a lot of traffic, so i couldnt ride ad fast as i expected ;)
And nothing more to do there and even if i wanted i didnt have the money to leave the high level of this city...
So l leaved Monaco towards Marseille.
In Marseille i ate something and i had a good dessert (dame blanche) with some balls of ice cream, chocolate sirup... You known what i am talking about? Ñam ñam...
Then i went to Marseille's port where the Jack Cousteau's ship "Alcyone" was sometimes... ;) and of course i wandered around the city center taking some photos.
And that was it in Marseille...

Later i rode in the highway again... There are sooo many tolls here in France... I have one or two hundreds toll tickets... ;)
And in the end i arrived to the camp site where i  going to stand tonigth. It looked great in internet, with a good area of swiming pools and wifi access...
I asked for the wifi and i had to pay a voucher, well all rigth, wifi is an extra ... But the swiming pool is included!
So at least it worthed to bring here my bermudas shorts!
But dont you know? Bermudas shorts are forbidden :o
I think this is a stupid rule in a camp site swiming pool...
So i am 2 metres of a swimming pool, it is the first day really hot since i started the journy and i can NOT swim!

I had a shower instead, but it is not the same...
Anyway i am hangig out writing this.
And the summer is long, i could show my perfect body, swimming agile as a dolphin... in any other swimming pool ;)
Photos:
Monaco, Marseille, Lunel's camp site

Cheers

Stage 8: San Remo (Italy)

Weather: sunny
Min: 17
Max: 30

I woke up early and stop in Milano and Genova in my way to San Remo.
I think it was no a good decision... Milano and Genova are big cities, too much traffic (even in sunday) and you are not going to see anything in a so short "pit stop"...
But i did it ,and i have some photos and the sensation inside that Genova worth another trip... And Milano is more "city", i didnt find it so interesting... But you know, they were short pit stops, so may be i am completly wrong.

I am in San Remo, in my opinion this is the italian version of Sanxenxo in Galicia: port, yatchs and tourists... There are beaches too but i think ours are better ;)

Anyway all this area is beatiful if you want sun and sea merge... What i needed sooo much.
And here, at last, the summer has come for me! Not too hot to go swimming but perfect for walking or biking.
So, I released my sun protection, my tshirt and my short trousers and i rent a bike! ;)
There are a lot of little villages and you can visit them by bicycle...
There is a road, prohibited for any other than persons and bycicles, and it is a nice ride by the sea shore.
It was really pleasant.
And just to mention it. The hotel is really nice for the price. Kind people, nice views, free wifi, ...
Just ask me for the name if you want to come :)

Ah and to be a good tourist i had a pizza for dinner...
:)

Photos:
Milan, genova, san remo 2

Cheers

Stage 7: Melano, lake Lugano (Switzerland)

Weather: full rain during 3 hours... Then cloudy ;)
Min: 10
Max: 23

I did not remember a so rainy day like today in the morning. It was pouring in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Lietchestein...
But my waterproof clothes almost did their labour... Almost ... ;)

In any case the landscapes in the high mountain that i had to cross today are super. A must to see. It would be better with a sunny day because my camera got so wet and the lens so foggy, that i couldnt get many good photos...

Lietchestein (vaduz) was a stop point. A really courious state, as big as, lets say half Ourense...
I had a good hot "Schokolade" there, just to feel that i still had hands ;) And yes, i still have then ... I am writing this, am not i?

After this stop, the weather was better and better... The deeper i get into the valleys, the warmer and drier the weather was.
And somewhere people started to speak Italian! But i dont speak Italian either, damn it! :) Now i am in the camp site near Lugano. When i arrived some people were in the lake (inside the water) having a bath! The truth is that it is summer here! But i still feel this morning's cold inside me.
Anyway I spent 1 hour visiting Lugano, but today's journey was hard and i am tired, so i am in the camp site again,resting.

After dinner i will walk a bit by the lake Lugano side, another little sea inside Switzerland... And then i will try to rest because tomorrow i want to arrive early to my next destination: San Remo.

Cheers

Stage 6: München (Deustchland)

Today was sunny! Yes!
So i spent all day wandering. Basically the day had three different parts:
"Eins" (1): in the morning i went to the city center on foot and take a lot of photos... By the way there were a million (or 2) of tourists around me...
But i enjoyed the visit. München could be the capital city of any imperium. A lot of singular monuments, big avenues,... Impressive.
As far as i know this city was completly destroyed during the second world war, so i think almost all is new or reconstructed, anyway it is impressive.

"Zwei" (2): i couldnt leave this place without eating something typical. "Bratwurst" with "Kartoffelsalat".i had a good "Weissbeer" too and as dessert i had some kind of warm "Apfel" roll.
I felt like eating this should be like if a german guy comest to Galicia and eats "churrasco, viño da casa e tarta de santiago"
And it was tasty... ;)

"Drei"(3): i spent all afternoon visiting Allianz Arena futbol stadium and of course the BMW museum. It was great! And i have thousands of photos...

And that is it. Now i am exhausted but i get profit of my day in Munchen.It is a nice city... Now i am eager to know other places in Germany... But my trip is in its middle so tomorrow i will leave Germany... :( i have to come back to Spain and it will last me 6 more days.
Fortunatly i am going to the south so, may be i will be able to use for the first time my nivea sun protection!

Cheers!

Stage 6: Bregenz (Austria), München (Germany)

Weather while riding: rainy
Min: 10
Max: 16

A rainy day received me in Austria... I stopped in Bregenz in order to take some photos but it started to rain. I ended up eating something there while i was waiting to the rain stop...
But it did not stop. It is s pity, the views of the Bodennse lake were astonishing but i did not take any good photo because it was pouring on me :(

Anyway i continued the trip and now i am in München!

It is a big city but the hotel is really near the city center. Today I aim to explore this area on foot, just after a little break to rest... because my back is telling me that i need to rest a bit... And who am i to say No to my back?

Tomorrow i will be the perfect tourist again. I hope, God will provide a reasonable good weather, besides, i have waterproof clothing ;)

Just a last thing. I want to say hello to a german friend. He knows who he is... ;) it is a pity that we can not meet here in Munchen. I will have a beer for you!

Cheers

Stage 5: Zurich (Switzerland) III

Just to mention it.
Yesterday evening i borrowed a "velo" (bike) and i enjoyed it like if i was 10 years old!
Zurich is better seen riding a bike... No traffic jams, no parking problems... To say the truth it is a city where most people use public transport or bikes.
It was really nice and i felt like a native.
Ah, and this was free! Something strange in a so expensive city like Zurich.

Now i am in Austria... But this will be another post.
Cheers!

Stage 5: Zurich (Switzerland) II

Second day here.
Last nigth i had a good rest, so today i have been the perfect tourist.
I woke up at 7:30am.
I went to Zurich's tourism info point.
I reached a map and some guidelines. And i started to walk.
It was a nice walk around the old center of Zurich. I crossed the river several times because there are points of interest in both river sides. And i took a ton of photos.

This evening/night i aim to walk by the side of the lake... With no hurry, just chill out.
The weather as usual is cloudy but who cares? :)

Cheers

Stage 5: Zurich (Switzerland) I

Weathet: as usual
Min: 14
Max: 18

Today was strange .The less km i did (285) the more tired i feel.
It is true that today i rode almost all time avoiding the highways... The landscapes are impressive but the trip last a lot more because you are limited to 60km/hour most of time...
Today i stop in several places like Laussane and Bern... I took some photos of landscapes, castles,cows, grass fields... And so more :)

Somewhere during the trip the people started to speak german... Perfect i am not need to explain every one i want to talk to, that i do not speak french... But wait a minute... I do not speak german either! Aghhhh: Icht sprehe keine Deusch... :)

Moreover, in the end i arrived to Zurich.I am now in a beatiful apartment really near the lake. A couple of friends of mine allow me to stay here... They are now in Spain... And i needed you here! You know, I am having some problems with the "elektroherd"!
Anyway... i will eat that pizza ( cool or warm )!
By the way, Thank you for the keys of your apartment.Thank you and thank you again ;)
It is a pity both of you are not here to guide me in Zurich ... I will try to do it my best. But you know that "i will be like an octupus inside a garage" (really lost) without you :p

The first i need to find here is some place with public wifi because i can not publish this without wifi... And then i need to buy some matches, then find a safe place inside the apartment to make a fire to HEAT THIS DAMM PIZAAAAA! (lol)
I left some fotos of Lausanne, cows and Bern.

Cheers

Stage 3: Clermont-Ferrand (France)

A day later... I hope i can publish this. The wifi in the hotel yesterday was awful.

Weather conditions while riding: cloudy with rains
Min 12
Max 19

Yesterday in the nigth i had a terrible headache. It was raining and i was trying to sleep in a tent inside a camp site.
I wad worried about my health today, but hey! Today i am full of beans! No headache at all.
So i started my way to Clermont-Ferrand early in the morning.
During the path i stopped on one of the "auto route aire". Well conditionated areas to fill the tank, rest, eat something and ... Well, change my pants and sockets after an unexpected rain. I was really wet. It is going to be imposible to heal of my cold ;)
Next i came to Clermont-Ferrand a city inside a valley. I took a photo from a nearer hill.
In the evening i was wandering in the city. There are a couple of interesting buildings but i did not see any more... Besides, every one i want to speak to does not speak english or spanish... So the communication is being just using gestures... Obviously this city is not ad touristic as Burdeaux was.
Tomorrow i will be in Switzerland. Let see how it looks like!
Cheers

Stage 4: Rolle (Switzerland)

Weather: as usual cloudy with rain but some sun too.
Min: 10
Max: 18.5

In the morning i stop in Lyon.. Is a big city.May be i can come back again in the future because i was there only 2 hours. Time enough for some photos and to get crazy with my gps ;)
I left you a panoramic of the city from a nearer hill where there is a cathedral.NOTRE DAME OF ... Opss i cant remember :( and a photo of the hill from the city...

I crossed the border. It is the first time i felt like a foreigner in Europe.The border police stop me in the customs.I had to pay 38 euros of traffic tax (vignette) and change some euros in the local swiss franc.Moreover they brought a dog to search for drugs in my motorbike! Hopefully my "pharmagrip" was not detected and i continued my trip. And here i am! in Switzerland's Vaud canton. In a camp site situated in a little city called Rolle. My tent is 10 metres far of Leman lake, and i can see the alps opposite. It is a pity the weather but Rolle was an  compulsory stop point... Someone i know were working here when they were young... So I needed to know this place.

Cheers

Stage 2: Burdeaux (France)

Weather while riding: sunny.
Max: 26
Min: 17

Today i woke up early and rode non stop the almost 400 km between Miranda de Ebro and Burdeaux.
It is my first time in France.
I will try to know why in Spain we say that an egg's omelet is a "french omelet"...;)
It was a great day for camping or at least i thought so when i arrived Grandnigan (11km far Burdeaux).
Very kind manager speaking french and english... Small and quiet camp site.
I hired a pitch, i set my tent and then i set off to visit Burdeaux.
Maybe it is saturday but it was crowded,anyway i think it is a friendly city, a lot of young people everywhere, pedestrian areas, bicycles, trolley,... And tourists like me!

By the way, may be not the best day for camping in the end. It is raining since mid-evening. It is not too heavy but it is annoying.
In order the language, je ne parle pas francais.. So i am surviving with my spanish and my english. Don't worry i ate today :p
Cheers

Stage 1: Miranda de Ebro (Spain)

Trip stage weather: partly cloudy.
Min:12 celsius.
Max: 26 celsius.

This is just a technical stop,
i have been riding my motorbike since 16:00, with small breaks to walk a little.
I did not visit special places although i saw a typical spanish bull. :)

My mission today was accomplished, i am near France where i plan to enter tomorrow...

The route

You can see the final prepared route in this google maps capture.
I'll set off for Miranda de Ebro the 21st june 2013 at 16:00 hours.
Today is the D-day!

Ready, set, go

In every trip you need to carry some things... My motorbike is full loaded now. This is my check list:

Motorbike check list: 

1. Tires: new and with adequate pressure. 
2. Oil levels: Ok. 
3. Gas: full tank 
4. Panniers (3): Ok

Motorbike "just in case" check list:

1. Extra Oil can: Ok 
2. Tire patches: Ok 

Rider equipment:

1. Convertible Helmet: Ok
2. Pants and jacket: Ok
3. Thermal isolation(shirt, scarf):Ok
4. Waterproof (jacket, pants, boots): Ok

Devices check list: 

1. Phone/Camera app/GPS app/...: Ok 
2. Video Camera: Ok 
3. Camera motorbike mount: Ok 
4. Power Adapters (phone/camera): Ok 

Camping check list:

1. Tent: Ok
2. Matress: Ok
3. Seeping bag : Ok
4. Ligth torch: Ok

Beach and pool equipment:

1. Towel: Ok
2. Sun protection: Ok
3. Cap: Ok
4. Sunglasses: Ok
5. Swimsuit: Ok

Documents:

1. Spanish Id card and driving license: Ok
2. European driving license and European health insurance card: Ok
3. Visa/mastercard (essential :O): Ok

Regular clothes:

1. A couple of changes of clothes, i'll buy something along the journey and these will be souvenirs when i come back!

Drugs: YES

You know, i have an awful cold today. So i need some legal drugs. For sure my health is going to be better and better during my trip :)

Raring to go: YES

So lets go to see what happens!

Almost one year thinking about it

..and in the end, I'll set off my journey in June the 21st, 2013.
But what are we talking about?
Well, let start where all this began...
when i was younger i always wanted to buy my own motorbike. Over the years I have had several motorbikes, and now i am a Bmw GS 1200 Adventure's happy rider. It is a big motorbike, perfect for long trips.
I have made some routes mainly in Spain and Portugal, but i needed some more...
I have been dreaming with the Europan Motorbike ultimate tour from Spain to Norwegian North Cape, but it is a really long trip for my poor vacation period and may be a little expensive for my pocket too.

But in the other side, i feel still young, my back and my bones doesn't hurt too much yet :D and besides, i love knowing new places, taking photos, ...
So why don't ride around Europe?
Then, this year 2013 i aimed to make a round trip from Spain to Germany riding my motorbike.
I am learning German, so it could be a good chance to practice (my really poor German) too.
To summarize i am going to do 4500Km with an average riding time of 4,17 hours/per day. I am still planning the trip and the logistics, i want to visit several countries along a 14 days journey:

• France
• Switzerland
• Germany
• Liechtenstein
• Austria
• Italy
• Monaco

I know that this blog's title is not completely true, because i just have 14 days of vacation for my trip (not 15) and i am not going to visit all western Europe countries... but i thought the title was nice and it could remember the adventurous "Around the world in 80 days".

So, this is my blog and if i am not too exhausted, i'll try to post here some photos and comments during my trip.

Cheers