For our summer holiday this year we decided to have a motorcycle road trip. The plan was to go to Italy and if possible Rome. We left on the 1st August.
Day 1
Eurotunnel to France then onto the toll roads and 400 miles later we camped at Poligny at the base of the French Alps. Nice little municipal camp site with cheese and wine evening. It rained for the last hour of the ride so went to bed with wet riding gear.
Day 2
Took the N5 over the first part of the Alps to a town called Gex. I had ridden this rode on the Monaco trip and it was still excellent. Entered into Switzerland without hassle unlike last time and made our way through Geneva. The lake was closed off due to a cycle race. We made our way to the other side of the lake back into France. At a town called Thonon Les Bains we joined the D902 south. This is known as the Route De Grande Alpes. Camped at Le Grand Bernard and the first of many tagliatelle meals on the trip.
Day 3
Crossing the Alps over high peaks and valleys. Went through Val D Isere and over Col D Iseran the highest point. The picture speak a thousand words. Camped a Valloire and went out for dinner. Pizza in a lovely little restaurant.
Day 4
More peaks and valleys. Excellent riding on very twisty roads. Camped the night at St Malmas a short ride to Menton (on the Med). The campsite we chose was full but Mrs G worked her magic on the owner who found a little spot for us.
Day 5
Rode into Menton having crossed the Alps and completed the Route De Grande Alps. After coffee on the Med we rode into Italy a short ride along the coast. We decided to use the autostradas (toll motorways). We stopped at a town called Sestri Levente and had loads of camp sites to choose from. Another tagliatelle night. Three things went wrong on this day: 1. Lost a drinks can off the pannier 2. Tried to ride off with disc lock on 3. Put my helmet on an ants nest and got it full of ants. That night the heat was incredible, during the day it was 42 degrees,
Day 6
Autostradas again into Pisa. Thank god the tower is quite high, managed to find it. Parked a couple of streets away and walked to see it. It truly leans over a high angle. Well worth the ride to see it. After some lunch we nearly got into trouble with the police who were giving tickets to cars. Whilst they were issuing a ticket to a Swiss car next to me we rode off. The plan was to find a camp site. Found one in Pisa but decided to head north. Where we though we might find a camp site we didn't and nearly had to wild camp. We decided to go to Lake Garda found a camp site but it was such a rip off 50 Euros for a small space on a traffic island. Eventually found a space on a camp site up the coast for 30 Euros with an excellent pizza restaurant. The camping pitches don't have grass they have stones so had to put all the towels under the themarest to stop punctures. Met a Polish biker and chatted for ages about Triumphs.
Day 1
Eurotunnel to France then onto the toll roads and 400 miles later we camped at Poligny at the base of the French Alps. Nice little municipal camp site with cheese and wine evening. It rained for the last hour of the ride so went to bed with wet riding gear.
Day 2
Took the N5 over the first part of the Alps to a town called Gex. I had ridden this rode on the Monaco trip and it was still excellent. Entered into Switzerland without hassle unlike last time and made our way through Geneva. The lake was closed off due to a cycle race. We made our way to the other side of the lake back into France. At a town called Thonon Les Bains we joined the D902 south. This is known as the Route De Grande Alpes. Camped at Le Grand Bernard and the first of many tagliatelle meals on the trip.
Day 3
Crossing the Alps over high peaks and valleys. Went through Val D Isere and over Col D Iseran the highest point. The picture speak a thousand words. Camped a Valloire and went out for dinner. Pizza in a lovely little restaurant.
Day 4
More peaks and valleys. Excellent riding on very twisty roads. Camped the night at St Malmas a short ride to Menton (on the Med). The campsite we chose was full but Mrs G worked her magic on the owner who found a little spot for us.
Day 5
Rode into Menton having crossed the Alps and completed the Route De Grande Alps. After coffee on the Med we rode into Italy a short ride along the coast. We decided to use the autostradas (toll motorways). We stopped at a town called Sestri Levente and had loads of camp sites to choose from. Another tagliatelle night. Three things went wrong on this day: 1. Lost a drinks can off the pannier 2. Tried to ride off with disc lock on 3. Put my helmet on an ants nest and got it full of ants. That night the heat was incredible, during the day it was 42 degrees, Day 6
Autostradas again into Pisa. Thank god the tower is quite high, managed to find it. Parked a couple of streets away and walked to see it. It truly leans over a high angle. Well worth the ride to see it. After some lunch we nearly got into trouble with the police who were giving tickets to cars. Whilst they were issuing a ticket to a Swiss car next to me we rode off. The plan was to find a camp site. Found one in Pisa but decided to head north. Where we though we might find a camp site we didn't and nearly had to wild camp. We decided to go to Lake Garda found a camp site but it was such a rip off 50 Euros for a small space on a traffic island. Eventually found a space on a camp site up the coast for 30 Euros with an excellent pizza restaurant. The camping pitches don't have grass they have stones so had to put all the towels under the themarest to stop punctures. Met a Polish biker and chatted for ages about Triumphs.
This picture was taken by a professional photographer and bought it from his website.
Day 7/8
After our night at Lake Garda we went into Verona which is only about 15 miles away. We parked in a moped parking area right in the city main square. Mrs G went for a wander leaving me sat people watching. We went for dinner in a small restaurant. Mrs G found a tourist map and discovered Juliet's house from Romeo and Juliet (Mrs G's favourite play). So we went and found it and wrote on the wall of lovers. Alison got her photo of the balcony...Romeo oh Romeo where for art...... Handed my parking space to a Russian adventure biker.
Following our Verona visit we went back to the lakes but went to a smaller lake called Lake D'Iseo. We found a camp site called Eden in a town called Pisogne. It really was heaven our pitch was our 100ft from the lake side. We stayed there for 2 nights I managed to lose a flipflop in lake and melt the tent bag. The local shopping mall found us replacements for both.
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