2020 Plans - what’s happing?

[Boris]

New year is almost with us here in the UK and Europe, already here for some, and a bit further behind for some others. However, it’s usually about this time of year that plans start taking shape for the next seasons trips and tours.

Who’s doing what, going where?

Me, I’m riding down through France with a mate on a KTM1290 Adv, over 3/4 days in July, heading to Spain and the Picos, where we have a villa/house booked for a week, giving us plenty of time to properly explore the region. There a further 4 bikes meeting us there, from the UK/ Santander ferry route.

Might do a Wales long weekend, but that’s more or less it for me for 2020, as I have big plans for Denmark/Scandinavia and perhaps The Baltic States in 2021.

Although posted in the EU forum, feel free to join in wherever you’re based.

 

[MattR]

Starting to plan a trip to Ireland in 2020. Never been before which is ridiculous as I’ve been most other EU countries. Any advice welcome.

Zx14r forum have our annual dyno day in North York’s around May I think and a trip to Germany later in the year.

I’ll also fit in a couple of short trips to Cornwall staying at the Bikers B&B which is our favourite place to stay. Owned by two avid bikers, they just know what bikers want and provide secure parking, helmet cleaning station and a drying area etc. And you get a fresh baked pasty and bottle of beer on arrival!!


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[Bokerfork]

Buddy from the FJRFORUM bought a GS and is now planning an Alaska trip for this summer. Can't wait.

Aside from that I'd love to get to the Toroweap Overlook. and explore a little more of the area north of Kanab. Just waiting for a little touch of Spring

 

[Boris]

Alaska seems to be very popular for a big trip for the US members, almost a bucket list trip? Is it generally the journey that’s the draw, or the destination? Is it far more challenging than the usual touring type trips?

 

[MattR]

I signed up for one of Nick Sanders Trans USA trips last year but it was cancelled. Looked fantastic though and it included Nick getting your own bike shipped across.


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[yoyo]

I really need to do my first Euro tour, I've been riding for 10yrs but only managed Scotland and that was last year, life just always seems to be in the way, need to just book something. I guess I'm spoilt living in Wales where there are plenty of really good roads.

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[Bart]

yoyo, I agree Wales is good but get yourself over to Spain, it is on another level completely.

Still in the planning stages at the no....?

 

[Bokerfork]

Alaska seems to be very popular for a big trip for the US members, almost a bucket list trip? Is it generally the journey that’s the draw, or the destination? Is it far more challenging than the usual touring type trips?

A bucket list trip for many, yes. Not for me. I'm sure it will be spectacular but I still have so many other "must rides" to get to. The distances and the mosquitoes don't interest me but my buddy and I go way back and he's a great planner and ride partner so what the hell. As far as challenging, I'll let those who have done it chime in on that one.

 

[Boris]

yoyo, I agree Wales is good but get yourself over to Spain, it is on another level completely.

Still in the planning stages at the no....?

As Bart said, seriously, get yourself abroad, the Alps, Pyrenees, Slovenia, Dolomites and so many more brilliant locations. Go once and you’ll question why you never went before.

Also agree that the Welsh roads are excellent, superb in fact! However, the whole European experience is so much better, and no points if you get caught

 

[Longdog Cymru]

I booked my crossing yesterday to cross on Stena from Harwich to Hook of Holland in May. Destination? Not sure yet but it will either be Netherlands, Germany up into Denmark and over to Sweden or southern Germany, probably down to Lindau and follow the Volcanic Trail in the Eiffel Mountains and taking in the town of Nordlingen which is sited in a meteorite impact crater before heading back to the ferry port.

 

[MattR]

I really need to do my first Euro tour, I've been riding for 10yrs but only managed Scotland and that was last year, life just always seems to be in the way, need to just book something. I guess I'm spoilt living in Wales where there are plenty of really good roads.

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Love wales. Don’t love Welsh cops. Got stuck on for a number plate 11mm too small.


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[yoyo]

Love wales. Don’t love Welsh cops. Got stuck on for a number plate 11mm too small.


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Was it North Wales? They are tirants up there. I don't find ones in South Wales so bad but I know a lot of them as I assess on BikeSafe so that helps.

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[MattR]

Was it North Wales? They are tirants up there. I don't find ones in South Wales so bad but I know a lot of them as I assess on BikeSafe so that helps.

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Yeah North. I do a Bikesafe course every couple of years just to check I haven’t picked up too many bad habits. I do mine in Hampshire. The cops who run it are great fun and we don’t hang around


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[Saint rob]

I’m doing a North Coast 500 at Easter and going to Chernobyl via Colditz castle and Stalag luft 3, returning via Romania/Carpathian mountains & Hungary in July.
Probably also do the Touratech travel event in Wales and the Overland event as well as a few other good ride outs

 

[Boris]

I’m doing a North Coast 500 at Easter and going to Chernobyl via Colditz castle and Stalag luft 3, returning via Romania/Carpathian mountains & Hungary in July.
Probably also do the Touratech travel event in Wales and the Overland event as well as a few other good ride outs

Chernobyl, that’ll be a great one to do, a pretty epic trip!

Stayed in Colditz in 2018, the onsite hostel facilities are pretty good, if a tad basic. Perfectly comfortable though. If you’ve not been, the on-site organised tour is well worth doing. In the evening, there’s a pub/restaurant within easy walking distance back down the main route out. Beer garden, if nice.
Here’s the bike in the courtyard,

 

[EricV]

Buddy from the FJRFORUM bought a GS and is now planning an Alaska trip for this summer. Can't wait.

Aside from that I'd love to get to the Toroweap Overlook. and explore a little more of the area north of Kanab. Just waiting for a little touch of Spring

Take a walk on the wild side and go visit Supai. LINK It's a process, and you need to start now, but it's worth it.

 

[EricV]

Alaska seems to be very popular for a big trip for the US members, almost a bucket list trip? Is it generally the journey that’s the draw, or the destination? Is it far more challenging than the usual touring type trips?

Alaska is a little of both. You say sure, you've seen trees, rivers, valleys and glaciers. But what's different about Alaska is the scale of it all. It's mind bogglingly huge. Depending on the route you take, it can be semi boring pavement riding, epic off pavement riding, or a combination of epic pavement and off pavement riding. My wife and I did a 30 day, 8k mile trip to Alaska and the Yukon in 2014. We would go back, and hopefully will, because it's impossible to see it all in one trip. The only thing we missed our budget on was food. Food is very, very expensive in Alaska. Everything has to be brought in that isn't raised/caught/grown there, and that's quite a bit. Very short growing season.

It can be more challenging than usual touring. Or you can plan a trip that's more or less normal touring. We stayed in hotels. Some good, some epic, some bad, a couple really bad. I would not make reservations more than a day out if I did it again. More freedom in spending time in places you discover on the way, instead of being locked into reservations each day.

It's like showing someone a river valley, then showing them the Rhine river valley. Then... showing them the Columbia River Gorge between Oregon and Washington states in the US. The first is pretty. The second is quite stunning and rich with history and culture. The third puts the other two to shame in ways that can't be fully appreciated w/o spending days exploring it. Ocean to high desert, forests, waterfalls, mountains, wine country and twisty roads in every direction.

 

[Saint rob]

Chernobyl, that’ll be a great one to do, a pretty epic trip!

Stayed in Colditz in 2018, the onsite hostel facilities are pretty good, if a tad basic. Perfectly comfortable though. If you’ve not been, the on-site organised tour is well worth doing. In the evening, there’s a pub/restaurant within easy walking distance back down the main route out. Beer garden, if nice.
Here’s the bike in the courtyard,
View attachment 62271

Cheers Boris, I went to Colditz in 2018 but drove there with my caravan and did the tour which included the glider loft.
This time a friend is coming along as well on his Striple but he’s only going as far as Stalag Luft which I’m really looking forward to as the Great Escape is responsible for me getting into bikes 45 years ago

 

[Saint rob]

I booked my crossing yesterday to cross on Stena from Harwich to Hook of Holland in May. Destination? Not sure yet but it will either be Netherlands, Germany up into Denmark and over to Sweden or southern Germany, probably down to Lindau and follow the Volcanic Trail in the Eiffel Mountains and taking in the town of Nordlingen which is sited in a meteorite impact crater before heading back to the ferry port.

Is that the meteorite crater that’s about 25 miles in diameter as featured in Henry Coles greatest ride in Germany?

 

[Longdog Cymru]

Hi, yes I believe it is