UK to Greece ride May 2022.

[Treeman]

I am from North Wales and I am going on a ride down to Greece in May 2023.I plan to go France.Switzland.Italy.Austria.Slovenia.Croatia.Montenegreo.Albania.Greece.Then ride up to Moldova.Bulgaria.Romania.back towards Albania and back through the Balkans for home.I can ride up to 700 miles a day in the boring bits from North Wales to Switzerland but only want to be doing 300 miles a day in the interesting bits.The furthest I have been east is Slovenia on a bike.and these countries I'm going to. have been on my wish list to visit for some time now.I am 59 soon and want to get there before I'm to old to do it.Has anyone ridden down to Greece on a super tenere and how many days did it take them to get there? I have been warned about the Police in Macedonia stopping you for speeding when you clearly have not.then wanting cash or your bike is impounded.Any advice on visiting the countries mentioned would be appreciated.

 

[Strummer]

If you're in Italy at weekend I will be more than happy to show you around...
I live up on the north east, not far from Dolomites, if you plan to pass by let me know and I will do my best to ride with you.

 

[Strummer]

Not sure if you are interested but...
My two favourite passes (?) in Switzerland are Furka and the less famous Fluela ones....
Passo del San Gottardo is also worth to be driven - seen if you were to come that way...
Here a couple of pictures taken on internet

 

[Treeman]

I plan to ride the roads around the Dolomites on the trip.Your bike is the same colour as mine.same top box and pannier rack too.I have seen some stunning You Tube videos of Albania and Montenegro.and it is a place I have wanted to ride to for about 2 years now.Are all the roads around The Dolomites open in May? (Snow)

 

[Strummer]

Usually yes but it obviously depends on the weather...
But as far as I can remember you may find the snow beside the roads but the road itself it is fine .

 

[Strummer]

Passo Giau
This is my favourite place on the Dolomites

 

[Quique]

I did the Balkans and Romania one year ago. It is all written here https://elquiqueenmoto.blogspot.com/2021/10/balcanes-otono-2021.html
in Spanish but you can translate it. Feel free to ask.

 

[Treeman]

I did the Balkans and Romania one year ago. It is all written here https://elquiqueenmoto.blogspot.com/2021/10/balcanes-otono-2021.html
in Spanish but you can translate it. Feel free to ask.

When you purchased fuel for your bike on this trip.Did you have to go in to pay for the fuel first? Or was it fuel in the tank then go in to pay for it in every country you visited? Did you have any trouble with Police stopping you anywhere?

 

[Quique]

As far as I remember, I always paid the fuel with my credit card (Visa), first the fuel, then go inside and pay. No troubles with the police at all, the way around, they were friendly to me. Drive carefully and in a defensive manner. The roads are narrow and they drive like crazy. Be careful when it rains, the asphalt is smooth and slippery. Be careful with the wind in the Croatian coast. As I use to say, "I survived the Balkans" But it is a very worthy trip.

 

[Treeman]

As far as I remember, I always paid the fuel with my credit card (Visa), first the fuel, then go inside and pay. No troubles with the police at all, the way around, they were friendly to me. Drive carefully and in a defensive manner. The roads are narrow and they drive like crazy. Be careful when it rains, the asphalt is smooth and slippery. Be careful with the wind in the Croatian coast. As I use to say, "I survived the Balkans" But it is a very worthy trip.

Here in England and Wales we have thousands of fuel station's.Your not likely to run out of fuel on a motorcycle here.I found fuel stations were scarce in Norway.and never rode with less than 160km in the tank.Were there any countries on your route where fuel stations were rarely seen?

 

[Quique]

No, it is plenty of stations. As a funny note, you will find Russian petrol brands like Gazprom and Lukoil. I found funny to stop in those Russian stations and fill the tank up there. The fuel is like any other else, it burns and the bike goes. These are small countries, you do 100 km and you change the country. I paid with the card whenever possible and I also changed some pocket money. So, if the petrol is cheap, it is cheap in some countries, others not, fill up the tank before leaving. They all have their own currencies, almost all of them, there are one or two who are using euros, but they don't trust in the neighbour`s currency. This means that you won't be able to change your pocket money when you are in another country because the banks won't take it. Go to a supermarket and buy something to expend your last coins in a given currency before exiting. Currencies there are a mess. The banks change dollars, euros and I guess UK pounds with no trouble. The ATMs will give you some local money too.

 

[Squibb]

If you haven't seen it already, check out the UKGSer forum travel section - S10 owners welcome.

One of the guys undertook a very similar trip back in the summer & detailed the whole experience.

This little jog is around 4500 miles, with around 3000 miles of slab riding to get the miles done in a timely fashion; 3 weeks ideally. Double that for any meandering/sightseeing.

PS: Here is the Athens trip report I mentioned .... https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/581193-Athens-and-Back-the-Trip-Report

 

[Longdog Cymru]

Yes, lots of info available to all on UKGSers

 

[AlanSmith7]

Sounds so much thrilling. So how’s your tour going? How much time did it take you to ride the motorcycle? I am sure it's so much cool and full of adventure.

 

[bimota]

Sounds so much thrilling. So how’s your tour going? How much time did it take you to ride the motorcycle? I am sure it's so much cool and full of adventure.

he,s not going till may 2023

rob

 

[Treeman]

If you're in Italy at weekend I will be more than happy to show you around...
I live up on the north east, not far from Dolomites, if you plan to pass by let me know and I will do my best to ride with you.

Morning.I have booked my Euro tunnel to Calais for 28/4/2023.I ride through Belgium.Luxembourg.Germany.Czech republic.Austria.Slovenia.Croatia.Montenegro.Albania.and I reach the south of Greece on Saturday 6/5/2023.I intend on being in the Italian Dolomites on the evening of 12/5/2023.If you are around that weekend 13/14 May I could meet up with you.What is the nearest town to where you live so I can look for some accommodation for 12/5/2022.Regards Steven.

 

[Strummer]

Morning mate.
I will meet you for sure!
I live in a small town/village of 3000 souls named Arsiero in the province of Vicenza.
Don't worry about me, I live 2-3 hours from Dolomites so anywhere you will stay for the weekend I will happily join you on Saturday morning (early) and ride some passes together.
Let me know where you will stay so I can arrange to meet you!

 

[Treeman]

Morning mate.
I will meet you for sure!
I live in a small town/village of 3000 souls named Arsiero in the province of Vicenza.
Don't worry about me, I live 2-3 hours from Dolomites so anywhere you will stay for the weekend I will happily join you on Saturday morning (early) and ride some passes together.
Let me know where you will stay so I can arrange to meet you!

I am looking at staying at Marostica on the friday night.How early would you meet up?

 

[Strummer]

Excellent choice!
It's a beautiful place.
It's like an hour from my place but it's on an alternative way up to the Dolomites...
So it's a strategic place to meet up.
I don't mind actually about the meeting time, it's entirety up to you....
I finish work around 17'00 o'clock on the Friday you will be in Marostica.
If you don't mind we could meet up for a pizza or something else that night and plan the rest of the weekend together.
Bassano del Grappa which is near by Marostica is also a nice place to visit .
There's also Monte Grappa with its second war memorial to be seen around there...
Any way let me know what your plan will be and I get organized around that.

 

[Strummer]

This is the external wall of Marostica...
I go there as my " warm up" trip at the beginning of my riding season.
You will love the main square there.
If you need anything let me know.