Tuesday - Zeebrugge to Basel

Tuesday, 21st June

Zeebrugge - Luxembourg - Saarbrücken - Strasbourg - Colmar - Mulhouse - Basel

Plan: No stops until we reach at least 100miles
NBF: Numb Bum Factor

At Zeebrugge

Aimee catching some sleep before the ride

8am wake up and wait with gear in the bar area.  Aimee was a little tired and rested her head until vehicle passengers were called for.

The camera was not used for this day of the journey as somehow I had broken the lens window.  Condensation had appeared so the quality was diminished.  :o( 

Bike held surprisingly well for our tying down efforts with rope. While preparing we got chatting to another group of bikers heading for the Alps then to Croatia. Tied a plastic bag on the right side mirror while chanting 'Right-side, right-side'. Or as Aimee advised me to chant the mantra 'Aimee is always right, Aimee is always right',  Aimee's sense of humour can be quite intense!

To Luxembourg

Service station in Luxembourg

On the journey off the ship it is always a nervous one, especially in a new land!  Sticking to the right side was a little tricky for the first 2 or 3 miles where we stuck to the slow lane.  I suspect the biker behind us were under the same experience as they were hanging back in the slow lane too, they broke off at the junction to Brugge.

We hit the R0 Ring Road around Brussels, this road is pretty long before you arrive on the E411.  The countryside changes from rolling fields to tree as you head in to Luxembourg. 

Tactical map and routes

Arriving in Luxembourg we stop off at a service station for some food.  To use the toilette we were asked to pay 30cents each by a French speaking lady listening to stereotypical french music. Once finished we head to the bike where there are a British couple arriving on-bike who are also heading to the Alps, they arrived via Dover/Calais.  We exchanged journey experiences and they kindly gave us tips on passes to through the Alps.  We zoomed off and noticed lots of trucks being pulled over with about 10 police bikes whizzing around.

Distance: 110 Miles

Time: 1hr 50minutes

NBF: 3

To Strasbourg via Saarbrucken

Very uneventful, just pure roads no stops until we see a service station in Saverne outside Strasbourg.  Purchase fuel and pay from an outside cashier.  The cashier opens a drawer where you place payment, the cashier opens the drawer for you to claim your change.

We notice a cafe/bar opposite and park up for some food.  After a confusing balance of English and French we managed to order soup for Aimee, and Pomme Frites for me.  We notice the French are not really very customer service orientated, which doesn't really bother us as we live in Malta - we eat bad customer service!

Distance: 120 Miles

Time: 2hrs

NBF: 6

To Colmar

This part of the journey was full of rolling terrain, sunshine and trees.  We were determined to Get to Basel on time (19:00).  Our bums were getting very numb and legs stiff, journeys like this require regular breaks.  In future I would suggest break every 60miles.

We stop for fuel at Colmar which is near Freiburg, in the distance you can see mountains and trees.  We fuel up eventually, after I stopped at a locked fuel pump wondering why it was not working - fatigue can make you do silly things.  We head off for the final push Basel! However, I have issues getting out of the station area and do 1 lap of the complex to end up in the same place.  So, we try again and notice we were heading for the same area yet again.  To claim back some pride I decide to ride over a pavement and ride through the truckers yard heading back on the E25 to Basel.

Distance: 90 Miles

Time: 1hr 

NBF: 7

To Basel

Okay, this was an interesting ride.  Through Mulhouse and heading to Basel we get lost and drive off and back on the E25 to circle ouorselves to find the correct direction.  Finally we pass through the border where we hit a jam entering the Basel centre.  Note that we did not book any hotels and it is now 19:30.  

Keep right, keep right!  Riding in the city was testing my right side riding skills which were wobbly.  Aimee was very helpful be constantly shouting out "Right Side!" before I set off or made a manoeuvre.

Distance: 70 Miles

Time: 1hr 10 minutes

NBF: 9

The Hotel

We struggle to find any hotels in the area we thought was the centre.  A local directed us to the Airport Hotel, we stopped and wandered in past some Harley Swiss/German bikers.  I gave them a 'No trouble here nod' and hoped it was the correct type of nod to use.  Inside the reception area we were told there were no rooms, tired and sweaty we looked on and continued into the centre which is to follow the Bahnhoff signs.  

We find a Hotel named Palazzo where the price was CHF280, excited I exclaimed '"great I will bring the bike" and head back around the corner to collect Aimee and the bike.  Park up and notice next to the Palazzo is Hotel Wettstein, so find out a price which was CHF240.  We decided to stay at Hotel Wettstein, during the booking I notice out back of the reception is quite large and the lady from the Palazzo appeared with a frown.  It appears these two hotels are owned by the same company.  Lucky we decided to check the price of the other hotel.

We park up the bike in the garage and head to the room.  Very nice room which is why we were paying CHF240 I suppose.

Enjoying some food in Basel

After a brief chill out of getting naked and playing starfish on the bed (innocent act of laying on bed after a hard days riding) Sound any better?  Anyway, we get dressed and head out to get some funky Swiss cash and get some soft drinks with food.  We find a nice shop run by German speaking Turkish family.  We notice that everything from books, to cardboard is sat on the street ready for collection.  The city is very clean!

We head back to the room for sleep!  Tomorrow we are riding the Alps!!!

                             

    

Monday - Isle of Man to Hull

Monday, 20th June

Wake up at 5.30am.  Get the bike set up with luggage and rolling along the Ramsey to Douglas coastroad at 6am.  Turn on my new gadget, Oregon Scientific Action Cam ATC9K, and fix to the bike mirror.

Arrive in Douglas, we take a breath and a view of Douglas from the head.  A beautiful view at 6.30am, there to greet us was a pheasant. Confidently walking upto us not even bothered by the fact I like pheasant on a plate.  Maybe this little fella is many generations down the line where his great great grandparents probably lived in East Baldwin and knew me as a child running in the fields about the farm.  Hey, maybe that is why he looked us and gave a knowing nod.

So, anyway... Aboard the SeaCat is often an amusing event.  Since I selected the Niarbyl Lounge for some quiet so to sleep a little, I wouldnt expect the Niarbyl Lounge to be considered a family lounge with little crumb crushers and snot bubble blowers running and screaming.  Kids will be kids and some parents probably, well, shouldnt be parents...but what would I know, not being a parent an all.

We land in Liverpool docks.  This always gives my belly a nice feeling because I know we will get lost trying to find the M62.  True to my word I end up riding into a residential estate.

On the M62 which was not actually hard to find at all, then the M18, followed by the M62 again.   We made two stops at a service station for food and drink.  And as we approached Hull we went under this collosal bridge with I now know as the Humber Bridge.  An Amazing piece of kit the humber, I tried to keep my eyes on the road but just had to look.  Remember, on the Isle of Man the largest bridge is probably the Ramsey swing bridge!

The Deep

As it happened I spotted signs for The Deep, an acquarium that our friends Paul, Karen and Jennifer told us about.  So we head for 'The Deep', park up and get our tickets!  £9.95each for adults (20th June).

Wandering around we noted there were lots for children to do, but for tired hot bikers we just wanted to see lots of fish.  The fish are lower down in the building, they are very nice too.  I would be tempted to go in with a speargun to catch me a fish, seems the only way I will be able to catch a fish at this point (ask Aimee or my colleagues...they will tell you all about it).

The coolest area for me and probably Aimee too was the Jellyfish and funny worms.  Aimee enjoyed the fish aquarium the most.  They show you them throughout the stages of their lives.  As horrible stinging lil fellas they are, they are very beautiful creatures.

At the bottom you can view the huge fish tank from below and take the lift back up which is very slow for viewing the fish as it raises through the tank.






The Ferry

We leave 'The Deep' and head for the ferry.  Found the area but again got lost within the compound and had to as a guy in a high barrier hut who pointed 'that way mate'.  The way he pointed and facial expression suggested that was exactly what he was saying.

Find a group of cars and briefly communicate with a German who is waiting for the ferry to Zebrugge.  After a good hour we get get our boarding cards and ride to the holding area.

I must add the sun was really beating down this day, and we were kitted up and really hot.  I head into the terminal which was empty.  The security guy stopped me and asked for my ID and directed me to the drinks machine.  I had only notes, so the security guy had to escort me to a change machine, £coins claimed I head to a nearby drinks machine.  He wouldnt let me use this machine and directed me back to the previous machine.  I asked him why I couldn't use the machine his reply was "security".

So, back outside enjoying cold drinks we are allowed on the ship.  Bikes go to the front of the ship for loading.  And they 'do not' tie your bike down.  Rider ties own bike down with the ropes provided.  To be honest I had a mild panic as I aint no fisherman who has an array of funky knots under my belt.  So I did the usual 'weave and tie as tight as possible and convince yourself that you just invented a new knot that will hold a 500,000 tonne ship to the pier in force 10 winds' trick.

Bike seemed secure so we headed to the deck where we were efficiently given a key for the cabin.   Cabin was small which you would expect and being our first time with a cabin we waiting anxiously to see if anyone was to come in to share the 3rd bed that seemed to be made up.  After a good 30mins we realised the made bad was fixed open, so we assumed correctly that cabins are not shared with strangers.

We head up to the cafe for a coffee and hot chocolate where I purchased a Collins Europe Handy Road Atlas. Once we finished our coffees and I had exhausted my map reading skills we retired back to the cabin where we could rest and I planned out the routes we would be taking through
Europe.




SLEEP!  We have a long hard day ahead of us when we land in Zebrugge the following morning.

                            

    

Introduction and Summary

This trip was about bringing back my mistress to Malta, a 1000cc Yamaha Thunderace and an adventure holiday for both Aimee and I.  I did have doubts whether she would make the whole 1,600 Miles to Rome given her age and because of a leaky rocker housing gasket (not a big issue...but an issue).

By writing about each day, hopefully others thinking of doing the same can enjoy a similar holiday with the knowledge that it can be done with relative ease.



Leaving Malta

Leaving Malta for the Isle of Man my laptop wireless card decided to 'give up the ghost' leaving me at Midnight without any maps or details.

Enjoyed the grunts from the bus drivers and funny looks from airport security we were on the Isle of Man via Gatwick before we knew it.

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Leaving the Isle of Man

Leaving the green lush Isle of Man was easier than expected to be honest.  The exciting GPS'less and mapless journey ahead was overpowering over all manner of emotions.

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Before I go any further a big thanks goes out to Paul, Karen and Jennifer for being so good.  Looking after the bike for over a year.  I really appreciate your help!!




This is a brief summary of the journey:

Monday, 20th June
Leave the Isle of Man on the SeaCat, Arrive in Liverpool then journey to Hull.

Tuesday, 21st June
Arrive in Zebrugge via the overnight ferry from Hull.  Travel through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, touching Germany and into Switzerland.

Wednesday, 22nd June
Leave Basel in Switzerland, stop in Luzern before heading across the Alps part 1.  Stop in Brigg before heading over the Alps part 2 entering Italy

Thursday, 23rd June
Leave Mergozzo, and head for Genova our planned phase.  But ended up further down the coast in a beautiful little riviera with some very strange goings on.

Friday, 24th June
Leave Deiva Marina and head to Livorno but decided to stay again in a little town rather than a large busy city.

Saturday, 25th June
Leave Castiglione Della Pescaia get lost in Grosseto while heading for Orbetello for an icecream.  Then progress to Civitavecchia for the Ferry.

Sunday, 26th June
Onboard the most boring ferry ever...probably.

Monday, 27th June
Arrive in Malta.  And we are reminded with brutal realisation that we are in fact in Malta.