The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby XXtremist » Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:27 am

barsteward wrote: lol @Chris....hope you got me her mobile for next time I'm over :thumbsup) Now all I need Is reassurance that they've got "Butty Vans" over there.... Can't do without me Bacon sarnie from a greasy spoon on a morning. :wink)


Sorry to disappoint Les, but I didn't see a single butty van. I did pass cafes that were popular with bikers.

Perhaps you would need to go further South to Croatia, where I am told there are stalls on the side of the road roasting piglets and hogs.

Chris
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby XXtremist » Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:29 am

Got back home mid-afternoon yesterday. Back to reality on UK roads with 10 miles of filtering on the M25. Where is everyone going on a Sunday?

Did 4295 miles abroad, which was very similar to last years round Spain trip, within 40 miles.

Only about 2 day's rain in total, so very lucky. It would have been more, had I not riden South into Italy at the beginning.

So at the end of two Alps trips, I feel fortunate to have done most of the best passes, and seen spectactular scenery. The bare, rugged, and often jagged mountains have the most allure for me. Some of them have a light reflecting top, like Mt Torredon in Scotland.

There has been the whole array of roads, from narrow stacked hairpins to the flowing valley fast sweepers. It was good to have a mix during the day.

The claim that the Dolomites consist of one pass after another, with no boring bits inbetween, is a bit of an exageration. Certainly in the immediate vicinity around Cortina, that probably holds true.

But even when not on a pass, I can still take an interest in the farming going on, the tractors, all the forestry and timber processing, and did I mention the tractors? :wink)

There have been many WOW moments from the combination of riding pleasure and scenery, but I don't think as many as last year's Spainish tour.
In Spain's favour you have much less traffic, better chance of good weather, great road surfaces, and better value accommodation and eating. On the down side is the time and expense of travelling through France, or just the expense of the ferry. As I said in that report last year, you dont have to go round the country, there is excellent riding to be had just in the North.

What about the Panzer, you ask? Well I think it's a pretty good all rounder, capable of doing the big miles with a great luggage system, while still engaging when you get to the destination. Yes, I have complained about the gearbox - I wish it was better. But that was more than compensated for by the intregration of the new sat-nav system with the bike, and especially the controlling thumb wheel on the hand grip. I lost count of the number of times I was able to zoom in or out of the map during the day.

Do the guys on the Tunnel Shuttle who take their Ducatis with tank bags so high they can barely see over, have more fun in the mountains? Undoubtedly. But they are far less comfortable on the journey, and are probably on a shorter break.

Chris
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby Ro Ro » Tue Sep 30, 2014 5:27 am

It's been lovely reading your descriptive travelogue and seeing the beautiful piccies :clap:

I feel very envious, as love that type of dramatic scenery.

Sorry I couldn't join you in Vienna, the old man is a bit of a crock at the moment. He might be needing an AJ care package soon lol

We're hoping to go to Northern Spain and down to Barcelona next year, so glad to hear you were more impressed with that area.

Must get my write up done from our trip to Germany, but always something else to do ...

Ro Ro
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby T.Murphy aka Tim » Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:40 am

I fitting conclusion to a wonderful trip Extremist. Another one of you Travelogues I've really enjoyed.

You do fekkin harp on about tractors a lot though. :roll)

Great stuff Chris. :clap: :notworthy)
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby jono49 » Fri Oct 03, 2014 8:42 pm

Nowt wrong with Tractors! I confess I had "Tractoritis" when I were a lad, until mopeds come along 8) Oh and Girls and Alpacas! 8) :mrgreen:
Life is a series of moments!...Let your spare moments be on two wheels...
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby TRIPPO » Sat Oct 04, 2014 9:54 am

Great travelogue and stunning pics Chris :notworthy)
Maybe we could do a collective tour like that one day :thumbsup)
I'm Fooookin envious as always ya coooont lol lol :getthis)
There,s only one good ride!!!!!
One that you return home safely from!!!!! Make sure you do!!!!!
Casualty is full of people who thought they new better


Regards John

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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby XXtremist » Sat Oct 04, 2014 1:45 pm

TRIPPO wrote:
I'm Fooookin envious as always ya coooont lol lol :getthis)


I know John.

One day you might upgrade from a Trumpet to a GS ................ if you grow some legs :evil) :mrgreen:

Chris
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby aj » Wed Oct 08, 2014 10:48 pm

.

hi chris...wanted to do your trip for years...but now i've done spain.. i want more... more and even more... :thumbsup)

planing a return as we speak....never ridden a 720 deg bend before... ffs.... corkscrew through 2 tunnels... jawdropping

chicken strips.... what chicken strips.... lol

regards
aj :notworthy)
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby Oldbull » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:46 am

Enjoyed that Chris nearly as much as you.. :thumbsup) Pics look a lot nicer on the big screen, thanks for sharing :clap:
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby XXtremist » Sun Oct 26, 2014 12:48 pm

.
Have sorted and uploaded the best photos to the 'cloud'. :P

You should be able to access them without any passwords or having to join face slap :mrgreen:

Click the link https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1rpZPqwUop6ZFNoc05BbFd0MUE&usp=sharing

And three video clips https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1rpZPqwUop6bHNUWjNyRm10M2s&usp=sharing

Enjoy,

Chris
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby jono49 » Sun Oct 26, 2014 3:01 pm

:notworthy) :notworthy) :notworthy) Wunderbar Herr Exremist 8)
Life is a series of moments!...Let your spare moments be on two wheels...
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby T.Murphy aka Tim » Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:16 pm

Nice pics Chris but the videos are shite in a content sorta way.

Only one MILF and she was with child !
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby Mad Badger » Sun Oct 26, 2014 9:26 pm

XXtremist wrote:.
Have sorted and uploaded the best photos to the 'cloud'. :P

You should be able to access them without any passwords or having to join face slap :mrgreen:

Click the link https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1rpZPqwUop6ZFNoc05BbFd0MUE&usp=sharing

And three video clips https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1rpZPqwUop6bHNUWjNyRm10M2s&usp=sharing

Enjoy,

Chris

Stunning!!! :thumbsup) :thumbsup) :thumbsup)

Thank for sharing Chris :mrgreen:
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby XXtremist » Sun Oct 26, 2014 11:41 pm

T.Murphy wrote:.... but the videos are shite in a content sorta way.


I know Tim, and I'm sorry.

Catherine Jenkins had just finished giving a concert at the top of the Gross Glockner. When she came to give a bow, a little pink titty fell out, but I was still trying to find my camera in the top box. :wink)
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby T.Murphy aka Tim » Mon Oct 27, 2014 12:11 am

XXtremist wrote:
T.Murphy wrote:.... but the videos are shite in a content sorta way.


I know Tim, and I'm sorry.

Catherine Jenkins had just finished giving a concert at the top of the Gross Glockner. When she came to give a bow, a little pink titty fell out, but I was still trying to find my camera in the top box. :wink)


I'd have had it out ready in my hand ( phnaar phnaaar, snicker !)
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Re: The hills are alive with the sound of..........my Panzer

Postby aj » Mon Oct 27, 2014 1:07 am

XXtremist wrote:.
Have sorted and uploaded the best photos to the 'cloud'. :P

You should be able to access them without any passwords or having to join face slap :mrgreen:

Click the link https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1rpZPqwUop6ZFNoc05BbFd0MUE&usp=sharing

And three video clips https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1rpZPqwUop6bHNUWjNyRm10M2s&usp=sharing

Enjoy,

Chris


dramatic.... nice light... yer gettin betterer.. lol

regards
aj :wink)
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