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Across the Pond 2021

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SkooterG
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Across the Pond 2021

Post by SkooterG »

It's been two years since I have seen my POS Gen II 2009 FJR that is stored in Germany. I't been suffering from neglect, a lack of love, and loneliness. Well, f*** Covid! It was time to remedy this situation. So here's my ongoing ride report. I'll try to update as often as I can but don't hold your breath.

Here's a link to my Google Photos Europe 2021 album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/tjxxTdNeLg24ADAZ9

Here's a link to my Spotwalla page showing my track. Right now it doesn't seem to be working very well: https://tinyurl.com/4cwu4zcn


My three week adventure started September 15th with an uncrowded flight to Frankfurt. Unfortunately I got zero sleep on the plane and arrived at Knopf Tours where my FJR is stored in Heidelberg, Germany on the morning of the 16th completely exhausted. But after two years, some Moto maintenance had to be done. I got a late start on my adventure on the morning of the 17th and after a short blitz on the autobahn I headed for Germany's Black Forest. Due to my own struggles with preparation and what technology to use for route planning I ended up riding some great roads, and some not so great roads. Lessons learned from my previous trip had to be re-learned. I'm getting there.

My Moto all serviced and ready to go outside my room at the Knopf Moto BnB:


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Day 1: The Black Forest of Germany:

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My German isn't very good but I think this means a metric shitload of fun ahead:


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End of day at a really nice small hotel in the middle of nowhere at the southern end of the Black Forest:


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Day 2: Switzerland!

A short ride to the border of Switzerland and then riding the Swiss countryside. Eventually hitting the edge of the Swiss Alps, and then crossing into France just before stopping for the night. I finally started to get my tech groove on. Instead of trying to pick routes on roads I know nothing about I went back to what worked on my last trip: The app Kurviger Pro. Plug in a destination and let it route on some awesome twisty roads with some gnarly goat trail roads thrown in for good measure. Just don't expect to get there soon.

For example, here are some of those single lane width goat trail roads in the middle of nowhere it routes you on. Usually, great fun.... And no, those are not driveways. Those are roads. You got to love Europe!


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Look closely in front of my FJR. Houston, we have a problem. Can't really tell, but this was steep downhill. How the f*** do I turn around on this goat trail of a road? Long story for another time, but 45 minutes later I was on my way relatively unscathed.


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Yes, that is vegetation on the roof. WTF?


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My midpoint destination: Restaurant Gabelspitz. Loved the Strawberry desert I had two years ago so I just had to come back to this popular moto spot. Yes, that is one hell of a journey for some strawberries! The awesome roads in the area make it that much sweeter.


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Check out the desert menu:



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And of course I spoiled myself and just had to have the 'Yamaha' on top of my Strawberry delight!


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After waddling back to my FJR and struggling to get into my Stitch suit it was more of the awesome Swiss countryside. And their fantastic roads! Yes, my understanding is that the Swiss taxes are high, but oh, those beautiful, smooth ribbons of asphalt! Moto heaven I tell ya!

The Kurviger Pro route on my phone with turn by turn directions.


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And those wonderful roads.....



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You will come to find out that I try to take a photo of every pass that I cross. This sign had to do for the Jaunpass.


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On rare occasion, Kurviger Pro will try to mess with you. I declined it's attempt to route me down this road.


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Another pass.....


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And, also crossing a border.


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One more pass, unfortunately in the dark of the night, before stopping for the night. In France, the word for mountain pass is "Col".


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Day 3: The Start of the French Alps


One of my plans for this trip was to spend some quality time in the French Alps. An area I really did not explore my last trip. I came up with a route on Google My Maps before I left. Now referencing that route I plugged into the app CoPilot GPS on my phone for on the fly routing. No Kurviger Pro since I had already come up with a route hitting lots of tasty French Alp passes. F***ing Google. They are so awesome at so many things *EXCEPT making a custom route with lots of waypoints and then getting real time route directions. Bastards.

Here is a link for my planned route in Google My Maps. How do you embed a photo, or the graphic representation of the map in a thread?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 000029&z=8


Today was a short day. After a beautiful day yesterday, the rain started in the middle of the night. It was forecast to be solid for two days with cool temps. Not the best high pass weather. That sapped my motivation and I didn't get on the road until REALLY late. I had two hours of pretty constant light rain and then during a food stop the skies opened and the last few hours of my day were nice as I crossed my first major French Alp pass, the Col de la Madeleine. A bit cool - 40 degrees at the 6500' summit. And some scenic clouds still left in the area from the day's stormy weather.


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Last edited by SkooterG on Sun Sep 19, 2021 7:44 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by bigjohnsd »

Obviously you healed up in time for your International Boogerfest.

By the way, You Suck! JSNS
How the f*** do I turn around on this goat trail of a road?
Spin it on the side stand like you would your GS-Duhh
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by wheatonFJR »

Fuckin A you bastard!

Awesome!
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sacramentomike
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by sacramentomike »

Glad I'm not the only one hating your right now. Hey, you seem to have some photography chops!

Let's see more.
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gixxerjasen
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by gixxerjasen »

Very nice. I've looked into the ship and store thing like that as I'd really like to go tour my birth country by motorcycle. Just have to figure out how to renew my plates without an annual inspection.

Great photos, looking forward to more.

Question, if you ordered the Harley Davidson ice cream, do they drizzle chocolate syrup on the table under the bowl?
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by escapefjrtist »

Jealous. As. Hell. Keep us posted, enjoy the trip Skoot!

~G
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by NTXFJR »

Two words: Calendar worthy! Simply awesome.
We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by T-Rex51 »

Hey there, you might remember me from a few years back. I ran the Italian FJR forum and got to ride with a few of y'all, including the one and only SkooterG. I still wear an FJR ballcap, but I now ride a Honda.

You might even recall that I live in Northern Italy—in the greater Milan area—with a fine view of the Western Alps.

I was standing on my west-facing terrace last night as it got dark when I sensed a great disturbance in the force.
And I suddenly knew! "SkooterG is out there" I said to myself as 15,000-foot Monte Rosa slowly disappeared in the gloom.

Not long after that Skoot sent me a WhatsApp video of himself in the falling snow from the Iseran Pass in France. He was out there.

Yes, he's going to be here soon. I'll leave it up to him to reveal where our forthcoming ride will take us—I wouldn't want to snow on his parade.

Stay tuned.
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by wheatonFJR »

Hi Mr. Teerex!
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by T-Rex51 »

Hey Wheatie! Good to be here with you folks (again). 8-)
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by mi_pjk »

That's some stellar stuff, the riding AND the photos. Thanks for bringing us along.
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by wheatonFJR »

T-Rex51 wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:32 am Hey Wheatie! Good to be here with you folks (again). 8-)
Well Mr Teerex, I hate to “booger” up one of the few times our friend SkooterG contributes to this board, so I will just sit back and wait for more awesomeness to commence.
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SkooterG
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by SkooterG »

Hey! Who let that Italian gigolo into this place? He is a bad man who encourages all sorts of misbehavior! I was a shy, unsuspecting angel before I met him and he corrupted me. Jes saying....
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by wheatonFJR »

SkooterG wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 3:24 pm Hey! Who let that Italian gigolo into this place? He is a bad man who encourages all sorts of misbehavior! I was a shy, unsuspecting angel before I met him and he corrupted me. Jes saying....
That's more information than we needed to know. :lol:

But carry on... :stickpoke:
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by Intech »

Good stuff. Keep it coming!
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by gixxerjasen »

SkooterG wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 3:24 pm Hey! Who let that Italian gigolo into this place? He is a bad man who encourages all sorts of misbehavior! I was a shy, unsuspecting angel before I met him and he corrupted me. Jes saying....
I wasn't aware ya'll knew each other in preschool.
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by escapefjrtist »

Good stuff Skoot...been stalking you on Spotwalla! Nice to see Teerex here too, at least you'll have one adult on your travels! ;-)

~G
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by T-Rex51 »

Hey everyone, SkooterG and I are back from our Euro-ride.
He'll be crossing the pond tomorrow on his way home, while I'm back into my day-to-day routine in Milan.

We had a great time and can't wait to share some pics with y'all. 8-)
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by fontanaman »

Excellent ride report SkooterG. Thanks for sharing.
Searching for roads paved with Asphalt, unless I am riding the mighty DR650 bushpig.
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Re: Across the Pond 2021

Post by T-Rex51 »

While I'm still sorting out video and photo files from the Two-Island Ride I just completed with SkooterG, I thought I'd give you a sneak peek on a forthcoming video (which will take a while to complete). The two islands in question were Corsica and Sardinia—the former French, the latter Italian.
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These are our rides (2009 FJR1300 & 2018 CB1000R) waiting to board the ferry in Toulon (F)

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This is Corsica's own beer, Birra Pietra

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Early morning in Northern Corsica

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The waterfront at Saint Florent, Northern Corsica

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Calvi (Northwestern Corsica), viewed from the Citadel

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Calvi, town center

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Porto, Western Corsica

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Sunset in Bonifacio, Southern Corsica

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Alghero (NW Sardinia) the old town's waterfront

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Alghero, the old town

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Traditional Lateen rig in Calasetta (SW Sardinia)

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Northern California? Nope, Western Sardinia

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Stintino, NW Sardinia

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La Maddalena Island, NE Sardinia
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