DAVE'S VIEWPOINT

Perspective of a motorcyclist – A travel diary

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Published inAfrica Twin Across The Outback 2017: Day 9 – Alice Springs to Yulara

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  • Africa Twin Across The Australian Outback 2017 (15)
  • Bike Life (18)
  • Europe 2018 on the R NineT (16)
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  • Panigale ADV – A Divergent Italian – 2015 Winter Road Trip (8)
  • Panigale Around Australia 2016 (28)
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I'm disappointed in myself. I was supposed to be completely finished with my Europe 2018 blog by Xmas. That didn't eventuate, so I pushed the deadline to Australia Day. That was two weeks ago now, and I'm still stuck halfway through this seemingly mammoth task of recounting everything that I had done last year. I've had many plans for the first half of this year. But previous content that has not yet been published has got to take priority, and other stuff must take a back seat for now. This is absolute social media Groundhog Day, seemingly regurgitating yesterday's news as the present leaves me behind πŸ˜… It's hard to refocus on my social media when real life is what actually matters. I do hope that I make it through all that needs to be done before too long, because it will be worth it in the end. Preparation towards the road back to Germany 2019 resumes... #bmw #rninetracer #rninet #caferacer #motorcycle #roadtrip #adventure #travel #camping #makelifearide #nature #landscape #scenery #bosnia #bosniaandherzegovina #republikasrpska #europe
Kaunas, Lithuania. Old meets new. Much like the R nineT. #bmw #rninetracer #racer #rninet #caferacer #retro #motorcycle #roadtrip #travel #adventure #night #scenery #city #kaunas #lithuania #europe
The 1st of January, 2019. A ride out to a campsite in Hornsby, and testing out the accessories fitted on the CRF250 Rally. Featuring Adventure Moto Australia's Rotopax-compatible side pannier set, developed with Outback Motortek, equipped with the same RotopaX tanks that I had used since my Panigale days in 2016, DRIRIDER Explorer Tail Pack bought back when I owned the Multistrada in 2014, and Barkbuster hand guards taken off a recently-acquired CB125E (yes, I bought another one, but in white!). Cycle, recycle, sending my old accessories round n round. I hope that the year 2019 progresses slowly, because I'll need all the time that I could harness to my advantage. You'll be seeing much more of this bike later in the year. Terror, exasperation, fear, melancholia, exhilaration, euphoria, plain simple happiness; I hope to experience the full spectrum of attainable emotions. For now, I must build up bank to be able to access this whole new world of adventure, a journey that will challenge my comfort zone and everything that I thought I knew about travelling on a motorcycle. Crossing my fingers that things go to plan. . . . #honda #crf250 #crf250rally #dualsport #motorcycle #camping #biker #travel #adventure #nature #scenery #landscape #river #ferry #crossing #sydney #australia
So I guess that's it for 2018. Spent most of that time at work but, thanks to the world of Instagram, the real Dave is able to live vicariously through the world portrayed by his social media persona! πŸ˜„ Here's to another year lived acceptably moderately. #bmw #rninet #rninetracer #honda #africatwin #crf1000 #motorcycle #adventure #travel #scenery #biker #camping #roadtrip #australia #europe
Fully-loaded R nineT Racer... My old Ducati 1199 and Honda Grom had taught me that you can travel on any bike you wish. Your best adventure bike is the one you have right now. When should we go for a road trip? Does it still work? Got some spare time? Great! Pack up your bags... let's go now! πŸ‘ŠβœŠ . . . #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #travel #motorrad #adventure #scenery #landscape #nature #greece #europe #ducati #panigale #honda #grom #msx125
More often than not, when my mind is totally fixated on an amazing set of tarmac, the presence of beautiful scenery is lost on me. As momentum increases, so does the level of riding involvement. Satisfaction is the result, but doesn't end there. A perpetual desire for more becomes inevitable; an addiction that only those who have experienced the joy of riding can fully understand. When I eventually force myself to take a break, and pull over at an epic lookout, the realisation occurs. In a world in which chaos exists in many forms, there is still a place where your own space can be exercised. The joy of riding has given me a new lease on life; a reason to live to explore the world and the cultures within. A motorcycle is a modern symbol of the open road transformed into your own personal space. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every drop of gas that passes through the pistons of a motorcycle. As long as you have a full tank of gas and a valid licence in your wallet, your very own world of freedom and salvation is just a throttle away.. πŸ‘ŠβœŠ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #adventure #biker #camping #scenery #nature #landscape #mountains #sunset #road #greece #europe
Dreaming about those soothing sunsets on the splendid coasts of Greece πŸŒ…πŸ‡¬πŸ‡· #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #motorcycle #roadtrip #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #adventure #scenery #biker #camping #nature #sunset #landscape #volos #pelion #greece #europe
Glancing up towards Zeus 🌩️ Mount Olympus is considered to be the home of the twelve Olympians, or Greek gods and goddesses, in Ancient Greek religion. The summit, known as Mytikas, rises to 2917 metres. Much of the elevated sections remained unexplored until 1918 when three climbers reached the peak, which now is a popular tourist attraction. Not attractive enough at this point for me to climb though.. maybe next time. Bye for now, Zeus! πŸ˜„ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #scenery #biker #camping #nature #mountains #landscape #mountolympus #greece #zeus #europe
Up high on the mountains of Pelion! The peninsula's peak, Pourianos Stavros, stands at 1624 metres, overlooking the Aegean Sea. Unfortunately, the area at the very top is a restricted military zone, so I had to turn back around, but the views weren't too shabby on the way back down! #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #scenery #biker #camping #nature #landscape #mountains #aegeansea #aegean #pelion #greece #europe
In contrast to the single-lane national roads of Bulgaria that I had encountered, the dual-lane carriageways that began from the Greek border were a welcome feature in the dead of night. Those Greek highways come at a cost though. Sneeze, and you’ll approach a toll gate, one after another and another... So many of them! Unfortunately, I almost buggered up the first toll payment as I thought that card payments were also accepted. I was wrong. Only cash was acceptable, but I had spent all my Euro coins many days ago as I hated carrying cash on me. The only Euro currency I had in hand was a €500 note. You know, cos I'm all minimalistic like that. I pulled the note out of the wallet and presented it to the toll gate attendant as payment, as you would for any service that requires payment. Legit, the chick in the booth throws her hands up and exclaims "are you serious??" as though I had offered dog droppings. Turns out that €500 notes are a dying breed, and many shops have started to decline it as tender since 2014 when printing for the highest Euro note had stopped for good. I was required to provide ID and go through paperwork before being allowed to proceed with the payment.. πŸ’ΆπŸ’ΆπŸ’Ά #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #biker #camping #scenery #city #night #highway #landscape #greece #europe
The northernmost coastline of the Thermaic Gulf. This is Thessaloniki. This is Greece πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·πŸ‡¬πŸ‡· How rad is my selfie?? πŸ˜‚ .. I slept an hour to reach this city by dawn, just so that I didn't need to battle against pedestrians. Was it worth it? πŸ˜… #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #adventure #biker #camping #scenery #nature #landscape #thessaloniki #greece #europe
Shout out to @motocampbg accommodation for motorcyclists, located conveniently in the geographic heart of Bulgaria. Insanely affordable cabins and grassed camping areas cater to the traveller who require a home base to unpack their luggage and explore the enchanting sceneries nearby such as the Buzludzha peak and fantastic roads like the Shipka Pass. A direct midpoint between the Romanian and Bulgarian capital cities, Bucharest and Sofia, there's no need for obscure detours to reach this place. You will also be in the company of other motorcyclists, which presents an opportunity to learn from their experiences that can be of your benefit. If you need some maintenance work done on your bike, where else would you want to go with an equipped workshop on site, and a bar with a selection of local brews just a few steps away after you're done. It's a no-brainer: when in Bulgaria, visit MotoCamp! πŸ‡§πŸ‡¬ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #biker #camping #scenery #landscape #bulgaria #europe
A night on asphalt. Wild camping is not allowed in Greece and is reportedly strictly enforced. Power naps aren't a crime though, right?? 😴 #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #adventure #scenery #landscape #biker #camping #homeless #greece #europe
One of the more beautiful, peaceful and relaxing moments of my otherwise physically taxing journey towards Athens. I have had to race against the constraints of time, all the whilst attempting to prolong the life of the rear tyre, to make it to Athens on time for my tyre replacement. Sunsets generally signal the end of most outdoor activities for many travellers, but in this instance it was the start of the second chapter of what was to turn out as my second consecutive all-nighter on the road. In spite of the huge challenge that awaited, I allowed time to pass by without a worry, for over an hour, simply immersing myself upon the beauty that was laid out in front of me. The theatrical stage of expansive mountain ranges and glimmering city lights that were gradually being switched on, under pink skies of the land of the Hellenes, were all too pretty to ignore. A moment to remember... πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·πŸ‡¬πŸ‡· #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #adventure #biker #camping #scenery #nature #landscape #sunset #mountains #volos #pelion #greece #europe
Afternoon siesta in rural Bulgaria πŸ‡§πŸ‡¬ Taking refuge away from the Balkan summer warmth under the shade of the R nineT 🏍️ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #motorcycle #roadtrip #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #scenery #landscape #nature #biker #camping #bulgaria #europe
Two wheels by choice. Adventure by default.. πŸ‘Œ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #racer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #adventure #biker #camping #scenery #nature #landscape #mountains #snow #roads #romania #europe
"On your feet, despised comrades On your feet, you slaves of labour!" Slogans invoking the rise of the working population, for the glory of communism. #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #motorcycle #roadtrip #makelifearide #motorrad #travel #scenery #landscape #architecture #biker #camping #communism #buzludzha #buzludzhamonument #bulgaria #europe
As evening crept in, I was hoping to make it back to camp from the Buzludzha as early as possible. I looked to Google Map’s suggested alternative routes. The journey that was to take me directly back to MotoCamp was going to take approximately 15 minutes faster than the main route that was a slight detour as it make visits to larger towns on the way. I decided on the quicker route, thinking that I just wanted to be back as soon as possible. I was so wrong to have chosen the allegedly faster route, because it took me through the most patchiest roads through the bushes that I’ve ever encountered in Europe! I mean, if I was going to go on a β€œspirited and adventurous” day time ride through the sticks, then yeah, it would have totally made sense. Unfamiliar roads, dodgy signs, suspicious looking buildings and machinery and absolute night-time darkness were a lethal combination against a tired body, empty stomach and a filthy Dave that urgently needed some TLC in the showers. After over 2 hours, which was almost an hour over the intended ETA of the journey, I made it to the camp, where the hosts and guests were ultra relieved to have seen me back safely. That Bulgarian grog was the best thing at the time, as I sat back with home-made cooking, and fellow riders who were eager to share their own stories. This is also where I met Bart from Belgium @horohaeckie (I think his IG is private, but what the hell) who currently doing a world tour of everybody's dream, on his AJP PR7 Portuguese adventure bike. Totally didn't take a pic of his bike though 😞 But yes... What a day! πŸ‡§πŸ‡¬ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #roadtrip #motorcycle #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #scenery #camping #nature #landscape #buzludzha #balkans #balkan #mountains #europe #bulgaria
Romania's capital city, Bucharest, crowned with the heaviest building in the world. The communist-era Palatul Parlamentului, also known as the Palace of Parliament, weighs a mammoth 4 098 500 000 kilograms and is extravagantly built with tonnes of crystal, bronze, marble and gold. One of Nicolae CeauΘ™escu's most prominent lasting project to this day as Romania's general secretary from 1967 to 1989. The rest of the metropolitan areas of Bucharest, called BucureΘ™ti in Romanian, are segregated in sectors. The sectors appear on maps, whose road networks are shaped approximately like a pie graph. There are 6 sectors in the city, each governed by their respective mayor and municipality. #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #motorcycle #roadtrip #makelifearide #motorrad #biker #camping #travel #adventure #scenery #landscape #city #bucharest #bucuresti #romania #europe
Still got massive chicken strips, or more like chicken breasts, even after all those insanely curvaceous twisties #MotoLingo πŸ—πŸ—πŸ—πŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆ #bmw #bmwmotorrad #rninet #rninetracer #caferacer #motorcycle #roadtrip #makelifearide #motorrad #adventure #travel #nature #scenery #landscape #mountains #sunset #twisties #roads #romania #transfagarasan #europe
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