A fluid stop

We are about half way according to my gps but bobs says we have 554
miles left. I hope mine is right.

This ATGATT is proving very thirsty work in Greece but with some of
the nutters around on these roads its a good habit to keep to.

Greece at last.

Its felt like forever that we found out that there was to be a FIM
rally in Greece.

It must have been nearly three years ago that I found out and decided
that we would be going

Our first trip to Greece to Zante 25 years ago involved a two day trip
do Athens where I saw a few cars with British number plates. It was at
that point that I decided that that would be really cool to drive or
ride down to Greece. Why oh why did it take 25 Years to find the
reason to come.

Never wait for a reason or an excuse to do something you have wanted
to do for so long.

Just do it.

Because its there is a good enough excuse or reason.

This is the view from our hotel room window in Igounenisti where we
arrived at about 2230 checked into the hotel and then sat on a street
bar drinking beer until 0130. Now that's Greece.

Tonight we arrive at the rally about 250 miles away. I wonder what the
roads and the views will be like??

A quick visit to Corfu.

Looks like a quick hand brake turn into Corfu. The people that have
been on a Greek ferry will know what I mean.

We never realised that our ferry stopped here until two minutes ago
which is shame because I am sure we could have used it to our
advantage. Never mind you live and learn.

I missed the chance of a picture of both Albania and Corfu due to the
mist over Albania. Any excuse to come back again. LOL.

Just a little bit if Corfu

I have a few photos from Corfu on my www.hotsunsets.com website. A few
of them are from about this point. But it was a little less misty than
what it is now.

Just a hint of Albania in the distance.

We will have to keep our eyes out for the view we have seen before.

The view of Albania from Corfu is a view that me and Fi have seen
before and we will go right down through the middle of it.

I shall have to look it up but I think at the most narrow bit that the
distance must be less than a mile.

Still time for the ferry.

I am sure we will get on board eventually.

Its at times like this you really need air con on the bike.

I wish they would put us somewhere in the shade a d call us forward
when they want us.

We did get on eventually.

On to a very wet deck no straps pointing the wrong way and left to
your own devices.

Next stop Igoumenitsa in Greece after a nine hour crossing.

We arrive at 2100 Greek time (UK time plus two hours) with no hotel or
camping site booked so wish us luck.

Time for the ferry.

0930. Got the tickets waiting to board.

The Beer monster strikes again

Beer.

Hotel.

Good food.

Good company.

And a nice mattress

What more could you need

Yes you guessed it

An Internet connection so I can update the blog. I just hope I can
update quicker than once a week.

The Ferry Port Brindisi Italy.

So we have come to the end of our italian adventure.
We have done
Some culture that leaning tower the amazing pompei.we have eaten our
fair share of pizza and sampled a few italian beers.
It has been just about hot enough. So as you can tell we are
struggling to have a good time. Looking forward to our next leg in
Greece.

Hotel Nemo

Pompei

After a while 2000 year old streets do become a bit samey but you
never know what might be around the next corner.

No Frankie Howard

But Pompei is still worth a visit.

You could spend the whole day here and not see it all, but bring your
own food and drink as the small choice availible is over priced.

Molly at Pompei

A short outing for Molly

I think she enjoyed herself.

The bar in Pompei NOT to use

If you want to pay £17 for 2 large and 1 small beer then this is the
place to go

Even the waiter makes an apology for the size of the bill.

The only saving grace (for bob because he was facing the right way)
was the young lady that was cleaning the windows.

We made it to Pompei

It was a long day yesterday (Thursday) as we did not get to the site
until after 8 but it does give us the chance to have the day off today
giving us a chance to do the tourist bit and visit the ruins.

Yesterday had a bit of everything, Coastal roads, dual carriageways
and motorways. But if you need do 400 miles with all this heat then
Coastal roads might be just a little too much. The highest temp I saw
on the pan was 35 degrees

Let's hope that the ruins are as good as they say.

The leaning tower of Pisa

Staying in a campsite down the road from the Leaning Tower of Pisa so
you got to go and have a look and yes its a tower and its leaning.

Time to go our separate ways.

Well dave set off at 0100 this morning to make it to andermatt in time
to take Uncle Phil back towards the UK.

It was nice to share breakfast with Dave this morning but sadly
because of his wheel bearing that's all the time we had together.

We better start organising a BritSToc for switzerland next year.

Still in Re

Time for Lunch. And its only 1500hrs.

Arrived in Re in Italy.

Not sure about the history of this place but it surrrrre looks nice.

We have done a few passes today including the Simplon the Gotthard
(the old one) and the Nufenen.

We have travelled down as far as Italy and we are now on our way back
up to switzerland.

Its only day four and Bob has his stove out already.

Its only because we have used all my fuel already.

Its a hard life.

Nearly 200 miles over half a dozen passes including the Susten Grimsel
Furka Pragel and the Klausen and of course no trip is complete with
out a look at the William Tell memorial in his home town of Altdorf.

The picture is just before the Furka so it must be towards the Grimsel.

A bit if rain overnight

But no snow.

We shall be staying at this campsite for a few days while we do a few
passes in the area.

The site has a fantastic view as you can see although the facilities
could be better.

We have met Steiner at last

In a hotel in Andermatt

Andermat we have arrived

What a place. More bikes than you beleive.

Phil has just arrived so we are off for a chat and a coffee.

Switzerland in the sun

What a novelty.

Only 90 miles before we meet up with Phil and Steiner.

Arrive at the "Frezzer centre" in Germany.

Only 220 miles to Andermatt to meet up with everyone. But sadly it
looks like Dave W will not be there as he has had a collapsed rear
wheel bearing in Italy so he is not happy. I hope Phil manages to do
Stelvio on his way up to meet us

Well we never expected to arrive into Germany by ferry

Just a few miles away from the "Frezzer centre" and the gps takes
across the river Rhine on a ferry and its free and saves ten miles on
the road.

The official handover of Molly

That's Molly off on her travels after spending a week in Belgium with
Luc & Annie. Where she end up next??

If petrol goes up much more

Perhaps this how britstoc will look in the future.

>>>
>>>>>

Looks like Bob's diet must start tommorow.

We are being very well served by Luc. Perhaps we should stay here for
the whole five weeks.

Long time no see

Its seems such a long time ago that we last saw Dolly.

Was it 2001??

We have arrived at Lucs and we are being treated to a nice cup of
English tea in his wonderful home.

We found a bob and we are on our way

The first time on the tunnel this year.

Here we go Here we go.

Next stop Greece

See you all soon.

And the answer is

Four Weddings and a Funeral

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109831/locations

http://www.thurrock-community.org.uk/historysoc/wthurrock.html

The Funeral took place in this church that is now surrounded by The Proctor and Gamble Factory

Peter

Guess where this is

And what film it appeared in??

My Wallet is sick how is yours

With all the increases in Fuel cost over the last few months this sure is how my wallet feels

Just what you need while you check your email

Proper stuff.

Rhayader again with the Mayflower.

A little more sun than last time we where here with the lot from
Britstoc

Well Bob had arrived in his new silver Pan.

Off to Ryhader again

A few more bikes than last time at our bacon roll and a tea stop.

Its a tribute to a message board guy that got killed last year before
he had the chance to get the first meet organised. This is the second
time they have met up. Its a superbike forum and the tribute is to
someone called TT.

El Jem in Tunisia

On this trip I did manage to travel north on a 50 minute train journey to a place called El Jem which just a short stroll from the railway station I found what is advertised as the best preserved Roman Amphitheatre in the world and they cannot be far wrong. It is a very worthwhile visit and I would recommend it to anybody that gets anywhere near this part of the world. At times as I was looking around I was almost on my own sharing the Amphitheatre with possibly, apart from the coach party of kids that stayed for 20 minutes, less than ten other people.

Some more photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/BritSToc/ElJem

Sfax Tunisia May 2008

Well as you can see I have not updated for a whole five weeks and there is a simple explanation for this.

I have been away working in Tunisia for the whole time and in fact I am still here.

The plan was to come out here for 19 days although nobody really believed it would even be that long and here we are on day 36 with just a small light showing at the end of the tunnel.

Below are some photos that I took last year when I was here for a week of the Medina in Sfax which as parts of it date back to the ninth century an extra will not make a difference.

Unlike the Medina in Tunis the Medina in Sfax is not aimed at the tourist at all because most visitors to Sfax are here on business or a few tourists en-route to somewhere else. This gives you a chance to see the real Tunisian Market without all the buy me buy me traders that seem to plague us tourists where ever you go. This one sells fruit vegetables meat fish and every other day to day necessities of a large city (pop 400,000)

More photos can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/BritSToc/TunisiaMarch2007