STEViE's playin' away .... :o

[STEViE]

Not quite what you may think actually. No, next year I'm off to visit Tallinn in Estonia with a mate from Scotland. Gonna take Brenda's Suzi GS 650 GT shafty whilst my mate Peter will prolly be on his 'busa (reckon he's gonna do half the journey the first day, turn around an' catch back up with me along the way   ).

We were originally goin' out from Harwich to Cuxhaven in Germany, crossin' Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia an' on to Tallinn in Estonia where we should have picked up a ferry to take us back to Rostock in Germany an' a five hour ride to the MC Rottum clubhouse in Lingen. The ferry to Cuxhaven with a reclinin' seat rather than a cabin was to have costed £33 rider an' bike. The ferry isn't runnin' now so they changed our bookin' to go to Esbjerg in Denmark an' as they're inconvieniencin' us some they've given us a two berth cabin an' £14 each. So effectivly were goin' to Denmark with a cabin for £19 each - RESULT !

This has made me think about our route again as the Tallinn - Rostock ferry has also been cancelled for next year. So now were headin' from Esbjerg to Copenhagen an' takin' the toll bridge over to Malmo in Sweeden

It's huge an' should be a fantastic sight to see for real. From Malmo we head up to Jonkoping an' then onto Stockholm where we catch a ferry to Tallinn in Estonia. Lookin' to go to Lake Peipsi where time has stood still fairly much so for the last 50 - 70 years
 
(Russia is over the other side of the lake. Hopin' to hook up with a bike club in Latvia, then onto Lithuania to spend a day or so around Trakai an' Vilnius where the only statue in the world dedicated to Frank Zappa is.
 
From Vilnius we'll go into Poland heading into the Mazurian lake district. It really can be  beautiful, I can testify to that as I played out at Mragowo back in '97.

Then to the area around Gdansk an' Gdynia. There's a resort on a peninsula there called Hel so that's gotta be worth a trip.

From there it's gonna be a blat accross Germany with possibly one overnite stop if we need to before arrivin' at the clubhouse for the MC Rottum (Lingen/Emsland) Summer party an' a weekend of very solid partyin' before returnin' to these shores.
I'll be takin' a mando with me too so no doubt there'll be some playin' along the way too an' hopfully a couple of songs will come out of this.

Andy has been on at me to write somethin' on here about travels for a while so I thought that now there's somethin' definate for next year an' tickets are booked this was the right time. I know this piece is long but so's the journey    

[BikerGran]

Sounds amazing, take a camera and get lots of phots cos you will want to remember a trip like that for ever!

[Urban Terrorist]

It's alright for some, i can't even leave the country

[STEViE]

Camera an' spare memory card Bobbi. This has been in my head for nearly a year now so it's good that it's finally startin' to come together   

[Manky Monkey]

Yodie's been pretty busy with a million other projects lately so doesn't get to call by quite so often but his omnipresence is still there.
Mr Stevie, take a very large notebook with you, (& lots of MMMotors T shirts to barter with the locals with), cos I expect a full diary of the trip when you get back. I haven't been out of the country for 15 years -unless Scotland counts, so the rest of us day-dreamers wanna come along for the ride too.

[STEViE]

No probs diaryin' it for on here, always try to keep a diary when I've been on tour with bands. It ain't gonna be quite The Long Way Round but I reckon 'To Hel An' Back' ain't a bad title   

[Manky Monkey]

heh heh! Looking forward to reading that!
Message from Reg the 'leccy bloke for you Stevie.
Negative earth Zener diodes, www.holden.co.uk 22 quid + VAT.

[STEViE]

Changed the pic that was HUGE so it looks a bit better on here. Sent text to Reg as I've ordered one from the bloke I had the address for originally. I've just got to be patient an' wait now.
Just thought that folks would like to know about this...  especially as I've now got my ticket so it's gonna happen whatever bike I end up usin' for the trip, tho I still reckon the Suzi is the one for the job as it's seen a good few thou on it on trips to an' around northern Germany. Loads of stuff to do an' organise still but the good news is that it ain't costin' too much for the ferries. Stockholm to Tallinn we can do for around 80 euros each with a two berth cabin, the Harwich to Esbjerg is £19 (that was rather a good bit of luck), the bridge is around £13 toll an' the ferry from Hoek van Holland to Harwich comin' home is around £45. Apart from that there's a lot of petrol that's for sure an' some official documents that need payin' for. Jabs are a good idea I'm told an' because of the time of year we are goin' an' the fact that Estonia, Poland, Lithuania an' especially Latvia have a big problem with ticks that it would be a good idea to get jabbed up for Encephalitis too (that costs). But things are movin' forward an' that's a goood thing   

[Manky Monkey]

Personally speaking, it's not just the entertainment value of reading an account of a trip like that, it's the inspiration it gives. I might dream of travelling the World on 2 or 3 wheels, but would be overwhelmed by the scale of the task & would think it's totally beyond me to organise. Seeing you actually get out there & do it, following you step by step, would give me the push I'd need to try it for myself. Go for it mate. Then come back & tell us what you found out there. 

[STEViE]

Will post stuff as we organise things beforehand 'cos it may help me remember stuff that still needs to be done as we go along. Memory like a sieve, brain like cotton wool full of snot at present 

How do I post my own photo's on here ?

Do I need them on anutha site an' then link thru the image button ? or can I just upload them ? 'cos I can't see how that's done.

[Manky Monkey]

Being remarkably stoopid I've got no idea how the techy bits work, but I just reduce my photos to 400 x 400 in Photoshop then click on "Additional Options" when you're posting. A "Browse" window will open up. Attach & post. Idiot proof -must be cos I can do it!  

[BikerGran]

I was half planning - well, more like had a bit of an idea - to go to Sweden via Denmark and that fabulous bridge, cos I had a nephew living in Sweden.  Then I broke me leg and all sorts, and a couple of years went by, and now the silly b has decided to retire to his house on the island of Alderney - not quite the same kind of trip!

I seem to remember his advice about riding in Denmark and Sweden was that it's quite boring cos there's a blanket 50mph speed limit, and you have to watch out for the bears and the moose.  Something like that, anyway.

[Manky Monkey]

Not sure I'd describe rounding a bend to find a bear or a moose in the middle of the road boring! Alderney's still nice Bobbi. Would make a great road trip.

[BikerGran]

Nono of my current vehicles walk on water tho....

Ferries go the channel islands from Portbail in Normandie - allegedly!  Seen the ferry terminal lots of times but it's never been open!  But Portbail is only a hop and a skip from Cherbourg - worth a visit tho for the Moules Frite and the local brandy from the bar near the bridge!

[Manky Monkey]

I really should take up drinking shouldn't I! I miss out on so much as a tee-totaller!