Finishing my Motorcycle Travel through Europe
Update 73 (November 2024)
England to Spain
With about 4 weeks left to stay in Europe and a little over two weeks on my third party vehicle insurance I decided to move along fairly quickly. As it turned out I left the EU the day the insurance expired.
I left England through the Eurotunnel again, then made my way across Germany towards The Alps. It was getting cold but too early for any significant snow. The weather was fairly kind to me. I would often start riding in foggy 4 degree Celsius weather, but most days it cleared by 11am to a cool sunny day.
It was nice riding but pretty routine. Europe had been a good chance to recharge and restock but it was time for some more adventurous destinations.
In the queue to board the Eurotunnel train. There were a few other motorbikes this time.
I worked my way through France, Belgium, Germany and Czechia. It was all easy going and I found some nice places to stay. Austria above. Sometimes I’d do autobahns other times back roads. I only used toll roads once, where I wanted to push along and could buy a one day pass, in Austria maybe.
Scenic Liechtenstein.
Into Switzerland. I didn’t stay in Switzerland. It was cheaper to go over to Italy and criss cross the border.
This is Castello di Vettignè. I came across it while taking a small back road in rural Italy near Turin. It was built in the 15th century and is still privately owned. It seems it has been abandoned since the 1960’s. Today it is just surrounded by open fields and there appeared to be no works underway to save it.
I stayed a few days in an old monastery in the Italian town of Susa, near the french border. This town was quite active but many small towns in regional Italy were near deserted. The shift of population to the major centres was very obvious. You can see why towns are resorting to 1 Euro house sales.
Lunch.
Susa had a few Roman ruins to visit.
Roman amphitheatre in Susa
Crossing into France now.
I found a nice route through the mountains.
A small settlement in France.
I stayed in a small village called Bedous in the French Pyrenees. The main road across to Spain was closed due to some major storm damage. It worked out well as I found a little single lane road over mountains that no one was using. I eventually came across the ski resort of La Pierre Saint Martin.
Some very early snow near La Pierre Saint Martin.
Most of the recent snow seemed to have fallen on the Spain side of the border.
After the mountains there was not a lot to see. I made my way across Spain towards the city of Algeciras. From there I could get a short ferry ride across to Morocco. I found a mechanic to do some final work on my motorcycle – new chain, sprockets and rear brake pads. That pretty much had me ready for Africa. I would have liked to get the suspension serviced. I have done about 35,000 kms since it was last serviced in Japan. But I didn’t ever find someone plus I think the guy in Japan did a very good job and I feel like it is better to leave it be.