Mawse’s Weblog

Been doing some houskeeping on the server so this blog now has a new home.  If you have any RSS feeds you will need to update them as the original will be out of date.

Ive also just setup a new collection of interesting stuff for the Aprilia Caponord.  These are bits of info Ive found on the tinterweb or bits Ive worked out for myself that might come in handy for others http://www.dobydog.co.uk/mawse/capobits

Been in Scotty Land now for what feels like forever :-)  Didnt have chance to set up ScotBlog before I left, but as soon as im back then Ill post all the travel notes, tips and the route that i took (which was basically all over the place) and loads of pics.  The bike is crying out for a bit of a major service now as its done about 5k from its last one

The weather was a bit hit and miss but still had a great time.

The Wrong Way Round was such fun that Im just about to go off on another bike trip.  This time not quite so exotic as all round Europe, but all the same loads of fun.  So its off round Scotland for a while.

www.dobydog.co.uk/mawse/scotblog is the address for the latest collection of travel notes, thoughts, and lots and lots of photos.  I have a feeling that rain might play a big part in this trip….

I really could do with some sponsorship for these ‘adventures’, so if you know anyone that has money to donate to my tyer fund please get in touch

Went for a bit of a walk out into the hills around Selva. It was soooooo sunny. Headed off initially to the Castle Wolkenstein (46°33′57”N 11°46′0”E) to see what all the fuss was about. Bit of a slog up and a bit of a let down once there, but was worth it for a different view of the area.

It was such a nice morning even Doby took things easy…….

After taking it easy for a while set off for Baita Stevia @ 2312m following the 17a trail. On the path from the castle to where I was to take the hill path were carvings of the stations of the cross.

What a fantastic route through trees to start with and then vertical cliff face. Every turn brought an even better view and a tougher bit of climbing.

Finally reached the top in a blaze of sun and snow - but it was soooooo worth getting knacked for

As you can see from the pics the views were spot on. Stayed up there quite a while taking things easy and Doby had a good play in the snow……

Decided it probably was time to start off back down. Had a bit of Ritter Spot choc and a drink and then off back down. Its not often that my legs hurt going down hill, but they did that day

By the time id got back and was sitting down with a drink my legs had so taken a battering from the sun, so now I had silly lines where my sox had been

Another amazing day in an amazing trip.

Dont forget the pics here are just a sample, to see all the photos click on the ‘Photos’ page!

Riding the Sella Ronda circuit part 2 (this section is in detail as its a cracking circuit to do and loads of fun)

Finally arrived a Arabba after going through a couple of villages.. This section actually had some straight bits of the black stuff, so managed to get into 4th gear a few times

Left Arabba after chilling in the sun for a while. Headed out towards Passo Pordoi, and kept seeing places that Id been skiing on earlier in the year. At the Passo is the worlds second best ‘tat’ shop, so hopped off the bike and took a few pics and had a chat to a couple of other bikers.

From the passo headed down with loads of twisties and then some fun straight bits with tight 180s at the end. All the while im stopping and taking pics and just sitting and looking at the views.

Italian road signs are great as there are either too many of them and non at all…….

Next off to Passo Sella at 2244m. Passo Sella was good with loads of views, but alas no tat shop here From here the corners were not quite so tight but still fun. Finally joined back up with the road id left in the morning. Rode back into Selva Gardena with a very big smile on mi face What a cracking ride that had been….. the road, the snow, the views!

click to see the full circuit

Ive just recently been reminded that the trip notes are not finished

Promise to get them updated very soon - but with one thing and another since getting back ive been a tad busy……..

Italy part2…..

All the other parts are below - so you need to scroll right down to read them in order.

For all the photos of the trip click the ‘Photos’ page above.

Found a nice little place to stay for a few nights (ahhh a proper bed!) which is just near the town centre. 46°33′24”N 11°45′22”E (just for all you GPS folk)

Parked up and sat with a bottle of beer before the unpacking started

Great to be able to have a proper wash and stuff after the fun of camping. Got changed and had a wobble round the town. Chatted with the B&B owner and she was saying about a route around the Sella Massif.

After a cracking breakfast decided to do the Sella Massif road route and also add on a trip to Cortina. Was a cool but sunny morning. The bike was soooo light (which was nice) after I was used to it weighing so much with all the stuff on it.

The following could really be a ride report in itself as it deserves it For some amazing photos of this section click the photos link above and they are all there. Ive included a few below to get you going

Rode out from Selva heading towards Plan de Gralba - just getting there was fun as the road twisted round on itself and carried on climbing. Just outside Plan de Gralba took a turn off towards Passo Gardena on the S243.

The road up to Passo Gardena hugged close to the northern side of the Sellla Massif and then climbed up to the Passo with just a bit of snow around…….

The views were amazing out over towards Bustac and Plans de Frea on the left, the Sellla on the right and Passo Gardena coming up in front. The last stretch of road before the Passo was well steep.

For all the pics, click on the ‘Photos’ section as there are so many more in there, so only putting a few up here..

The ride down to Colfosco was stunning, not a single straight bit of the black stuff. The warmth of the day was just coming through now, but due to the altitude was still quite cool.

The view down to Colfosco from just below Passo Gardena. So onward through to Colfosco, another nice little village Ive had the pleasure of skiing into earlier on in the year. Stopping all over the place to take photos and just looking at the vista’s.

Mmmmmm was thinking of staying there for a few nights! Glad I came over to see if it was open first!

Moved on into Corvara. A slightly lager village to Colfosco, but still a nice place. Located in the valley the road to Corvara actually had a little bit of straight tarmac Decided to make the day longer at this point and turned left off to Cortina d’Ampezzo on the S244. At LaVilla after cruising through a couple of valley villages turned right and picked up the SP37 and started twisting and turning right from the start of the road. This section of the road took extra time to ride as every other twist and turn I was stopping to take photos

Slowly climbed as the road changed to the SP24 and got to the next passo - Passo Valparola

From here there was just one or two twists and onto the next pass. Passso Falzarego

Now this was a fun stop cos at the junction was what has to be the worlds best tat shop. There were even cuckoo clocks that wolf whistled as you walked passed! (whats that all about??) Anyway just had to buy a bit of tat and a couple of maps.

Started heading down from the pass towards Cortina, but the weather looked to be coming in, so went Pocol just outside Cortina and turned about back to the pass and started the long long descent down into Arabba

Now that was a fun road!

and just to make the fun even better a tunnel on a 180 corner!

Next part to follow soon

Italy

If you aint read the previous posts, then they cover France, Andorra and Spain and are all below. Click the ‘Photos’ button for loads of photos of the trip.

Ok….. Italy……

Crossed the so called border - one side of a tunnel was France came out the otherside and it was Italy. Quite funny as entering the tunnel the roadsigns etc in French the other end its all in Italian.

Ahhhhh Italy feel sooooo happy at reaching this point. Out of all the countries this place has to be my fave and as a bonus at least I can just about hold a conversation (even if it is bad and lacking grammer!)

Followed the coast road through Sanremo, Savona through to Genova. This road has to go down as another great road. Constant tunnels and then bridges over amazing valleys. Then turn right and views of the Med sea.

Was going to head into Genova, but again decided it was a big city free trip, so starte heading up Italy to Alessandria on more great roads

Picked up the A21 to take me to Piacenza and Brescia. This was an ok autostrada to make up a bit of ground. Decided some oil was needed…. bike info says I need 15/50 oil, wouldnt you just know it the best I could find was 10/50, so got a litre of that and had to pay…..wait for it…… €19!!!! Even more pisssed as only needed a few ‘egg cups’ fulll of oil in the end to bring up the level

Now that was an expensive litre of oil - even more so as I saw the same a few days later for about €8!!! so even more

Had a chat with an Italian biker just west of Verona who was on his way back from Algeria on a GS after 15 days in the dessert. The bike had took a total battering, and looked soooo weather beaten. While chatting noticed a fairing screw had come away and took some of the plastic with it

Now that needs a bit of gaffa tape on it until I can sort it out - no idea where that happened!

Started heading North from Verona and dropped off onto the ‘coast’ road of Lago di Garda. Was good riding up at the side of the lake, but was a little bit misty. Stopped off a few times to take in the views and take photos.

Continued up on the A22/S12 through Rovereto, Trento to get to Balzano. The road up to Balzano slowly winds its way up into the Dolomite hills. Some cracking views of the peaks covered in snow in the morning mist.

Eventually turned off towards ValGardena on the S242 - now this road Ive been on several times before and its fun in a car, so was looking forward to the ride up into the valley.

Having a break before the twisties of the S242

The mist now gone and another warm sunny day looked to be on the cards

What a road the S242 is, twisting through little collections of buildings built into the hillside. Slowly climbing up through every turn. Finally reach Ortisa and through to St Cristina. Now climbed into the hills still with some snow on the ground……

Bottom of the Sassslong ski run (skied down there in Feb!)

Continued up twisting and climbing all the way. Rode on through to Selva Gardena with a very big smile on my face as this was another waypoint of the trip. Parked up and had a walk about taking photos and smiling even more

Loads more photos of this area in the PHOTOS section. So go for it and click ‘Photos’ to see them

Decided quite quickly that Id be staying round here for some time

Southern France to Italy

As always if you wanna read them in order you need to start at Part 1 which is further down the page.

For loads more photos of the trip click the ‘Photos’ page as Ive uploaded quite a few to keep you going ‘ohhhhh’ and ‘ahhhhhhhh’ and ‘mmmmmm’ and probably other words!

Right then…….

Arrived at Le Luc after a steady run down the N7 from Brignolles. Totally chilled ride as it was nice and early and not many people about.

Le Luc was another of those little town/villages that you come across where they are soooooo cute. Im sure when its peeing down with rain they are not quite so nice, but hey it was sunny when I was there, so had a good walk round the place. There was some sort of ‘arty’ thing happening in the town square which made it a tad busier then normal.

Continued with the walkabout and took a few more photos and just had to stop and do a bit of people watching and taking in the local sounds, smells and sights. Its always fun sitting and watching knowing that no one has ever seen you before and will never see you again

Think I was in a bit of a thoughtful mood that day! Anyway finally decided to push on, so hit the N7 again until Frejus. Just love some of the N and D roads down here. Pick a steady pace and watch the countryside drift by.

At Frejus decided to have a blast so picked up the A8 which would eventually take me to the Italian border.

Hopped off a few times to see the sights, close mi eyes, take in the sun etc. Took things quite easy at Cannes and had good chat with some bikers.

Im sure my bike was in the middle of that lot somewhere Oddly they were quite taken by the solar charger I had on top of the roll bag. After a few really bad french/english conversations with lots of hand gestures they went on their way. I stayed to take it easy a bit longer.

While I was in Monaco I noticed that the bike had used a bit of oil, so started to wish I brought maybe quarter litre of oil with me - thats something to remember for next time.

Monaco was great, and soooooo full of pretty people and rich pretty people. So im thinking Ill not move there just yet!

Have to admit I didnt really take in before how small Monaco is. Its quite literally a little strip of land between the motorway and the sea. Even so the place was amazing.

Dobys Notes:
Had my pic taken quite a few times in Monaco - Asked if I could see the Prince, but he was out

Went back on the A8 to the border - what a cracking road! Even for an ‘A’ road the sights of the Med and the hills were great.

Through Southern France…….

Again there are loads more photos in the ‘Photos’ section. If you want to read the log in the right order you need to start at Part1

Narbonne, cracking place, but soooo busy.

Had to leave Narbonne and carry on with the epic trip. Headed off in the direction of Beziers and turned off to Agde on the N312. Now Agde was a cracking lettle town. Had a bit of a ride round and then parked up and spent some time walking round and just chilling by the river. Doby managed to get his picture taken several times.

Set off towards Sete on the N112 which took me over a causway of sand wide enough for a road and a bit of a pull off all the way down having the Med on one side and Etang de Thau lake type thing on the other. This was quite a nice road, but not so sure id want to do it in the height of summer as even at the start of May it was full of Dutch camper vans! (how come Holland is such a small country, but everywhere you look you see a Dutch car/bike/camper) - now must try and google that and see what comes up!

Took a chilled route and headed up to Nimes. By now the weather was proving to be another amazing day, very sunny and vary warm. The road up to Arles, St Martin and Salon was again just what I needed. Stayed on the N113 through Arles, St Martin and Salon. Cracking road for taking you along the South of France.

After some serious chilling and taking life at my speed came upto Brignoles on the N7. Stopped off here for a while. Spent time wobbling round and still trying to take life at the pace I want and not the pace of the rest of the world.

Parked up the bike at a B&B Motel just on the outskirts of the town. A quick 5min walk and into the town square. Spent loads of time here just sat people watching

Dobys Note:
Tried chatting to a french dog the other day, but dont think Ive got the fake french accent right yet

Did a re-stock of supplies and finally headed off on the N7 - next stop Le Luc