| Author | Message | ||
     Jinxfin |
Hi there folks! First time posting here. I've been posting on the British UKBEG-site, and thought I'd put this story here too. I've been riding my Buell for this summer, and I love it! I took a 'small' trip with it starting from Finland, here's the story: I started from Finland with a ferry to Sweden. It was the same route that I used summer -07 on my trip to Iceland. Friday july 11th all the junk that I dragged with me was strapped to the bike and the journey was ready to start. At the harbour of Naantali I jumped to a Ferry to have a really good meal and headed straight to my cabin to sleep next to my belly. The next morning was beautiful. Better weather I couldn't dream, so I drove straight through Sweden to Oslo, Norway. Sunday morning was a bit rainy. I put my rainsuit (overall) on, packed my tent and all the stuff to my bike, sweated like a pig that I am, got ready to leave and the rain stopped. A bit pissed off but happy I was. This is from Oslo:  And luggage I had... Next I headed to road-7 and Bergen. I used the same route last summer, but I really wanted to drive it again. Views were brilliant, again. Roads too.    Second night in Norway was in Geilo. A small town middle of Oslo and Bergen. When I was served a great hamburger and a few beers, I couldn't be more happy. Crawled to my tent and fell asleep in seconds. Up at the mountains it can be cold here and there. And there was some snow too.   The Sysendammen dam is on the way to Bergen and the lake is 940 meters above sea level. There is a power station which uses the water from the dam. From the power station the water goes to a waterfall, Voringfoss.   From the dam:   From the waterfall:     Tuesday 15th the ferry from Bergen left to Scrabster. After waiting for an hour and a half at the docks, me, one finnish couple, some norwegians and a dozen of scotsmen got inside the ferry. Few beers at the skybar of the ferry did really good. I met a fellar from Switzerland and had some beers with him. He was also coming to Scotland. The night at the ferry wasn't easy. All the beer had done it's duty, but still it wasn't easy to get sleep. The ferry was bouncing up and down in the waves. I still managed to get four-five hours of sleep, before we got to Scrabster, Scotland. The first touch of Scotland was sweet. I've waited that from the first time I saw Braveheart. Driving on the wrong side of the road wasn't as hard as I thought, but the first 100 km I was driving a bit stiff. After that it got more relaxed. The views were breathtaking and I did take photos from here and there. My first stop was at John o'Groats. Not because there's nothing to see but 'cause The Long Way Down started from there. And yes, there's truly nothing to see... From there I headed to Inverness and here are few photos from the way:     The coastline is strangelooking for me who grew up at the coastline of Finland. The land ends, and after that there's only water. In Finland there's thousands and thousands of beautiful little islands everywhere. I got to Inverness just before 10am so I desided to head straight to Edinburgh. And how tourist it may be, I visited the Loch Ness.  My original plan was to take a little swim in the loch, but the water was really cold, the beach was shallow and had very sharp rocks, all of the tourists were watching me and the water was really cold, so I stayed in my driving gear. Maybe next time... I have seen this somewhere before...  On the ferry to Scotland I met a scotsman who gave me maps of Great Britain. He also advised me to take road A939 to Edinburgh, and I'm glad I listened. The road was excellent, views brilliant and I think I cried a little in my helmet.    I was supposed to go to a whisky-distillery, but the road kept me going. If I would have gone to a distillery, I wouldn't have met this great couple on my way. The guy was from Switzerland and the girl from Australia. We shared a room in Perth and had a wonderful evening including some beer and pizza.  On friday we drove to Edinburgh. Gideon had a reservation to a ferry leaving to Holland and on he went. Me and Kylie thought we'd get a twin room from some backpackers' or a youth hostel and go to see the city. Gideon took Kylies driving gear with him, beacause they were his sisters. So we looked from a map of mine the place we were to meet. She'd walk and I'd drive there. It took me 55 minutes to get the five blocks way in the city. It was raining, it was the rush hour and all the one ways and road work made the city a living hell to drive. Even the people living in Edinburgh say so. And so I lost her. I didn't have her phone number or anything. I parked my bike there and gave my phone number to few pubs and hostels that she had been, but I never reached her. After waiting for an hour and a half in the rain I phoned Norrie. He had been waiting for me to come the day before, but I forgot to tell him that I stayed in Perth (sorry). He gave me directions how to get to his place. He had already reserved a B+B for me and we took my bike to his garage nearby. I got a shower and we went to have something to eat. I think I took few beers there also.  Here's from Norries place the next morning:  Wee drove from Edingburgh to Lincolnshire that day. We reached the Haywain Hotel around 6pm and Chris and Jane were there already. The evening was great with getting to know all the great new people, eating good food and having a laugh. Thanks guys! Saturday was the Event. Here are few pictures from there:       And I did get the Long Distance Award. Crazy Finnish people...  The Best Buell Award.  The evening after the event was really good too. We had a great meal and a good laugh back at the hotel. Sunday was the day to leave to London. Here's a photo from a moment before I left. From the left: Jane, Chris, Mo, me and Norrie. Debbie's taking the picture. Many many thanks to all of you guys in or out of the picture at Haywain Hotel!! And all of you who I met and who kept me company at the event!  At London I had a friend called Gecko from a Finnish Bike Forum. She showed me some really beautiful places near London. And she let me stay at her sofa for three nights too! This is from her underground garage. Guess which one's mine...  On four days we saw Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge, Fish Hill, Ace Cafe, Box Hill, Stratford Upon Avon, Winchester, Cerne Abbas and a thousand little villages near London. And I had a great time with her. Thank you!! London city central I left to be. I'll get a city holiday there someday. This was a biking holiday.        On thursday I left England with the Eurotunnel train under the English Channel. Half an hour of relaxing at the air conditioned train and off you go in France. Finally a roundabout which turns to the right direction.   This was a journey home and the memory of finnish ryebread kept me going. Straight through France and Belgium to the border of Holland and Germany. At a little town of Eindhoven I stayed for a night at a camping place. The charged me 37 euros for a night in my own tent!!!! Definetly the last time I visit Holland. Bastards. The next day I was to drive through Germany to Denmark, but on the way I met this originally American biker, Stephen, now studying in Jönköping, Sweden. He advised me to take the ferry with him from Travemunde to Malmö, Sweden. We arranged a place for me in the ferry and drove together to his friends house near Bremen.   Stephens friend Jan was a great guy who let me pitch my tent to his backyard. We had few beers that evening and tasted some of the Laphroaig-whisky I bought from the Bergen-Scrabster ferry. The next day Jans wifes sisters came there, and we had a great barbeque and lovely time before me and Stephen left to Travemunde. Here's from left Jan, Marika, Stephen and Janika. Many thanks to you guys!!  Sunday morning we came to Malmö, drove together to Jönköping, said goodbye and I left to Kapellskär. 700km on that hot summer day, but it would be the next day that I'd be home. And it was. 6072 kilometers. Eight countries. Dozens of new friends. Hundreds of pictures. Thousands of memories. 93% of me loved the trip. The rest 7% (arse) wasn't that pleased on the Buells seat. http://my.pic.fi/kuvat/UK-Tour%202008/ has all the 250 pictures I took, in original size and resolution. 100km after I got home the drivebelt snapped. I sure as hell am one lucky bastard...  (Message edited by JinxFin on October 15, 2008) | ||
| Court |
WOW . . thanks for sharing. What a journey. Court | ||
| Road_thing |
Wow. Wait, Court already said that... ... but WOW! rt | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
Great pictures and tale.. and a buell gathering too... looks like you planned well.... Thanks for sharing. cheers-pete | ||
| Greenman44 |
That seemed like an Epic adventure! Glad all went well and you made it home no problemo. Thanks for sharing. Greenman  | ||
| Freezerburn |
Thanks for sharing your great adventure! | ||
| Rotzaruck |
Man! What a ride! and some pretty country too. Wish I could do that but my Buell won't float that far. At least I get to sit here on my 7% and enjoy it anyway! Thanks Rotzaruck! | ||
| Huly_twoly |
What a beautiful place and you really got to meet some nice folks. Thanks for sharing the story and the pics! Huly_Twoly | ||
| Buellfighter |
Thank You for sharing your awesome adventure! |
