The Off

Leaving home on Sunday 17th of November 2019 to catch the ferry from Harwich to Holland. A wet and foggy start to my journey.

Rolling On

Rolling on to the Roll on Roll off ferry, behind two Dutch bikers. The man just ahead worked in Private Security in Iraq in 07/08. This was my work until a month before; it is a small world. We sailed on the Stena Britannica, a Stena Line ferry.

Exploring the Boat

On board the Stena Britannica, with an 11pm departure for Hook of Holland on Sunday 18th November 2019. The boat was huge, with 538 cabins and space for 1200 passengers. 64,039 tonnes and 240m long.

Early morning on the Stenna Britannica

A GFX Shot from the back of the boat as we head towards Holland, in the early hours of Monday 18th November 2019

Rolling Off

First on the boat, but last off, it took a long time to clear through passport control, ahead of a long drive. Another time I would work harder to get ahead in the line, and not be so relaxed. 18 Nov 2019. Hook of Holland.

Waiting

Waiting for passport control. It was a cold and overcast day, which became a feature of my trip across north west Europe.

Overcast

Waiting for the lines of traffic to clear through immigation, after arrival in Holland on Monday 18th November 2019. The weather was cold and overcast all the way across northwest Europe.

Bavarian Dinner

A great recomendation from the hotel in Nuremburg, took me to a German Beer Cellar, with good food and great beer. Bar Fuber, 18 Nov 2019.

Little Blue Dog does Bavaria

Having a beer in the beer cellar. From here to a small Irish bar (Ireland were playing football; it didn't end well) and then on to a bar near the hotel, staffed by young expats attending University here.

Temperature Gauge

I don't know how accurate this gauge is, and I don't remember seeing it this warm... For most of my ride across Holland and Germany the weather was overcast and cold, under ten degrees.

Sunshine

Naturpark Oberer Bayerischer Wald⁩, ⁨Deggendorf⁩, ⁨Bavaria⁩, ⁨Germany⁩. On the way to Linz, from Nuremburg, and very pretty, 19 Nov 2019

Overlooking Linz.

I enjoyed Linz and wish I had more time to tour. As it was I stayed very close to the apartment and had dinner in an Italian restauraunt near by.

Overlooking Linz

A prettier city than I was expecting, chosen only for it's convenience in location, being mid way between Nuremberg and Budapest.

Blackbird in Linz

Linz was pretty, and I wished I had more time to explore.

Limehome Linz Hopfengasse

This was a great apartement, very clean and tidy, with an electronic access system; all the details for arrival and departure were provided by mail. It was straightforward.

Dinner

Little Blue Dog has been my youngest daughters favourite toy since she was very small. He has enjoyed adventures with my in Afghanistan and Iraq, and lots of other places besides.

Leaving Linz

Linz was pretty, and I wished I had more time to explore. The apartment was good; I would stay there again. But I had no time to explore, and was away early in the morning heading for Budapest. 20 Nov 2019.

Garaged Bike in Linz

I kept the bike in the parking for the apartment bloke I was staying in, but without a key for access was dependent on others leaving when I wished to. I was fortunate, someone came along just as I was ready to leave.

'Look at me': Blackbird checking herself out in the window.

Well apointed Schwechat Service Station in Austria, on the way to Hungary. Very cold on this day and took some time to warm up inside. I was drinking coffee at every stop. In Germany and Austria you have to pay for the loo, so the coffee became doubly expensive. Schwechat, Austria, 20 Nov 2019

Raining in Budapest

The journey across central and north west Europe was characterised by rain; almost constant rain. This, at least, is how it felt. My kit was good, and I stayed dry under a very old Dainese jacket, and under a very knew set of Dainese touring trousers. I was grateful for the gear.

The Black Dog, Budapest

Cracking dinner and beers in Budapest with a very trusting bar man, who let me leave and return later to settle my bill.

Tube Station in Budapest

Between Buda and Pest, 20 Nov 2019

Budapest

Hungarian Parliament Building across the Danube, 20 Nov 2019

Garden View in Budapest

Not sure how to gain access to these gardens in central Budapest, but they were lush and green; all that rain... 21 Nov 2019

LBD Looks out

Little Blue Dog looking into the garden square from the apartment in Budapest, 21 Nov 2019.

Honda Dealership, Budapest

I had some concerns about coolant, setting off in the morning. Only becuase, on the previous night, steam had been billowing from the engine while I road through commuter traffic in pouring rain. I the morning I checked the coolant, could see nothing and added fluids. Which immediately appeared under the bike. This concerned me a little. The bike also did not seem to be indicating a warming engine as it usually does. I decided to detour to a Honda dealership a few miles outside of the town centre. If the bike was fine when I arrived, no harm done. If not, I was in the right place. As it happens the bike was fine, and my concerns unwarranted. Something of a relief, but I should trust this bike after so many years of reliable performance. Budapest, 21 Nov 2019.

Honda Dealership, Budapest

Arrived safely at the Hondad Dealership. Stopped for a moment and then pushed on. Rapidly learned that no one stops for an amber flashing light, and that my stopping capacity is better than the small trucks darting around the town. But they are agile, and quick witted, thankfully.

LBS at Honda Budapest

Just another day on the road for LBD, Budapest, 21 Nov 2019.

Leaving Hungary for Serbia

At the Service Station in Roszke Pihenohely, just shy of the border. I had a fast run on good roads in light traffic south from Hungary to the border. Although I was not measuring the detail I suspect I covered 100 miles in the hour. 21 Nov 2019. The border crossing took longer than anticated, having to buy insurance for a month (despite a 72 hour visit plan) exchanging currency, and buying a new SIM. I had been told by Vodafone before departure that my SIM would work everywhere across Europe except Serbia and Iraq. I didn't actually use the Serbian SIM at all, Wifi was everywhere, and my GPS was fine.

Belgrade Air BnB

Cracking couple of nights based out of this Air BnB. At $20 a night really no complaints. And a charming host who lived next door.

Door: Always Useful

Having spent a few years as a perpetual traveller, and getting oldder and more forgetful, I find it useful to photograph my hotel door before leaving, as a reminder of where I live. Not much of a clue here, to be fair, on the 3rd floor of an apartment block in central Belgrade, 21 Nov 2019.

Belgrade Travellers

Dr Ibrahim Erdogan, from Gazantiep, and Leung Yee, on Friday 15th November, in Belgrade, Serbia. We were the survivors of an organised pub crawl signed up for on Trip Adviser. Nice people, good host, many pubs and clubs. I was passing through Gazantiep the following week and hoped to meet. Sadly it did not work. Leung is a perpetual traveller and is London in early December. It would be good to meet again. Belgrade, Serbia, 22 Nov 2019.