Deane's 2010 Motorcycle Trip
Riding the Alps
|
Deane's 2010 Motorcycle Trip Riding the Alps |
|
|
Getting Ready |
| It would seem that for a guided/escorted tour it would be
easy to just get a few things together and be prepared. Also it
would seem that one has only to put the protective riding clothes
together, take some off-bike clothes and a tooth brush, and go.
But, one must consider setting up the reservations for tour and motorcycle, arrange trip cancellation insurance, arrange for medical insurance that could cover oneself in the event of an accident, for both the recovery of the motor cycle and getting oneself home, and a myriad of other things. Oh yes, airline tickets and how to pack all of that big stuff like a helmet and the bulky protective jacket, riding pants, and boots. Included is rain gear to be packed. The time of the year, July and August, were chosen as good weather times. We will leave on the overnight ferry from England on July 29 to reach the starting point of Belgium, and return on another overnight ferry from Belgium to England on August 9. I will fly into and out of Manchester airport. In making my reservation to rent a bike I was fortunate to find a rental company that had Suzuki V-Strom 650's. When Jack Dannenberg and I went on a riding trip around Australia we rented these and found them to be an excellent bike. I arranged to have hard saddle bags (panniers) for luggage to be carried on the bike, so that took some coordination. And then a most important arrangement was made, to visit and stay with my Crawforth friends, Geoff and Maggie Crawforth (we may be relatives back somewhere). That was an important aspect of my choosing this tour and its itinerary to start in England. |
