Croatia

[nik.hisham]

Back in February, my good friends, Dave, Ian, Chrissie and Sandra came over to Malaysia for a 5 day tour. We had a good time and as the ride came to an end we asked, "So what's next?"

"Croatia", says Dave grinning ear to ear while looking at Sandra.

This was us, having that very discussion...

And that's how it began.

We arrived in Paris a few days early to get over jet lag.

The wife seeing Charles de Gaulle for the first time

Looked just like it did when I was there in '84 - except the Oracle banner hanging in the center

Dave picked us up and sent us to our hotel before we went out for some sight seeing.

The Eiffel tower always seems to be under construction (notice the scaffolding extending down from the center of the tower)

Wondering if we should go to the top deck... (we eventually didn't)

Street performers

Every once in a while, we'd see a bike and were reminded of the epic journey that we were about to embark on in just a few days...

Arc de Triumphe in the distance

In front of La Defense

Place de la Concorde

Another reminder of the adventures to be had the next day...

While we were busy with sight seeing duties, Dave and Ian were busy prepping the bikes for the trip. They would put them on an overnight train to Nice and we would catch up with them the next day via TGV.

Dave's brand new 2012 CBR 1000RR and the '07 Hayabusa we let me use for the trip.

Sandra's Diavel, and her 2012 CBR 1000RR which she let Ian and Chrissie use.

While the bikes we being attended to, the wife and I continued our sight seeing. We visited the Louvre...

Walked along the river Seine...

And also hung around the Latin Quarter..

We made our way back to our hotel to make our final preparations to start the journey to Croatia the next day..

THE JOURNEY BEGINS!

The day started early. We were leaving from Gare de Lyon on a TGV to Nice. Btw, TGV = Train à Grande Vitesse. Roughly translated = Hugely Fast Train.

Since we would pick up the bikes from the train station in Nice immediately upon our arrival, we were all ATGATT from the get go.

The train we were waiting to board

What 200 mph looks like from inside the TGV

What picking your nose in a train doing 200 mph looks like

To be continued....

 

[rogdeb]

Ooooohhhh !! Can't wait Nice car Dave

 

[Mount Rainier]

This is going to be Really Good! :yahoo:

Thank you.

Keep Going!

 

[Gramps]

As expected, an awesome beginning to your RR Nik.

Eagerly awaiting the next installment. :clapping:

 

[FarWestFastEddie]

Nik, I am in anticipation of the adventure to begin! Looking forward for more!

FWFE

 

[Hudson]

Been wondering where you were, Nik. This is very cool, and your view of Paris is fantastic.

And a Bentley? Yeah, that's how I'd roll!!!

Bring on Croatia!

 

[airboss]

This is goina be good!

 

[SacramentoMike]

Nik, the colors in your world are better than the ones in mine. We Alps guys should have pooled our dough and brought you along as our official photographer!

Great start--I've been waiting for this.

A Bentley? Yeah, that's how I'd roll!!!

That''s not a Bentley, silly.

 

[Tyler]

Subscribing!!! B)

The first part of your report reminds me of when I was went over to Europe with my daughter several years ago. I rented an RT and rode the Alps, etc. with a couple of friends. Afterward, she and I took the train to Paris and spent several days there doing the sightseeing thing... your photos brought those memories back to and a smile on my face.

When I was in the hospital recuperating after my accident, the computer in my room was scrolling through photos and the ones from that trip came up as my daughter was looking at the screen. She said, "Y'know Mom, I didn't realize it at the time but that was a really awesome trip." :clapping:

Had some friends ride in Croatia just a few weeks ago... looking forward to seeing your version of things! :yahoo:

 

[ahchiu]

Nice RR Nik, I always enjoy your great pictures and adventures, keep them comming :yahoo:

 

[Khunajawdge]

Nik Nik Nik, you are in a Nik of time. My family and I were just discussing our trip to Croatia next Spring. We might do it via Edelweiss tours? Maybe your ride report will spell out some other options. There will be 6 of us, 3 groups riding 2-up. After a tour of the Julienne alps, Lubijana, Zagreb, we plan to head through Dalmacia to Split where we will take a ferry out to Brac' to visit the birth place of my father in Pucisca', and the sea town harbor of Praznitzca'.

Keep it coming, I am all ears and eyes!

KJ aka Sir Bo-Croat

PS = excellent photos, Dobro'

 

[Old Michael]

Merveilleux, Nik.

(Don't do anything crazy on that Hayabusa.)

 

[escapefjrtist]

Anxiously awaiting the next installment Nik...the beginnings of another awesome RR!!

*fingers-drumming*

--G

 

[nik.hisham]

Dear friends, thanks for all the encouragement. More of the ride report coming in the next post. But first, to the discussion that KhunaJawdge brought up.

Nik Nik Nik, you are in a Nik of time. My family and I were just discussing our trip to Croatia next Spring. We might do it via Edelweiss tours? Maybe your ride report will spell out some other options. There will be 6 of us, 3 groups riding 2-up. After a tour of the Julienne alps, Lubijana, Zagreb, we plan to head through Dalmacia to Split where we will take a ferry out to Brac' to visit the birth place of my father in Pucisca', and the sea town harbor of Praznitzca'.

Keep it coming, I am all ears and eyes!

KJ aka Sir Bo-Croat

PS = excellent photos, Dobro'

@KhunaJawdge,

Thanks for your kind words.

I've heard of Edelweiss but never had any experience interacting with them other than browsing their web page. However, their reputation seems very good.

Our tour was a group of 6 as well, consisting of 3 couples. Two were 2 up while Dave and Sandra each had a bike. All bikes belonged to Dave and Sandra so we saved a lot on bike rentals. If you have anything specific you want to know to help you plan your trip, feel free to ask. I'll answer as best I can.

All the best for your coming tour around Croatia. Wish I could'a spent more time there. Beautiful country and absolutely awesome biking roads!

 

[nik.hisham]

Continuation...

Stuff we saw on the TGV to Nice...

Miles and miles of farmland...

vineyards...

and neighborhoods with some mountains in the distance

Our car was right next to the buffet car, where you can get lunch and enjoy views of the French countryside while you hurtle towards Nice at over 200 mph. Here's a quick video I took.

https://youtu.be/wRowGLErIXg?hd=1

We were soon speeding along the coast of the Mediterranean sea

Contemplating the weather, the shots I wanted to take, the twisties we would ride and mostly hoping for a safe journey

My wife and Sandra enjoying the scenery as it rolled across the window

We were just minutes away and getting restless..

We arrived into Nice, got off the train and headed straight to an adjacent building to pick up our bikes which had arrived just a few hours earlier. We rode the bikes all of about 1 mile to get to the hotel.

Oasis Hotel, in the courtyard..

Closer inspection of the bikes to make sure there was no damage from the overnight freight train journey

It started to drizzle as we headed out for dinner

Saw this rainbow as we walked along the seafront

It was actually a double rainbow starting behind this building...

and ending here. We assumed that either the pot of gold was somewhere underwater or the leprechauns had swam off with it...

In the distance, the clouds looked frightening. The forecast was for rain for the next 5 days in the direction we were heading...

We left the seafront and headed into town in search of a cozy restaurant...

And there were many to choose from..

We found a place and had some really good food.

First part of the journey done. We headed back to the hotel for a good night's rest before tomorrow's ride into Italy.

Riding distance covered? A measly 1.5 miles or so.

Ok - so I have to give up the computer now. Daughter needs to do her homework. Be back soon with more...

 

[Mount Rainier]

We left the seafront and headed into town in search of a cozy restaurant...

And there were many to choose from..

We found a place and had some really good food.

I like the pink one..... :drinks:

Keep Going!

 

[nik.hisham]

Continuation

THE ROAD TO PIACENZA

Morning came and we were about to do 350 kilometers to get to this place

I was thankful to see blue sky when I looked up

We had breakfast in the courtyard

I carried all my stuff in a pair of soft panniers and my DLSR in a tank bag

In the parking lot of the Oasis Hotel, in Nice. Ready to roll! :yahoo:

We weren't on the road for very long when we saw the rain clouds in the distance and realized that the later part of the journey could be wet

This was my SO's first time using this camera and it took her some time to get the hang of it. So there were a few pics of all road or all sky at the start..

Also, we usually opt for a regular map over the GPS. Getting lost is part of the experience. When this happens, the lead rider (Dave) stops to check the map...

And I get a chance to take some shots together with the missus

While Dave is the lead rider, Ian sweeps the back

Sandra and I are usually in the middle

Just a reflection of my wife on camera duty while we ride

After about an hour or so, we made a stop in a little town called Sospel, about 20 km north of Monaco, for a coffee break and to assess our progress.

While the rest ordered coffee, I walked around to get some snaps.

I found this guy lurking by a balcony on one of the buildings

We continued our journey and pass through a few more small towns

It started to rain, but only a very light drizzle. But because we were going into some mountains, we decided it was better to stop and don our wets. Anyway, it was getting colder, as low as 7 celcius (about 45 F) and the wets would keep us warm.

Road was already glistening and slippery. Mountains in the background were what we were going to climb and cross.

Because of rain, we couldn't do anymore photos, but did manage this one as we crossed over into Italy. For the remainder of the trip, we would stop at every border crossing to take photos like this.

more to come...

 

[Tyler]

I dunno, Nik... I think you've got a pot of gold right there... just in different form.

Saw this rainbow as we walked along the seafront

 

[nik.hisham]

I dunno, Nik... I think you've got a pot of gold right there... just in different form.

Saw this rainbow as we walked along the seafront

Yeah, I guess you're right. I met Dave, Sandra, Ian and Chrissie in '09. They came to Malaysia for a 5 day ride. I was not yet a biker at the time. Had never even been on a motorbike for the 38 years (at the time) that I had been alive - well, except once for only a very short, 50 meter ride in 1st gear the entire time.... My nearest experience was a bicycle when I was still in high school. I was seriously into photography though, and offered to document their 5 day tour in photographs. At the end of the ride, Chrissie was the one who suggested I give it a try. After thinking it over for a couple of weeks, and learning to ride off of youtube videos, I went and bought an FJR1300 (yes - my friends thought I'd lost my marbles). I did drop it right there in front of the showroom - but that's a story for another post altogether. Two and a half years later, I've done approx 44,000 miles on my FJR and loved every mile of it.

Had it not been for these guys, all this would have never happened. And had I not had a loving and supportive wife, this would not have been possible either.

Here's a pic of my friends during that first tour that I'd met them.

Btw, that Hayabusa you see Dave stand beside? That's the same bike he let me ride for this tour to Croatia. He bought it in Singapore in '09 and had kept it ever since. And that black van in the back was what I rode in, taking their pictures for 5 days.