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#15 Reply
Posted by
Menno
on 30 Apr, 2016 23:15
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No need to connect, if you have a Facebook account the posts can be read.
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Written Sunday 08/05/2016
First of all I would like to thank my friends from VCIM 18 that without their help, this day I would have been confy at my house in my warm bed.
I am writing at "Druss" ferry port, (finally learned the name) at Albania waiting for a ferry.
First of all I want to start with the subject of "Evil eye" or when things does not go as planned or the opposite of what is planned.
First badluck: Two weeks before the trip, Saturday morning, I volunteered as a medic for the Honda company motorcycle trip to the south of Israel. After all preparations mounted on the bike I rode the bike, but it refuses to start.
On closer inspection I found that all the cables including the Hydraulic clutch pipe are cut at the right side of the handlebar.
When the picture was cleared it seems that thieves stole a car from our apartments underground garage and just for fun cut the wires on my bike and a neighbors bike.
I tried to connect things together by myself, Without success. I invited a special tow that can pass thru our underground parking and took the bike to Honda's garage.
There I was told that they do not have spares for my bike and have to order from the company abroad.
After my explaining that I have to attend VCIM18 and thanks to Tal the garage manager and as a senior client it was decided to cannibalize from a new bike and put it on my bike.
The bike was at Honda's garage for a week, and the bill was 3,500 ILS (some thing like 700 euro. I was told if it was somebody else the bill would have been twice the amount. I have a comprehensive insurance, when I called them, they informed me do not disturb us is the claim is less than 8.000 ILS.
Second bad luck: My camera broke, I use the camera also for work, so I had to hurry and buy a new one for about 2,000 ILS.
Third bad luck When I received the bike from repair at Honda's garage, Tal the manager informed me that as a gift, I can check the bike before the journey for free. The day before putting the bike on the ferry I took the bike to Honda's garage for checkup, there I was informed that the front tyre and brake pads need a change. I only did 16,000 kms on my bike and usually change tires at 24,000 checkup, I do not play games with safety matters and the bill was 1,500 ILS.
During the Passover feast we were informed that a very very close relative has passed away.
Fifth bad luck: My reading glasses finished their life, I could not make the trip without them, The cost 2,000 ILS only after I promised the owner of the shop that I would do him a free building inspection for his new shop other wise the bill woul have been 3,000 ILS.
Sixth bad luck: My hearing aid finished their life, at the cost 2,000 ILS this price is because I am insured at health insurance Maccabi otherwise Has to pay 12,000 ILD.
Seven bad luck: At the ferries company I was told that the ferry is going to be late for one day, this I told at the previous diary. The price for a new flight 500 ILS in addition to what I paid for the old ticket that can not be reimbursed.
Eight bad luck: Before a bike trip abroad I do a comprehensive insurance at a Dutch company called Elissya, I contacted them and was told that the insurance company changed the terms, they shall contact me when the got the new terms but not heard from them again even after many emails. After a thorough search I found that the American company Motorcycles Express do the insurance with a 50% extra pay, I had no alternative but to pay the extra 500 ILS.
Nine bad luck: a day before my flight, my mobile phone stopped working, in my mobile is a GPS that does not need WIFI, all the trip road, all camping coordinates that I am supposed to sleep in.
I am flying on Friday, the 06/05/2016 at the phone company I was told that they had to send the phone the central lab and would be ready only on the 09/05/2016. I went to several telephone repair labs but they refused to open the phone and loose the manufacturer insurance.
I can not travel without my mobile, I took my wife's phone, installed in it what was possible and my wife got a phone volunteered by a friend. Whatever complain to my wife I get the answer it is because of the phone.
Tenth bad luck: Out of desperation and in order to stop all "the evil eye syndrome" I decided to perform the Iraqi treatment (I was born in Baghdad Iraq and left Iraq at the age of 26) that proved itself for hundreds of years for keeping away the evil eye of casting a Lead round bullet into water and to step over the eye that results in the water.
The day before my trip I travelled by my wives car which is a nightmare for me specially finding a parking place (all my travels every day are with my trusty bike which at the time was waiting for me at Greece).
I traveled to the Tikva Market, it is a flee market that is good to find everything in it. I went to all "evil eye shops", they understood what I was talking about but did not have the lead round bullet. I went to several building material shops for lead with no success.
My flight is due on Friday 06/05/2016 7:00 in the morning, have to be at the airport three hours before, I set the alarm clock for 3:00 in the morning but it was not necessary because from excitement I could not sleep anyway. My main concern that the shipping company's office would be close on Friday at the port and could not free the motorcycle.
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#17 Reply
Posted by
JosepM
on 09 May, 2016 18:29
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Wow!
As we say here, did you stepp on sh*t?
And you haven't said anything about Greek ferries yet...
I'll be twice as happy to see you in Winterberg! (here I am assuming that
I won't have any problem
)
Regards
Josep
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#18 Reply
Posted by
Ursula
on 09 May, 2016 19:25
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Huh... Jack, I think it's enough of bad luck and that "evil eye"... I'm waiting that your story will develop with wonderful sequels and that will have happy ending.
Now it's time that you enjoy the trip, ride your bike and count that God's eye takes care of you!
I'm waiting to see your happy face in Winterberg!
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#19 Reply
Posted by
zebulon
on 12 May, 2016 09:32
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We are now waiting, your real travel diaries , Jack
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Just to inform my friends, diary's are posted at my FaceBook site (JACK SAWDAYEE)
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#21 Reply
Posted by
zebulon
on 19 May, 2016 14:37
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Just have to copy/paste here now Jack
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wee have not Facebook jack
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Saturday 14/05/2016
Breakfast at the hotel. We participants of VCIM18 were allocated a special separated hall for eating. I choose one egg sunny side up, omelet with ham, and what I used to eat as a young boy, half boiled egg that turned to be full boiled egg, butter and honey. Sitting with old friends, I mostly sit with guys from England, a friend from Germany "Rennier" a German army guy.
After breakfast, we decided, me Steve and His wife Diana (that looks like and remind me of an old she friend) and Keith to Visit the dam on the lake "Mohnesee" distance of about 70 kms from our hotel .
At worl war II this strategic dam was protected with nets so that no torpedo from planes could damage the dam. The English invented a bouncing bomb and did damage the dam and flooded the area behind.
A cold day (all days are cold here if snow is not falling) we started with temperature of 6 degrees. I lead the way with the help of two GPS. Scenic road, passing villages with houses as in a card, we also drove thru highways, we arrived to a bridge on the lake that according to my GPS's is a two lane road, but the Germans decided without the knowledge of the GPS to make it one lane, opposite to our direction.
Stood there, I drank coffee and a delicious cake, we asked the shop owner how to reach the dam. We got a long lecture in german, and the sole thing we understood from the lecture is that we have to go around the lake.
After a rest and toilets, we started going around the lake, a beautiful lake with small boats and used for water sports. We got to the dam. Very impressive, now you really get the picture of what happened, look at the pictures. There were a lot of visitors, local and tourists. Every one that notices the number plates on my bike asks me where am I from. I do not hide my identity and says from Israel, they get quite an impression and starts asking how I got up to here on a bike.
After about half an hour at the site, The stomachs wants its due, On the main road a group of bikers waving at us, we approached and guys from our meeting has the same idea of a trip as ours.
Beside was a kiosk and with a big sign we serve only bikers. Coffee and schnitzel. Filling with gaz on the way.
In this meeting contrary to previous meetings no organized trips, you have to have your own initiative and not in an organized group.
We returned to the hotel happy but hungry.
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This diary I am writing Friday and Saturday 13-14/05/2016 at the meeting place in Winterburg in Germany, after reaching it safely thank God yesterday evening.
Monday 09/05/2016
The ferry docked in Ancona in Italy, in the port there is access to internet, and I sent the previous diary, for some reason no access to facebook, that's why I sent the diary to the site of the Israely motorcycle club.
Most of the trucks left the ferry in Ancona, what is left 8 passengers, 5 lorry drivers and 3 bicycle travelers, the bicycle travelers have all the gear of camping on their bicycle.
One of the bicycle riders a young guy with the name of David explained to me that all the problems of Italy is because of the Vatican, The Vatican limits the life of the Italians and denies them many of the freedom found in other country's. We discussed for an hour solving world's problems.
Next morning the ferry docked in Trieste, north of Italy, because of the fact that the ferry came from Albania, a country not in the EU, we had to pass police and customs Italian security. I organized the bike for the trip as possible and started the trip to Bolzano an Italian town near the borders with Austria.
This is the fourth time I am in this camping in Bolzano, every time I am in this camping I admire the tidiness, and cleanness of this place, they call themselves the learning camping, at the toilets, showers, laundry they have signs with writing's from famous fables, and classical books, even recipe for cooking.
I bought eggs, and cooking material, and a special strudel apple cake that every time I am here I buy it.
Self cooking, clothes washing, when I washed the diches I notice that my neighbor at the washing sink took a rag and long time cleaning the sink after finishing washing the diches. Special people are here in cleanness and order.
Thursday 10/09/2016
Morning, dismantling and loading the tent and camping gear drill.
A trip thru the Italian and Austrian Alps. This time I bought a helmet camera that attached to the handlebars of the bike.
When starting the camera it works for a few minutes and stop, I thought to myself this is how it works, and every time I see an interesting scenery I start the camera.
It seems that I did not install the camera well, because of the wind the camera changes direction skywise and pictures sky only. Return it back by hand, and so on and so forth, I did not enjoy the Alps because of that poor camera.
I thought to myself that if I fix the camera on the nuts of the mirror it would be more stable, I stopped at a parking in the road.
For that I needed an item that was in one of the original bike's bags, in order to unlock this bag I had to insert the key but on it was the big bag. On lifting the big bag, the bike fell on the side, lucky for me there was a concrete wall and the bike stopped from completely falling by leaning on the wall.
I tried to bring back the bike standing, unable, Tried with one of my legs against the wall and pulling the bike strait, no luck, tried to stop cars for help, nobody stopped. With all the educational films I saw on how to lift a fallen bike I thought to myself if I unload all the luggage I would be able to upright the bike using one of the methods learned in films.
I started unloading the bags, and then noticed 5 guys in reflective suits. Road maintenance guys, they noticed my distress and stopped to help. With all this crowd no problem to upright the bike.
Suddenly a police car stopped behind, with two young Italian policemen. They asked for driving license, and bike license. I gave them the International driving license, my luck it seems that the policemen were thorough and they said that with the international driving license I have to provide also the local driving license. I gave them the Israeli's license.
One problem solve, also gave the bike's license translation. The policeman opened a 15 cm thick book and started searching the source of my unfamiliar looking license plates. As you know I do not put the original Israeli plate from fear of being recognized that I am from Israel, and good people would the bike or myself. The policeman asked from what country is the license plate. They hardly spoke English and me zero in Italian it was very hard understanding each other. I took from one of the bags the original Israeli plate, and explained as much as possible that for our security we hide our Israeli origin.
The policeman told me that this is Italy and we the policemen are responsible for the security of all people including tourists.
I could not think of any intelligent answer to his remark without offending him. He showed me in his 15 cm thick book that the fine for hiding the plate number is 85 euro. I answered that I would pay 85 euros than the alternative of having my bike or myself injured or burned. He suggested that I add IL to the number side. Finally he told me that he is going to do nothing about the matter but at the other side of the border in Austria the policemen would not be as merciful as him if I ran into control there.
They waited for me to drive and they drove on.
After all the trouble the helmet camera gave me the results were not satisfying I do not see any sence of publishing them, you see rode markings moving rapidly, and the icy mountains look like an undistinguishable bulk. I shall pass again on the films and find out if there is something to publish.
In Austria the GPS takes me to passes on the mountains, a pass by the name of Firnpass hair pin rounds, I felt I could take it no more, I stopped in a parking, I cooked coffee smoked a pipe, Energy drink and kept going.
I entered the autoban in Germany, at some parts there is no speed limit, But at most of the places there is a traffic jam or repairing the road.
When I noticed that I have about 300 km to reach the meeting place, I looked for the nearest camping ground. Entered the place, asked for a place near the toilets so that not to walk far in the night, I fixed the tent, cooked what I found in the food box, and fell asleep.
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Monday, 05/16/2016
I decided to share with you a fresh adventure of yesterday before the rest of the logs.
Meeting finished, returning home, I woke up at 5:00 in a cold tent. I turned the heat. Within a minute a pleasant situation. I slept at night with light thermal suit, also preferred to put a self-inflating mattress under my sleeping bag, instead of the folding bed I brought with me.
The folded bed I brought with me occupies a lot of space in the tent and not so comfortable, tonight I preferred self inflatting mattress. I concluded for future travel it is better than bringing a bed. The bed occupies more than half the tent, not comfortable and descend from bed you are on top of the equipment around.
Tent community only two left, in order to have toilet and shower the hotel management gave us a room for our use near the tents.
Morning I opened the tent, there is snow around the tent, not much. Rain. I ran to the bathroom, shower shave drill.
Early for breakfast, I started collecting things inside the tent and putting them bags in preparation for putting on the bike. Only electronics, charging things, and lighting takes a hall side bag.
Motorcycles are in a hall in the vicinity of the tent, but the room is locked.
I put all my luggage on the steps outside the hall with a roof in order not to get wet.
It's raining. I wore two thermal suits and the riding suit, with all the three linings of the suit. I started dismantling the tent in the rain. Wet tent and had to put it in its bag with water.
Breakfast at the hotel, Morning I prefer to sunny side up egg, omelette with ham and hard-boiled egg, butter, honey and bread with coffee.
Good buy from friends, with wishes of meeting next meeting in Sweden.
I load and tie the bags on the bike, a job that takes a lot of time.
I went out into the street, it began to snow, I was covered in snow, luckily did not last long.
70 km of road in between small towns and beautiful green fields, weather improved, a relaxed driving.
I got to the highway. Here I start searching for a gas station after gas gauge shows me 70 km of distance left.
I passed a gas station where written next station is 20km.
I told myself I will wait for the next station I still have 50 km reserve.
Suddenly, the GPS takes me to another highway. I passed the 50km no station. Reached 30 kilometers of fuel left.
I panicked I thought that at 25 I stop and start via GPS to locate a gas station in the towns around the main road.
Rescue a sign that a gas station the next 5 km. I reached a decision, even that I am travelling in a modern country I shall start looking for a gas station when two lines are indicated in the fuel meter that is a distance of 140 kilometers of fuel is left then I start looking for a gas station.
I'm on the highway trying to find my way, begins to small drops of rain. I have a storm suit in one of mymotorcycle bags.
I did not want in addition to everything I'm wearing add a storm suit.
My riding suit includes waterproof layer.
Continues to drip. Now it is late for the storm suit because what it does now is to keep the water inside.
The rain becomes a deluge. I was wet, water-filled the gloves.
I wore the storm suit in the morning I wore a thermal coat that I added electric heat elements on it and I turned the heat to no avail.
The distance to the port of Venice in Italy is about 1,100 km. From there I should take a ferry to Greece on Wednesday that sails at 12:00.
At first I planned to divide in half for everyday. That is today 550 km and Tuesday 550 km.
I'm tired of mantling and dismantling the tent everyday so I thought I'll work hard to do 1,100 kms in one day and it will save me the dismantling and assembly of the tent.
Target Venice, and that gives we one day to walk around Venice.
I got off at a gas station to refuel, so wet, water dripping from all over me. I put the gloves on the exhaust tailpipe but the exhaust was cold in this weather.
In the station, there were several German bikers on their way to Italy, one of them told me that in 50 km rain would stop wishful thinking.
Continue travelling, rain does not stop. Filled with water, cold, teeth are shaking, uncontrollably clacking top on bottom.
I changed the Venice program and reduced the distance to the camping on border Italy with Austria that I stayed on my way to the meeting.
Going through the Austrian Alps, mountains with snow, spectacular scenery, and I feel top of misery. Drenched in Cold water for the last 500 kms.
The rain has stopped but it did not help my misory, darkness, 60 km to destination. 20 km to destination. Mobile GPS stopped working. The second Girman GPS does really works. Can not find the campsite.
Almost with no gas. I found a gas station. Here in Europe you fuel and go into the store for payment. Ten o'clock at night they decided to close the station.
They told me that you can get fuel by putting cash into the fuel pump.
I had a 50 euros note, I was told that the pump only receives exact money.
The owner exchanged the 50 euro note for smaller bills. I put 20 Euros and finally solved the fuel problem.
I found the campsite. Packed full of free space. The offi1ce is closed. Lady in charge told me no room, full go find another arrangement.
Wet, dead tired, I told her that I was a repeat customer, I've been here five times, you can not leave me this way at this time. Please find me a place.
She found me a spot but on the term that the bike stays far away so that not to disturb the sleeping people.
I dragged the tent from the bike. Built it without anchoring, put the sleeping bag and fell immediately asleep.
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Tuesday, 17/05/2016
I woke up in the tent, the hour 6:00, the usual shower and shave, I have to say what a good camping this is, in Bolzano, Italy near the Austrian border. Order and cleanness, that I did not find in another camping.
Tied all things on the motorcycle, waiting for the opening of the camping office, did not have the power to cook breakfast, I thought to eat something on the way,
Payed at the office something like 20 Euro for the night, And to the road, first gas station, stopped coffee and sandwich. Beautiful road, so I decided to attach the acquired helmet camera (action camera). Got good results, I shall try to post.
I came to a plain land, a boring road, starting to fall asleep, there are packings on the road, a kind of road side widening, Because of all the luggage on my bike, I need a special slope to one side in order to lower the side jack, other wise the bike would tilt so much that it falls when I try to get off the bike. First parking not suitable, second not suitable, third I managed to stop the bike. The third I succeeded in stopping the bike. Smoking a pipe, cooking coffee did the job, Continued to rede awake.
I arrived to the camping near Venice (Fuzina Camping), I registered, a young Italian girl at the registration (not sympathetic) insisted that I leave my passport with her, I tried to explain to her that for security reasons, we Israeli's do not separate from our passport. She said driving liscence, I told her that I need do drive with my bike how can I do it without a driving license, She said then go find other arrangement in another place. I was reminded of my international driving license of which solved the problem.
I returned to the road in order to buy a ticket for the ferry tomorrow, also to be sure that there is going to be a ferry tomorrow after my experience with the Greek ferries. I was sure that the port was just behind the camping but I had to drive till the town, somehow I missed the entrance to the port.
The guy at the shipping company assured me that there is going to be a ferry for tomorrow but the ticket can only be bought tomorrow.
At the camping I established myself near an electricity outlet and there built my tent.
Relaxing on my chair after hard work building the tent. The neighbor approached me and invited me for a coffee at his place, he is with a BMuu from WWII with a side carriage, on it he carries his wife and all the camping gear. We discussed biking.
The shop at the camping opened, I bought a packet of 6 eggs, you can not have less, sausage and banana, the restaurant was also open, I ordered a salad, (can not at the moment remember the name) with beer, it was good at a price of 15 euro including the tip.
Wednesday 18/05/2016
Awakened at 6:00, not easy to rise, I put on the heating, the toilet and the shower were adequate but not with the cleanness and sophisticated equipment of the Bolzano camping.
Dismantled and packed the tent on the bike, I arranged two bags for the ferry, one with computer and electronics The other shaving and showering equipment.
I cooked 3 eggs, 2 sausages, tea with milk, toast. A sophisticated breakfast. Started trip to the direction of the port. The ticket cost 132 euro. Boarding, there were several motorcycles with immediately the bike solidarity, we started sailing, ate pasta at the restaurant, with no meat I has bad experience with the meat of the pasta with Greek ferries
Now just enjoying the sail and writing, hopefully finishing the missing parts of the diary.
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Thursday, Friday 19-20 / 05/2016
Two things bothered me on the ferry, going down with the bike on the inclination from the deck of the ferry to the harbor floor.
It is a short ramp with a very sharp slope, angle very close to 45 degrees of sliding metal.
The second thing nighttime driving from 21:00 at night until the morning,
The trip begins after anchoring the ferry at the port of Patras in Greece at the West Side to the East side of Greece at the port of Lavrio close to Athens about 300 km.
This trip no shower at the ferry, 4 days without changing clothes, no shower, no shaving.
Two eggs for breakfast sunny side up, butter and honey, I ordered coffee though not tolerated. I said several times in Greece they still do not know what good coffee or coffee for that matter is.
Lunch is always pasta with tomato sauce, the only thing I can eat on the ferry.
Noon, ferry docks Igonomista, northern Greece port. Several bikers from Germany that I befriended went there.
What is interesting is that a black Mercedes car was blocking the rest of the cars and could not get off.
Loudspeaker announcements for the owner of the car to come and move without result/
Even the chubby Greek ferry captain with his assistant came. At the end after a delay of half an hour for the ferry voyage, a sailors brought a key and start the car and solved the problem.
At Patras port of destination we anchored in the evening.
I waited until there was no vehicle on the ramp, a small payer of "Shema Israel" (Hear O Israel), going down went in peace.
The second test is to drive the other side of Greece all night.
I wore Hermonit (an Israeli army extreme cold over all suit), I set the GPS, and started driving.
The road is being repaired, there is little flags in both sides of the narrow track. It is very difficult at night in the darkness to distinguish if the distance in between the flags is for driving or just the distance between flags.
I came to the conclusion that the best method is to follow a truck or a car, leave a safety distance if the vehicle stops suddenly or gets complicated.
No way can I remember the word cappuccino.
In deep concentration after an hour finally came the name " cappuccino " to remember I said to myself remeber, cap, and China.
First stop to refuel at a gas station where I ordered a cappuccino and a toast, many stops for paying the highway fee, but where is the highway that we should pay for, the Greek logic.
The trip went faster than planned, on previous occasions I would see the sunrise while driving. This time I got to the port of Laverio where I have to leave the bike at 2:00 on the morning.
Sitting on a bench in the port, head covered by the Hermonit over all suit
Trying to sleep.
At 6:00 I went to the post of the guard at the port. After the explanation that I have to leave the bike a nice policewoman told me you go drink coffee until 8:00 when the person in charge shows.
Cooking Coffe. Sitting on the bench until 8:00.
Finally the port receives the motorcycle. Dead for sleep, waiting half an hour standing with a suitcase on my back for the bus replacemnt.
Getting to the airport at 10:00 am the plane is supposed to leave at midnight.
I have 14 hours I can sleep in a chair.
I preferred to sign up, go through the security checks, and access to the "duty free" where to sleep.
I'm trying to get a boarding card from a machine. The device refuses to oblige.
Another machine also refuses. Went to the office, where examining the papers said that my flight was intended for 20 September 2016 four months from now.
I look at the paper actually written on September 20. Eyes closed, dead tired, a nightmare. I turned on the laptop, actually written in the computer correspondence with the flight company September 20 and I did not notice that.
When bying over the Internet you must examine every word with ten eyes and then check again.
Probably while registering the months moved without my noticing.
I told the clerk what to do, not way I shall stay in Greece until September 20.
He said there is a flight to Tel Aviv at 16:00 and another midnight flight.
Extra price 220 euros. Without a choice, I bought the ticket. This time I instrument issued boarding pass.
Sleeping in a chair waiting. boarding. 18:00, landing at Ben Gurion Airport. No trains at Saturday.
I went to taxis ques some people stood behind me. .
I shouted any body interested in sharing to Ramat Aviv. A man said yes.
Traveling with a partner, I paid 100 ILS (20 euro). Thank God I'm home.
Preliminary Lessons on the wild ride:
You she should leave time for rest and to plan so crowded a schedule.
Dismantling and assembling a tent and binding on the bike, takes a lot of energy and it must not be planed on a daily basis.
The tent must be in one location for at least two days so that there will be time for laundry, writing diary, relaxation and just simple pleasure.
I should search for an easier way to tie all the bags on the bike. My fingers are aching with pain form pulling and inserting the straps.
I shall not take for the next time a folded bed. A self inflatable mattress would better do the job.
Buy foldabel chairs that turns to a stick when folded, much easier to carry.
If possible take less gear, the heating fan was life saving in the extreme cold of Germany.
Going places of extreme cold and rain, take appropriate clothing and wear at the first sign of cold or rain and not wait in the hpoe it would go away.
I must commend the motorcycle for reliable, dedicated, and without any complain performance.
The tent that justified the high price.
Finally you have to be in control of the situation, if possible do not panic, thinking calm and try to do everything possible to save the situation.
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#28 Reply
Posted by
zebulon
on 21 May, 2016 13:57
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Thank you Jack for the share; every time a great adventure, we have pleasure to hear and read
