Greetings RU-vid and welcome to my channel! I'm Steve and I am an adventure bike rider from the UK. Join me as I point my BMW R1200GSA towards a distant horizon. My aim is to release a new travel video once a week on Thursdays and from time to time I will take a look at bikes or various bits of bike-related gear. Closer to home or further afield, life is an adventure, so hit that subscribe button and let the adventures begin…
Hi Steve having subscribed and given you a thumbs up from the beginning of this series I think it is also time to say thank you for all of your hard work as I am enjoying the journey. I also ride a GS and love it. My wife and I have also been down to the Amalfi coast but sadly for us it was on a coach. However I have ridden down to San Remo & Misano so I do know how erratic drivers can be. I think we also have something in common in that neither of us have money to throw away and do it on a budget. Mc Ds and Haribos have stopped me from starving at times. Looking forward to also viewing your back catalogue as well.
Hi there, thank you so much for subscribing to my channel, I really appreciate the support and I’m so glad you have been enjoying the videos! Also glad to hear you are a fellow GS rider - mine is definitely the best bike I’ve ever owned… perfect for big tours and so comfortable too. I think there would definitely be advantages of doing the Amalfi Coast by coach - you can concentrate on the scenery without fear of riding over the edge of the cliffs! I know exactly what you mean, McDonald’s and the like, not to mention a motorway service station sandwich have saved the day on many occasions for me too… It’s really nice to have received your comment.. thank you so much for watching! 😁
Another great video Steve , Florence looked well worth the effort ,shame about the weather at Como , stay upright and I hope the weather dry's up for you ,take it easy .👍😎
Hi Chris, thank you my friend! I was really impressed with Florence, I’ll definitely be heading back there at some point to explore further. I knew the rain would catch up with me as I headed into the mountains! 😂
Another great vid buddy. I had the opportunity to go to Italy with the wife this week I believe she is moving around. Rome, Naples, Milan and Florence. However I have just been to the picos so opted out. I’ve been to Rome, Milan and Sicily but no where else. Ride safe look forward to the next one 👍🏻👍🏻
Florence looks lovely. I’ve the Nav V and useless for specific places like a campsite. Do you find it easy to book campsites online when abroad or have to phone them?
Florence was truly beautiful… it seems all generations of the Nav are less than perfect… I wonder if they’ve got it right with the latest connected ride…? 99% of the time I book through pitchup.com and if I have no luck with that, I phone and hope whoever answers speaks English!
Another authentic video Steve. Florence is on the list for sure. I see you caught up with rain again too :). I am oof to Germany on Wednesday for a week touring. Heading to Bavaria and back via Mosel and Antwerp. Let’s hope for nice weather. Looking forward to you next episode when we get back to the Scottish 🏴 Highlands. K.
I’ve a had some forced time out because of injury but luckily found your channel. Great series travelling to Africa and back. Looking forward to seeing what your up to next. Cheers Steve.
I gave you the wrong impression Steve - I’m watching the TDF team presentation from my couch( on tv ). Tuscany is not on the agenda this summer. Regards
Hi Steve, that water did look cold. I bet you wished you had more time in Florence. I do love the way your videos come across, professional but at the same time casual. When are we getting the next one. Let's have it.
Hi Brian, yes, the water was far too cold for me! I would have liked to have spent a whole day exploring Florence, I feel I only saw the smallest glimpse of a very magical place. Hoever, it t gives me a good excuse to go back! Next video this coming Thursday at 6pm 🙂
Hi there, glad you are enjoying the videos. I don’t really think about it to be honest. So far it’s not attracted any attention, hopefully it will stay that way!
Thanks for taking us along your travels Steve! Was in Florence in Sep 23 on a rented R1250GS Rallye, gorgeous city. Pointe Vecchio Bridge was a very interesting structure. On getting to the exact location of the campsite, you could find the lat/long on Google maps and mark it on the Nav6.
Hi there! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos! Florence is indeed a very interesting city. I loved it. Sounds like a great bike to have rented (much better than what I got stuck with in Malta earlier this year!). I will try that with coordinates… once I figure out how to do it! Thank you for the tip! 😁
I hate the rain too but as you say, it is what it is. Florence is a beautiful city - watched the Tour de France team presentation from Pizza Michaelanglo this evening and the city was bathed in sunshine. Glad you had a brilliant day.
What a shame it was raining at Lake Como, I will never forget the first time I saw the lake from my motocycle. That's coming up to 55 years ago seems like yesterday.
Hi Alan, I still thought it was totally captivating… The clouds drifting in and hugging the surrounding mountains was very atmospheric. Hopefully I’ll look back on this trip in years to come and remember it all too. 🙂
As beautiful and historic as Florence is , I was impressed by all those bikes just parked up on the street. Why the UK is so bad for bike thieves I don't know. Nice vid Steve.
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I agree… I don’t think I saw a single chain around a bike (other than the one I put on mine) and it is so refreshing to see so many bikes just out there, being used on a daily basis. My kind of place!
Best trick in regards to condensation is to wipe the tent down with a towel and have that dry on the bike as you ride. Works wonders. Doesn’t make it storage dry but it’s very much good enough for a day. Did it in the Baltic states a few weeks ago and when I removed it to ‘properly dry’ after coming home I found it was already sorted.
I love your ethos on travel, my partner and my self are very similar. Spent 3 months travelling from Singapore to the top of Vietnam with no plan what so ever. Easy to become a slave to your own itinerary....Freedom!
Smashing video. There is a lot to learn from the way you travel!! Much appreciated 😊. No bikers in my family. When two sons decided to take their tests I was worried. Then I thought, if you can't beat them, join them. Passed my test at 55. Loving it!!
Wow! Singapore to the top of Vietnam sounds like an amazing adventure…. Yes, I agree, I feel it much better to have only the vaguest of plan and not become to chained to a self-imposed schedule. Whenever I fully plan it always goes wrong anyway! 😂 Thanks for watching! 😁
Thanks Jane, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! How lovely to be able to share the joy of biking with your sons… just brilliant! My eldest now rides, my youngest will at some point and my partner is in the process of getting her license at the moment. 😁
Did this journey in 2000 on 1150gs with paper maps and a mars bar sized gps which I added waypoints by lat and longitude Went up gorge Dade and didn’t have enough time to go back down so went across the top and came out at the top of Gorge todre No roads there just rock strewn passages Got to Todre like ‘Pale Rider’ and fell into the artesian well to cut the dust. Felt bizzare to see all the tourists there. Backside was like a baboon until I put a goat skin on my saddle in Marrakesh which I still use. You brought back so many memories for me because I only had 35mm film so limited pictures Which I still cherish. Time to do it again but I will definitely not stress out that the extra technology brings. Well done
Hi Graham, I really enjoyed reading your story - a true adventure and I can imagine suddenly being surrounded by tourists was very weird indeed… I’ve definitely become too dependent on technology - 25 years ago I was touring all over Europe with nothing but a paper map and scribbled out directions blue-tacked to the inside of the screen on the Roadking I had at the time… Happy days! So glad to hear you are going to venture back to Morocco… brilliant! Safe travels 😁
I loved those road side restaurants when I was there last Steve delicious food in those places even though they are road side places, nice to see the mountains whilst your traveling north 😊
Hi Steve, how can you ride that long, you must be really relaxed on the bike. Don't think I could get off after 10 hours in the saddle. Looking forward to the next one
Hi Brian, I don’t know the secret to managing such long days (on my North African trip there were a couple of 18 hour days!), I think I fidget about quite a bit, stand up a fair amount and stop every couple of hours for 20 mins or so…. See you in the next one! 😁
I think Italy is one of my favourite destinations; such a beautiful country…. I’m afraid I won’t be at the ABR Festival (I’ve yet to go); perhaps next year?! Are you going? If so, have a great time and if you should speak with James from the magazine, say hi for me! 🙂
is there a site you use to find campsites? Ive not done it tbh but when I see empty sites like that I could do it - its part of the plan when I goto Italy but I think that will be in September, btw I left my thermals off and use a rain suit if I'm cold as its easy to take off in a rest stop later on - I'm too old to care if I look like Michelin man to others lol
and is that a Michelin map or just an OS one? Ive been told that Michelin maps have scenic roads marked on them with I think a yellow highlighted line so Im getting one to cover Italy as the sat nav can pick some pretty awful roads if you dont know where you're going...
I usually use pitchup.com when looking for a campsite as it’s easy to navigate their site and it’s in English so I’m not struggling with whatever language/country I’m in. Sometimes it’s just a random Google search… That’s a good tip re waterproofs etc., I’m also of an age now where I don’t care what I look like (hence the old Harley rubber romper suit) 🙂
Thanks Mike, I’m so glad you enjoyed the video! Being on the bike really is my happy place, I’m lucky that the aches and pains don’t set in until the very end of the day… 🙂
You covered a lot of ground in the ride to Lake Trasimino Steve - a wonderful part of Italy. If you had more time you would have enjoyed Cortona and Arezzo on your way to Florence or wherever. That part of Tuscany is beautiful and ideal fora relaxing break - great weather, wonderful scenery and amazing food at reasonable prices. Looking forward to your next episode. Thanks for excellent entertainment.
Hi Brian, it really is a beautiful part of the world. All those places sound amazing and I would love to get myself back there for a more thorough explore at some point! 🙂
Hi Norrie, I tried to give a pretty balanced representation of the day’s riding - the bulk of it was motorways to get myself up towards Florence in the time I had. Noted, all the same… thanks for watching 🙂
What is your secret for a comfy long ride, Steve? How long and often do you stop. Great biking weather on the return so far by the looks. Another excellent video!
Hi Ken, I don’t know the secret really… I find this bike the most comfortable I have owned (along with a Harley Davidson RoadKing I once had), and I don’t find it too fatiguing. As the day progresses I shift around a lot on the seat, stand up from time to time and rest for a good 20 minutes or so every couple of hours… Glad you enjoyed the video!
Always check the nav for map updates before trips! My body absolutely aches after a few hours on the bike. 500 - 600 miles to me is wild. Campsite is huge!
Lake Trasimeno has been home to my family since the 17th century. The road round the lake is beautiful and crosses into Tuscany for a while. I haven't been for years but I might just have to visit again. Thanks for your content, ride safe.
Thank you Brett! Without taking a look at the reading, I think it’s about 44000 miles now. When I got it almost two years ago, it had 16000 on the clock… 🙂
You're staying 6 miles from our Italian house .. just over the hill in Lisciano Niccone our friend's daughter had a pre wedding do in the pizza restaurant you just had dinner in !!
Hi Andrew, it’s a small world! I really, really liked the area and that meal was heavenly after a long day in the saddle. Incredibly friendly staff too! 😁
Hi Terry, with me it’s probably a case of no sense, no feeling! 😂 I guess I just love being on the bike! Liking the sound of your KLR (lots of fun) and your new NC750x will munch those miles for you. 🙂
Amazing experience- smoke rings and being gently showered by a volcano is special . Italy has been kind to you so far 😊. Nice to see such super biker camaraderie. Also reassuring to get the same accommodation too. The bike seems to be performing perfectly too. Looking forward to next Thursday 👍
