Motorcycle Misadventures

Greek villages on a Dalmatian island that moved to the Italian Adriatic Coast

The Promontorio del Garganano doesn’t seem to belong to Italy at all. It is a geographic anomaly, a hunk of earth that lunges out into the sea. Millions and millions of years ago it started moving here from Dalmatia to settle uncomfortably, and now it seems to reach southeast toward Greece. Perhaps in another few million years it will have crossed the Adriatic and Ionian seas to reach its destination. Or maybe the fault will move it back on home to Croatia. It's a wonderful road trip, by car or motorcycle or even bicycle, with lots of camping and hotels in the villages, swimming, hiking, and small town charm. Read the article.

Today at 12:30 Pacific Time: Listen to Motorcycling Morocco

Today I'll talk with Ann Lombardi on The Trip Chicks program about my motorcycle trip in Morocco. Listen in at 12:30 pacific time, or listen to the archives. Click here to listen.

The Alps to Atlas journey through Europe and Africa is over

I'm home in the San Francisco after my Alps to Atlas journey on a Ural sidecar motorcycle. You can read my dispatches and take a look at my twitter page for reports on this 2009 journey from Linz, Austria to the Sahara desert and back. The trip took me through a range of environments from cold, high mountains to hot, flat deserts in Europe and Morocco. I'm updating the stories and photos as I can and will let you know when new material is available. Thanks for following the adventure!

Last day in the Alps - The Dolomites - before returning the Ural and flying home to San Francisco.

Catch me on Side Stand Up... now!

Just a last minute notice to tune into the Side Stand Up podcast now, I'll be on talking about my upcoming motorcycle trip to Morocco on a Ural Geaup from 6pm to 6:30pm Pacific Time (9pm Eastern).

Part 2 of Motorcycle Travel Talk with The Motoworld's Paul Nielsen

It just came to my attention via some twitter conversations that Part 2 of my talk with Paul Nielson of The Motoworld podcast is posted. We had a great time in our conversation wandering around the world, talking about the fabulous campgrounds in France, the undiscovered travel treasure trove of Albania, spirituality and navigation in India, frustrations in China, to mention just a few highlights. We also bashed the myth that you need a big expensive touring bike to go traveling, and explored the fear barrier around language and the possibility of breakdowns, not to mention discussing some motorcycle travel writing tips. I hope you enjoy them.

Find part 1 and part 2 of the podcast on The Motoworld or go direct to the audio:

• Part 1: Let's Go Miss Adventuring

• Part 2: A travelin' kind of gal

Technorati Tags: motorcycle travel adventure women books camping

Hong Kong to the UK via Russia on an Enfield

Here's an interesting travelogue on one mans adventure from Hong Kong to the UK via Russia on an Enfield.

As a kid I grew up in India and left at age 15 when my parents moved back to UK for good. There was some talk about going back the overland way but unfortunately at the time the Soviet Union still existed and were in Afghanistan. Iran had just had the American hostage crisis and was also involved militarily with Saddam in Iraq. That meant the way wasn't clear. I have done a bit of sailing and always liked the idea of going to UK from my home here in Hong Kong on some mode of transport that wasn't air. So sailing could've been the way but is too expensive and far more time consuming and I would argue more dangerous (solo) than what I intend to do on the Enfield. Read it here.

Build your own motorcycle trailer

Got more time than money? Who needs those silly panniers, anyway? Here's a nice post on Adventure Rider on how to build a trailer for your bike. Towing anyone?

Etiquette 101: What the World Thinks About Us

They love our movies. They hate our politicians (well, most of them). But what about our manners? We found out what everyone thinks of our behavior—be it good, bad, or just plain perplexing . . . read Etiquette 101: What the World Thinks About Us  -- especially if you're planning a trip.

There are tips for a lot of different countries and a tipping guide, too. Now roll up on a motorcycle, and see how that complicates things!

Cruz'N List of Motorcycle Museums

Now here's a great resource: a Motorcycle Museum List by Cruz'N. All kinds of other photo galleries on motorcycle travel in Arkansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma, too.

Long Dual-Sport Ride: What I packed; what worked; what didn't...

 I love reading other bikers' packing lists. Here's on for a long dual-sport ride in Mexico, posted on the Adventure Rider site: Long D/S Ride: What I took, What worked, What didn't.

And here's a DVD on dual-sport riding techniques, posted, perhaps developed by the same author?

Here's my list of personal items and gear for a sport touring ride around the Adriatic Sea, some of it camping.

Here's the poster's loaded bike: (Oh, don't forget to get loaded properly! Here's how.)