What would Steve do
Discussion
Guys
As a young adolescent, many, many years ago, I once went to the south of France with my folks and met an american airman on the beach who had ridden to the south of france on a speed twin, in the clothes he stood up in and with bathers - sleeping rough, and carrying nothing more than an enamel mug and his fighting irons to eat, and of course his wedge. Sleeping rough cos it was warm and washing his clothes in the sea.
I thought .........one day.
Life moves on - my lady died 16 months ago after 37 years of sweetness, - riding for 5 yearsleaving me with no ties, I have a Honda CBBF 500 in the garage and I have my full bike licence for just over 3 years. I am 62 yrs young but believe Steve McQueen would do it now if he was still around.
What would you do ?
I'll expand the thread...
I don't want to kit up with bike stuff including Givi box, tent etc. nor will I ride like a loon. I can speak reasonable frog, I am 62 years old but think like a young un. If I meet a babe on route it will be for a one night enjoying company over a glass and a good meal but moving on. Perhaps I should write a book on my experiences cos this is a one off opportunity.
What does the Pistonheads team think ( and no daft ideas from Chilli - me old mucka eh ).
As the thread says - what would Stevie do ?
As a young adolescent, many, many years ago, I once went to the south of France with my folks and met an american airman on the beach who had ridden to the south of france on a speed twin, in the clothes he stood up in and with bathers - sleeping rough, and carrying nothing more than an enamel mug and his fighting irons to eat, and of course his wedge. Sleeping rough cos it was warm and washing his clothes in the sea.
I thought .........one day.
Life moves on - my lady died 16 months ago after 37 years of sweetness, - riding for 5 yearsleaving me with no ties, I have a Honda CBBF 500 in the garage and I have my full bike licence for just over 3 years. I am 62 yrs young but believe Steve McQueen would do it now if he was still around.
What would you do ?
I'll expand the thread...
I don't want to kit up with bike stuff including Givi box, tent etc. nor will I ride like a loon. I can speak reasonable frog, I am 62 years old but think like a young un. If I meet a babe on route it will be for a one night enjoying company over a glass and a good meal but moving on. Perhaps I should write a book on my experiences cos this is a one off opportunity.
What does the Pistonheads team think ( and no daft ideas from Chilli - me old mucka eh ).
As the thread says - what would Stevie do ?
Guys - you are an inspiration and thanks. Will start planning straight away.
Jump the fence.......
Like this you mean ?
http://movieclips.com/watch/the-great-escape-1963/...
Off to Uttoxeter Classic show in a bit.
B.
Jump the fence.......
Like this you mean ?
http://movieclips.com/watch/the-great-escape-1963/...
Off to Uttoxeter Classic show in a bit.
B.
Definatly go for it, if you want to go for the sleep rough idea I'd reccomend taking a bivvy bag though.
While you're thinking about where to go have a read of Chris Scotts "Motorcycle Adventure Handbook" or Horizons Unlimited and you'll soon be wanting to go a bit further afield.
While you're thinking about where to go have a read of Chris Scotts "Motorcycle Adventure Handbook" or Horizons Unlimited and you'll soon be wanting to go a bit further afield.
Without wishing to spoil the dream, I would definitely recommend at least 3 t-shirts, pairs of pants, and socks. They WILL get sweaty and very very smelly. Trust me on this! 
A small tank bag should cover it. Handy to keep a map in too so you know where you're going. Good luck and god speed!
A small tank bag should cover it. Handy to keep a map in too so you know where you're going. Good luck and god speed!
Hell yes fella..
Mind you ( not wishing to dampen enthusiasm) the world is a different place now to some 40/50 yrs ago so take a bit of care & I would suggest a few more clothes -in case you get lucky
p.s. REALLY glad you posted. That now makes me only the SECOND oldest on here.
Wooot wooot
& double
(I'm now like a dog with 2 tails, 2 dicks & a kennel full of b
hes--thanks- have fun 
)
Mind you ( not wishing to dampen enthusiasm) the world is a different place now to some 40/50 yrs ago so take a bit of care & I would suggest a few more clothes -in case you get lucky
p.s. REALLY glad you posted. That now makes me only the SECOND oldest on here.
Wooot wooot
& double (I'm now like a dog with 2 tails, 2 dicks & a kennel full of b
hes--thanks- have fun )
Momentofmadness said:
Go for it! And remember you're only as old as the girl you feel!
Seriously, you've earned the right to some comfort, so look after yourself and take a credit card...
All the best fella, sorry for your loss but you're wife will looking down and smiling on you I'm sure
Absolutely this!Seriously, you've earned the right to some comfort, so look after yourself and take a credit card...
All the best fella, sorry for your loss but you're wife will looking down and smiling on you I'm sure
My friend, I'm sorry to hear of your loss, and guarantee the Mrs is looking down telling you to go for it. As said above, you've eanred the right!
Take a credit card, a wad of cash and tank bag full of undercrackers and go for it...see where you end up! What a fantastic experience. All the people I've ever spoken to about travelling with no particular agenda have said it was the experience of a lifetime, and made many lifelong friends out it.
Keep us updated of your plans...It would be great to follow!
Good luck sir.
Hooli said:
Do it, just heading off with your passport, your bike, money/credit card & no plans is freedom!
Listen to the Hooli. He speaks wisely. (I now hear many on BB guffawing )Very sorry to hear about your missus, that is unbelievably sucky.
If I were in your place I would just head off to the horizon and see where it took me.Although I would suggest that if you did do it, if you could manage to take some kind of internet connecting doofus so you can tell us about your travels I think I would not be the only one who would be interested in reading your blog?
Good luck.
Trace
Do It!
I remember a cartoon in a bike mag once where a guy is walking towards his bike with a toothbrush in hand, second chap asks where he is going. He replies "What does it look like? Holiday of course!"
A friend of my dads used to do something similar many years ago in the eastern Med, Greece etc. When he was running out of money he would sell a pint of blood to a hospital!
I remember a cartoon in a bike mag once where a guy is walking towards his bike with a toothbrush in hand, second chap asks where he is going. He replies "What does it look like? Holiday of course!"
A friend of my dads used to do something similar many years ago in the eastern Med, Greece etc. When he was running out of money he would sell a pint of blood to a hospital!
My dad's just come back from 2 weeks tour of Germany and Austria on his CB500 - he's 66.
I think I'd be looking at the ferry to Santander and meandering around Spain for a while, maybe with a little tent and a b&b when I felt like it.
On a more organised basis, this looks fun:
http://www.blazingtrailstours.com/index.php
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I think I'd be looking at the ferry to Santander and meandering around Spain for a while, maybe with a little tent and a b&b when I felt like it.
On a more organised basis, this looks fun:
http://www.blazingtrailstours.com/index.php
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Bryan
Sorry for your loss. 37 yrs is a long time together. If I was in a similar position I would be looking at an air/oil cooled shaft drive simple bike that is still a bit fun. Sort of BMW Rocksta type.
Then get a tail pack type thing with a 2nd pair of jeans, 5 sets of socks & undercrackers, 4 or 5 t-shirts. A Sat Nav and set off for West Coast of France first, follow the Atlantic Drift until its starts to chill off, head down to South of France and along into Italy, down the Adriatic on the far side through Croatia etc as far as you can [Turkey I think] ferry across to Cyprus where I would hole up for the winter.
Sell the bike there and return to Uk in March or so.
Have fun
Allan
Sorry for your loss. 37 yrs is a long time together. If I was in a similar position I would be looking at an air/oil cooled shaft drive simple bike that is still a bit fun. Sort of BMW Rocksta type.
Then get a tail pack type thing with a 2nd pair of jeans, 5 sets of socks & undercrackers, 4 or 5 t-shirts. A Sat Nav and set off for West Coast of France first, follow the Atlantic Drift until its starts to chill off, head down to South of France and along into Italy, down the Adriatic on the far side through Croatia etc as far as you can [Turkey I think] ferry across to Cyprus where I would hole up for the winter.
Sell the bike there and return to Uk in March or so.
Have fun
Allan
Firstly, I'm really sorry to hear of your loss.
Secondly, if I was gonna do it I'd do it as Steve would really do it. On a Brit bike!!
Sure, you'll break down, you'll get a numb arse but you'll be the coolest kid *ahem* in town! It would be one hell of an adventure, plus they're easily repairable!
Seriously, I wouldn't rule it out. Pick a load of backroads, if you don't have a schedule then where's the hurry? You'll meet loads of people and I guarentee you'll get chatting to far more people on an old bike than a new'un
Good luck whatever you decide, keep us posted (literally) and if there's any help any of us can give, just yell
Secondly, if I was gonna do it I'd do it as Steve would really do it. On a Brit bike!!
Sure, you'll break down, you'll get a numb arse but you'll be the coolest kid *ahem* in town! It would be one hell of an adventure, plus they're easily repairable!
Seriously, I wouldn't rule it out. Pick a load of backroads, if you don't have a schedule then where's the hurry? You'll meet loads of people and I guarentee you'll get chatting to far more people on an old bike than a new'un
Good luck whatever you decide, keep us posted (literally) and if there's any help any of us can give, just yell
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