Europe on a Virago Days 57 to 62

Rode through Czech Republic through small villages with picturesque scenery

Rode off the main road when tired and found a cheap smokey hotel at Nove Dobry.
Headed off the next day along the Elbe river valley towards Germany.

The scene above is in a town called........Horni Police. (!!)
Crossed into Germany and stopped to take a look at Bastei, a popular spot overlooking the Elbe with sandstone peaks.

Warm and sunny so found a camping ground near Konigstein.

Next day headed north to a local beauty spot on the river Spree called Lubben

Passed through beautiful stretches of forested countryside.

The local Youth hostel was full with 100 young schoolkids but the camping ground had plenty of space and was only 13 euros a night (AUD$19.50)

Lubben is only one hour by train south of Berlin and has a train service once an hour so the next day which was overcast and showery I caught the 07:22 service to the Berlin Haupbahnhof. and did a walking tour of the city.

Parliament building

Brandenburg gate

Not much of the wall left.

Went to a couple of museums and in one saw the bust of nerfititi, the Egyptian princess.

This image from the web, photos not allowed.
Happy to catch the train home by mid afternoon.

That night there was a huge thunderstorm with lightening all around.  The youth hostel manager kindly let me use a spare room. The next day it rained all day so spent two night in the room hand washing my clothes and drying them on the radiator.
When I left the next morning the forecast was for no rain but the skies were completely overcast and I found myself shivering with the cold as I headed north and West around Berlin on the autobahn.
Had enough by 12:30pm so am writing this in a small hotel in a place called Fehrbellin, hoping for a nicer day tomorrow.

Europe on a Virago days 50 to 56

Left Romania and rode into Hungary. By a church in a small village, passed 6000 miles.

Beautiful warm sunshine at last and I stopped at Debrecen in Northern Hungary for some much needed maintenance.

The speedo cable broke in Romania and I was surprised when the Yamaha dealer quoted three days for it to arrive from the Netherlands. Happily I had some spare days built in to my itinerary. Spent these days relaxing and drinking coffee in the outdoor cafes, watching the world go by. Hungary is a big step forward into western culture after Bulgaria and Romania.

So in continuing sunshine left with new tyres, speedo cable, sprockets, X ring chain and second hand rear wheel. Mechanic found a further six broken spokes and we decided another wheel may be the answer. Hope I won't need the spare spokes I kept from the old wheel. Total? 300 Euros.
Made it  almost right across Slovakia before reaching my "Stopping at the next hotel" stage.  Paid 27 Euros in a snug log cabin in a restaurant/function centre a little way off the highway.

Paid 10 Euros for a vignette for Slovak highways, happy to learn Czechs have declared motorcycles exempt from needing vignettes.
Met the rain again with a heavy thunderstorm for my ride into the Czech Republic. Sat on the highway past Brno and stopped at a small town called Nove Dvory near Kolin.

Europeon a Virago days 45 to 49 Into Romania

Left Plovdiv and rode North to motocamp Bulgaria in the countryside at Idileo near Sevleivo.

Facilities were basic but adequate and Polly and Evo were very hospitable. Managed to tighten the rear chain and change the oil.
Building are about two hundred years old.

Met up withMartin Hurley from Kinsale, Ireland who made my trip possible by allowing me to register the bike in Ireland at his address and providing storage until I arrived.

Weather continues wet and after leaving Bulgaria and entering Romania it got worse and worse until I stopped between Bucharest and Pitesti in a large restaurant/hotel.  The receptionist insisted I bring the bike inside to the lobby.

Next day it was still raining but not as heavy and the fierce wind had dropped for my ride to Sibiu.

This city has a big German influence.

Stayed for two nights and when I left it was only a short run under the clouds to Sighisoara.

Europe on a Virago Day 44 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Sat on the motorway for two days zooming up to Kavalla, passed the 5000 mile mark near a petrol station between Katarini and Thessaloniki.

Was planning to camp at Thassos near Kavalla but in the last ten minutes before Kavalla, the weather changed and I reached the harbour in steady rain and opted for a hotel. End of five consecutive days of sunshine.
Crossed into Bulgaria easily if slowly. Showed passport and bike ownership papers, waited twenty minutes and was handed them back and waved through.  Asked at the road tax counter if I needed to purchase a vignette but was told "Not needed"  Rates were on display for cars and trucks but nothing for motorcycles.
Found Plovdiv and the Hotel Nord near the big trade fair centre for 55 Dinars (28 Euros)
Next day in warm sunshine walked into the old city nearby.

These cobbles are picturesque but uncomfortable to walk on and even worse to ride over.

Some nice restored houses in the city.

And some fine Roman remains

No need to buy theatre tickets if you live here.

Europe on a Virago days 39 and 40 in Loutraki

Very mountainous ride from Delphi to Loutraki.

The beach at Loutraki was made of large pebbles.
Made my way to the temple of Heraion which was sited in a pretty cove.

This view above was used in a World Atlas as the introduction to the Europe section and was always a target of mine to reach.