Italy, October 2020

[gremlin]

It's no big secret, I love Italy and go there as often as I can. For the last 5 October half-terms I've been dragging my daughter along for a week's biking adventure, going everywhere and nowhere, for no reason other than it looks like it might be interesting.

This year she'll be 16 and, who knows, maybe next year she'll be too busy to come, or I'll be too un-hip to be seen with, but for this October we have our flights booked, the hire bike booked and a rough route planned. Itinerary is:

Arrive Bologna Sunday, midday-ish. Mooch around, see what needs to be seen (although we've spent time in Bologna before, there's always somewhere to stick your nose)
Monday, pick up the bike. This year I've gone for the GS. Set off to Prato. I suspect there's not much there, other than a contemporary art gallery that looks worth a visit, but worth a stop over and a cheeky pizza.
Tuesday off to Lucca. Famed for its old walled city and cobbled streets.
Wednesday, destination Pontremoli! Where?, I hear you cry. No idea. Stuck a pin in a map and it's a stop off on our circular route. The name translates as 'trembling bridge', as far as my ropey Italian can tell. Either way, the roads round there should be nice.
Thursday, off to Modena, one of my favourite little towns. Small enough to cozy and intimate, but big enough to be interesting. There's some nice shops there so the kid will be spending (my) money, I'm sure.
Friday, back to Bologna, drop the bike off and back into town for the kid to spend what little money I have remaining. A few well-deserved beers for me.
Saturday - up at a civilised time and back to Blightly.

The route below won't be actual route. I'll ask Mr. Google to avoid motorways and we'll stick to the back roads that go through towns and villages, offering good coffee and pastries.

Should be a nice 6 days. Weather is usually pretty good, only seen rain once in all the years we've been at that time of year.

Always give them a plug, as they've always been helpful: https://www.hpmotorrad.rentals/en/

They have hire centres in a number of strategic cities and have always provided top-notch bikes.

[636mick]

Are you still on for this mate?? Just wondered if C19 has canned it. Half considering a trip into a Germany around the same time but I can’t see it going ahead.
Mick

[gremlin]

Yep, still on. Just got back from Sicily so they're still welcoming tourism (begging for it, actually. Italy is really suffering). Easyjet did bin my flights off a few weeks back, but I rebooked with BA and have had to shift everything a day forward, but that's no biggie as HP Motorrad were able to arrange a different bike (BMW, not Ducati).

[Bigyin]

HP Motorrad were able to arrange a different bike (BMW, not Ducati).

Heathen ........ A BMW in Italy FFS

[Horse]

HP Motorrad were able to arrange a different bike (BMW, not Ducati).

Heathen ........ A BMW in Italy FFS

If he's really lucky it'll be a Funduro

[gremlin]

R1200GS. Fully loaded - 3 x boxes, ABS, Cruise, Ashtray for pipe (OEM pipes and tobacco only), slipper holders, 12v beard trimmer socket...

[Rockburner]

Sounds like a fun trip!

[KungFooBob]

R1200GS. Fully loaded - 3 x boxes, ABS, Cruise, Ashtray for pipe (OEM pipes and tobacco only), slipper holders, 12v beard trimmer socket...

Don't forget the O d'Piss vaporizer so the other beemer riders will accept you into their cult.

[gremlin]

Some pics I found on my phone of last year's trip:

Gremlinette outside the amphitheater in the town that is her middle name, Verona

biking4small.jpg (60.79 KiB) Viewed 1983 times

[gremlin]

Me and the kid

Biking1small.jpg (69.7 KiB) Viewed 1983 times

Yeah, I'd put on a bit of timber there. I blame the pasta and vino.

[gremlin]

biking2small.jpeg (41.11 KiB) Viewed 1983 times

Modena. Nice town.

[gremlin]

La birra e la campagnia. Bellisimo.

biking3small.jpg (58.2 KiB) Viewed 1983 times

[Bigyin]

Her mum must be pretty as she fortunately didnt get her looks from you

[Yorick]

R1200GS. Fully loaded - 3 x boxes, ABS, Cruise, Ashtray for pipe (OEM pipes and tobacco only), slipper holders, 12v beard trimmer socket...

Does it come with free beer and pizza ?

[gremlin]

R1200GS. Fully loaded - 3 x boxes, ABS, Cruise, Ashtray for pipe (OEM pipes and tobacco only), slipper holders, 12v beard trimmer socket...

Does it come with free beer and pizza ?

I'm off the first week in November too. Any more of your cheek, young man and I'll come visit and bring my appetite.

[Skub]

Me and the kidBiking1small.jpg

Yeah, I'd put on a bit of timber there. I blame the pasta and vino.

I read this thread earlier and imagined your face seemed familiar....

I've come back just now to say 'Hi Alan Titchmarsh'.

[gremlin]

HP Motorrad were able to arrange a different bike (BMW, not Ducati).

Heathen ........ A BMW in Italy FFS

They didn't seem to object back in the early 40's

[Scootabout]

We went to Lucca last year. It's a really interesting town. We were staying further up the valley at Bagni di Lucca. This was a family trip by car, not bike, though, of Tuscany. (We also visited Florence, Pisa and Sienna.)
I was back to Italy a few months later, on the bike, to tour the Dolomites region. So, Italy twice in one year, having not been there for about 20 years.

Enjoy the trip.

[Bigyin]

I might have talked my missus into a 2 up Italy trip next year so will be interested in how you get on and might pick your brains and info for future ...... i know you have done it before but given the current state of confusion up to date knowledge would be very handy

I was looking initially at a ferry and on my own bike but remembered your trips and thought it might be a possible option intstead

[rodbargee]

Dolomites are amazing was there a few weeeks ago dropping off master rdbgee and his partner in Belluno drove in via the berner pass and fern pass in Austria would love to do that on a bike but was in the disco. belluno's spectacular right in the middle of the Dolomites