THE BREAKDOWN RIDE 2021 Archives -

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 14

“IN THE END …”

One day or other, each journey find its end. So did the Breakdown Ride after more than 5500 km or about 3500 mi. After two weeks nonstop riding in dual sport manner along some awesome more or less remote areas through south Eastern Europe, my black beauty and I started early in the morning into our last riding day. The trip followed some well known back country roads from Southern-Salzburg back to my chosen hometown Vienna.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 13

“DOLO’S AGAIN”

This day of “The Breakdown Ride” led my black beauty and me from the flat Italian plains near the river “Po” right into the Dolomite Mountains, and further to my homeland country Austria. I’ve ridden the “Dolo’s” a few times during the last years, and each time they proof being a true riding highlight. This time was no exception. But have a look at yourself …

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 12

“TUSCANY’S HILLS”

After 12 days and more than 4000 km or 2500 miles in the saddle, in my mind a kind of travel fatigue started. But, already being in central Italy, this was no excuse for getting weak/pausing the trip. The hard offroad parts had been already passed, and now it was an easy ride. So the journey along back country roads through the scenic Apennines Mountains in the area of Tuscany continued …

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 11

“AMALFI COAST”

One of Italy’s most famous coastal roads follows the winding Amalfi Coast. On the eleventh day of our journey, Чернотa and I went up early for avoiding the tourist masses along this sightseeing road. Afterwards, our journey left Italy’s western coast for the central Apennines Mountains, with their impressive landscape. More about it, you will find in the following ride report. Enjoy …

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 10

“ENTERING ITALY”

Leaving Greece behind, I reached after an eventless night ferry cruise over the Adriatic Sea the southeastern shore of Italy. The goal of the day, was traversing “The Italian Boot” from east to west, through the Apennines Mountains right to the entrance of the well known Amalfi Coast.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 09-Part 2

“THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE”
(Part 02)

The unplanned alternative route was better than estimated : Чернотa and I passed some very scenic areas in the Pindos Mountain Range along our comfy tarmac ride, which led us to the Adriatic Coast / the city Ingoumenitsa, where our ferry to Italy was leaving in the evening. Like mentioned in the first part, some new material brake downs occurred, and also a mayor delay happened …

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 09-Part 1

“THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE”
(Part 01)

You surely remember, that I changed my plans on the eighth day of my journey due to safety reasons related to the unbearable heat and an uncommon noise coming out of the engine. Instead of following the Trans Euro Trail off road further westwards through Northern Greece, I stayed on tarmac and rode from the coast of the Aegean Sea, right through the mighty mountains of Greece to the Adriatic Coast/the harbor of Ingoumenitsa, where the plan was to take the ferry to southern Italy in the night.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 08-Part 2

“CALCULATIONS”
(Part 2)

The longer a journey with the motorcycle get, the more you will have to adjust your plans. Especially in the event of unexpected happenings. On this day of the “The Breakdown Ride”, which still followed the Greek Trans Euro Trail, I forced myself, for my own safety, to make a major adjustment relating to the incoming route.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 08-Part 1

“CALCULATIONS”
(Part 1)

The longer a journey with the motorcycle is, the more you will have to adjust your plans. Especially in the event of unexpected happenings. On this day of the “The Breakdown Ride”, which still followed the Greek Trans Euro Trail, I forced myself, for my own safety, to make a major adjustment relating to the incoming route.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 07-Part 2

“TET GREECE”
(Part 2)

This is the second part of the ride report about the seventh day of my Journey. This day we followed the scenic Trans Euro Trail Greece from its easternmost corner near Turkey westwards through the mountains close to the border with Bulgaria.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 07-Part 1

“TET GREECE”
(Part 1)

Day seven of my journey started very unpleasant. Members of the Greek Border Police woke me up for an identity check in the very early morning.
After this surprising nightly incident, Чернотa and I followed our planned route and entered the Greek Trans Euro Trail nearby the borderline with Turkey. The whole day we stayed on the Trans Euro Trail and followed it North-westwards along very hard climate conditions.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 06-Part 2

“NEXT STOP : GREECE“
(Part 2)

This is the second part of my ride report about day 6 of my journey, which now followed southern Bulgaria Eastwards to Greece. The goal of the day was reaching the Aegean Sea in far eastern Greece, close to the border with Turkey, where we intended entering and following the TET in Greece.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 06-Part 1

“NEXT STOP : GREECE“
(Part 1)

The name of this journey: “THE BREAKDOWN RIDE” wasn’t taken by accident. The last days of adventurous back country riding, most of the time along the different TET routes took its toll: Two further small breakdowns happened on this riding day along our way to Greece. Here’s the first part of the write-up of this adventurous day …

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 05-Part 2

“SOUTH WESTERN BULGARIA”
(Part 02)

This is the second part of day 5 of the “The Breakdown Ride”. Чернотa and I continued following the TET further through Western Bulgaria. We passed the capital Sofia and rode right into the mountains in the South West of the Country.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 05-Part 1

“SOUTH WESTERN BULGARIA”
(Part 01)

During the third day of following the Trans Euro Trail in Bulgaria, it showed out again, that this country is totally underrated concerning the possibilities, it provides for adventure riders. This day, Чернотa and I followed the TET further through West Bulgaria. After another scenic ride, we passed the capital Sofia and hit for the mountains in the South West of the Country.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 04-Part 2

“HILL CHAINS OF TET BULGARIA”
(Part 2)

This is the second part of the ride report about the fourth day of the “Breakdown Ride”. It’s about following the beautiful (and sometimes riding technical) hill ranges of Bulgaria, always chasing the line of the Trans Euro Trail.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 04-Part 1

“HILLCHAINS OF TET BULGARIA”
(Part 1)

For this adventure I choose the name “The Breakdown Ride” for one reason: Along this journey Чернотa suffered small, and some bigger breakdowns. Also at this day, which followed the Trans Euro Trail in Bulgaria, a repair was needed for making progress. Besides that, the dual sport ride following TET Bulgaria was superb!

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 03-Part 2

“TET BULGARIA”

This is the second part of the ride report about day three of the “Breakdown Ride”. It’s about entering Bulgaria and following the first parts of the Trans Euro Trail of Northern Bulgaria.

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 03-Part 1

“TET ROMANIA”

It showed out, that after two days living on the bike, I’m back in my daily “adventure-mode”. I’m not talking about the necessary tasks like managing the shelter life, planning for fuel stops or food-organization, but rather in the ways of my general thinking:
First my thoughts often rotated about the left behind everyday life, like: work, family, private issues, …, and now, whilst traveling, such thoughts have nearly vanished. My thoughts changed and were about the other simple tasks like: gaining distance, keeping to the planned route as close as possible, finding detours, taking some nice pictures and get over all the small and big hurdles, which such a ride is coming with.
In hindsight, this change in my ways of thinking during this adventure (and also other adventures) was like a mental holiday. But to whom do I tell this? Each of us motorcyclists knows the therapeutic effect a proper motorcycle ride brings with it!

But now, enough of this bla bla, here’s the first part of my ride report of day three of the breakdown ride. This time, Чернотa and I rode in a well-balanced dual sport manner along TET Romania into Bulgaria. Enjoy!

THE BREAKDOWN RIDE-DAY 02

“SOME SAND AGAIN”

The plan for day two of my adventure was reaching the foothills of the Romanian West-Carpathian Mountains. Therefore, my black beauty Чернотa and I had to handle first a good amount of the Hungarian-Southern-TET Section, to pass the border between HU and RO and to ride some easy and impressive back country roads along the Romanian and Serbian borderline. This is the ride report about a great dual sport day in the saddle along perfect route- and weather-conditions.

THE BREAK DOWN RIDE-DAY 01

“FIRST BREAKDOWNS”

“Carefully spoken, my mood was down at the bottom. I was really upset due to the undergone events of this first day of my adventure. First a close call which resulted in a broken fuel line, now some hated electrical problems and the worst: My just fresh washed riding gear was now a wet, muddy and stinky clamshell, which I’ll have to wear for the next two weeks …”

THE BREAK DOWN RIDE-DAY 00

“THE DRAWING”

So let this travel report begin: For introduction, I’m serving you with this post a short overview about my main journey of 2021, which finally led me and my black beauty Чернотa through six different European countries. This is “The Breakdown Ride 2021”: