Now, I’m getting bored of this dry and blue skies every morning.
Only joking !!
So, after a great breakfast at the hotel, I was all set for another massive mile munching day.
However, my first challenge of the day was finding the multi-storey car park, where my bike was. No joke, where the hell is it?
I certainly wasn’t going to go back into reception and asking. They would think I was a right numpty, which to be fair, is just what I thought. I walked two sides of the building carrying my luggage only to come up against a locked gate.
I eventually, walked on the path next to the road that I rode coming in, (as I could at least remember that) and hey presto, I found the large parking building. But, in my defence, it was smaller than the massive hotel, so was a bit hidden!
Okay, now I am ready to ride over 500km today, which knowing my navigation, was bound to increase somewhat.
With the address of the next hotel, (in France) set into the sat nav, it gave me an ETA of 2:59pm, and that was with Garmin’s ‘Adventurous Routing’ enabled.
However, after the next 1.5 hours of fast dual carriage way riding, I pulled over to change the ‘Adventurous’ settings This then changed the ETA to 9:38pm.
So, I changed it back, and proceeded on my way, again.
During another dual carriage way stint, the old issue of when to refuel came up.
Now my bike had an approximate range of 210 miles with a full tank. When my estimated range, (as indicated on the instruments) drops below 100 miles I normally start to consider when to fill up. Now, because I was doing large distances on these fast roads, with very limited fuel stations, I had a side window open on the sat nav which always told me the distance to the next fuel station, which was normally off the dual carriage way, meaning I would need to take an exit slip road.
So, I came up with a new rule. If it was less than 3 km from the slip road, then I would go for it. If between 3-5km, I would consider it. If more than 5km, then f’ it.
It took a couple of exits before it came to under 3km and I stopped to fill up.
So, life’s new rule is go for it, consider it, or f’it. Just got to set the appropriate values to go by and at what level of risk one is prepared to take!
You would be amazed by the crap (like this) I come up with whilst riding along talking to myself. I need some sort of dictation recording device, to capture all this nonsense.
Or is it best just left in the helmet?
Half way through the day I was surprised at just how awake I still was considering that I have spent 90% of the time on dual carriage ways. I say this, although some may have been motorways, just not sure, and don’t really care.
I normally avoid them when on the motorcycle. For one, because they can square off the tyres. But as this is the last few days and the tyres have had it anyway, that doesn’t matter today.
And two, because I normally get bored and tired quickly when riding on them and can easily fall asleep.
Maybe if was because the roads are so busy here, and they are not in the UK, so haven’t think a bit more.
You have to be totally alert at all times with 360 vision. Now I am not riding a fast bike, just going a bit quicker than the trucks. If in the overtaking lane, I keep an eye out for fast moving traffic coming up from behind. I am also keeping an eye on what’s happening up front, as like I mentioned before, the majority of them have no idea of a safe following distance, and they just pull out from lane one if there is just an inch to spare!
Then of course, you need to anticipate the stupid ones pulling back in right in front of you. And as my bike is low powered, it is as case of choosing the best moment to overtake.
So with all this going on, I hardly had time for a nap!
Things went up another level or even two, once I came across the Antwerp ring road. The very thought of a ‘ring’ road has me imagining that I we could be riding around it for hours. Thankfully though, Mr. Garmin is on board to try and ensure that doesn’t happen!
The traffic slowed to a crawl, and then actually stopped. I’m not sure of whether it is legal to filter through the traffic, so I stayed in line. That was until two motorcycles came past. Game on I thought, and off I went, into filtering mode.
Now, you have to be ultra-alert when filtering, and eyes peeled for the slightest dodgy driver. If I see a faster bike approaching from behind, I just pull in and let them pass. I think the key is to filter at a speed just a little faster than the traffic and know when to stop filtering as the traffic speeds up, if the gap looks to tight, or the vehicle is not maintaining a straight line, then just wait, it is never long until a suitable gap opens and you can get back on picking your way through the traffic.
It is a great sense of achievement when you filter through miles of traffic like I did today, making good progress and one of the benefits of riding a bike, rather than being stuck inside a metal cage!
I must admit, the road network throughout Europe just flowed from one dual carriage way to another. Very efficient and good quality roads too.
During a stop at the services, I noticed on my phone, the outside temperature was 31 degrees Celsius.
Now dear weather god that has been looking after me during this trip. I love the dry and sunny weather that you have provided me, but could we please cap it at 25 degrees?
I have all this bike gear to wear, so please be a little bit considerate!
Today’s ride was 571 kilometres and took 7 hours and 53 minutes.
And yes, my bum did hurt at the end!
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