Bristol to Massarosa (Tuscany) AND back!!

[red steve]

Hi guys n girls,

Just thought I'd put up a posting on mine and Fiona's 2800 mile round trip to Tuscany..we got home on Wednesday this week, and my body has now recovered enough to allow me to use a keyboard!!

We did the Moto GP at Mugello last year (by bike), and although only spending 2 days in Florence, got the taste for Italy and decided to go again in 2007, only allowing at least a week for sightseeing, etc.

On Wednesday 31st of May we set of in torrential rain from Bristol (why does it always do that when you've spent the entire weekend cleaning your bike!).

A long slog up the M4, then around the M25 & M20, always my most hated part of any trip, saw us arrive in Dover at 7.00pm. A hot meal and a decent nights sleep, meant we were ready and raring to go at 6.00am the following morning.

Thursday 1st June and after a smooth crossing we were heading south, towards our 1st overnight stop in Dijon. The weather was cold and frequently showery on the day and meant additional stops for coffee and to put on the old waterproofs.

We were 10 minutes from our hotel when we were forced off the road by a thunderstorm. Along with half a dosen other british riders heading to the Italian Moto GP that weekend we sheltered in handy rest stop and out came the waterproofs (again).

The next day, saw us head to the pretty town of Gap on the French/Italian border...we eventually came off the motorway (dullish but evective, and fast) to hook up to the N85 "Route de Napolean" at Grenoble. This is my favourite road, as well as some nice tight mountain passes and hairpins, the road sweeps along the side of a river, and is truely a joy..oh and the scenery ain't bad either!

Our third day "en route" saw us leave Gap after an excellent continental breakfast and head to our destination of Massarosa (about 30 minutes from Pisa). 2 hours of spectacular if not bloody cold riding followed as we headed up and over the Alps into Italy.

There was still snow on the top of the highest mountains although not as much as last year, (which I was grateful for as riding in snow around nagery hairpins with a fully loaded bike and pillion ain't much fun).

10 minutes in Italy and we stopped for an espresso and croisant, and to take in the view without having to concentrate on the road at the same time.

Once accross the Alps, our aim was to get to our destination as quickly as possible in order to get the keys to our villa (rented I hasted to add) unpack and then get to the supermarket for some food..and vino to last until Monday.

This meant motorway for the rest of the way..heading towards Turin, we carried on around the coast through Genoa, (all tunnels & unsilenced Ducati boom), until 5 hours later we arrived in the busy town of
Viareggio, complete with a small Ducati dealership.

Owner of villa met and keys collected we (eventually) found the house on top of a hillside up an unmade track...the view at the top was well worth it though..

The following seven days passed in a blur of lovely restaurants, Chianti and a spot of sightseeing..oh and avoiding being totalled by the absolutely dreadful Italian motorists...can you beleive 3 accidents in 100 yards..and the traffics was all queued trying to get into a suoermarket..MAD.

Fiona (my trusty rear gunner) fended off many an unwanted Fiat and Lancia with a well placed punt with her trusted Sidi Rains...I must admit I wouldn't want to drive a car through Pisa..there's more of you to hit and I think the GB badge is a secret Italian code for "hit me please I'm British"

The house we rented was a tad small but had lovely gardens with a pool, and was well away from the road carnage going on in the town below us..

Anyway, a week later we were on our way home. Instead of the Alps we headed along the French Riviera past Nice and Cannes, then Digne Les Bains to Gap. A memorable ride if not for the biggest hail storm I can remember...fun it wasn't and they stung like hell despite leathers and waterproofs.

The next 48 hours were of mostly motorway although we did do the Route Napolean again, stopping off for a few pictures of the General ..

Last Tuesday at around 1.30pm we eventually arrived home. The bike (an ST3 with Remus cans a Power Commander and Scotoiler) never missed a beat, although I did lose a fastener from the fairing, kindly repalce by the local Ducati dealer to where we stayed completely free..nice one! Oh and they had a 1098 "S" in black in their showroom...nice!

We worked out that including the miles from home to Dover plus our day trips to Pisa and the various other ride outs to restaurants etc that we did just over 2800 miles...not bad I'm sure you'll agree...

The rear Pirelli is a bit square from the motorway miles and I've yet to clean the bugs off my Arai, but what a journey...rain, hail 40 degree sunshine, the Alps, the Tuscan countryside, the roads, the food & wine and the shear pleasure in just riding a motorcycle....surely this is what bikeing and Ducati ownership is all about...now where's my map of Europe for next year!!!

[royum]

Excellent write up Red Steve and looks like a wonderful trip if a little unlucky with the weather?

You could at least have got a shot of Fiona holding up the leaning tower, everyone else does! Didn't you go up it, or the Duomo in Florence all 5 or 600 steps? Know what you mean aboutthe traffic, you have to check you don't have a target on your back.

[998gsb]

Great write up - cant wait till the 25th when we set off on our little adventure to Itlay!!

[royum]

Originally Posted by 998gsb

Great write up - cant wait till the 25th when we set off on our little adventure to Itlay!!

So are you going to video, direct, produce, edit and star in this short film Gavin?
I'm just concerned that it might be used in evidence if you see what I mean. Can't show too many people what a good time we had, well one person in particular in my case, I might not get to go again.

[wrs71]

what a great sounding trip.............one day

[998gsb]

Originally Posted by royum

So are you going to video, direct, produce, edit and star in this short film Gavin?
I'm just concerned that it might be used in evidence if you see what I mean. Can't show too many people what a good time we had, well one person in particular in my case, I might not get to go again.

I'll do a boys Directors Cut copy and a wives and partners edited copy if you like... :wink:

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by 998gsb

I'll do a boys Directors Cut copy and a wives and partners edited copy if you like... :wink:

sorted, yeah we may need to delete some of the nights out!! STAGS RULES ON THIS TRIP LADS!!

top write up there to mate, cant wait for our trip.

[royum]

So that'll be a 12 and a PG version then?

[998gsb]

[rikok]

excellent! youve just whet my appetite, as i am off to the very same area 3 weeks today.... for three weeks.


rik

[red steve]

Hi Rik...you doing your trip on your 748?

[rikok]

no steve its it'll be with an Alfa 147, then a boeing 737, then a cincuecento for the duration, then a 737, then an alfa 147.

seriously; we have a house in the region and visit regularly, i was thinking of renting out to touring bikers.

rik

[Johnny]

God I love it, going with the family this year (3rd time) but no bike

May try theses boys one day

http://www.ducatitours.com/rental.htm

We stay here

http://www.casadeigelsi.com/maps.htm

I can recommend it very quiet, easy to get to Florence and Seana (Two hours from Bologna too)

[Monty777]

Just got back on Sunday night from my Italian trip-3727 miles in 2 weeks 2 up with full luggage on my ST4S.
We went through France and over the Simplon pass, down the west coast to Sorrento, stayed there for 4 days whilst we did Pompei, Vesuvius, and Herculanum. Rode the Amalfi coast road-got to be done at least once in your life, then went via Matera over towards Brindisi and then up the east coast. Across the centre to Perugia and Sienna, then Genova, Torino, and crossed back over the alps at Briancon, then back up through France and home. Brilliant weather the whole time, it only rained on us twice and then only for a few minutes-too dam hot in the south mind-it hit 40c!. I will do a proper write up when I get time. We did originally plan to drop into WDW but I did that in '98, 2000, and 2002, and did trips to Italy on the '4S in 2001, 2002, and 2003 so didn't bother.

John