North Cape by GTL

Your summary sums it up pretty well, Piet! As you say, the most important thing is that you do it. In your case, even with a motorcycle that you built up yourself and very specifically. Something like that really can't be topped.

It's quite different than doing a tour like this on a soulless machine. Although I don't want that to be taken as a criticism of Woki's choice; that applies to any modern ride, especially the ubiquitous giant enduros.

The special thing about riding old motorcycles is that you always run into interesting encounters. On our Italian Lakes tour, five old men (even older than us) once pounced on my Norton friend and, even after he timidly pointed out that he didn't speak Italian, they managed to tell him, with gestures, about their own old experiences. Later, with the help of translation programs, we managed to understand more or less what they were talking about. We laughed until we cried and talked about it for a long time. That won't rather happen if you drive a modern bike.

I assume you've been asked about your GTL quite a bit!
 
Any time I move my bikes around in the garage or when going back from a modern bike to the Laverdas, I question my own sanity, too. No wonder others do that, too. :oops:

;)
 
When I read Piet comments about doing it now rather than putting it off till later it reminds me of all my adventures in Oz and in Europe on my Laverda. The two trips I’ve taken the bike to Europe and the UK were amazing trips. The second one for the 70th anniversary in Breganze was awesome riding there with my Aussie mates and newfound English mates, so many funny stories that it still makes me smile when I think of what we got up to😂

Then when the group parted ways in southern Germany I was on my own with no set plans or destinations so I just made it up as I went.The people that you meet when your travelling alone on an old clunker are unbelievable. They were constantly amazed that I had shipped the bike from Australia to Europe and was travelling around there countries.
The person most amazed was me with the friendliness and generosity of people that I encountered.

So to end this rambling I can only suggest that you get on your bikes and use them, it doesn’t have to be a record setting trip, just use your bike for as long as you can because as Piet alluded to there will come a time when you won’t be able to😢 As I said to a former workmate after he asked what I was going to do when I finished up my working career I simply said that I’m retiring into riding 😊👍

Keep posting Piet ,loving the trip report👍😊
Ciao Tom
 
Hi Piet,
I also read all reports about your trip, really impressive. And you were quick! It is not only that you discribed all the locations and people you met, I also liked your philosophical and personal comments about life and aims we should follow now.
Good luck for the following day of your trip.
Andre
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jo
Well, Finland definitely won't find itself at the top of my list of top touring countries... beautiful as it is, it is not particularly suitable for motorcycling. Endless pine forests are replaced by endless birch forests, which in turn are replaced by endless pine and birch forests, with lakes, ponds and rivers randomly thrown in. While the roads are mainly quite good to absolutely superb, the lay outer was rather unimaginative, long stretches straight ahead, maybe around a corner or over a crest and again straight to the horizon!

60km into our leg along the 955 this morning, we came onto a bit that I first considered a road construction site. I could not have been wronger, about 50km of gravel through BFN, Finland Edition ;) .

IMG_2235.JPG

Back on pristine tarmac, we re-fuelled at Sirkka with a short rest and headed off down the 79 to Rovaniemi. Roads were mainly limited to 80-100kmh, so progress was rather rapid. Of all places, we ended in the Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle! Guessing it's eye-watering expensive in winter, but quite affordable just now. Apparently a money-making machine to milk families with kids. At least the number of mozzies and horse flies outside is greatly reduced through the lack of greenery.

The cottages are super comfy though, even have their own sauna. Very nice... if you can tolerate the omnipresent Christmas and Santa-theme! I guess I'll survive for a night, maybe.:rolleyes:

Santa Claus cottages

IMG_2240.JPGIMG_2241.JPG

Afraid there's not much more to report today,
piet
 
Vince said:
Piet, locally we call those huge biting flies March Flies. They hurt a lot, but when we had a German Shepard we got Horse Flies, very similar looking to any typical House fly but very capable of biting right through a pair of Jeans with just as much pain as a huge March Fly. These days, with no Dog, both biting flies are now gone.
Click to expand...
Vince,

The ones here are about 15-20mm long and seem hyper-aggressive! Stand still only for moment, they're onto you! They cover the bikes within seconds of standstill, feeding off the "roadkill" splattered over the front of the bikes. Mozzies are of a smaller type, but also aggressive with an annoying itch from their bite. Thankfully, this wears off quite quickly.

Our "Anti Brumm" reppellant seems to be working OK, the buggers come whizzing around but won't land.

Still don't want to be bitten by those giant MFs though. ;)

piet
 
Jo said:
Indeed I do! Where're you heading to today? When will you reach the ferry in Helsinki?
Click to expand...
No idea...

If the weather holds up, we may take the ferry to Tallin and continue down through the Baltic countries and Poland. Always wanted to visit the lakes of Masuria, probably mozzie-infested as well. :unsure:

Heard from Dory it's pissing at home, all the more inspiration to take it slowly.:ROFLMAO:

piet
 
Jo said:
Just be careful they don't force you to be Santa Claus — your beard would come in very handy! Thinking of the shortage of good workers everywhere these days ...
😬
Click to expand...
I'm staying in our cottage while Woki does some shopping for his grand kids. ;)

piet
 
sfcpiet said:
No idea...

If the weather holds up, we may take the ferry to Tallin and continue down through the Baltic countries and Poland. Always wanted to visit the lakes of Masuria, probably mozzie-infested as well. :unsure:

Heard from Dory it's pissing at home, all the more inspiration to take it slowly.:ROFLMAO:

piet
Click to expand...



Masuria would also appeal to me.

500+ km home if you take the Helsinki-Travemünde ferry vs 2000+ km from Tallinn though. A completely different story, but the idea has something ...
 
Yes, the initial idea was to save a good 1500km by going through Finland and using the Helsinki-Travemünde ferry.

But, we got time... neither of us has been to the Baltic states or Poland before.

piet
 
Piet, your great trip reports provide even more motivation for me to return to Europe for some riding. I spent a few weeks in the summers of 1986 and 1987 in England, Wales, France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland with my wife on a new SFC 1000. Now thanks to you I can add Norway to my wish list.

As a Canadian prairie boy I am well acquainted with the insects of the north, strong winds and some rough pavement. But the roads and scenery pics you have posted and your great descriptions of the riding and adventure along the way is great motivation. Thanks for sharing.
 
Hanu from Finnland lives I think something like 100Km north of Hesinki. Just if you need a workshop or anything... ;-) Haven't heard of him for some years though, hope he is fine.
 
Something actually resembling a sunset last "night"! 00:24 on the Arctic circle...
Haven't seen one for over a week! ;)

IMG_2246.JPG

Nothing much to report today. Easy 320km from Rovaniemi to Raahe, a beautiful little city indeed!

The 4 to Oulu was pretty boring, once off the 4 and onto the 813 the riding "returned", good road surfaces with lots of bends through pastures and ripe rape fields.

Raahe town square

IMG_2251.JPG

Enjoying a beer.

FMCS5643.JPG

Heading down the coast tomorrow.

piet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top