Monday 25th May - Getting a little nervous!

This time next week I'll be on my way.

Bike all ready now, new tyres and stickers from my two lovely grand-daughters so looking good.

Think I've managed to pack everything but am sweating a bit on the weight - will just have to go without breakfast when I set off.

The bikes just clicked over to 60,000 miles and I'm soon to click over to OAP status so am taking heart in a sign I saw on my

last trip..........

Sunday 3rd May - Fine Tuning

Well, I leave in 4 weeks.


Bike's all ready except for getting a new set of tyres fitted .
Now just need to get my clothes sorted out. Having just watched Henry Cole' "World's Greatest Motorcycle rides" from Scandinavia when it rained for most of the time I think I need to switch some of the thermal gear for waterproof ones.  Can see a pair of expensive (very) sealskinz socks going on list!

Riding The Arctic Highway - The Inspiration

It all came sprang from this book.....

Written in 1975, it's the story of the road built up the spine of Norway, the last 900 miles of it above the Arctic Circle.

 At it's most northerly point it comes within 19 degrees of the North Pole.

Lots of motorcyclists ride it, primarily to get to Nordkapp - The North Cape - the most northerly point of Mainland Europe and that's good enough reason. But you know I'm a bit of an anorak so when I read the book it was the road's history that hooked me - it has to be up there with Route 66 and the Trans-Canada highway even if a bit shorter than both.

In all the trip will include France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland and will be about 5000 miles. Do it in June - as I hope to do - and the 1800 odd miles above the Arctic Circle will be ridden in total daylight - if the midnight sun can be called that!

Coming with me?