Hi!! Im 95% going to france in july for 2 weeks. The reason i say 95% is cause the guy I was ment 2 be going with pulled out and im just debating whether or not to go on my own. Going to make my mind up by the end of the month for definate. Anyway what i want to ask is what do people think of doing a trip on your own? Anybody got experience of doing it?
Or if anyone fancied joining in that mite be an idea? Im from northern ireland and would be going to france by boat from rosslare in the south. Done it last year for the 1st time through france, switzerland and italy

Not intenting to hijack the thread, but french stromers are gathering together end of June.
Information here: http://www.zarkass.com/vstrom/vstrom-en.htm

I ll be in France at that time, but cannot attend that event... too bad.

For the record, I would probably not intend such a long trip like yours on my own... although France is pretty safe if you avoid the big cities suburbs.
I would not worry about crash -ride carefully- and carry a small compressor along with the necessary kit for flats.
Everything else should be manageable with a Visa card and cell phone.
... remember that French are not very good in English :P ...

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K6 Red Vee

Thanks for that link. Would be good to get there but unfortunatly I cant go until the start of july

Last year I found communicating with the french reasonably easy. My french isnt great but I know a few phrases and I found if you can get your point accross they appreciate you trying o matter how bad your effort is!! And the "Bikers Brotherhood" applys over there to. this I found out after getting lost in a town looking looking for petrol, a guy on a moto guzzi stopprd with us and lead us round the town to the petrol station. Then spent 10mins asking where we had been and where we came from even though he didnt speak aword of english!!

Good to hear all that.

Have a nice trip, and post pictures when you ll be back.

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K6 Red Vee

Hi AndyRuss,

Just do it! you've got some kind of Euro breakdown cover right? you've got experience of France already ~ so the fuel pumps won't freak you (bank/credit card only). You know the French love it when you have a bash at speaking French, and they're pro biking.

I do speak from experience (unfinished ride report here:http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,7622.0.html )

3500 miles of pure selfish fun. stop when/where you like. plus you spend less! i reckon the whole fortnight cost less than £700 inc fuel. some campsites were really cheap: one deserted one was 'free' (showers/loos locked up tho').

Don't let the missus read this bit: Had a nice offer from a girl at one campsite (ahem), and got asked for my number by a bird at some caves i visited.... another potential advantage of going solo!

If i have any free time to spare, i'll be over there this summer again.

As you've been to the east/alps side, can i suggest the Pyrenees? Well worth it. you'll get bored of peg-scraping

Bon Appetit!

I think you might of just swung it for me! To be honest I was probably going to go anyway but was just looking for someone to say something like that

Read your trip report as well. Great story (so far!! anymore coming?) and some great pics. If I can at least match that I'll be happy. Is that a Coleman Avior tent you have by any chance? Looks like 1 anyway. Ive just ordered that tent from a local camp shop where a friend works (mates rates lol!!) packs up nice and small and is light too.

As for my route I was thinking of heading east again, and maybe try the sothern part of the Alps (Briancon and south of that) and I like what ive seen of castellane and that area (though only in pictures). Then head west towards Millau and then northwards towards the boat home. Though now the pyrenees are going to have to looked at 2!!

Right, now where are those maps!!

Cheers again!!

good man! you know it makes sense: the Strom's perfect for this sort of thing.
sorry about the unfinished bit, gawd knows if i'll get around to it...had af ew other things to do http://www.vstrom.info/Smf/index.php/topic,9575.0.html

Yes that is the Avior 2 ~ cracking tent for size/weight. I've several tents, that's my favorite. reason i didn't use it on the Africa trip was i needed one that would self support on sand, plus if there'd been any aggro, i would have just left the tent & scarpered (nearly did kick off one night!).

you won't go far wrong with Alps or Pyrenees ~ let the weather decide? check it out before you go or ask around campsites. you've only got yourself to please!

enjoy & ride safe, friend

And some of the German-Stromers will be there in the first week of June.
From the Campingsite, in Vallon Pont d'Arc, Ardèche,

a few of us will start a 4 day-trip to the Bayerische-Wald, to the the big V-Strom-meeting in Germany

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Greatings from Ladbergen / Germany
Gilla / DL1000 K03 blue / 98000km

Hi Gilla. I had read about the 8th V-strom meeting before but unfortunatly work comitments stopped me getting the time to go
But I will be keeping watch to find out when the next 1 is! And you will have a new visitor

Have a look to the German V-Strom-Forum (www.v-stromforum.de) and you will be informed
And better, if you will register there, you can read some threads in "Reisen und Touren" like the Ardèche-trip or tours to Norway or Sweden and so on...

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Greatings from Ladbergen / Germany
Gilla / DL1000 K03 blue / 98000km