Thursday 26 May 2011

Kasem, Andropoulos and on to Bavaria

                                                             Goodbye to Turkey

Saturday May 21 - After a bit of a sleep in we pack everything onto Martin's bike and head back to the servo where my bike is parked about 2km out of Kasem. Brian & Robert have phoned to say that they are coming to tow my bike back to the group for spares, so we meet them at the servo. I'll have to accompany the bike across the border with them so that the paperwork tallies up.

We ride the 40 or so km to the Greek border and get through with minimal fuss.Robert & I push the bike through much of the crossing, Brians on the tow bike. There's a Turkish guy on a smick Honda Varadeo (has a sticker with his name & blood group on the tank) behind us as my bike gets towed through - I'm sure he's thinking "what a piece of rubbish" and I'm wishing for a reliable machine like his.

Lang meets us on the Greek side with the van and it will take over towing duty.

Martin & I ride 2 up through some beautiful countryside to Alexandropoulis - we stop at the airport to enquire about tickets onward but it's closed & we can't get in.

Eventually fine the Erika Hotel near the waterfront & organise room .Alexandropoulis is a lively town on the water with ferries leaving for the Greek Isles. The hotel receptionist tells us to park the bike on the footpath ( our friend from the border on the Varadeo is parked there coincidentally) but we decline. Martin parks on the street - next morning the Dnyper has dutifully dropped a 30cm diameter oil slick on the ground.

Sunday 22nd May - We ride to the local airport and abandon Martin's bike in the carpark. He has told Sean from the group that he can have his bike if he wants it and leaves the papers, keys and a bill of sale in the sidecar. Martin leaves note reminding Sean to check all the oils before he rides off.

                                            Abandoning "Black Bess" at the airport

We have a short flight to Athens, a 2 hour wait then a flight to Munich. Flying between EU nations is so easy - we flash our passport at Munich & we're through. Peter from Bike Bavaria meets us and we're soon in his van and on our way.

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