Adam Imre Hegedus

Leaved my home around 10AM, very late, but I felt as I am on holiday I do not really care when I will arrive to the hotel. Everywhere I asked for late check-in (8PM) which was a good idea as I do not need to hurry to anywhere. 🙂

Before I left behind Budapest, I got into Karasna to buy a rainwear for my boots. Just to be safe 😉
Was definitely good idea, needed later 😀

I knew that the area around Budapest is so boring, therefore I just go up to motorway until Győr. It was a really good decision as there was no traffic and I could get there by noon, and continued on M86 until Szombathely. It was not interesting, moreover, so boring, simply I just wanted to get over this part as soon as possible. But it is important to mention, that previously I was so comfortable during riding, so when I felt a bit unfocused or tired, I just simply stopped. Just because of this it was around 2-3 PM when I arrived to the border, which was unacceptable to follow. As my preferred runs around 500 kms daily, it is not a good approach to stop every 50th kilometers, you have to proceed.

Around Szombathely, Hungary I stopped again, last time in Hungary to get my tank full of fuel, but when I slow down a b*tch bug or spider has bitten me on my shoulder through my leather clothe, my skin burned very much. As well, my Fenistel gel was at home, so I will have to buy somewhere. But this couldn’t keep be back, just reminded me to stuffs left home. 🙂

Just arrived to Austria, saw the first signs of Apls when I realized the reality. When I entered to Austria I liked that the speed limit is different from Hungary. 🙂

Based on my experiences in Croatia, I knew that 100 km/h is more than enough for Bend Hunting on serpentines. So I was so confident. 🙂

However I knew that in Austria the cops are so strict within a residential areas (villages, towns). Unfortunately without any signs a policeman in a private car caught me by overtaking him in 70 km/h area on a road at nowhere, outside of any villages. To be honest I rode faster than the limit, I deserved. 😀

“I just arrived to the first country, did not have the chance yet to exchange money, nothing, probably rode 15 km abroad. Come on! I will be a so short journey though.” – thought I.

But I was so prejudiced. 🙂 The policeman was very calm and so friendly. He asked my papers, but when I would have had to open my box (2 secs) to provide my ID card, too, he said easily just “No need”. Not the best English I had ever met, but just started a short discussion and when I mentioned I am on the way to London, he was just surprised and finally smiled. I got a fine with €33 (paid with HUF as did not have Euro yet), and I continued my journey. I had enough time to think it over. I kept the speed limits, or where there was traffic just assimilated into it. If you are not outstanding, you will not be caught again. I was right. In many cases if you are not the top rider you will ride much further than always get onto the beginning of the traffic. 😀

Road to Villach area:

Soboth:

Lavamünd:

And finally Villach:

I had a hotel at Haus Ingeborg in Stiegl. It was a very nice house, and my impression is that it is like a hotel. 🙂 Definitely will come back later when I will visit the area, it is in beautiful area.

When I arrived I started the general process of preparing my motorcycle for the next day, so Chain Lube was packed out and chain was prolonged. 😉 Meanwhile the host came out and welcomed me, and immediately provided me a safe garage to store my motorcycle for the night. I was so happy to keep it safe, so I was not frustrated during night just because of my bike. 🙂

When I went to my private room, Ingeborg just provided me a motorcycle map for best routes around Villach, so I had some stuff to dig into at night. 🙂

I had a shower, and Ingeborg suggested me a really authentic restaurant 5 mins from the place with beautiful view of the village, and the food was also delicious:

Originally the first time when I was thinking about riding far far away can be dated back to autumn, 2016, but at that time I did not have any experience of long trips, moreover I had only my Aprilia RS125 which is not good to ride more than 300-400 km. At that time I planned a so ambitious trip, just ride around the world in 80 days. 😀

Last spring in 2017, I could buy my brand new motorcycle, a Yamaha MT09 (847 cc, 115 hp, naked) with some touring accessories (comfort seat, box, engine guard, etc.). Then I was able to ride as far as I wish, but I did not have the favor to do it.

This May, I attended to a Curve Hunter trip with #RhinoTours in Croatia, and I was taught how and what is riding is about, and felt that I want to do it all day long. To be honest, I was youngest rider in our team, but as well, I learnt a lot from them. They were so tired in the afternoon while I wanted to ride more and more, but I was so motivated to the other day when we could continue riding on unknown roads (for me) again. We rode 1500 kms in 3 days which was tiring, but I was so happy to go again as soon as possible with them.

After my return, I decided to apply another 2 trips with them, however I had to cancel them just 1 month before the trips because of my private life. I was so devastated, because I felt I cannot ride to the Alps finally. The time was just going, and when my motor-mates just came back from Dolomite, I received restful news, and then I became motivated immediately, on that day I started to plan where to ride in a long weekend. I knew that it is about Alps, but I have never been there, just flew above it, therefore I started to get some advises from my friends, and also looked at #RhinoTours feedback and trip descriptions where they rode last years.

Finally I planned my ride for 3 days as
– Friday: Budapest – Villach (500 km – 8 hours)
– Saturday: Villach – Innsbruck (300 km – 5 hours)
– Sunday: Innsbruck – Budapest (850 km – 12 hours)

As you can see, the third day is so exaggerating, not because of the distance, rather the time in motor seat. On the other day I had to go to work, therefore although it did not seem to be a good or acceptable plan, I kept it, just asked holiday for Friday to 13th July, and that’s all. Nothing else managed yet, hotels should have been booked, but I was not sure in my plan, just parked the whole idea.

I thought several times to my short journey, but I did not review my original plans, just checked the weather every day until Monday, 9th July (4 days before leaving). On Monday I decided to book my hotels, but just realized that perhaps not Booking.com with hotels is my friend as a single room for one night was €100-200 which is so expensive to achieve my dream. Finally my colleague was just kidding me to use Airbnb. But he was right! Although I was not so confident to sleep in a no-name unknown place, in an hour I had already asked pre-approval for three private room which was under €100 all in all. By evening I had confirmed and booked all of them, so it was easy. 😀

But on 11th July, I felt that my original plan is too short, and if I ride to almost to Switzerland, why do I not ride to Switzerland, too. And if I am already there, why do I not visit Stelvio Pass, Italy and Tyrol. Finally I felt that 3 days is not enough, and my original idea was seemed to be so small-minded, and I wanted more. Thoughts just came, and finally my old plan to ride around the world just came into my mind. In addition, I was kidding to my friend once, that I will visit him in Denmark with my motorcycle.

One second to another it just came into my mind, as Ride around Europe!

I was so motivated and confident to do it. As well, I thought if I am near the Netherlands, I should try how good and interesting is to ride on “wrong” side of the road, so just two days before leaving I talked with my manager, and supported me to go to London where I can also meet my colleagues and can discuss some interesting question face to face. It is approved, the corporate hotel was booked and confirmed just one day before leaving, so the only thing to book another two nights on Airbnb for Switzerland and France. Done, in an hour 😀

Anything not hastily, last evening I bought some stuff for my trip and then just went to sleep.
In the morning I realized that I should leave in 1-2 hours, therefore I packed everything to my bag and box, and prepare myself to go on an excursion to Europe. I could not believe that it is that day, but finally I put on my bag, box, … jump on my motorcycle and started to ride, without seeing back 😀