Here's MrsH and I on the plane from LHR. Would like to have ridden down but can't afford the time. We are getting a hire car at Bologna and my bike is being taken down in a van by Papa Louigi and another mate. The third part of our group are travelling from Jersey with a bike in the back of their van. Looking forward to a brilliant weekend.
Waiting to see the preview of the new Scrambler We weren't allowed to take photos, but of all the artist impressions I can find on the net this is the closest - though of course the real bike will use the 796 L-twin
I saw the scrambler today. Single front disc, single-piston rear caliper, cable clutch, single instrument dial - it's a low budget entry level bike. It it's cheap enough, it will sell by the shedloads - in those countries where an aircooled engine can still pass exhaust emissions requirements.
We spent all day at the track on Friday, checking out the bikes And since I had no hat I had to get a bandana which meant I felt able to bring myself to sit on this Friday night we hit the town And then did one of the organised rides on Saturday morning Unfortunately the number plate on Tim's D16 fell off and he got stopped by the police. Once it was fixed with some tape at a local garage, the ST2 wouldn't start so Mrs H and Papa Louigi diverted from their route to San Marino and came to the rescue in the hire car. Here they are having a quick drink before Louigi breaks out the tools - you can see the smile of anticipation on his little face! Finally we all got to San Marino and had a cracking lunch and the obligatory ice cream whilst enjoying the views
More beers back at the hotel and then on Sunday Mrs H had a go on a Monster and I had a session on track. Finally on Sunday night we went out to a nice fish restaurant and then stopped for lunch in Bologna on our way back to the airport today.
Great to put a few more faces to forum names at WDW (Matt, Gos6 and others). Big thanks to Gos6 for clutch lever fitting! I agree the new scrambler carries forward the spirit of the old one better than I expected, though still not sure who it's aimed at. I am in now the Ibis hotel in Manosque, South of France (as planned). Ibises may not have bags of character but do all have a computer with net access for guests to use. The biking gods continue to fart in my general direction: latest was a blown headlight bulb - it was unexpectedly dark in a tunnel yesterday afternoon - fortunately Sport Moto in Barcelonette (not a Ducati dealer, just an ordinary little bike shop) quickly replaced it this morning. A sensual day's riding today on some excellent roads, and some "interesting" ones. Top of the Col de la Bonette is not a good place to lose my sometimes shaky head for heights - and I was very glad I had new rear brake disc & pads on way down! This was followed by the rather splendid, flowing curves of the almost deserted M2205, the tight, odd D26 where the character changed from Alpine to properly Provencal complete with olive trees and that wonderful herby smell, then the overrated D952 Gorge de Verdon - yes, the scenery & rock formations are spectacular, but like the Taj Mahal and Alhambra, it is a victim of its own success - narrow road, seriously congested with traffic (coach load of Brits brought it to a standstill, adding to the RVs and what felt like the entire population of Holland!) Rounded off the day with the D6 west of Riez, where better progress was made through more gentle scenery, the scent of lavender in the air! Tomorrow, all being well, a bit of Route Napoleon Things I have learned this trip: - next time M696 load workshop manual onto Kindle; - always carry bikini & insect repellent when out and about at WDW; - always put the side stand dlown before getting off the bike; - most peage booths are now unmanned so a poly bag of change is no longer useful - I will have to take gloves off and fiddle around with a wallet at toll stations; - France really is a biker friendly country - helpful local cops, mechanics, hotels advertising they welcome bikers or like last night immediately offering me space in their garage store room for my bike; - motorway services:the Swiss have the cheek to charge a franc to use the loos, while edible food is availble at Italian ones, as well as drinkable coffee. - remember to take glasses off before attempting to put lid back on - another Doh! moment.
If you want to do a ride to somewhere in Italy and there happens to be a WDW on, you might as well go that week and plan Misano into your itinerary, at least for one or two days. But if the intention was to travel down exclusively for WDW, and spend all three days at Misano, then I can see it would indeed be a disappointment. My approach was the former, and WDW was much as I expected so not disappointed. If you were hoping for a kind of Ducati-themed version of Goodwood - well, WDW is a long way short of that.
