Trials, Trails, and Tales Italy '08

Several weeks ago I had the honor of visiting close friends of mine in Italy. The host was Dario, a friend I have enjoyed knowing for years.
He is an accomplished rider with many adventures to his credit including trips to Morocco and also exploring many routes around Italy via Trials Bikes or his enduro bikes. My Trip would include Rome, enduro bike riding near lake Bracciano North of there, Some trials riding in the Mtns.
Competing in a local trails event near Rieti and topping off with 4-5 days enduro ride on a borrowed xr 400. on the island of Sardinia.
Choosing the best pictures is hard and most of the pictures from Sardinia are compliments of the other generous riders I was with.
there is also some video worthy of Americas Dumbest home videos . Wait and see! enjoy! [/URL][/IMG]MY very special hosts Dario and Giovanna
Texting at 85 KPH then norm, most might be eating as well

Castle St Angelo ( i think)

Sounds like a fun trip!!

more, more, more


opcorn

[/URL][/IMG]What? no ADV stickers? No it's not me!

[/URL][/IMG]parked inside the Vatican

Lake Bracciano is Noth of Rome a few miles and would be the starting point of a ride with new friends, Marco (whos house we left from)
Danielle, and Dario. This was my first chance to ride like a Roman IE; lane splitting, going to the front of the pack at stoplights, and treating stop signs as merely a suggestion and make sure no one is coming! etc. at least on the way to the off road portion. What a gas!
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well don't blame it on the rookie American, most automated stations only take cash and well ... er ... anyone could fill their bike with diesel.Glad Dario and mines were full of the right stuff and we didn't need any.
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that were dated to be around the second half of the sixth century bc, a good place to investigate and take a break. My pics were dark in the heavily forested area so we continued. later abandoned railroads and train staions long forgotten.
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Looks good,
Cant wait to see the videos

The ancient Romans building Aquaducts, that stretched for miles to carry water to Rome. It's hard to see in this video but halfway through. if you look hard enough! you can see it!

J! It looks like our little lesson has paid off! I can't wait to see the rest! Good job so far!

after the ride we changed, realxed, watched dvds of riding in Brazil as we quenched our thirst with quite a few beers and some snacks, No i didnt get pics of the food sorry But Then Real Italian woodfired oven type pizza and after dinner drinks. Dario, help me out with this! any way Im working on the next set of pics Riding Trials bikes in the Mtns.

Dario was on his 08 Sherco fourstroke and he was kind enough to lend me his 08 sherco 2 stroke Both great bikes, as it had been a bout 6 weeks since being on a trials bike it took a few minutes to get back into the swing, and the trails were not for beginners! Dario taking a break and checking his gps[/URL][/IMG]

and me sweating like a pig being used to the 9000 ft air of Colorado.
but what a view![/URL][/IMG]if you could see over the far mtn ridge you might see Rome

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MMMMMMMMMM, left overs , compliments of the talented Giovanna from the night befores delectible dinner. yummmm. We were at the top of a one lift ski area with the Abruzzo range of mountains in the distance .
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Looks like a most excellent trip. Can't wait to hear more about it this weekend at FMF!

Cheers!

I've been waiting for this one.....

we stopped to look at the most northern castle build by the Normans in Italy.
Also we would follow a very, very, old track via gps that had seen little or no use in some time. The route was over grown with brambles, and thorney bushes like i have never seen. Dario always wears his riding jacket, for protection, while i was too hot to use mine and so, there are many bushes , somewhere in Italy with a bit of good old American blood on them. ( at least i didn't overheat !) :)[/URL][/IMG]