VIA MEDITERRA - The journey around the Med with an HP2

Hi everyone,
I've been quite for a very long time, sorry for that (in case somebody remembers). Anyway, back on the screen I'd like to share a trip with you that led me 9 months around the Mediterranean Sea. The route went over 3 continents, through 21 countries and had put 40.000kms on the mile-o-meter of the HP2.



I'd like to tell the story on a daily base. Not really a diary but with a tight chronology. I hope you enjoy.

Cheers

Dirk

There are some teasers to give you a little impression about the coming up stories from around the Mediterranean:

... and some more.

So far for the preview.
Cheers

Dirk

At least I will stay pinned to this thread! Fantastic pictures, man!

Will you publish a photo book? Outstanding pics, as expected

wow! great photos! Were you travelling alone? How did you do that?

Wow.....

I will stay on this as a fat kid on cup cakes... Love those pictures...

I am sure I speak for many inmates, WE WANT MORE!!!

In.

.

Excellent, the man is back !!!

Watching.

wow, beautiful scenery. Outstanding photography. I want more.

Hi Mr. Breeze,
yes, I went alone. Unfortunately none of my buddies could aford such a long time away from home, job etc. For me it was sheer luck to get the time off.

If you wonder about the pictures: Most pics with me in are taken with a remote timer, even if the bike with me on is pretty far away. Not recommendable in crowded places ;-)

Ciao Girogio,
si certo It's in the vendors section as the movie, too. Unfortunately not in italiano but english-german.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12227554

A dopo!

Dirk

Before we set of I'd like to introduce you to the bike and the route.



The bike is a BMW HP2 with standard framework and suspension. There are some gadgets on it like the additional tank (one left one right where assume an original tank). That means there are 3 reservoirs for fuel including the original one adding up to 33 liters. That should allow a range of about 600-700kms.

Unfortunately it is not my bike but it was (fortunately) given to me for that ride from a tiny aftermarket company in the German Black Forest. As you may imagine I still feel very privileged and thankful for that.

Ok now, lets have a look at the planned route:




As the starting point I've choosen Marseilles in France because it's with more than 2000 years the countries oldest city. Furthermore it was founded as a trading port by ancient greek tradesmen. From Marseilles the route was supposed to go anticlockwise to North-Africa and the Middle East as I was starting in spring and was trying to avoid the brain-evaporating heat of the African Summer there. But, what I didn't know at the planning stage, exactly that was about to happen ....

Two corners would be causing problems:
1. The border between Morocco and Algeria is closed for ages. I will try to do a little ferry-ping-pong Spain-Morocco-Spain-Algeria to solve the problem.

2. Israel. You shouldn't put a wheel on that country. If you do, neither Lebanon, Syria nor - in the other direction - Libya will let you enter. The plan is circuumnavigate Israel via Jordan.


Anyway, the final route that I did was this:



40.000 kms instead of the planned 22.000kms, 28 ferry crossings instead of 3 and uncountable moments I'd never expect to happen.

Aha! The Lumenmeister is back

Cheers,

Dickyb

wow, stunning pics on a lot of times dreamt journey around the Mediterranean sea, what is not easy

in

I'm in