Modern Vespa

Hi All,
So I just completed a 8,000km trip through France, Spain and Portugal, during three weeks last august, and then, after Vespa repair in Narbonne, back to Italy last week.



Dynamic Map: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B382aBxeDV8mMDF1bkhBMnpCUHM/edit?usp=sharing

I made this slideshow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eqohfxqoZWY

Hope you like!

Here https://plus.google.com/photos/116930294938217027894/albums?banner=pwa

or here https://picasaweb.google.com/116930294938217027894?noredirect=1 The complete album




Cheers,

Luca.

Last edited by doppiobleah on Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:33 am; edited 4 times in total

Wow, absolutely fantastic!
Thanks for sharing this, I am seriously impressed.
Mega.

I've been to some of those places. Brought back great memories. I would love to go back and do it on a Vespa too. Thanks

Great trip, spectacular illustrations - congratulations!

Wow, what a fantastic trip, love your photos as well. Thank you for sharing.

Wow, riding anything 710 miles per day for a solid week (8000km) is one heck of a ride, your butt must be sore as can be!

LL75

Very nice trip....

Ciao.
I'm riding for 3 weeks last august! Not one week.
"last week" (7-8-9 december) i returned in Narbonne in France to take back my vespa in Italy after stop Vespa because of a fault.

I apolagize for my bad english.

P.S. My butt it's ok

Many thanks for sharing that ! Well done.

Loved your tour. Great photograhy,great architecture. What camera were you using. The summer of 2012 I toured the northern coast and Picos de Euopa of Spain. Took ferries from England to Santander and Bilbao. Had lots of rain and grey, but would do it again. Trying to get ferries for riding to Spain again this summer, Go south to Valencia then ferries toIbiza, and Majorca, then to Barcelna, then back up to Bilbao. Trouble is, most ferries booked up already. What time of year did you travel. The weather looks perfect. Also done a trip from England to Rimini Italy,and back, and one around Britttany France. Need to post pics to inspire others. Bravo Gass silver machineGTS 250

Hello.
I used a Nikon camera coolpix300, a good compact camera.
I traveled during the last three weeks of August 2012.
I met rain in Oporto, Bilbao and Santiago, lots of wind at Zaragoza, for the rest of the trip only sun so hot.
I wanted to see myself the Picos de Europa but have not had time.
Next summer I will make a journey through France, England Scotland.

greetings

Amazing slideshow and the Quentin Tarantino soundtrack was a blast. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing your adventure. Wonderful photos

A wonderful adventure! Sigh! Thank you for sharing in such a colorful way. It shows you like modern architecture

I have a million questions:
How did you handle spare fuel?
What is that little box under the top box for?
Did the bag on your front rack block the headlight?
Did you do any repairs or maintenance along the way, except for Narbonne (what happened there?)
What would you do different on the next long ride?
Why didn't you show any pictures of your own beautiful country?
Did you ever feel this would have been a better experience if you were two instead of just one Vespa?

Hi Arno, some answers in a bad english:

How did you handle spare fuel?
I didn’t have extra fuel tanks, there were many gas stations along the way.

What is that little box under the top box for?
the box contains half a liter of oil, half a liter of coolant, a spark plug, three bushings for the exhaust pipe, fuses, spry sanitizing helmet, spare lamps for headlights and arrows.
Another box with maintenance tools were in the compartment under the seat.
Under the rear top box a wheel repair kit.
Under the front rack a red medicine chest.

Did the bag on your front rack block the headlight?
Yes, he did, when I was driving in the dark I moved the bag on the passenger seat, but it is inconvenient to fill up the tank.

Did you do any repairs or maintenance along the way, except for Narbonne (what happened there?)
I didn’t do any repairs or maintenance, I just checked the oil level and coolant.
In Narbonne it has seized the engine. Because the tube of the coolant became detached and the liquid has come out of completely causing the overheating of the engine oil and the damage of the cylinder and the piston.

What would you do different on the next long ride?
I will bring less luggage, I will go as much as possible on secondary roads and I'll bring a more reliable navigator. Next summer I'd like to go in Scotland.

Why didn't you show any pictures of your own beautiful country?
During this tour drove in Italy just a few hours.
The following are some photo album of other tours in Italy:
https://picasaweb.google.com/116930294938217027894/ISOLADELBA?noredirect=1
https://picasaweb.google.com/116930294938217027894/VALDORCIA?noredirect=1
https://picasaweb.google.com/116930294938217027894/LAGODIGARDA?noredirect=1
https://picasaweb.google.com/116930294938217027894/ROMAGNA?noredirect=1

Did you ever feel this would have been a better experience if you were two instead of just one Vespa?
Yes, I did but only on some evenings, not while I was driving or while visiting places.

I hope to have fulfilled your questions.

Ciao. Luca.

Last edited by doppiobleah on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:26 am; edited 1 time in total

Thank you Luca for your helpful answers. Sorry to hear about your seized engine.

About the navigator, which one did you use, and do you know which one would be better?

I know what you mean about riding alone, I prefer it too...and having company during the resting times.

Enjoy your upcoming trip to Scotland this summer!

PS: awesome trips you've done in Italy too!

I used MapFactor Navigator, a free navigator applied to my Android smartphone. is totally free and does not require connection but is not updated and the search system is very bad, made ​​me lose a lot of time.
Any traditional navigator is better. I tried Sygic on my smartphone, works well and does not need connection but charges are.

Good to know.

Grazie

Amazing ride. Glad you liked my home country, Spain.

Good choice of cities. I would add Merida, but coming from Italy you are probably not missing more Roman-empire ruins

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.....nice for dreaming in sub-freezing temperatuires here.....

This is a nice ride story. Thank you for sharing it and for answering all the questions so carefully. Do not worry. Your English is fine.