Modern Vespa

In June 2014 I packed my "Madalina", a Vespa P200E from 1979 and rode her clockwise all around Europe. I ended up with 22450 km and 32 Countries and did a week in morocco on top. I included a Rally Event in Battipaglia, the Isle of Wight Scooter Rally and also a french event in Perpignan. It was the beginning of a big and costly addiction!

Feel free to ask me anything about scooter travel in Europe!

VespistaX,

1. Looking at your heavy packed scooter, did you camp for the entire
trip or stay in hotels? If camping, were camp sites readily available?

2. How long did the whole adventure take?

3. This was a major undertaking. (Personal Question - You do not need to
answer). Had you saved up money, quit your job, how much did you
spend for the whole adventure?

This is a once in a life time adventure that most are never able to
experience. I envy you. When I got out of the US Navy in 1974,
I stayed in Europe for one year and traveled with my Fiat 500.
I camped the entire time unless a a house guest of friends.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

Hello Bob,

yes aproximately 80-90 % of the trip I camped and very often wild camping ( illegal in all but the Scandinavian countries ). I often Asked people if I can camp on the grounds or did some couchsurfing etc.

I had saved up some money before that and had calculated approx 50€/day all inclusive. That means Oil, Fuel, Spares, Breakdowns eventual costs for Hotels in Capitals etc. I spent approx 8500€ including the Vespa in 2014. Now that would be more like minimum 8000 without the Vespa. They became ridiculously expensive.

I actually made this One of several "Once in a Lifetime" Adventures and continued the last years to do long distance trips and adventures with my personal Highlight "80 Days around the world on Vespa" in 2018

For those adventures I had to leave girlfriends twice, quit my job twice and gave up my flat and even lived in my van for some months.

I totally love the Fiat 500 Experience you made!! Amazing time and great vehicle.
I still have a Stella Genuine at a friends house in Charlotte and as soon as I saved up enough money again I will do Alaska to Argentina plus Australia!

Greets from germany

VespistaX,

Many would dream, but the vast majority will never have this kind
of adventure experience. I had one year. I always knew I had to
return to the world so wanted to just travel and soak up the
experience and memories of good folks I met along the way.

Good on you for loving and enjoying the road. On a Vespa
even slower to really take in everything around you. You
are truly a unique person to do this.

Further travel details. I would ride my Ducati to Rome when
off duty in the US Navy. There was a American style peanut
bar near the Spanish Steps in Rome were English speaking
folks would gather - drink beer and celebrate our youth.

English speaking guys from the Nigerian Embassy in Rome
would frequent this bar. They advised me that teaching
positions were available in Benin due to retiring British
professors. Evidently many of the professors at this
University were British. Prior Uk colony.

I had a Master Degree from Boston University in International
Relations. I applied and got a semester fill in position.

I drove my Fiat 500 to Morocco and left my traveling
companion with the Fiat who drove to Portugal to await
my return. We had a friend who was a US Navy Dentist
in Lisbon.

I bought into a native camel caravan from Marracash
to Chad - then down to Nigeria on a bus. Across
north Africa, the caravan traveled at night due to the
heat during the day. Unbelievable experience. The
rule of law was who had the larger caravan. For
personal security, I did buy an illegal pistol which
I dumped at the Nigerian boarder.

I full filled my obligation and taught for one semester,
then flew to Portugal and continued with the Fiat to
France then back to Italy.

I understand your love for the road. My travels are
over. I sit at night with a good brandy and cigar and
remember those great days.

Bob Copeland
To Old to travel - Still ride scooters.

Some other photos from years ago on the trail of adventure.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

I am not a person that just wants to dream. I own Vespas now since 30 years and in 2011 I had the idea to do a journey all over Europe for Coffee Table Book, and started to plan and originally thought it might be something people would even crowdfund, because I wanted to document the vespa club scene in Europe in the book. Well, I was wrong and nobody really cared for the idea. At the same time I met a woman from the Netherlands and because of the relationship the plan got put back into the drawer. It took me 3 more years to safe the money for the trip while I was already traveling and working in different countries. 2014 I quit my job and left for 5 months with 2 goals : Min 20.000 km and 30 countries. I came back a few days before the snow and realized that I was hooked.
The next years became a rollercoaster:

2015 I traveled 10 countries and 1691 km in 24 hours on Scomadi 125 to set an unofficial WR
2015 I also visited Elefantentreffen (biggest and oldest Motorcycle Winter Rally) in Vespa 750km at minus 14 Degrees Celsius
2015 in Summer I took off again and rode 7 countries and 6000 km on P200
2016 I bought 2 more scooters and rode 6 countries and 6500 km on Bajaj 177 and visited Lake Garda in Italy with friends
2017 I planned, organized and executed Giro Germanica for kids with cancer. I built a Vespa from Scrap parts and rode it 8290kms in 5 countries to raise 25.000€ Donation
2017 I bought myself a Stella Genuine in the States and did a Coast2Coast of the USA 10.000 km 20 States Virginia Beach to San Diego to prepare my 80 Days around the world the year after.
2018 I went on my biggest adventure : 80 Days around the world on Vespa ( 27.113 km in 17 countries on 3 continents). I started in Madrid and went east till Vladivostok Siberia, then By Boat and Plane to South Korea , Hawai and to San Diego to pick up the next scooter and ride it back to Virginia. I hoped on a plane and picked up the last deposited scoot in Utrecht in the Netherlands and rode it down to the Start/Finish at Kilometro 0 in Madrid. When I got back I lived in a Van in Portugal. After a short visit for travel presentations I bought myself a PK50 in Cartagena Spain and did an unprepared 1000 km Road trip with a broke scooter over the Iberian Peninsula to Faro Portugal. There I lived 3 months and bought myself an additional Piaggio Ape Threewheeler with 50 cc, but I left Portugal and went to Germany again because of a woman. It did not work.
2019 I only got to build 2 Vespas and did short holidays at the Vespa World days in Zanka Hungary.
2020 I had to get my Ape50 Threewheeler back from Portugal and did a 3600 km in Ape50 from Portugal to Germany 4 Weeks.
2021 I dedicated entirely to kids with cancer again and planned and executed a 6300 km Vespa Gentleman Giro on a 1971 Vespa 50 ( 7 countries and over 84.000 € Donations
And to finish the year 2021 I did 1671 km on Vespa T5 from Barcelona to Kempten. I bought the Vespa there and rode it over 1000 Miles back home in 4 days just before winter.

Well that escalated quickly .
Now I sit here with 120.000 km on tours only in 44 countries on 4 continents and think of my stories. All that happened in 7/8 years.

Guess we only live once

VespistaX,

You are like the Allman Brothers Band song, I was born a ramblng man.

Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Bob Copeland
Frostbite Falls Minnesota

Who knew such a mild mannered man from Minnesota was such a adventurer.

You can still do it in many ways. Our friends at https://scootwestafrica.com/ have many great fun trips and are planning a trip from Marrakech to Dakar next year. Not camel but scooters. Same, Same.

VespistaX

What great adventures. Continue to travel and please share with us.