Bigguy Rides - 2014 S10 Travels - Finished Riding a Lap Around The World

[Bigguy136]

In the morning, I went to the hotel lobby area for breakfast and saw a wonderful display of homemade yogurts and jams.



I more than enjoyed the jams. The owner told me about how she personally does all the canning.



And back on the road and crossing thru several countries




And the typical hotel for the evening


The pastries look very good but I've given up on the pastries. They are machine made to look perfect but the taste isn't worth the calorie count for me.


A simple but good sami for dinner. The breads are excellent.

 

[Bigguy136]

I entered Serbia and as most countries, I like to pull over for a coffee/ tea and relax after going thru a border crossing. I found a place for tea, sit down and order only to find out a local truck driver paid for my tea.
As I continue east across Europe, I am really liking the eastern side of Europe over the west.


I got to Romania and started south following the river that splits Serbia and Romania




It was a long day of riding without much for stops. I arrived in town for the evening. A few countries back, I bought a SIM card and was told it was good for Europe. The part they left out was I would be on roaming minutes and consumed my minutes and was without a working phone.
My hotel didn't have WIFI so off to find dinner. I found a restaurant that looked to have good food and WIFI.


Yep, that worked


I wanted to call my mom with Whats-app so after dinner, I tried but she wasn't awake yet. Okay, maybe desert and a coffee. Perfect, good food and caught up with family back home.


Walking off some of my dinner and found this. Not sure what and I couldn't read any of the signs.




The hotel had a party and I wasn't invited. Looked to be a great time.


And my breakfast

 

[patrickg450]

I liked Slovenia, only did a few days there. The open markets to me were "where it is at".......How much did hotels run you on average?

 

[Bigguy136]

I had a purpose for the route I was on. I heard about MotoCamp in Bulgaria and wanted to check them out. It was time to start looking for where I would be storing my bike for the winter. Like dropping your kids off at a new daycare, I wanted to check everything out and be comfortable with the place and people.
If you are on the eastern side of Europe, a moto camp I highly recommend. There is Ivo, Polly and Doug. I'm not sure who owns the place but I think Ivo is a silent partner, Polly and Doug are the owners. Doug is RTWDoug on this forum. I only saw Ivo and Polly when I was there.

I was due for an oil change and Ivo got the oil I wanted. I also wanted Yamalube rear end oil but he wasn't able to source.
I pull in, Ivo shows me where to park and said to relax and enjoy.

My view from my room for the night.



A commons area where everything is on the honor system. Most go for the beers but I went for the coffee and ice-cream.


The camping area behind the trees


After changing oil, Polly made me dinner. After dinner, I was talking with Polly about my thoughts of going to Turkey. For the next hour, Polly and I reviewed my map, she created a perfect multi-week route around Turkey, pointed out what I needed for border moto insurance and pay toll pass purchase location.

In the morning, I was ready to follow Polly's route. Leaving Bulgaria was wonderful riding.


And entering Turkey was all of 15 minutes.


I got to Edire, Turkey and first mission was to get a SIM card. I was directed to a store, showed up but he didn't have any and to follow him. With so many people around, I grabbed my GPS. We walked here, down there, over there and a minute later, I was buying a SIM card. Only problem, I was truely lost and starting to panic. A minute later, I remembered I had my GPS and it showed where my bike was with enough zooming. A few minutes later, I saw my bike and was now time to find some food.


Not sure why I went here for a sandwich, okay, I know why....




And a bit of walking around for the night.

 

[Bigguy136]

For a few bucks, I got a name brand shirt. I then went back to my hotel and tried it on. I typically wear a XL in American sizes but I learned Asia has their own size chart. This thing fit like a medium. So much for a new shirt. I gave it to the desk lady when I was checking out in the morning.


Hotel breakfast. I like olives but not as a breakfast item. Many hotels have olives for breakfast. Maybe an American thing or maybe I'm a bit off??




Knowing I was coming back to MotoCamp in Bulgarie, I decided to leave my aux fuel tanks and camping gear.
I came across a bike shop and they had Motul rear end oil. We couldn't speak each other's language but pointing at the oil rating, they figured out, looked up what Yamaha requires for oil and confirmed the Motul was for my S10. They cleared me a spot, got me a drain pan and I was set. Also loved the Motul bottle with the built in funnel.
And a photo with their shop's decal now on my bike. I was very happy with the place and people.


Nice to see police bikes were Yamahas


And a few every day 'life in Turkey' pics

 

[Bigguy136]

I had a few days in Turkey and loved the area. It's what I was looking for. The riding, weather, people, culture and food. Turkey was perfect for me. Looking back, I have Turkey as a top 3 for future long-term locations.
And as usual, more pastries. I have now learned they look way better than they taste. For me, it was more looking, less buying.


Another small city full of culture and people watching.




I was riding east across Turkey. A typical morning was riding a 2-lane road going into the mountains and come across a small restaurant. If you see a few trucks there, good chance it's worth a stop.


Nothing fancy. Great people that will come over and say hi in a language I can't understand. A bit on Google Translate, some pictures and you are left with wonderful memories.




Years back, I planned my every day, every stop on my trips and I stayed on my schedule no matter what. Those days are long gone and now my only schedule is an airline ticket to begin my trip and nothing else.
As it typically happens, I come across areas like below. No idea of the history and why nobody lived here. Everything looked fairly new and in great condition but not a single person. Seems like such a waste of resources to build and abandon. Maybe a large company closed and the area was employed by that company?



All across Turkey (and other countries) are these. Stop, take pic, send to your mother back home and shortly after get a phone call from mother in a panic. OOPS!!

 

[Bigguy136]

I was in some mountain passes but nothing with much elevation. All good, S10 was happy rolling thru the small towns and very little traffic


And said small roads lead you to a small town for the evening with good food and people watching. A typical town in the middle of Turkey.



I road raced and built motors for many years. I love seeing how others work on motors. I prefer a near surgical cleanroom area when I work on motors but you work where you can. We couldn't communicate but they let me look thru all the parts. Nice to see.


I didn't understand the game but everywhere you look, they have tables set-up and people playing this game.


Fresh roasted sunflower seeds






And another typical morning hotel breakfast

 

[Bigguy136]

I forgot to include this section my route. I must be slacking. Anyhow, this is from eastern Europe (Bulgaria) and across Turkey. I planned to store my motorcycle for the 2022/ 2023 season at Motocamp in Bulgaria


I was enjoying Turkey very much. Perfect temps, no traffic and great riding. Always a small town of maybe 50-200 people and a hotel maybe every half hour.


Okay there was some traffic....


Being from the USA, I had to take this photos for friends back home


When I left Motocamp in Bulgaria and knowing I was going to return, I took all of my camping and extra fuel off my bike. WOW, this is what a normal S10 weight feels like. Time for some dirt mountain roads.









Always a bit nervous travelling on remote roads being solo but seeing places like this, you forget about the solo risks. And I'm on a very reliable S10....

 

[Bigguy136]

And before you know it, you are in a small town, sitting down for some chai tea. It costs $0.10 with waiter delivering it. Take that Caribou coffee.

And the views as you enjoy a chai


All of the pastries look the same as Europe and I quit tasting any after being disappointed so many times but they a purdy


And as most evenings are a hotel stay but being I left my camping kit behind in Bulgaria, a hotel every evening was a must. But that also gets a breakfast included. It took a bit but I started enjoying veggies with my breakfast.


And breakfast view from my table

 

[Bigguy136]

After breakfast, back to the backroads


I was on a mountain pass and I saw this. Perfect, I had picked some Apricots from a tree earlier. No chai tea but a perfect noon break.


And what I guess was to wash hands. Maybe drinking water but I prefer not to get food poisoning by drinking unknown water sources.


There was a building that looked to be for overnight travelers not able to make it to the next town. Being in the mountains had several hours between towns. Even had blankets. Had it been later in the day, this would've been a nice camp


And a second room


Even complete with a bathroom. Almost like a Hilton.... Almost


Walking around, I began to feel this might have been a memorial. No offence intended. I don't do any research of where I'm going and show up to all countries very naive.


And then this guy/ gal showed up. Hmmm, I thought these critters liked the dry sand??


And this several hour route was paying back with breath taking views.


Until this happened. I was several hours into a route from an old map, no extra fuel, no tent and no idea what direction to go

 

[Cycledude]

You are a very good picture taker !!!

 

[patrickg450]

I come here just to check your thread, love it!!!!

 

[Bigguy136]

After not seeing anything that floated, I turned around. I found two locals chatting on the side of the road. With many hand motions, they told me I had to back track most of the way I came from and then I could get to other roads to get me where I was going. I'm very happy to have a 6 gallon tank and getting 55+ MPH. I considered going back to the prior night's stay for 1 more night and start over in the morning but this was to be an adventure and I was getting more comfortable relying on my surroundings and wonderful people everywhere.
I was able to reach the Mediterranean Sea that night and found a hotel with a view.


Okay, not really an ocean front view but It's just me and no need to double the price of a hotel when I just want a bed and shower.

It was a long day, no food, limited water and an unknown of where things would go. I had a place to sleep, my health and it was time to celebrate. Maybe a bit more food than I needed but why not??


The steak was okay but nothing like American beef.


And with way too many calories consumed, it was time to walk around and people watch until the sun set.


In the morning, I started going north to see where the road I was trying to find. Back up into the mountains and one last look at the city I stayed in the night before.


There is always a roadside stand with some food.


Just a simple cheese casadia. It really isn't the food but the experiences. Being able to walk on the Mediterranean Sea beach the night before and now taking in mountain views eating a simple food. I fell in love with Turkey in so many ways.


And some of those mountain views


Don't turn in too tight

 

[Bigguy136]

And I found the other side


I knew I would be back for more Turkey in my future but I wanted to get back to Bulgaria
More typical hotels


But this hotel and town was different


I wasn't able to walk to town for a meal as it was a few miles away. All good, get out of my riding gear and take a swing into town for a meal.


And a morning sunrise with a tea. If only they had coffee....


I really enjoyed the town. It is on my very short list of places I want to retire to


I stayed most of the day and got a bite before I left town thinking I will be back. Got on the road and had the road to myself.

 

[Bigguy136]

You are a very good picture taker !!!

Thanks!!

 

[Bigguy136]

I come here just to check your thread, love it!!!!

Thank you so much for your kind words. Good to know people are enjoying!!

 

[Berg_Donk]

I'm really enjoying your thread too, thanks for posting

 

[Bigguy136]

My time in Turkey was coming to a close but I knew I would be back. Still being in Turkey, it was my typical of riding to a small town, find a place to sleep, find some food and walk around.
And this was my dinner for the evening.


Walking around, I found a market. I love going to the markets.
The people

The foods

The crowds

The smells. I love all of it

And then the closing for evening


When a market closes, it's time to get some sleep only to go back and ride more remote roads.


And some passes


The cherries were everywhere. 5 minutes and I had a full bag for later

 

[Bigguy136]

I arrived at a town and pulled into a Hilton. Why not.
Yep, $25 for a Hilton. I hate when they try to carry my stuff. I know they are required but I'm able so I prefer to take care of my own stuff.


And this is a $25 Hilton


And one reason for a Hilton is they had underground parking and full service car wash. I motioned to the attendants that I wanted to wash my own bike.
I needed to do some service work and figured I would rather do this in the shade of a garage. Having the car wash was a bonus.
I wonder how many people walk thru a Hilton lobby with oily hands....


And it was my brake pads that needed some attention. I carry extra sets but I was surprised they were worn out.


I could've eaten in the hotel restaurant but I prefer cheap food with great people and culture


And with a new day and new brake pads, it was time to ride some more





And with a hard day of remote dirt road riding, what better parking spot than in the restaurant??

 

[Bigguy136]

I'm really enjoying your thread too, thanks for posting

Very happy you are enjoying. Thanks!!!