With the Harleys to Istria with a stopover at the European Bike Week 2019 at Lake Faak
My wife Carmen, our friend Karle and I took our Harleys to Slovenia and Croatia this year.
Our machines: Spyros Harley Slim- year 2014, 103 engine, 1690cc;
Carmens Harley Dyna Street Bob- year 2016, 103 engine 1690cc;
Karles Harley Brake Out CVO- year 2017, 110 engine, 1801ccm;
On this year's route, we wanted to gain some time to get to the south quickly. So we started by roughing it on the highway for a few kilometers.
Our route ran via Munich-Salzburg-Villach. We refueled just before the Austrian border. We then continued through the Karawanken tunnel to Slovenia.
In the meantime, a kilometer-long queue of homeward-bound traffic had formed in the opposite lane. This time we were on the right side. After almost 540km, we first stopped for a coffee in Kranj and then looked for suitable accommodation.
Our first stop at a café along the main street turned out to be a 3-star hotel where we spent our first night. Top rooms, fair prices.
The staff were totally friendly, we didn't have to lug our main luggage up to the second floor but were allowed to leave it in a separate room.
After checking in, we went to the cozy terrace and enjoyed the delicious terrace and enjoyed a delicious meal consisting of grilled calamari, side dishes such as grilled vegetables and salads. We also had of course a few beers that we had earned.
After a good night's sleep in very comfortable beds
a rich and delicious biker's breakfast the next morning.
We then packed our luggage onto the planes and headed south.
further.
The route led to Ljubljana, Adelsberg and Kopper.
With the sun on our side, we drove another stretch of highway. We increasingly felt the warm southern air on our faces. It slowly got warmer and warmer.
It wasn't long before the heat felt like an oven. Now it was time to take off our warm jackets. We pulled into a parking lot and got rid of our warm clothes. Carmen (The Rocker Lady) decided to carry on in just a T-shirt and vest.
After a short drive, we left the highway in the direction of the sea.
We continued along the coast on the H6 to Izola.
When we arrived in Izola, we stopped at a café on the promenade and parked our bikes right in front of it. We took a seat and chilled in the cozy seats of the café with a good latte macchiato and delicious cream slices.
Slowly the relaxation became noticeable. Lolling around and watching the hustle and bustle on the street. Interesting people, hot girls girls, summery well-dressed as well as curious characters filled the Catwalk on the street.
-At some point, Chullio also pulled up. A cool-styled guy on his street bike and let his long-legged companion in a summery look get off. A long-haired, blonde chika with a graceful stem.
After a kiss goodbye and elegant gestures, she went her way and Chullio, wearing dark glasses, a smart shirt and jeans, started his machine and left. Awesome performance. I'll leave out the rest in between!
At some point we had to leave our stand. We set off and got on our bikes. We continued on the 111 along the coast to Umag.
Sometimes you pass restaurants with a barbecue right on the street. Crispy suckling pigs turn on the spit and invite you to enjoy a delicious meal. But unfortunately you can't always make a stop. Shit.
After a great drive through the beautiful countryside and blue water in the distance, we stopped at Umag right by the sea. After the drive in the heat, the beautiful blue sea beckoned us to take a dip.
It didn't take much for me to almost get out of my clothes and jump naked into the water. - But first I had to find somewhere to stay.
Umag is a small town with a nice promenade along the harbor with its cafés and restaurants. Life pulsates with locals, fishermen and tourists.
Here we went in search of suitable accommodation. Carmen, our „check-in guide specialist“, found a nice guesthouse near Umag at a fair price.
The two-bedroom apartment was comfortably furnished and very clean. We were able to park our Harleys in the courtyard under fig and olive trees.
Our hostess gave us a very friendly welcome and immediately invited us for a Turkish coffee.
Beforehand, she gave us some freshly picked figs from her own tree. Delicious figs 😉
On the terrace, which was surrounded by pomegranate, olive and fig trees, we drank the delicious Turkish coffee. Rosemary bushes exuded their intense scent, giving us a Mediterranean flair.
After a nice smal talk, we moved into our apartment. After that, it was straight back on the bikes to explore the area.
A few kilometers further on, we passed a campsite and drove to the beach. We lingered for a while and enjoyed the rest of the day by the sea, reflecting on our trip. The beach took some getting used to.
Couldn't believe that people spend their vacation on this beach. The huts were all painted a brown color and resembled a settlement. The smell of sewers was in the air.
As a seaside resort, I could really imagine other places being better. The fact that vacationers felt comfortable in such an area was incomprehensible to me.
We were slowly starting to feel hungry. So we got on our bikes and drove back to our headquarters.
Freshly showered, made up and powdered, we set off in the direction of Umag.
A little way back from the highway, we saw a barbecue restaurant. Its location and lighting made it look appealing and gave us a good impression. As the parking lot was full, we assumed that the food there must be good!
So we turned off and rolled into the parking lot. The eyes of some of the guests were directed at us and our machines. Well, every Harley rider knows this feeling. Every piston stroke becomes a great performance!
We sat down at a table in a nice place and waited eagerly for the waiter. We ordered what we could.
The menu consisted of so many delicacies that we had a hard time choosing.
From pizzas, antipasti, grilled dishes, fish, grilled vegetables, potato slices, delicious salads and tasty desserts, everything was available. A feast to die for.
We enjoyed the delicious food and lingered in the pleasant atmosphere. It was clear to us that we would definitely come back here again.
Well fed and with a full backpack, we headed back to our accommodation.
It was still nice and warm when we swung onto our bikes in just a T-shirt and vest and disappeared into the night with the rumbling sound of a Harley.
When we arrived at our accommodation, our hostess and her family were still sitting outside and invited us in for a glass of local wine. We enjoyed the friendly company together and left our second day relaxed.
At some point we went to bed. The beds were super comfy, so we fell asleep with the balcony door open under a full moon with crickets chirping and the wonderful evening air.
The next morning we had fried eggs, cheese and bacon for breakfast.
We realized that our location wasn't so bad and decided to stay not so bad and decided to stay here for two nights.
We rode our Harleys through the countryside on the well-maintained roads and enjoyed the beautiful countryside in the best weather.
We drove to Novigrad and explored the small town with its charming harbor. After a coffee in a café-bar, we drove on to Porec'.
The route led across a strait. We drove over it on a causeway-like road. It was so impressive. You feel like you're driving at water level with a view surrounded by water to the left and right.
Along the roads you pass fruit and vegetable stalls. Olive oil and peppers are also offered to passers-by. And then there are the full-fat watermelons that would be very difficult to transport on a moped.
Porec' is an interesting and very lively town with an old town center.
The restaurant is located in a tower from a bygone era and extends over three floors. A rustic wooden staircase leads to the upper floor. From the top you have a wonderful view over Porec. Porec' is well worth a visit.
At some point, the sun got so hot that we decided to head towards Rovinj to find a suitable beach.
We went back to our machines and thundered off.
Somewhere we simply turned left and actually came to a beach. There was even a beach bar there. Great for hanging out. We parked our bikes within sight and went for a swim.
In the evening, we drove past a supermarket and bought something to eat. We cooked ourselves some spaghetti. Our hostess gave us freshly boiled tomatoes, which she boiled in a huge pot during the day to make a sugo.
The sauce I had prepared spread all over the house. So we invited our lovely hosts over for dinner. And so we all sat together again on the terrace and had a great evening with wine and stories. Chiwilly
The next day we set off again. We said goodbye to Maria and her warm family. She gave each of us a glass of homemade sugo and two bottles of white wine.
The hospitality of these people was so great that we will always be happy to stop off at Maria's again. Many thanks again to „quala“ and „Naswiden“. We continued south on the 75 via Porec' without potato salad to Pula.
Banjole was to be our last domicile in Istria.
Below Pula, we looked for suitable accommodation again. accommodation. We drove around the area a bit. Driving was really fun in this really fun in this beautiful area. We drove partly directly along the water's edge and passed bathing bays where we wanted to make another stop.
A beer was out of the question again at this time, but we did treat ourselves to a delicious latte macchiato and ate the infamous cream slice. Not weighed out to about 125g like we do here. No, here you get a piece of cream slice with approx. 300g. A real biker slice 😉
We parked the bikes right in front of it with a view of the the street. Theater was the order of the day again.
We actually owed our domicile in Banjole to our nice waitress in Premantura, who had recommended it to us.
A sweet waitress with a friendly smile greeted us warmly and we struck up a conversation.
Yes, yes, I know: she just wanted our money....Whoever thinks like that, should stay at home. It's not for pessimists!
We drove to the accommodation in question and were immediately pleasantly surprised. We were offered a complete cottage with a parking space for the machines in the courtyard - that's all you need!
From here, we explored the rest of Istria along the coast and visited the various places with their bays, harbors and beaches every day.
In the evening, we drove to a barbecue restaurant that a local had recommended to us. The recommendation turned out to be brilliant. We also had an excellent and inexpensive meal there.
The next day we set our sights on Pula. The city is a bit bigger than the other towns we visited. We parked our bikes near the center and went for breakfast.
We strolled through the market, on through the fish halls, past the many stalls and straight into the city center. We found a café that we liked.
We waited there for an eternity until we decided to move to signal to the only and overworked waiter in the café that there were new customers.
Well, at some point we were able to place our order. There was a lot to see here too.
Strengthened, we made our way to the infamous Arena, the amphitheater. The most famous and most important sight in Pula. A bastion of a bygone era.
All around full of tourists and us in between.
At some point we also passed the Arch of Triumph, the golden gate built in 29-27 BC by a family called Sergei. It's really impressive!
To the northeast of the hill in the middle of the town, you will come to a Roman theater. After passing this, you reach the fort. A fortress from the 1630's. If you climb up the observation tower, you have a gigantic panoramic view of Pula. Cannons adorn the large square around it and give the impression of the brute force used to protect the city.
So we spent the rest of our days in our cute little house with a hearty breakfast in the company of Blacky and Miezi. Our trips took us through the beautiful countryside to beaches where we spent at least half a day swimming.
In the evenings we also had something home-cooked for a change and enjoyed the evenings on our cozy terrace and under the pavilion with a glass of wine and a few beers by candlelight. Chiwilly
After a week in Istria, we went via Opatija to Carinthia, Villach Faaker See for the Europen Bikeweek.
In Opatija, we had another coffee on the promenade and enjoyed the remaining rays of sunshine. Shortly afterwards, it was time to get on the bikes and get out of here quickly.
The air became cooler and the sky became increasingly overcast. The gray clouds gathered over the sea and followed us all the way to the highway. We reached the toll booth in the light rain.
There we decided to put on our rain gear. From then on, we headed north towards Villach in the pouring rain. Unfortunately, it wasn't just the rain that was our companion, the annoying traffic jam also prolonged our journey in the rain. With constant stop and go, it was a tough and rainy ride to our destination.
Here is an appeal to all drivers, you should normally write this to the petition! Or to the ADAC. It is incomprehensible that motorcyclists in the heat or in the rain between the stationary cars in traffic jams to drive through traffic jams. The conditions in summer when the sun hits the helmet are the worst for motorcyclists and an additional burden on the road. traffic.
What kind of logic is behind not allowing motorcyclists to pass? The car driver has it easy, sitting in his air-conditioned vehicle.
Such stubborn behavior is familiar from days gone by and does not belong in this day and age! Thank you to understanding drivers who give way. I thanked them with a hand salute.
A big thank you to everyone who is so loyal. Of course, such actions should only take place at walking pace!
We reached the Karawanken tunnel in the pouring rain and enjoyed the warmth in the tunnel for the first time. We finally reached our destination.
We were once again warmly welcomed at our home in Ledenitzen. warmly welcomed. After checking in, we first had a delicious beer with our friends with our friends Manne and Tina, who had traveled from Fulda. Of course of course, the delicious food from the Rausch kitchen was not to be missed. After such a day the portions couldn't be big enough.
The next three days were dominated by rain, so that the mood of the exhibitors was a little low. Nevertheless, everything was well attended. The bikers did not miss out on their annual fun.
The days before were sunny, so that many people were able to go on their trips.
On the third day, we had to say goodbye to our companion Karle. Karle drove home from Bregenz with his buddy Udo, accompanied by a buddy he met there.
We drove our last stage with Manne and Tina from Fulda. We went to Rijeka, Krk, Cres and on to Mali Losinj.
It was still raining on the day we left. Once we arrived back in Opatija, we looked for a nice café and enjoyed another delicious latte macchiato. At the same time, Carmen looked for accommodation for us and found a guesthouse with really nice and polite people.
The host first took us to his bar, where we were invited for a glass of wine.
The white wine had won the gold medal last year and tasted excellent.
Of course, there was also a homemade Slibowitz and a grappa from the region. That might have greased the palate!
After moving into our rooms with sea view, we made ourselves a snack with delicious things we had bought in a supermarket beforehand. had bought in a supermarket.
Finally the end of the day. We briefly reviewed the day and looked forward to tomorrow.
The sun's rays sparkled into the room through the cracks in the store and woke us up.
After a good morning shower and a good breakfast, we continued our journey to the ferry in the direction of Cres.
The crossing in the sunshine was really fun again. Once we arrived on the island of Cres, we drove straight to the small town of Cres and strolled through the pretty old town and along the harbor.
The constantly fragrant smells of Croatian cuisine wafting around our noses quickened our appetite. So we didn't have to wait much longer and looked for a suitable place to satisfy our hunger. Delicious, grilled octopus, pizzas, pasta dishes and, as always, delicious!
Once we were full and refreshed, we wandered around a bit more
When we passed our restaurant again, the waiter called out to us. We looked at each other and couldn't understand his gestures until he disappeared into the restaurant and came back to us with a bag.
Manne had left all his things there, including his ID, wallet and keys.
This also showed how honest these people are. Manne was happy and we were very impressed.
Our journey then continued in a relaxed manner. The routes on the islands are a dream for every motorcyclist.
Stone walls erected by hand at a height of around 1m tower up along the road, protecting animals and passers-by from each other. From time to time you pass old, neglected stone huts which nevertheless exude their charm.
It is also an Eldorado for cyclists, some of whom you meet here.
The landscape not only changes its course from long straights to winding passages, but also the scenery changes from rocky formations to bushy regions and olive, fig and other trees such as spruce. A great fauna. You can even see sheep grazing under olive trees in the enclosed gardens from time to time.
Here you can enjoy the area. The diversity of this idyllic landscape is fun to cross comfortably on a Harley. Here you should be considerate and keep to the speed limits. Even if you are sometimes overtaken by the locals.
If the sign says 40km, then you should stick to 40km.
To be honest, I'm not one of the most correct people when it comes to
speed limits, but you should stick to them here.
On these slippery roads, the braking distance, if it comes to that,
is extremely long.
An animal suddenly jumping out or a vehicle driving out of a side street
vehicle may be noticed in time, but at the increased speed it is no longer
but with the increased speed it is no longer enough to stop in time!
in time!
On the hills, you can see the beautiful blue sea and long to get there to get there as quickly as possible. From a distance, you can partly see the the route and enjoy driving through this fantastic landscape. „ Oh that's exciting!“
Our journey took us across the island to Mali Losinj. There we had a guesthouse near Jasna for the rest of the week. We spent the days chilled out sunbathing, chose a few beaches and lingered until the evening. until the evening. We then went to the local restaurants for a delicious meal.
We also met our friends Andreas and Angelika from Chiemsee who were moored in a bay with their boat. With them and their friends we visited a local restaurant which offers delicious Croatian cuisine decorated with a great garden and lots of utensils.
We spent some lovely days in beautiful bays and small towns with their idyllic harbors. And in no time at all we were back on the road.
These days also passed quickly and so we set off on our journey home.
This time via Krk to Rijeka and then with a stopover in Ledenitzen.
The weather had also held out, so that the next day day we made our way home with our machines.
Our tour initially headed towards Salzburg. In the German we left the highway near Rosenheim and bypassed the traffic jam with a stopover a stopover with friends.
I hope you enjoyed my story about Istria and found it inspiring.
Greetings to you
Spyro
Spyridon Maass
from Schwarzenberg near Wangen im Allgäu
Croatian:
Dobredan- hello
quala- thank you
Naswiden-see you again
Ugnotovetsche-have a nice evening
Chiwilly- for the good
