Switzerland is lovely and the people are very friendly - shame the drivers and the Police aren't.   Saying that I did get shot at in Switzerland by a young fella with an air gun!  Luckily for him he can run faster than me .......   Apparently it is bright, sunny and 27 degrees in central Switzerland today ...... bas**rds!  Bet there's still snow on the side of the roads on a couple of the passes though!   When I was there in June, it was 30 degrees with 3 foot of snow still remaining at the side of car parks etc!                                                                                                                                                                             

really?  :-S  Crap  I really dont want any snow.   Think im all sorted now, got my triangle etc  today.  Just cleaned the bike in the dark, so no idea what it looks like lol.   Packing clothes and getting GPS ready now.  I'm quite nervous about it all.  Eeek                                                                                                                                                                             

lol @ cleaning the bike in the dark !  Have a great time Matt, hope it all goes smoothly for you ... no making rudey sculptures in the snow !  Tek care.. and Ride Safe !                                                                                                                                                                              

Bon voyage, Matt!                                                                                                                                                                              

and don,t forget if yer gonna pee in all that snow after 10 p.m youv.e gotta do it squatting no standing(good pieces of info there bluesboy)  whatever you do enjoy it & stay safe..                                                                                                                                                                             

 Spain is a little different from the rest of Europe , in that the spanish Police have typically spanish laid back views on things .....   "Hey ..... he no bother anyone .... he ok!!"   (Unless you're speeding through towns however)   Yea, that privilige is reserved for the TAXI DRIVERS                                                                                                                                                                               

Oh Spain (not that layed back) only EU country that it is illegal to tow a trailer behind a solo motorcycle!!!   Although I've heard some peeps have done it!   Allways allow an extra day in Spain (everyithing is Manyana Manyana) tomorrow tomorrow lol   Swiss HATE any petrol head!!!!!!!!!!                                                                                                                                                                             

Have a good un Matt and everyone else who's going ...please don't forget to take all spare bulbs ie..headlight, indicater and tail light  they really are strict for those and the triangle in france. Matt I managed to get a triangle off ebay (new) for seven quid.                                                                                                                                                                             

its only me going mate, but its ok i kinda wanna go alone so i can do my own thing.   I got my triangle and high vis jacket set from halfords for 16 euros.  Got a spare headlight for a zzr600, just so i can pretend ive got one if i get stopped lol.  Can't bloody carry indicator ones too. My god, the amount of things ive gotta carry!!!  I've barely got space for my clothes anymore.  This damn triangle thing is massive, AND its folded up!!!  Not to mention the medical kit, tool kits, spare bulbs, documentation, waterproofs.... thank god ive got these panniers on now.                                                                                                                                                                             

Erm, Matt... are you en route now??   I thought you left yesterday....                                                                                                                                                                             

Clothes? Clothes?!   Spare pair o'socks, spare pair o'chuddies and a toothbrush. Wear whatever else you want to carry with you - sorted                                                                                                                                                                               

This is my clothes list for touring; Max 5 T-shirts (1 per day) Max 5 pairs of grundies (1 per day) Max 3 pairs of socks (I can put up with changing every other day) 1 pair of jeans 1 pair of shorts 1 pair of swimming shorts 1 pair of trainers 1 or 2 decent shirts for evening wear if I'm liable to eating anywhere posh   And that's pretty much it, maybe a thin fleece if the evenings are going to be chilly. If I'm going for more than 5 days (common) then I wash!  (Clothes that is, clearly I wash ME every day!!)                                                                                                                                                                             

Wannabes clothes list:   1 pair of boots 1 pair of jeans                                                                                                                                                                                

  I could live to regret that post, eh?!                                                                                                                                                                              

the image is etched  xk's mind!poor sod cant sleep at nights now!!tossin an turnin all night ancha me old mucka!!                                                                                                                                                                              

Not too much turnin!   (close yr eyes, or look away, Wannabe).