Traveling by motorcycle in Europe sounds like a great idea, but I want to take a look at this adventure before I start it, and do everything I can to ensure I experience as much as I can. On some of my past trips across America and elsewhere, I have raced along for days, without very much of what I was passing through. The temptation is to select a far away place and then see how fast I can get there, often on boring highways. Lonely nights in motels, eating alone in restaurants, or fast food eaten on a bed ended each day, and back on the road to repeat it all in the morning.
This trip will be different. I plan to camp when possible, and hope to meet others doing the same. I plan to have breakfast and then ride to a nearby village or town, or extraordinary attraction and get off the bike! That's right, after a few hours riding, I want to be moving around off the bike, interacting with people. An hour or two at an outdoor cafe, people watching - or strolling through a market buying bread and cheese for a picnic lunch. Find an interesting place in town to spend some time. Maybe move on to another location in the early afternoon and then pick a place to spend the night, getting off the road early to avoid the dreaded fear of "no place to rest"
One thought is to stay at hostels once in a while. With shared dorm style accommodations I am sure to meet some folks to talk to or share a meal.
Another strategy is to find a central town in an interesting area and spend a few nights on one place. With a room as a base of operations, I can get off the bike and spend time really getting to know an area (a big city like Paris for example) without having to worry about the bike and gear all day.
I also plan to attend a number of events on this trip, The 24 Hours of Le Mans car race for one, and a motorcycle adventurer rally in the UK.
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