I had been noticing the Old Trannie's temperature gauge had been a little higher than usual, which mean that the fan was coming on with a much greater frequency than in the UK. This was a tad worrying as although she wasn't boiling, clearly the problem was not getting better.... and the outside temperatures weren't getting any lower.
So, managed to waypoint a few Honda Motorbike shops on the way, with a view to getting a replacement thermostat.
Tried "quickest route" on the GPS, and within seconds I was on some bloody Autobahn, with slow trucks, fast trucks, and idiots in supercars tailgating you.... pulled over for petrol, went for a pee that cost just under a Euro (70 cents), and that was the last straw. Off at the next exit and back onto the country roads.
Tonight's stop was "Couch-surfing" again, and my host had sent a last minute message saying she had to work late, so any time after 7pm would be better .... that suited me perfectly.
The roads were a beautiful mix of forest and rolling hills, ... The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music paints the picture.... but with Motorhead blasting through my headphones.
Just over the Austrian border, I stopped for lunch in a little place called Scharding... quaint cobbled streets and coffee & cake shops. Hottest part of the day now, so chucked the jacket over the handlebars and had a Apfelstrudle & Latte.
Half an hour later about to leave, and wondered, where did that oil slick come from .... my heavy jacket had activated the chain lube valve, and dumped the lot on the floor ! Whoops, time to leave.
A good part of the afternoon's ride followed the Danube river for 100km or so. Excellent riding which made up for the mornings calamities.
Arrived at my hosts apartments at 7.30pm and was warmly welcomed ... tonight I really did have a couch (sofa) to sleep on, but it was very comfy. Zoltan & Eszter made me most welcome, but as late as it was, pizza was the easiest eating option.
So a quick word with my hosts and they found me a bowl to drain the anti-freeze into, and it was time to rip the thermostat out.....never easy on a modern prissy super-styled click together bike. You can see it, but the laborious job of removing those plastic panels is where the time goes.
I'm sure the designers never have to work on these machines.... and whatever happened to simple nuts and bolts. OK rant over, job done, and I'm on the road by 10.30 ... much later than I planned and with 500km still to cover.
Tried 2 places, and neither had, but then a mechanic came out and in broken English tried to explain "but eez normal to run zis hot, eez OK"
I'm not convinced, but without a stat, its not going to hurt, so I worried no more .... now I got some serious time to make up.
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| Pretty village |
Tonight's stop was "Couch-surfing" again, and my host had sent a last minute message saying she had to work late, so any time after 7pm would be better .... that suited me perfectly.
The roads were a beautiful mix of forest and rolling hills, ... The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music paints the picture.... but with Motorhead blasting through my headphones.
Just over the Austrian border, I stopped for lunch in a little place called Scharding... quaint cobbled streets and coffee & cake shops. Hottest part of the day now, so chucked the jacket over the handlebars and had a Apfelstrudle & Latte.
Half an hour later about to leave, and wondered, where did that oil slick come from .... my heavy jacket had activated the chain lube valve, and dumped the lot on the floor ! Whoops, time to leave.
A good part of the afternoon's ride followed the Danube river for 100km or so. Excellent riding which made up for the mornings calamities.
Arrived at my hosts apartments at 7.30pm and was warmly welcomed ... tonight I really did have a couch (sofa) to sleep on, but it was very comfy. Zoltan & Eszter made me most welcome, but as late as it was, pizza was the easiest eating option.
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| Goodnight. |