formally

Chaney's Lifestyle

"with a few more photo's"

These are a few memories of a journey I made with Rob & Richard of the Bats Scooter Club - Euro Vespa June 1996 - 50 years of Vespa

Euro Vespa 1996...all loaded up and on my way...I had to meet Rob & Richard in London at 6pm...a standard T5 with 8 days supply of clothes, food and other goodies...inc, airbed tent and double sleeping bag (big fat bastard you know)...I took this piccy on a service station on the M1...50 miles done...1000+ to do...this was almost the last bit of sunshine I saw til I got to San Remo

Time for a snack...Rob & Richard discussing the pro's & con's of whether to lend me a tin opener...I decided to cut down on my food expense by taking tin's of soup and the like with me...who forgot to pack a tin opener???

San Remo...the Italian Riviera in the middle of June...please notice the suntan oil...cut off jeans...t shirt...and the sarcasm...on the journey there it snowed...it rained...the winds blew...thunder and lightning...did I mention the snow & the rain...this is where I shed 28lb of waterproof clothing before I melted away...the sun does exist...see...£10 for a pair of clip on shade's wasn't a waste...

Don't be fooled by the sunshine...although the snow has stopped it is still cold...this is my first petrol stop on my journey back home...Rob & Richard had to go to the airport to get Rob's missus on a plane back to the UK...as I had to be back at work on Wednesday I made the journey home alone...all was quiet here til a mechanic saw the UK licence plate...the Italians thought I was mad...touring on a shopping bike...

Travelling alone has it's benefits...on the return journey I managed to stop and take some breathtaking piccy's...this is the last leg of the journey as far as Italy is concerned...climbing the winding roads and through the many tunnels up the Alps...and into Switzerland...I had to transfer all my luggage to the rear carrier as the headlight was shining of the bin liners that were keeping my tent & sleeping bag dry and blinding me as I weaved my way through the many tunnels...Capt. Duck & saucepan still intact...

I love this shot...Ostende ferry port...the guy's on the AJS's could not believe it when I told them where I had been...the whole journey as far as piccy's go filled two photo albums...these are just a few to wet the appetite of those people that wish to undertake such a journey...don't sit there for years planning it...just get on with it...I have a ride around Europe every year...but not normally as far south as Italy...normally Holland, Germany, Luxembourg & Belgium...and it is usually on an old P range and sidecar...