Holiday trip (1)

The wife and I sailed from Hull to Zeebrugge and we rode down to the South of France, spending a couple of nights in Menton (on the Italian border).
We had ridden down the N85 "Route de Napoleon" which is a very interesting road - all kinds of corners, and I was delighted that I was able to stop in time when I met a "convoi excepcionel" (artic with a wide load) on my side of the road on a blind bend (sheer cliff one side, armco the other).
After Menton we rode into Italy and stayed in a hotel in Mestre, a short bus ride from Venice. No bikes in Venice - water taxis, water police, water delivery boats - you get the picture.
After playing tourists in Venice, we headed for Vienna. Took a wrong turning and found a lovely little hotel just outside Vienna. We're thinking about going back there next year.
From Vienna, we headed north to Brno in the Czech Republic. The Grand Hotel was great, and the WSBK meeting was an easy ride there and back and good to watch.
We saw our first and only rain heading back through Germany for Zeebrugge but still managed to get to Brugge a day early and found the crummiest hotel in Brugge. Lesson learned there !
Superfast Ferry on the way home, and a quick blast up the M90 / A85 - the FJR unloaded and cleaned in time for afternoon tea.
I can recommend P&O ferries, going abroad, riding the minor roads of France, holidaying on the Med, Brno (the Czech Republic is great if you like Scottish style food, plenty of it and cheap as chips) and Superfast Ferries if you want to travel on one of their sailing days.
The FJR was brilliant as usual, even with panniers, top box and tank bag overloaded, and I had no complaints from the pillion either.
Next posting will be the run to Estoril for the MotoGP !
I have some (not great) pictures which I will try to post.