InvictaMoto's Devall Boys!

The Devall-Boys aka Charley and Ewan’s (I’m the bearded Obe-Wan!)  “The Long Way Back” will only have one overnight stop. As we have two days to get home from Brno the return will need to be on the motorways of Europe.  Boring plods along the dalnice to Prague and then to the border near Rozvadov.  Then it will be autobahn the rest of the way through Germany.  The route has been plotted on Tyre – see pic. When I last went in 2011, Claire and I had built in a few nights in Prague to do the touristy things, and we were in the car!  Although Claire had been with me in 2004 as well, there wasn’t time for much of a look around the sites/sights.  This year no time to stop and stare at the tourist sights…. I had booked a hotel with booking.com and as they often do, emailed to offer me deals in the area where I have already booked. I tend to ignore those emails, often deleting them before reading. But this one I didn’t. And so I swapped hote...

I was looking at a non-motorway journey across country rather than the all motorway route via Prague and came up with this journey. I have done the route using S23 from the České Budějovice area across to Brno a few times before on rides out from my flat when I lived there in the 90's. I'd like to do it again to see what has changed and give us a chance to see something of the country rather than the faceless motorway.

Although I have a B&B booked in Brno, we have two offers of somewhere to stay instead. First was Jiří who offered us room in his house that he is currently building , and recently my former school colleague Lilka said we could stay there in her house. The advantage is that she is in Popuvky near the main road between the circuit and the city. This advantage is that a campsite pops up on the football ground and the free bus stops practically outside the door.  She also has a swimming pool..... Decisions, decisions! Either way I have cancelled the B&B booking!!

Tickets bought. Committed now....

The last time I went in 2011 the tickets arrived today. After some upheaval and a change in the organisation in Brno and Moravia, the website became live today. Only Silver tickets at €52 and Gold at €68 are available but when I click on the link to buy online, the GP isn't an option on the "shop page",  Hopefully in a few days the link will be sorted. My Czech frend, Jiří, has offered to buy the tickets for us and I can send him the money. http://www.automotodrombrno.cz/grand-prix/en/

I have had a look in a bit more depth now that we have booked hotels on the way out to Brno. To cut down the second and third days a little so that we arrive at a decent time in Czech on the Friday afternoon I built in the overnight in Gent.   Day 1 - I can easily have the Thursday off to get ready and leave but Neill may be working.  According to Tyre/Google Maps from my house to Gent is around 134 miles.  So I reckon a Shuttle no later than 1800, and earlier if possible, is the way to go. When you add the hour time difference on it starts to look like a very late arrival. Day 2 - this is a longer day,  that Tyre reckons is over 400 miles and around six and a half hours in the saddle. We'll need to look at fuel stops as the Rocket has a range of about 200 miles at 70mph. The third day is a shorter day but as a lot of it is on the Czech motorway system so a bit of an unknown quantity. The D1 was from Prague to Brno was terri...

The ball has gathered a bit of momentum.  We will undoubtedly use the Shuttle to cross to France. It is the quickest and by August 2016, there ought to be no holdups with incursions into the tunnel by would-be migrants. Fingers crossed. We have a rough plan. Day 1 - late crossing and get on the road to Ghent/Gent in Belgium, stay at YH. Day 2 - long day in the saddle to Nuremberg/Nurnberg Day 3 - in the saddle for a shorter distance to Brno Day 4/5 - local and GP.  Maybe even get a chance to see a footie match if Brno are at home on Saturday. Day 6 - long day in the saddle to Frankfurt/Main area. Day 7 - longish day to Shuttle and home. I have booked a hotel in Nuremberg on booking.com with the usual "pay later/free cancellation" system. After a long day in the saddle a hotel with parking in the centre, where there are bars and food, seems the best idea.  It's not expensive but does charge to use the garage to park the bikes. Bratwurst und bier. ...