i miei viaggi
my trips

TWIN SISTERS AT NORDKAPP

Avoiding to debate about the so many epic enterprises carried out by several motorcycle heroes, such as  reaching Vietnam with a 125 cc Vespa or a trip around the globe, the classic mythic goal, for an European motorcyclist, is, without any doubt, Nordkapp. That means to reach the northern point of the old continent to take a picture under the famous iron globe, with its sundial showing an inclination of  71° 10’ 21”.

Internet offers a huge quantity of pictures, movies and documents reported by several motorcyclists who reached Nordkapp: so many histories, where everybody likes to share his adventure with others, either to be pleased with his enterprise, either to give advises to whoever would like to emulate him. From these stories and from our experience, we are sure that the easiest, the safest and less expensive way to be delighted to reach Nordkapp, riding a bike, would be to buy a good second hand BMW.The idea is to invest on a very reliable bike, without  vibrations, wonderful braking capabilities, very quiet and with warming handles. It will enough  to jump on it and to be patient to arrive.

The two of us, Giorgio and Sirio, reached Nordkapp the 21st June 2010. But we have chosen to complicate the journey by spending more than needed for a newer second hand vehicle and by accepting  more risks and  less comforts. So we are not as much happy for belonging to the big community of those riders who reached Nordkapp, but much happier for belonging to the short list of the few who made it with two bikes both aging 40.

It is with a little and healthy love for our Country that we talk about two wonderful 1970 Moto Guzzi V7 Special. They proudly show the eagle that the Guzzi Family adopted in memory of Giovanni Ravelli, founding partner of the company and, as we two are, Navy pilot. We are happy to highlight that, during our journey, we did not cross any other bike as old as ours. Moreover, our fellow travelers were riding bikes less older than ten years and we were the oldest fellows of the groups we met. We two pilots together with our twin sisters made a total of almost two centuries. Because of all this, we are not interested to list already known details of the journey, but we like to explain how our history begun and what is behind our decision.

Everything starts many years ago, when Giorgio and I, two Navy pilots at the and of their active flying career, find ourselves in the same office and discover to share the same underlying passion for vintage bikes, Moto Guzzi in particular. Time after time, our friendship grows stronger and our passion for vintage bikes increases. The period came we became members of the Italian historic bikes association, each one owning a Moto Guzzi Airone Sport. Giorgio, vintage bikes famished, in 2003 bought a V7 Special, which he restored and used for some summer time journeys. I, many years ago, had a V700, that I sold, for youth mistake and because badly advised: soon a small amount of money, but the V7 is gone. In 2009 I reach my pension and the redemption arrives: a V7 Special with 100.000 Kilometers to be restored. During the ongoing restoration works, talking with Giorgio, the idea to reach Nordkapp, born as a joke, became a project. As a consequence, the restoration works deepened; all the bike components are dismounted and restored, in order to put the bike in the best condition to comply with a such challenging journey. Giorgio, from his side, carries out relevant preventive works to better prepare his bike for the journey.

After several months of  hard work and exhausting researches for spare parts, in May, the twin sisters are better than new and ready to leave. Our intention, taken for joke, becomes a concrete decision: we have to bring them to Nordkapp for summer solstice. Despite the confidence on the works done, many worries raisedabout forcing two 40 years old bikes to make a 8.000 kilomenters journey. As everybody opts for recent vehicles, the decision to use our old bikes appears hazardous at least. Neverther less the decision is taken and Nordkapp gets to be reached!

Day 14th, after our rendezvous in Parma and the pictures shot at the Moto Guzzi farmer in Mandello del Lario, where our twin sisters were born 40 years ago, our first stop is on South Germany, having crossed Alps under an heavy rain. The 16th, after the boring crossing of Germany, relaying on two perfect bikes, although not too much stressed in respect to their age, we arrive in Kiel to take the wonderful ferry to Oslo. On board the ferry we meet a lot of riders heading to Nordkapp, who, congratulating us on our twin sisters, are somehow skeptical about our intentions. Days 17th and 18th are spent heading toward the great North, in respect of low speed limits of winding roads; days characterized by continuous rain that do not allow us to admire the wonderful landscapes we are crossing. Day 19th we take the ferry to Lofoten Island, here again under an heavy rain; luckily, we have a tiny sunshine morning in those rocky islands, then rain again. Day 20th the same story: lakes with rain, rivers with rain, reindeers with rain and engine trouble to one bike with rain, luckily quickly resolved.

June the 21st, summer solstice, last inbound leg: Alta – Nordkapp. At least it does not rain anymore, but we enjoy a cloudy sky, temperature 2° and about 30 knots of wind. At noon our dream becomes a reality: twin sisters made it bringing us to the so dreamed and desired destination. In the happiness of our success, our first thanks go to our mechanics Sandro e Tiberio, who had been so patient to bear our interferences in their work and so professionals to put the bikes in the best condition to make the journeys. We take the famous pictures under the globe and we are ready to come back. We cross North Lapland, a really gloomy and remote place, but wonderful. For the first time, we experience the midnight sun, although through some clouds.

Day 22nd we discover the existence of the sun, which, from now on, will be our fellow traveler. We cross North Finland and Sweden: very nice places, but lucking in all those emotions and concerns of the fist half of the journey. 25th we leave the Scandinavian Peninsula and we cross the bridges over the Baltic Sea to Denmark; than we start the boring leg to the Italian border. Day 27th, in Milan, the twin sisters split up to go to their respective houses; each twin feels very sad to run without the company of the other.

Was it worth to get so mad to go to Nordkapp with two 40 years old bikes, just to take a picture under the globe? Guess the answer, but you know how we think.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS

1. •to afford a such challenging journey, bikes get to be fully efficient and reliable, since something happens there, you must be aware to be really isolated, also if you may meet many friendly bikers to relay on;
   

2. •it is easy to find petrol, campings, and motels with nice breakfast;
   

3. •supermarkets are well distributed, but it is wise to have something to eat on board the bike; camp stove, spaghetti and lyophilized food are very useful;
   

4. •a good personal equipment is very important, especially when it rains and it is cold;
   

5. •many tanks to Holy Windshield.
   

SOME STATISTICS

1. •over 8000 kilometers clocked in 14 days for a consumption of about 400 liters of gas;
   

2. •8 countries visited (Switzerland, Lickestain, Austria, Germany, Norway, Finland and Sweden);
   

3. •only two malfunctions, quickly resolved.

i miei viaggi
my trips