Europe 2008

Comment by Bill Parker on August 10, 2011 at 4:16pm

Vultures circling?

Comment by Paul Regan on August 10, 2011 at 9:23pm

Could be they sensed something Bill. For truly, I felt like death warmed up for a few hours on that day!!

Comment by Bill Parker on August 11, 2011 at 9:30am

It is impressive that while many forum participants cite stories of summer tours in Europe you appear to show that colder weather is not a (total) barrier to touring there

Comment by Paul Regan on August 11, 2011 at 1:28pm

We went in late March and were there for 3 months so gambled (and lost!!) that the weather would not be too cold for the first two or three weeks. We found YHA and other accommodation was virtually guaranteed before the summer holidays began and the cycleways, roads etc were nothing like as busy as they are in July-August. We find September-Cotober is also a good time to go for the same reasons.

Comment by Neil Alexander on August 11, 2011 at 2:55pm

My wife and I made a similar gamble and also lost in 1987 (before global warming was on everyone's lips).

We had romantic notions that Greece would be warm in late March but were snowed upon the first time we went uphill. We retreated half way across the Med to Crete for two weeks and it was a bit warmer but only just.

After a month in Greece we headed north into (then) Yugoslavia but again hit snow as we climbed over the Alps into Italy. The planned route to Austria had been ruled out due to that pass being closed by heavy snow.

It's for a very good reason that most of the Euro-populace goes on holiday in August!

Comment by Paul Regan on August 11, 2011 at 5:51pm

Hi Neil .. took a quick look at your photos too and some great tours!! Three months ago I was on that same road heading from Narromine to Dubbo, Wellington, Gulgong, Mudgee etc. It is a great ride with some lovely little places along the way too .. Wongarbon and Geurie to mention a couple. We used to live at Mudgee and often head there for a few days of cycling.

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