Rideforsmiles, Solo Australian to Africa Europe and Beyond, starting June 26th 2011.

[rideforsmiles]

I came across this amazing looking dirt track through the hills 30k's outisde of Split but I wasnt game to go off road untill I find some information on it as you can imagine. See im not a total nutjob then again maybe ive gone soft ahahaha

[rideforsmiles]

My first view of Split Croatia, this was on a shitty day im sure it must be absolutley spectacular on a beautiful day might have to hang around till then, its actually a really nice city, surprised yet again.

[rideforsmiles]

Hi NaMi loved Slovenia was the first time I had thought I felt a little sad to be leaving a country in Europe, something grabbed me about it mostly the people I had the good fortune to come across. Thanks for the info on Fortica was a great days riding with some great scenary.

Originally Posted by NaMi

Hi Sheldon!
Nice trip and even better pics.

"Dont ask I have no idea what it was some kind of olden day look out I guess had nice views though."

The ruins of a small fortress on the very tip of Pag Island is called Fortica.

[rideforsmiles]

No hot girl yet Bavarian, but Suzanne who owns this joint is blonde and attractive, its just taking me a few extra days to break her and her boyfriend up so broke out the camping gear ha ha and got relaxed for a few days lol This apartment is right on the waterfront a few minutes walk fron the centre of town for 45 or so aussie bucks a night so really nice place to chill out while the weather is crappy.

Originally Posted by bavarian

Hi Sheldon,

holed up in some nice hotel with a hot girl??

[LOZ]

Originally Posted by rideforsmiles

I came across this amazing looking dirt track through the hills 30k's outisde of Split but I wasnt game to go off road untill I find some information on it as you can imagine. See im not a total nutjob then again maybe ive gone soft ahahaha

hi,we've been down to Croatia twice now as a group riding mostly dirt/gravel tracks and have found the areas at the side of the trails that still have landmines are very well signed
we rode about 2.5k loop in the more remote areas and only came across one trail high in the mountains that was clearly blocked due to minefield,we rode loads of tracks/trails with minefields on both sides

loz

[rideforsmiles]

Hey cheers for that info Loz makes me feel safer if I do want to venture off the road, I was just a little apprehensive about going off road again cause the track I did go off the other day had a car that looked like it had been blown up glass everywhere but its good to know they are sign posted, well I hope they have a picture of a man being blown up or something and not just something written in Croatian. Thanks again for the info and thanks for following my blog.

Originally Posted by LOZ

hi,we've been down to Croatia twice now as a group riding mostly dirt/gravel tracks and have found the areas at the side of the trails that still have landmines are very well signed
we rode about 2.5k loop in the more remote areas and only came across one trail high in the mountains that was clearly blocked due to minefield,we rode loads of tracks/trails with minefields on both sides

loz

[rideforsmiles]

Split Croatia is really nice heres a few pictures of the ferry terminal if you are coming from Anconna and Italy or to some of the islands surrounding this part of the world












Split by night down by the waterfront nice bars nice women so all good fun











The main square of the old town in Split, the town is surround by and old castle which must of been so spectacular in its day and all the newer buildings are built into and inside of it gives you a real sense that you are walking through history







Talking about walking through history this is hows it been done for centuries so whats with the sign, the worlds a mans toilet honey







Some girls behaviour is just plain disgusting isnt it.

[rideforsmiles]

Paying to have the bike cleaned is my bit to try and keep the economy moving forward over here in Croatia, not to mention I couldnt be stuffed doing it myself

[rideforsmiles]

Hooked up with Noah from RTW with Noah fame in here on Advrider, he's and an American dude who has been on the road for 8 monts and travelledd all around Europe and is heading in the same general direction as me over the next 6 to 9 months so im sure our paths will cross again. We will head down the coast together towards Greece for a few days before we go our seperate ways, im not sure exactly where im going but im in no hurry to get out of here I like this part of the world and its a cheap.

Heres Noah filling up in the servo, look I know its a KTM but sometimes you just have to put photos in your blog you dont like too

[rideforsmiles]

Time to hit the road and head south with Noah he has to get his bike serviced at the KTM dealer in Makarska only 50 k's south of Split so we will see how long that takes hopefully not to long.


Leaving Split








Nice views down the coast








Just had to stop and get a picture of this unfortunatly it was shut, it would of been nice to meet the owners and see the story behind it, obviously some connection to Australia as so many have around here








Just one of the many pretty little towns along the road south







This Croatian coast just keeps on amazing me its beautiful down here if your ever thinking of going for a ride definatly put Croatia and the E65 on your must do list cheap great roads and great scenary.

[rideforsmiles]

Noah had his bike serviced and luckily the Ivisca at the Ktm dealer had all the parts I needed to do mine as well so on she went and service time. Ivisca had spare brake pads and oil filters so picked up a few spares just in case im not somewhere where I can access them as easily, what an absolute bonus I wouldnt never of come across this place had it not been for Noah and I was starting to wonder where I would get my parts from down here in this neck of the woods

[rideforsmiles]

By the time we had both the bikes done and chatted to Ivisca it was gettign late and the wind the Bora Bora was bloing a gale so it was time to call it a day so we rode into town and found a nice hotel right on the waterfront for 30 euro a night. This town is amazing if your down this way do yourself a favour and drop in its one of the most beautiful towns cities ive ever seen, amazing. Heres just a few pics of the town so you can see what I mean.











Panoramic view taken by Noah

[rideforsmiles]

Ok we got up the bikes have been serviced and now its time to head south to Dubrovnik or so we thought, it was the last day of the world and if that had happend what a day to go out on, bloody brilliant as some of these photos to come will show you.


Packed up ready to go and with the regulation chat to a nice Swiss guy over here on holidays said our goodbyes and hit the road







We were riding along the coast road and I was looking up in the hills and saw this road running up into the hills so I pulled up along side Noah and said lets go ride up there it looks cool. Without to much comvincing we turned around went back a few k's to the turn off and up up up and away we went. The views around here are breathtaking.







Whats the point of having a nice photo of scenary without my baby in it

[rideforsmiles]

While we are parked there admiring the view I looked up further and theres another road even further up and again lets go ride that and ok off we go. We were'nt making much headway into Dubrovnik and Noah is keen to get south and go snowboarding in Georgia but you just cant ride past these spots without having a look, well I guess you can and lot do but not this little black duck.


Why am I singing you take the high road and ill take the low road when be sing Mamma Mia here we go again lol Didnt see and landmine signs but that sought of looked the least of our worries.







Oh well there looks to a nice ride up here how hard can it be.







Onwards and upwards. Ummm actually forgot to look at the signs to see if there were landmines mmm next time







There's a few locals up here Noah getting the evil eye off one of them.







Getting to the top the view back down looked real inviting







The view looking up less so.







It doesnt get any better further on up the road, a Bmw Gs 800 weighing over 300 kilos fully kitted with road tyres on it isnt ideal for snow and ice riding let me tell you, but certainly makes for fun.







Ok now we are heading in the right direction.







All roads lead to somewhere, this one looks like fun.







What a great days riding but it wasnt over yet.







Came across this nice French couple and their 6 kids all staying in this van travelling all around Europe for the last 6 months, great stuff.

[rideforsmiles]

Ok back on the good stuff and heading south that was an amazing ride up into the hills but the scenary and riding didnt stop there






My baby stopping to enjoy the view.







Thought i'd join her and have a look myself.







Some nice lakes around here as well.







Some of the Croatian agricultural land.







Stopping for a break, the roads are fantastic around here.