Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

Today we had just a short 70 km to Milano to meet “the Royals” from Sweden.

Screen Shot 2016-04-25 at 17.41.14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

tomilan by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


We arrived to the apartment near the Duomo ( and a Magnum custom shop across the road) and not 20 minutes later we could here Orvar’s 1200 GS arriving.

Off to Milan-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Off to Milan-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had a few beers while we were waiting for the check in and Orvar took the metro to meet Anne at the central station where she arrived on the bus from the airport. She had to get up very early today and drive 250 km to Oslo to catch her flight here.

Off to Milan-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Off to Milan-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Off to Milan-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The location of the apartment Daniel booked is so awesome we can walk to all the major sights in the centre of the city. The best part however is that it has a washing machine and was soon full of 3 peoples smelly gear. There is also a small square next door where we could park the bikes.


“The Doumo or Milan Cathedral is the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. The first cathedral, the "new basilica" (basilica nova) dedicated to St Thecla, was completed by 355, but this one was started in 1386. It is the 5 th largest church in the world and the largest in Italy. “


Off to Milan-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Off to Milan-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Thanks that is all Daniel. Missed that hmmmm, but did not miss all the Gelato stops!! Sara

“The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world's oldest shopping malls. Housed within a four-story double arcade in central Milan, the Galleria is named after Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy”


Off to Milan-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Off to Milan-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Off to Milan-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Off to Milan-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Milan 2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Afternoon coffee Italian style standing at the bar!

Milan 2-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Milan 2-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 2-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

“Sforza Castle is a castle in Milan, northern Italy. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remains of a 14th-century fortification.”

Milan 3-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Milan 2-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Milan 2-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 2-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr



Milan 3-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had several days to wander around the city. We visited the Castle and the Duomo of course, but we visited a lot of coffee and ice cream shops too. The orange spritz drink is Apersol and Prosecco and other than the colour is not too bad. The Campari and Prosecco is pretty terrible
actually.

IMG_5756 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_5769 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Some of the locals singing in the rain?!

Tuscany by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The Cathedral for sunrise!

Milan 4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Milan 4-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

After saying goodbye to the Swedes we were off south.

spezia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We planned to take the small SP roads up into the mountains and so the 300 km took 6 hours. Several of the passes were pretty cold at 6 degrees, but there was essentially no traffic. It makes you antsy at times when you don't see another vehicle for such a long time you begin to wonder if the road is open. No issues today though.

Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 18.50.40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr


Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 18.53.31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The road surface is in pretty rough shape with a lot of heaves and cracks. Riding into La Specia we were tired and chilled. Adding to the stress was the fact that the voltage meter on the 800 was showing that the charge had dropped from 14.3-14.3 to 13.1. All day we were worried about the stator dying, but it was still charging well when reved. There is no parking of motor on the sidewalk/in plazas unlike everywhere else in Italy. They can be parked in just about any free curb spot that is not a cross walk. After not much effort we did find 2 operate spots near the hostel. We were too tired even for dinner and went to bed.


spezia2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

spezia3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

spezia6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

spezia7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had a good long sleep in and we needed it. The predicted rain did not appear and we set off to just cloudy skies, but the sun soon came out. From the coast we could see the marble mines up in the mountains in the distance that we were headed for.


FILE0716 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The voltage meter initially said the charging was better today…. We planned to travel to near to Florence at San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Italy in 215 km, but by the small SP SS or state and provincial roads up over the mountains it will take over 4 1/2 hours.

Screen Shot 2016-05-01 at 18.54.00 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2016-05-02 at 21.26.24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We are so lucky to have the 3 dollar voltage meters since it saved us from a dead stator in one of the 2 km long tunnels or on the side of the road. Since the voltage was not being maintained we decided to pull into a gas station with a empty lot beside it so we could swap out the stator. We are also so thankful we changed the crash bar hardware in Madrid, since we did not have to fight with that issue. Also the new sprocket guards are so easy to remove unlike the old ones, which were a nightmare. Opening up the engine the old stator was definitely cooked. The old ones just are a bit too small and they have always been a struggle to get out, but vice grips and brute strength won in the end. The new Electrosport stators are very nice and just fit in perfectly. They are also plug and play for the wiring harness.

Tuscany-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Stator review.


800 BMW original died Mexico City October 2012 ? 49,000 km
650 BMW original died Quito Ecuador December 2013 after 53,000 km, rewound stator BMW original done in Mexico lasted 1 week
800 Rick’s Electric stator died Rio Turbo Argentina February 2014
650 Rick’s Electric stator died South of France October 2015 after 90,000 km replaced with Electrosport
800 Rick’s Electric stator died La Specia Italy at 87,000 km April 2016 replaced with Electrosport

Initially the road is well surfaces and there was a bit of traffic, but it goes Up Up Up. One section on about 10 switch backs takes you up to see a panoramic view of the west coast. The road then narrow and gets rougher and seems all but unused. We did not see another vehicle on the way up or down.

FILE0726 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0735 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0737 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0738 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0745 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0755 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0756 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0770 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Here is the view of the coast from the mountain.

FILE0823 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0797 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Over the second Passo Vestito we came upon one of the mines.

FILE0829 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0833 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0842 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Tuscany-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Yes the design sucks. 1082 USD for new generator plus labor. Electrosport stator is 199 USD. Our issue was the first few years they did not have the new part to swap out and we were already in the stator changing mode. We are hoping these last 2 new ones will see us out, but we always carry at least 1 spare. We will probably take 2 across the Stans and to Mongolia.

Stator by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Daniel does a great job with the photos, i bribe him with gelato!!

Down in the valley it was a sunny 18 degrees along the river and the Magdalena bridge.

“The bridge in Borgo a Mozzano called "Devil´s Bridge" or "Magdalene´s Bridge" is one of the most impressive bridges in Italy. According to the legend, the bridge was built by St. Julian. Being unable to accomplish the work for the enormous difficultly, the saint asked for the help of the Devil, promising to give him the soul of the first living thing crossing the bridge. Once the bridge had been accomplished, St. Julian threw there a piece of focaccia bread drawing there a dog and thus making fun of the devil.”


Tuscany-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0856 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr