Bit of conversational question. I have 2 plans and still don’t know which one I will choose, maybe you will help me decide.
One is to ride to Spain for solar eclipse, that is 12.7. and ride home. So probably through Austria, northern Italy, France and along Mediterranean coast to Spain.
Other is through Poland, Baltic’s towards Finland. I still don’t know what next if it would be possible to go to Sweden and Norway and then cross to Denmark…
I will have about 2 months for that so I will probably use some trains and stuff to shortcut it here and there.
So what are your plans, where would you want to go this year?
If you have never seen a total solar eclipse before it’s pretty wild. I got to see one two years ago.
That’d be my vote.
The other trip sounds like something that could be done at any time if there’s no special event going on you are trying to do or see.
You know how it’s said “Visit Russia before Russia visits you”. That is my main concern in that area.
But the problem in Spain at that time is the weather, it is just too damn hot for me to go there in summer.
So even though I haven’t seen full solar eclipse yet I am more inclined to go north.
The total eclipse only passes over Iceland and Spain. And Iceland can be cloudy.
I am following this guy for inspiration, jes cirrwntly rising on Thailand and heading to Malaysia and I hope to do some small amount of touring later this year in Cambodia. I do day trips only locally.
I am looking for some trips in Asia. But the plain tickets are pricy so it will have to wait until I have a good plan and probably some friend to do it with me.
For now I stick to countries where I don’t have to deal with stuff like visa… So EU and European economic area.
So I am interested in your trip as well.
Not murica forsure , Madagascar next stop
I didn’t thought about going there even before current events…
I have a two week trip in France planned - not sure how far I will get but from Calais heading towards Switzerland. I plan to do this mostly off road, so everyday is a single track day. And carry a tent and oatmeal. I have toured in France, Italy (very nice), Germany (closed on Sundays and sometimes Saturday afternoon), Switzerland - stunning, bring a credit card, Thailand (north to south)(saved by 7/11s), Cambodia, a bit of Java. We plan to hire a car and drive to see the eclipse in August. I think it will be too hot.
Photos: Italy Switzerland Thailand France
I love your description of Switzerland, as I was there last year I can tell it is true (but worth it at least once to get there).
I read once, when you pack to go on a trip, take half as much clothing as you think you need, and twice as much money.
The solar eclipse is on 12 August, not July. Nobody much is talking about it yet, for whatever reason.
I plan to be in Spain for it (but probably would be anyway). It’s just before sundown so it could be pretty spectacular so close to the horizon. But then viewing in a city might be tricky and also there’s a higher risk of being foiled by clouds. I’m guessing the best guarantee of success would be somewhere on the Meseta Central, the high interior, which is normally dry. Maybe Teruel, which is directly on the eclipse path.
I did much cycle tourism in Spain last year, and took a bunch of trains. Forget the high-speed AVE and even some of the other faster services, they don’t take bikes. To be sure you will get your bike on, you need to book on the Renfe site and make sure the train says “Plaza bici disponible” (which you can then reserve for free but in practice there’s always space). It’s not the easiest country in Europe for bikes on trains but OK once you work out which services are possible.
