Home to Rome Tour - Motorcycling Europe | The Real Italy?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ม.ค. 2025
- England to Rome tour by Motorcycle, Day 3 see's us and our Africa Twin Motorbikes wake up at the foot of Mont Blanc to continue our Motorbike Trip across Europe as we Tour are way to Rome. From the French alps to Italian Villages let us take you across Europe as we tour on our Africa Twin Motorcycles. We were Amazed by all the Empty Italian Villages and Towns, Empty Shops and Closed Businesses.... Something went Very Wrong here...
The Mont Blank Tunnel was a Experience, going directly through Mont Blanc Tunnel we travelled from France to Italy where the scenery Really begins to get Epic!
Great editing and drone use! Brilliant video! Great to see those Italian and Swiss roads (wife is Italian and I lived there for 20 years). As for the empty shops that’s normal for the south of Italy where the economy is suffering. Was great though when you ended up at the local festival… That’s what’s great about Italy. Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much, we really can’t understand why things are so bad in Italy, and it was the same in Sicily. They Will literally pay you to come and live there and set up a business. It’s a perfect place to ride bikes, amazing weather etc and yet, no one about 🤷♂️ Such a shame.
When ever we see something local going on, especially food with us lol we got to go try it out! Can’t resist it, we had a great night there, turns out they sat us with the town mayor for dinner, we didn’t know until she was saying good bye. Great friendly people
Great video and such a care free attitude which is brilliant booking places to sleep as you go along. Scenery is gorgeous. Keep the great work going
Thanks Tim, Yes it always works out in the end so we like to be as flexible as we can and go with the flow
What was the flash by the tunnel that you spoke about was it a fine or was it that they photograph vehicles that pass thru the tunnel.
The drone footage of the small river and mountains were beautiful.
It just leave me speechless to see how they build building on cliff sides. The twisties are far more interesting as you said Rich.
Would like to see footage as you visit the different kind of shops just to get the feeling of would it is like over there...
By these small towns that you passed would have though that people would have sit outside properly eating but maybe the weather also played a part in it.
Now that is what i call video content, specially where you discovered that there were a festival in the village and you joined them, what makes it worthwhile to watch is that one that is not even there also learn about the culture. Looks like the majority of the citizens at the festival were the elderly. Properly its almost like a retirement village that is why you did not see that lot of people.
Most small villages in Italy especially tend to have older populations, there’s just no work available so young people move to the big towns and cities to try to make money. It’s for this reason there are so many empty buildings and entire villages that are now empty.
In parts of Italy they are selling off houses that need repair for 1 euro to try to encourage people to come back.
We never did learn what the flash was in the tunnel 🤷♂️
New subscriber here, after watching about 5 of your videos on a row including the breakdown on the tunnel, I thing your videos are refreshing to watch and I like the fact that you guys don't book any place or hotels in advance , great stuff guys
Welcome aboard! Glad to have you with us on the road. Yes we like the adventure of it all, even if that means it doesnt always go well!
I think youll find that in southern Europe everyone sleeps from 12pm until 3pm.Another great video.
It’s a strange concept to us, I guess it’s to avoid the heat in the middle of the day
Great video! Enjoyed it all again. Love the village dinner experience 😂
Thanks, Rich wasn't so keen on his dinner! A Great experience to mix with the locals though, they made us feel very welcome despite the language barrier
Thanks Rich Eva another good one. When I rode down to Rimini I stayed in Susa for a night and then continued my journey. But I don't know whether it was peculiar to that area or not I was surprised to find the blue signs were for the rural routes and the green for motorways unlike over here. Is it something you also found. Got to say given the time of year you went over the flight would of been tempting but you would never have had the memories you now have.
Re the flight; That’s exactly my thought process before we went. I hate public transport and I didn’t want to spend the money on something I don’t like when we can pay a little more and do something we love together. Yes the signs are the opposite colours over there as you say 👍
Yea... Wouldn't be worried bout the speeding in Italy, prob more dangerous not to keep it moving along fairly swift with them drivers behind ya 😅😅
Honestly, We couldnt believe how bad the driving was there, Noone was doing the speed limit or follow the rules, not even the police as you saw! there seemed to be cameras in each town and on long Straights etc but when we slowed for them you risk getting rear ended! Do they not work?
@@ontheroadadventure it's insane. I flew through Italy in 2 days last month just to get out cause I wasn't enjoying riding there one bit... 😪
We had a similar Experience around Lake Como last summer, It was so crazy there we just left the area. Must be a stressful place to live
My mates been worrying himself sick about those little orange cameras found at the beginning and end of each town/village in Italy. We noticed nobody else slowed for them so didn't bother ourselves. One more thing i love about travelling by motorcycle, getting to mix with the locals, eating their food and learning some of their language. Really enjoying the videos 😊😊
Yes we were slowing for them all too and amazed no one else seem to take any notice. The police biker guy we met explained to us that most don’t work and from what we understood allot of cars were not registered to the correct address or something along these lines. He basically said only getting caught by police with speed guns is a real problem.
You two make me laugh! Great video ❤
Thanks so much - Glad you are enjoying the Home to Rome Tour
That was some serious scenery to start the day with. In my brief trip into France I found the same as you. I didn't use any motorways at all and rode through a number of small towns but I found nowhere on my route to buy food, or even a coffee. Like you I was there in October and a couple of cafe's that I had found on google before I went had clearly closed for the winter. Another great video, really enjoying this series.
France is a strange place! It just can’t be that the few times we drove through France off the motorways we each time found almost nothing! No cafes, coffee shops etc even finding a loo seemed problematic, each time we conclude we must just be looking in the wrong places, but we also found this in northern Italy, there were towns etc but nothing in them! Must be the economic situation? Seemed like loads of homes but nobody about 🤷♂️
@@ontheroadadventure it's not just us. My daughter in law is a fluent French speaker and spent some time traveling in France, she has said exactly the same thing. BTW "Prison food on a paper plate" is a classic! 🤣
@@neilmackinnon3371 We tried to look up good places and roads, we found the balcony roads but it was just too far out and would mean missing bigger plans that we had for the way back. I do like north France, the war history stuff particularly but that’s not particularly good for a motorcycle channel
You need to have 2 blue lights between each vehicle. Search Mont Blanc Tunnel fire.
We knew about the Distance thing and i think we kept to it, do you think we got flashed because of it then? i dont know about the fire, will look it up
For anyone Interested heres a video on the Fire. Very Sad... th-cam.com/video/e3lOfrZeU8k/w-d-xo.html
Compulsory distance is 150 metres.
Blue lights are 150 metres apart so you must see 2 blue lights between you and the vehicle in front.
@@adrianr40 il go back and watch the footage, I’m pretty sure we did this the whole way. We were just interested in what the flash was as both me and ewa had it and we were a fair way apart with vehicles between us from the toll
First time watching your channel, I’ve subscribed so all good. Re: Italian drivers….as Casey Stoner once said about Valentino Rossi “your ambition outweighs your talent”, so true and probably applies to the majority of Italian drivers/riders?
Thanks for Joining us on the Road Neil, Glad you enjoy our videos
She's right, the shops are there but you have to get off the main drag.
They are hidden off of the main roads?
Great trip filming, I drive to Italy just south of Parma from Dorset twice a year, as my wife is Italian, in my own car I've never got a speeding ticket, so don't worry to much as long as you don't get pulled over by the police for speeding then you just get a on the spot fine, enjoy your trip guys.
Awesome do you do the motorways or do you know a scenic route through France? As our trip goes on we are less cautious of the speed and cameras
If we are in a rush we go Tunnel to Reims-Metz -Nancy- Colmar(great stop)-Basel- Lake Lugano - Milan- Parma (Calestano), but our best trip was via south of France Reims- Troyes- Dijon- Lyon then the route Napoleon from Grenoble to Cannes N85, from Cannes to Genoa along the coast toll roads or B roads, you can take that road all the way to Pisa with lots of fantastic coastal villages (Lerici and Porto Venere)our favourite place we alway go there twice a year hope this helps. have a safe trip.@@ontheroadadventure
@@jasonchambers-t2u These things are always so much better with time! We did a little bit of the Italian coast on the way down, our trip home we got to see so much more as we had no time restraint. How long would you allow for a trip like that?
A good 10 - 14 days not rushing , via the route Napoleon, its worth it, @@ontheroadadventure
Seems good slow see more is the way to do it
Nice video again 👍 I've recently started booking the next days accommodation the night before which is much better 😂
We have considered this, but up until now it hasn’t been a problem for us to find somewhere but perhaps that’s because we don’t have anywhere specific to be, I mean we make the route up as we go along!
My fondest memory of the montblanc tunnel was the services on the otherside. Have a very vivid memory of the soap 😂😂
I feel like there’s a story that needs to be told here…..?
@@ontheroadadventure nothing too exciting 😂 we drove to Rome last year to pick a dog up and it's Inspired me to get abroad on my bike next year. I think I just appreciated the services being better than a shit splattered Moto services over here 😂
@@ssbb71 I see what you mean, you found the services in Europe to be cleaner than the uk? A odd thing in the cities though and throughout Italy and Sicily is you’ll often find no toilet seats!
@@ontheroadadventure what time if year did you go? The weather seemed very hit and miss for you. How did you find it in bike gear
@@ssbb71 we were there a couple weeks ago, generally it was good weather, of course the further south you go the better it gets
I bet a lot of those places went out during Covid.
Im not sure but I imagine it’s a buyer’s market right now. The problem is you can buy cheap property there and all over Europe but there’s huge areas of no work. There are some areas that are so bad the governments are offering financial help to anyone willing to come and try and set up a business there
Have travelled many times in Europe think you will find the Italian driver are very short of patience enjoy your trip take care. 😮
Yes, We found the Further South we go, the worse the Driving Gets. We did Sicily last year and that was madness in the Cities! We understood the fines etc to be harsh in Europe so generally are careful with speed especially in the towns and villages, but we were the only ones who seemed to care!
Yeh, as Casey Stoner said about Valentino Rossi “your ambition outweighs your talent”…..probably applies to many of the Italian drivers/riders!🇬🇧
@@neilurquhart8622 It does explain all the cars and bikes being in such a poor state, most have dents and scuffs all over them!
quality vid both
Thanks so much bud, we spend hours Editing these videos and so look forward to sharing the end result with you all, it means allot when people comment and appreciate them.
They driving like Valentino Rossi on the roads of Italy and France
Yes it gets a bit crazy here lol
Mont blanc tunnel speeds must be between 50 and 70, gap between cars must be 150 meters.
Thanks bud, 2 Blue Lights apart between vehicles apparently...
I spent 7 weeks in Italy last year on the bike with no speeding tickets. In 2018 I got a ticket. I didn’t slow down enough as I approached a tunnel. Sad😢
Unlucky, I think when you ride enough miles these things become inevitable, did you tour for 7 weeks or stay in one place? What did you see there?
@@ontheroadadventure Touring about. That included time getting there and back but most was in Umbria. In 2018 we went all the way down to Sicily.
@@STXPeter Last winter we flew to Sicily and hired two Honda CB500X we had a great time there, Once out of the cities it’s a great place to ride at a relaxed pace, loads to see. This is actually where our TH-cam journey began too Sicily Motorcycle Tour
th-cam.com/play/PLAbzmvTdb3d0q7OuQdRbYS6oI01no97Tg.html
I had seen that. 🎉
@@STXPeter Next we plan to go and do something really different, looking for that culture shock feeling
Speed cameras generally doesn't register motorcycles, not here in Sweden and I can't see how it should there. Not even in Norway, which together with Switzerland has the hardest speeding regulations and also most expensive tickets, you have to worry about speed cameras 😊
How come they don’t pick up bikes in Sweden? Do they face the front of the bike?
@@ontheroadadventure As far as I know all speed cameras take pictures only from the front? At least that's how it is in Sweden and Norway and I'm pretty sure also in other countries.
It might be because in Norway and Sweden the law requires the driver to be recognized.
If the owner of the car can show he/she is not the driver on the photo the ticket is cancelled.
In many other countries the owner of the car always get the ticket regardless of the driver.
@@marcusisacson In Germany they can get you from behind. In the uk they use average speed cameras now too which also get the rear
Nice video! Do you like the dark screen over the light screen?
Are you Referring to the TFT or a Screen? We dont use smoked screens as it blocks view of the cameras although i think they look great on the Africa Twin. The TFT i like in the Dark Mode, i dont like it when the modes keep changing day/night when going through tunnels etc so just stick with the dark mode
Yes, referring to the TFT screen. I must admid,i laughed when you said "prison food"...;)@@ontheroadadventure
@@StephanCRF1100 Lol I’m not known for my delicate way with words, but we like to have a laugh along the way
Another good watch 😎🤘who would have thought it would be so hard to find food 🥘
Thanks Bud, Honestly it was a strange and at times worrying experience…. Where is everyone in these towns and villages? How do they make a living? Jobs must be rarer than hens teeth. This is why there is soo many empty buildings here, such a shame, a beautiful place to be too
What you call a power couple
Thanks so much Reese, our favourite comment ever!
Eva how fast does the cable car go up?
Hi, So we took the Cable Cars up to the Very top of Mont Blanc from Chamonix, Its actually two cable cars, you can get off half way up and get used to the altiutude before going up to the top or you can just go straight onto the next one and go direct to the top. We would advise stopping half way for a bit! the Altitude makes you feel really drunk and strange! Id say its about 10 mins ride to the top, and then theres a lift that goes even higher right to the peak where you can stand in a glass box over the edge!
were you scared? excited?@@ontheroadadventure
So nice to stop half way and take in the moment Savour it....
@@ontheroadadventure
@@InterimExec The view is amazing, although Rich isn’t so keen on the cable cars! It’s something that just has to be done if you are there or you’ll forever regret not going up to the top.
@@InterimExec We stopped at the half way point on the way back down from the top
I watched the entire video and didn’t see anything go VERY wrong? I’m confused lol
We are referring to the economic situation, the empty towns and buildings, closed businesses, lack of work and employment opportunities. There are now many towns and villages in Italy where they will pay you to come and live if you are going to contribute with a business etc. I think all the young people have deserted these places to go to the cities to find better opportunities
I go through the tunnel 6 x every week so nothing 🆕 4 me
Wow do locals get a discounted rate?
This tunnel is the most expensive in the world :)
I think Montenegro drives are even worse than the Italian. Pulling out the side roads just in front of you, opposite lane in blind corners...
At least Italian drives are skilled ones.
You want sleepy drives come to the US, lol
Funny you should say that, we are just watching Itchy boots go from Albania to Montenegro as we speak as we were thinking to head over that side for our next trip. Travelling is so addictive, the more we do it, the more we want to go again!
👍🌹
Thanks 😊
@@ontheroadadventure 🌹👍
if youve got the time , stick to the A and B roads , I hate toll roads
Some good advice there! We usually do this but we only had 3 days to get from England to Rome
When you mention the shocking driving, your speedo shows 35...mph or kmph?....either way, you need to appreciate the locals do not dawdle behind slow vehicles.
You are right, They do not hang about! We are all faster where we know and understand the roads (and camera locations) and we have no problem being overtaken when safe, but these guys will do crazy overtakes and if they cant get by for a min they will sit 2 inches off your topbox! It just doesn't make sense when there is nothing to be gained
I disagree...it you are bimbling along at 20mph, you are going to get overtaken .....like a mobile chicane
We don't tend to ride slowly but especially when touring abroad we make sure to do the posted speed limit, last thing you want is to deal with the police in a langauge you do not understand@@davidedge4557
Italy is renowned for it, it is not a place to ride meekly, you will just be involved in more incidents. I'm not saying speed, I am saying keep up more with traffic and don't dawdle so much, like the video shows...but hey, do what you want, but expect more overtakes and the classic angry and frustrated Italian drivers 😉
@@davidedge4557 We have been researching the camera situation there and it seems they are not much to worry about, police stops are the problem apparently although rare there?
That quiet town is twinned with Nigel Farage
Oh yeah?…..