World Tour - Europe, Asia, North and South America - Entries for: Georgia
17° | cloudy / rainy | km 208
Allgäu-Orient-Rallye :: Or maybe World Tour?
on 2016-05-12 in Georgia
As we arrived at the small town Achalziche we noticed some stone walls of a castle. That is why we decided to do some sightseeing in the morning.
The castle of Achalziche was heavily restored and features both a church and a mosque. After we had seen what felt like every inch of the castle and had made a lot of pictures and even some drone footage, we had to hurry back on our bikes because big black rain clouds came straight at us.
We had noticed two cars with Stuttgarter licence plates at the border the day before. They had lots of stickers all over their cars, additional tires and jerry cans on their roofs and a couple of big accessory lights. The next day we passed a couple of similar cars and even motorcycles. As we pulled over to get some gas two old Transalp with similar stickers stopped and came over to us. The drivers, two funny guys from Baden Würtemberg (Germany) told us that they are part of the Allgäu - Orient Rallye. The bikes overall worth has to be under 1.111 € and all the bikes and cars will be auctioned off in Turkey at the end of the race. One of the bikers named Matze, invited us to set up camp with them the same day in Tiflis. So we changed our plan to go north into the mountains and decided to also go to Tiflis and meet up with them.
Because we arrived in Tiflis before the Transalp riders we went into the city center to grab some lunch. When we got to the center we were stopped by Anastasia - a girl from Belarus and also a Transalp driver - who was very excited to see some other bike travelers. She explained to us that she is on a journey around the Caspian sea and was visiting Mika, a local friend of her who is also driving a Transalp. We had a lovely lunch with them and decided that if the guys from the Rally would not show up we would spend the evening with them. As we had lunch we got a text from Matze, that the participants of the Rally would spent the night at a hotel because of the mixed weather conditions. So we asked Anastasia and Mika if they knew a place we could stay at and were instantly invited to stay at Mika's home. At first we did not want to impose but after some consideration we agreed and followed them to the flat.
That evening we joined up with Anastasia and Mika for some beers and a local liquor called "Chacha". They are both enthusiastic offroad riders and they mentioned a small offroad test track close to where we were staying. Mika mentioned that this track had already broken one BMW a while ago. So of course we decided we had to see it for ourselves.
The castle of Achalziche was heavily restored and features both a church and a mosque. After we had seen what felt like every inch of the castle and had made a lot of pictures and even some drone footage, we had to hurry back on our bikes because big black rain clouds came straight at us.
We had noticed two cars with Stuttgarter licence plates at the border the day before. They had lots of stickers all over their cars, additional tires and jerry cans on their roofs and a couple of big accessory lights. The next day we passed a couple of similar cars and even motorcycles. As we pulled over to get some gas two old Transalp with similar stickers stopped and came over to us. The drivers, two funny guys from Baden Würtemberg (Germany) told us that they are part of the Allgäu - Orient Rallye. The bikes overall worth has to be under 1.111 € and all the bikes and cars will be auctioned off in Turkey at the end of the race. One of the bikers named Matze, invited us to set up camp with them the same day in Tiflis. So we changed our plan to go north into the mountains and decided to also go to Tiflis and meet up with them.
Because we arrived in Tiflis before the Transalp riders we went into the city center to grab some lunch. When we got to the center we were stopped by Anastasia - a girl from Belarus and also a Transalp driver - who was very excited to see some other bike travelers. She explained to us that she is on a journey around the Caspian sea and was visiting Mika, a local friend of her who is also driving a Transalp. We had a lovely lunch with them and decided that if the guys from the Rally would not show up we would spend the evening with them. As we had lunch we got a text from Matze, that the participants of the Rally would spent the night at a hotel because of the mixed weather conditions. So we asked Anastasia and Mika if they knew a place we could stay at and were instantly invited to stay at Mika's home. At first we did not want to impose but after some consideration we agreed and followed them to the flat.
That evening we joined up with Anastasia and Mika for some beers and a local liquor called "Chacha". They are both enthusiastic offroad riders and they mentioned a small offroad test track close to where we were staying. Mika mentioned that this track had already broken one BMW a while ago. So of course we decided we had to see it for ourselves.
18° | sunny / cloudy | km 218
Run to the Hills!
on 2016-05-13 in Georgia
After a tasty breakfast we went to the offroad track Mika mentioned the day before. None of us wanted to dismantle all the luggage, so we decided that we have to be able to do it with the extra weight like we would have to do during our trip.
As it turned out the tracks were quite easy to drive and we didn't really break a sweat. Except for one track straight up the hill. It got pretty steep at the end and the first half had a lot of giant bumps.
As Mika realized that Denis is eager to have a try, he added that only small cross bikes take this way. He told us, if you fail on the steepest part your bike will roll down the hill.
Denis: Despite this statement I really wanted to try it! So shift into first gear and go! Sadly I underestimated the giant bumps of the first part and wanted to get through a bit too fast. At the last two I was trying to accelerate in order to use the speed for the steep part. But it only resulted in hitting my helmet on the wind screen... twice...
The hits were so hard that I lost my balance and therefore the confident standing position quickly changed into a superman position on the bike.
That way I entered the steepest part of the track. Breaking or going back was not an option anymore. In the end I sticked to the bike flat on my belly, for the first time I was really glad about the traction control and very relieved as I reached the top.
Fabi was next. A bit unsure at first because of Denis rather semi professional approach. Mika had the opinion that only the Africa Twin has off-road capabilities and the BMW 1200 GS is not suitable for a world trip like ours or is just plain crap at going offroad. Fabi therefore had the motivation to show him otherwise.
So now it was time for Fabi to hit first gear and up the hill! A bit slower, therefore with far more control, he went over the bumps. Still standing he entered the steep section and went up like he was driving on a sunday morning to get groceries. Mika was stunned and we think he changed his opinion about the big and heavy BMW that very moment. ;)
You can see the action in our Video on YouTube!
A breather later we said goodbye to Mika and Anastasia, because we had to move on to Azerbaijan. Anastasias and our route will cross again in Teheran and we are planning to meet her again very soon.
Georgia is a great country and we would have loved to stay a bit longer but we wanted to apply for a Tajikistan visa in Baku and we have to be at the border to Turkmenistan on may 30th. So we had to leave Georgia after only four days, but who knows, maybe we will visit again...
As it turned out the tracks were quite easy to drive and we didn't really break a sweat. Except for one track straight up the hill. It got pretty steep at the end and the first half had a lot of giant bumps.
As Mika realized that Denis is eager to have a try, he added that only small cross bikes take this way. He told us, if you fail on the steepest part your bike will roll down the hill.
Denis: Despite this statement I really wanted to try it! So shift into first gear and go! Sadly I underestimated the giant bumps of the first part and wanted to get through a bit too fast. At the last two I was trying to accelerate in order to use the speed for the steep part. But it only resulted in hitting my helmet on the wind screen... twice...
The hits were so hard that I lost my balance and therefore the confident standing position quickly changed into a superman position on the bike.
That way I entered the steepest part of the track. Breaking or going back was not an option anymore. In the end I sticked to the bike flat on my belly, for the first time I was really glad about the traction control and very relieved as I reached the top.
Fabi was next. A bit unsure at first because of Denis rather semi professional approach. Mika had the opinion that only the Africa Twin has off-road capabilities and the BMW 1200 GS is not suitable for a world trip like ours or is just plain crap at going offroad. Fabi therefore had the motivation to show him otherwise.
So now it was time for Fabi to hit first gear and up the hill! A bit slower, therefore with far more control, he went over the bumps. Still standing he entered the steep section and went up like he was driving on a sunday morning to get groceries. Mika was stunned and we think he changed his opinion about the big and heavy BMW that very moment. ;)
You can see the action in our Video on YouTube!
A breather later we said goodbye to Mika and Anastasia, because we had to move on to Azerbaijan. Anastasias and our route will cross again in Teheran and we are planning to meet her again very soon.
Georgia is a great country and we would have loved to stay a bit longer but we wanted to apply for a Tajikistan visa in Baku and we have to be at the border to Turkmenistan on may 30th. So we had to leave Georgia after only four days, but who knows, maybe we will visit again...