ACT Italy we are coming!
... will we make it to the starting point of the ACT Italy?
13th & 14th March | 2022
Early this Saturday morning, as we the Yamaha dealer agreed, James went to the garage. We had only 30mins to test the bike to make a decision as we have to inform our host if we leave or stay another night.
He rang me 20mins later to tell Steffi that the bike is worse than before - oh noooo! He is going to sort it out with the garage whilst Steffi is informing Alessandra. Then she went to meet James at the garage. Interestingly they discounted the whole bill by nearly 75%!! Well, at least they admit that they didn't do very well their job, or?
James did take the bike and all the parts with him to our parking area at Giovanni Bosco, where he is going to do the job himself. Glad he got the mechanical knowledge, so let's hope he is going to resolve the problem as otherwise, we are running out of options! In the meantime, Steffi did a little shopping for dinner as we got a kitchen for cooking.
As there was then not much to do for Steffi, she decided to go for an Aperol Spritz down to Porto Venere. She only got halfway as she in a split second of not watching the car in front of her breaking, hammered her breaks too late. She slid along the side of the car, managed still to hold up the bike next to the driver's door. Two men walking along helped her put the bike upright so she could park her bike to speak to the car owner. These two men were already talking to the girl whilst Steffi was still getting her helmet off. They told her that this was nothing and she doesn’t need to do anything. Was mainly surface scratches, nothing deep. As the girl spoke English, they both walked off. Steffi gave the girl her ID and insurance paper to take a picture as she was very hesitant about what to do. She was nearly going to just leave, but then she decided to call her husband. Whilst she was on the phone, Steffi realised a dent in the passenger door. As she started to get a bit suspicious, she took a picture whilst that girl was looking for her paper after she spoke to her husband. We agreed that she will speak to her husband and contact Steffi then.
After she drove off, Steffi sorted her crash bag pannier, which nearly snapped off. On the way to Porto Venere she started to re-think the whole situation. The dent in the door couldn't be off the handlebar as she nearly fell onto the street, not into the car. Later on, passing another VW Golf, like the one she bumped into, Steffi checked the height and it is not matching with her handlebar! Later on, it even came to her that her crash bar are without any scrapes or colour of the car, not talking the extra lights on the crash bar sticking out, didn't have a scratch - how is that then possible?!
The theory is that she only hit the car with the crash bar bags and the impact inclined her towards the street. However, we got pictures sent over by Whatsapp in the evening claiming the dent and the rest. So we suggested meeting them tomorrow (Sunday) after we have checked out at our B&B.
Ah, yes, very important! James fixed his bike. The problem was Yamaha had only replaced half of the new parts from the carburettor rebuild kits he had provided them and not only that, they had set the carburettors up completely wrong. And they told James that this was the best it will run, as its such an old bike. It was like riding a bucking bronco and it took them 8 hours to do that! Lesson learned, don't even trust the professionals to do a job right. Anyway, 2 hours later he had the bike singing. During the test ride meeting Steffi he noticed that the bike was over-revving, but a slight tightening on the inlet manifold clamps and it was sorted. But in the meantime noticed a broken spoke on the rear wheel, but that can wait. Halleluja, we can finally leave tomorrow La Spezia!
The next morning we had to be at our old place at 9h15 to get our luggage. After nearly all was on the bike, Steffi went back to the latest B&B to get the last bags and to hide the payment in the room (videoing it ;-) ) and then about 10h30 we were on our way out of La Spezia; towards Porto Venere, where the husband of the car owner works.
After a long palaver with the guy, and the damages on his car, parked daily in a touristic town along the main road, we didn´t agree to all damages! We suggested speaking to his mechanic and getting two quotes, one for the bumper and another one for the dent. However, after he went back to work, we passed the car to take lots of detailed pictures as this car had already some bumps and scratches around. Also, we wheeled Schimmelchen next to the dent to take a picture to show that nothing on the bike is as high. We did another detailed video of the BMW showing no scratches, or paint of the car.
Finally, we are off towards Cesena to get our tyres fixed for the ACT. Halfway, in the area of Monte Sole, we camped on a hiking parking. It was a bit of boring riding as all mainly straight on. However, leaving La Spezia finally, after about 30km there was a bridge under construction, so we had to ride back for a detour! Looked nearly like we never will get away from La Spezia ;-)
The next day it was the same boring straight and flat countryside until Cesena. We arrived at lunchtime. Luckily there was a little restaurant on the doorstep of the tyre place Eurogomme so we had our lunch whilst waiting. All afternoon Marija from Eurogomme took care of us whilst one of the owners took care of our new shoes! Steffi's Schimmelchen is again fitted with Michelin Anakee Wild and James is going to try the Bridgestone Battlax A41; the front tyre looks more like a road tyre though. We will report after the ACT and then again later on ...
As it was getting late, we stayed in a very simple hotel close to the starting point of ACT Italy. And again an interesting bathroom ... all very compact! You could take your shower nearly sit on the toilet! Or using the shower drain as a toilet..., but the room was clean and warm!!
Tomorrow it is hitting Day 1 of the ACT ... we will report, stay tuned!
Places | Cities:
La Spezia, Porto Venere, Aulla, Castenuovo, Bagni de Lucca, Sibano, Imola, Forli, Cesena, Gatteo a Mare, Fratta Terme.
Driven km | Trip:
Schimmelchen: 3440km
SuperTenere: 3265km
Maintenance | Breakdown:
Super Tenere now running too rich, James fixed it all himself!
Health issues:
./.
Special thanks to:
Alessandra from B&B "L'Arca di Noé" hosting us and being flexible about the nights we are staying.
Eurogomme in Cesena, especially Marija taking care of us all afternoon!