Blogging

Taking a computer with me on the trip is of course a huge overhead in weight, when I have so little available.  Just read today, that you can post blogs created on a mobile phone.  How practical this would be needs some investigating.  Obviously, using a phone to enter text would prove a real problem, but if it really could be done, then the savings on weight and kit to be carried would be enormous.  Needs some investigation.

End of March

Things are moving on a pace.  The bike has been in for essential repairs to the gearbox.  This necessitated removing the engine and stripping it completely down.  The only thing found wrong was that someone had put the wrong gear selector in at some time in the past.  Engine replaced and now I've done a few 20 mile trips with no evidence of it jumping out of gear any more, so presume it's fixed.

The dates of the trip are actually booked now, working backwards, I've booked a flight back from Italy on Friday 23rd May.  Grace flies back to Italy on Wednesday 7th of May and I intend to set off on the following day (Thursday 8th.)

Luggage remains a mystery.  I have tried strapping a backpack inside the front fairing, which seems ok.  This would be large enough to get computer, and all other electrical bits and bobs in, with a bit of room left over.   I really don't want to overload the bike, so now am considering just wearing a backpack myself to take the few clothes that I will take with me.

I am hopeful of having nearly a week in Italy, so am planning on buying most of what I need when I get there from Spezia market.

These two bags can then be repacked to fit in one set of handluggage for the flight back home.