The Journey of Dreams

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  • A Party With Friends, The Winter Bikers 2015

    “A party among friends open to everyone” this is how the Winter Bikers is quoted by anyone that has ever took part to the event. This is in fact the way that Sergio, Wizz and many more of the staff members I had the chance to chat with did describe the Winter Bikers to me. Now that my skin absorbed this awesome experience, I couldn’t agree more with this description.

    I arrive in the morning and everyone treats me like I’m one of them, when I mention my name some already knows me because of our conversations by chat. Everybody is busy giving the best of his spirit of amusement to make their work a party in itself.

    My little few patches on my vest sell out my inexperience as a ‘biker’ nonetheless I am able to laugh, joke and tease with the ease of an old friend people I had never met before in my life, in return I get more jokes, a handshake and a very warm welcome. They already know that me too, one day, will collect much more trophies to stitch on.

    the Winter bikers is a place for passionate adventurers, dreamers, for people that needs and wants to share, it is the ideal marketplace to exchange opinions and experiences about old travels or travels in preparation or just for ideas for future ones and new dreams.

    The majority of the people that I met during this week-end had already took part to at least a dozen editions of Winter Bikers, Elefantentreffen or both in conjunctions with a large number of other rallies; there are friends that regroup like families every year for an improvised BBQ on the flame of a camping stove. Among them they usually know each other by “road name” only: Lupo (Wolf), Nonno (Grandpa), Wizz, Tramo, Babbo (Daddy), Mike… they do not know much about each other’s private lives, but everyone knows that they are here for a moment of entertainment, sharing and sincerity.
    With this people I spoke for two entire days about travels and Dreams.

    During this party you exchange dreams as if they were football players collecting cards, some dreams are the same for everyone, some are one of a kind, others instead need the contribution of dreams from others to show the full picture.
    Everyone has his own dream, many are striving to grow it and make it real, some more fortunate is living it right here right now, as it’s happening to me.

    It’s not only about emotions and chats that you live the Winter Bikers, the entertainment is not defecting at all, in facts, after the rally -(where everyone has the chance to show-off her beloved ride), I am forcibly enrolled to compete in the traditional challenges of slow-riding and barrel-pushing… the beginner’s luck allows me to almost reach the podium on both specialities. I even win a prize and gain popularity among the crowd with people that congratulates me, cheers for me or offers me a shot of grappa (the kind of offer you would never turn down!).

    It’s almost night; I’m sitting around the campfire in a sort of meditation. I taste some mulled wine, smoking my pipe like a old shaman and listening to the stories told by the people sitting next to me. Their kind of adventures once looked to me so beyond my capabilities but now, after being told by the ones who lived them, they look much closer. They become possible.
    The popularity from the challenges shows its perks, in fact a few people come to me to congratulate again for the afternoon races, I take this at my advantage ad I start asking questions about their experiences and adventures so to make them more and more within my grasp, to be sources for new ideas.

    The days during a Winter Bikers have no other way to end if not with the waves of Rock and Metal by cover bands of Rammstein and AC/DC (my favourites), and a band that deserves an important mention is the Phoenix a 80’s Hard Rock band which members are exclusively girls full of SHATTERING ENERGY!

    When this experience is over it’s like you have been through a shower of energy that warms your skin and an strengthens your bones.
    When this experience is over you have loads of new friends and fresh ideas.

    WintrBiikers2015_ticqfoAlthough my exhaustion after two cold nights at very low degrees and very low sleep time I reach home with still a bit of energy just enough to think about all that just happened and to get to my laptop with the intention to message a few people which name I don’t want to forget and I’m caught by surprise when I notice I have already received a dozen of messages and requests between Facebook ad WhatsApp from people that wants to keep dreaming together.

    I now understand that I am not the only one who has lived the Winter Bikers as moment to be inspired by life.

    Thanks to all the friends of the Moto Club Winter Bikers of Faenza that worked hard, day and night, for a whole week-end to make all of this possible for me and for the other participants.

    [slickr-flickr tag=”winterbikers2015″  thumbnail_size=”thumbnail”  flickr_link=”on” flickr_link_target=”_blank” flickr_link_title=”go to Flickr”  photos_per_row=”3″]

  • How to build motorcycle wheel chains

    Preparing for the 2015 edition of the Elefantentreffen I built the chains for my motorcycle following a few advises collected here and there in internet and adding a personal touch.

    This is the video tutorial that I made to show how to build one chain.

    I made 13 chains for the rear wheel and 10 chains for the front wheel.

  • Bacon On Wheels (#motopancetta)

    Non c’è modo migliore di farsi degli amici che cercarli tra le gente che condivide le tue stesse passion.

    Sto principalmente parlando della pancetta… e la motocicletta per me è solo un modo per arrivare alla pancetta più velocemente!

    Ed è così che mi sono ritrovato a correre a 0°C questa mattina al Passo della Colla, solo per avere un piatto di uova fritte e pancetta.
    Tanto per iniziare, appena sono arrivato al punto d’incontro per unirmi ad altri bikers in partenza (che non avevo mai conosciuto prima), mi è stata offerta una colazione a base di Cappuccino e Bombolone – e li mi innamoro –

    Pochi minuti più tardi alla stazione di servizio, quando la mia carta non viene accetta, qualcuno si offre di pagarmi il pieno (Hey amico! non mi ricordo il tuo nome ma sono in debito!).

    E poi ‘a cavallo’ tra le montagne ed è gioia pura!
    Non mi aspettavo di di trovare così tanta gente lassù. E con sorpresa non ero l’unica on un Harley.

    Ho potuto ascoltare storie pazze e conescere persone pazze e siamo finiti a parlare di sogni (li tutti sono sognatori, se no non sarebbero li), e poi si mangia uova e pancetta…a seguire un cena rustica in un’osteria locale.

    Come potrei non amare il fatto di essere un biker quando questi sono i vantaggi?
    Godetevi qualche foto:

    [slickr-flickr tag=”motopancetta2015″  thumbnail_size=”thumbnail”  flickr_link=”on” flickr_link_target=”_blank” flickr_link_title=”go to Flickr”  photos_per_row=”3″]

  • Bacon On Wheels (#motopancetta)

    There’s no better way to make friends than looking for them among the people that share your passions.

    I’m mainly talking about the bacon… and motorbike for me is just a way get to the bacon faster!

    This is how I found myself to ride at near 0°C this past morning by Passo de La Colla, just to get a fried eggs and bacon breakfast.

    To begin with, as soon as I got to the meeting point to join other fellow bikers (which I never met before), I was offered a first breakfast made of Cappuccino and Krapfen – and I’m already in love -.

    A few minutes later at the petrol station, when my card was not accepted, someone even paid for my fuel (Hey my friend! I can’t remember your name but I owe you one!).

    And then we rode on the mountains and was pure joy!

    I didn’t expect to find so many people up there. And surprisingly enough I wasn’t the only one with an Harley.
    I had the chance to listen to some crazy stories and meet crazy people and  we ended up talking about dreams (every one there is a Dreamer), and then we eat bacon and eggs…followed by a proper lunch in a local osteria.

    How could I not love to be a biker when these are the perks?
    Please enjoy a few pics:
    [slickr-flickr tag=”motopancetta2015″  thumbnail_size=”thumbnail”  flickr_link=”on” flickr_link_target=”_blank” flickr_link_title=”go to Flickr”  photos_per_row=”3″]
  • The Grand Opening – Spain, Portugal and Tenerife

    This is it!
    The date is set. Friday the 7th of November I’ll leave London.
    I’ll head to Italy to spend Christmas with my family.
    Before that I’ll go by Spain and Portugal with a brake in Tenerife.

    For the first time I will taking my job with me and I will be seeking for coworking spaces or any decent internet connection that will allow me to work part-time.
    I’m still in the middle of the organisation but I already have some sure places and dates where I’ll be visiting some old friends.

    This is the list of places that intend to visit. I’ll keep updating this page as soon as I have more precise dates.

  • A new plan for a ride in the west coast of Scotland

    What do you think about this plan?
    any suggestion for CouchSurfers or Wild Camping areas?
    Km Miles Time real time
    27/08/2014 Thurso Ulapool 223 138.55 04:00 05:19
    27/08/2014 Ulapool Torridon 137 85.12 02:30 03:19
    28/08/2014 Torridon Applecross 44 27.34 01:00 01:19
    28/08/2014 Applecross Isle of Skye 65 40.38 01:15 01:39
    28/08/2014 Isle of Skye Kyle of Lochalsh 80 49.70 01:30 01:59
    29/08/2014 Kyle of Lochalsh Fort William 200 124.26 03:00 03:59
    29/08/2014 Fort William Glen Coe 30 18.64 00:30 00:39
    29/08/2014 Glen Coe Glasgow 146 90.71 02:00 02:39
    925 574.70 15:45 20:56

  • Scotland: a dress-reharsal for the Journey of Dreams

    This year I will leave the UK and start wandering around the world with my Milwaukee ‘tractor’ (an Harley-Davidson Sportster).
    Before engaging in this new life adventure I want to discover Scotland which unfortunately I never had the chance to visit in my six years in Britain.

    My travel through Scotland will be between Saturday the 16th of August and Monday the 1st of September 2014

    This will be a kind of dress-reharsal for what is going to be my new life-style very soon…. 

    The objective of this ride across Scotland is to discover the natural beauties of that fantastic and magical land, I will appreciate your help in discovering hidden paradise, the story these places, plus I will try to do a photographic documentary.

    I will depart from London on Saturday the 16th of August. The first stop will be in Liverpool then I’ll ride a couple of days through the Lake District, and once I will reach Edinburgh and enjoyed the Fringe Festival for a couple of days with some friends, I will participate to the Thunder in the Glens, a massive Harley-Davidson moto-rally with more than 2.000 participants this year.

    After the rally I will head to Scapa Flow where I want to spend some days diving.

    On my way back to England, I will first visit the legendary Loch Ness, Glasgow, dive with the seals in the Faroe Island and visit some friend in Derby.

    Here there’s a more detailed planning:
    16/08/2014     London – Liverpool
    17/08/2014     Liverpool – Lake District
    18/08/2014     Lake District
    19/08/2014     Lake District – Edinburgh
    20/08/2014     Edinburgh
    21/08/2014     Edinburgh
    22/08/2014     Edinburgh – Aviemore (rally)
    23/08/2014     Aviemore – Grantown-On-Spey (rally)
    24/08/2014     Aviemore – Cairngorm Mountain (rally) – or maybe Loch Ness
    25/08/2014     Aviemore – Scapa Flow
    26/08/2014     Scapa Flow
    27/08/2014     Scapa Flow
    28/08/2014     Scapa Flow – Isle of Skye
    29/08/2014     Isle of Skye – Glasgow
    30/08/2014     Glassgow – Farne Island
    31/08/2014     Farne Island – “North York Moore National Park” – Derby
    01/09/2014     Derby – London

    If you are a biker, you can company me, I love sharing my adventures…. otherwise, I will carry a spare helmet and a comfortable seat for a pillion passenger, so I can offer you a ride to follow me in this adventure for one or more days.

    In any case, if you find yourself in the possibility to offer me a couch (or your garden, I have a tent) in any of those nights I will be really, really, really, really (and so on….) grateful!!!!!. In return I have a lot of stories to tell, and I am pretty good at cooking… so do not hesitate to request some Italian dish, I’ll be happy to delight your tummy and palate.
  • CouchSurfing and the roots of The Journey Of Dreams

    I do CouchSurfing
    To learn new things.
    To meet people alike.
    To live The Human Experience.
    To find inspiration for my life and travels.
    To find the courage of other to do crazy things and process it to give myself the strength will to pursue my dreams.

    Last summer I didn’t have much money to travel so I opened up my house to travellers from every corner of the world which allowed me to travel without moving from the walls of my house.
    When I couldn’t go to the world, I let the world come to me.

    It was then that I learnt that the big obstacle to generosity is not that people do not like to give or share, instead it’s the other way around: we are no more ready and used to receive and accept love and generosity and we tend to refuse help and kindness when it comes unexpected.

    For instance, If someone wants to pay you a beer you feel the urgency to buy him a new one because you are not ready to sustain the psychological weight of a debt, what we don’t understand is that the other person is instead pleased to gift us something, enjoying on our joy.

    It’s a matter of fact that when we make a gift to our dears it is not because we want something in return from them, we do that because we want to see them happy. This simple innate feeling is the same that pushes most of the Couch Surfers like you and me to share with strangers something that we own, asking nothing in return other than the pleasure to know that we did something meaningful for another human being.

    It was July 2013 when I finally accomplished one of my life dreams: getting hold of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
    That same summer my friends and I got more involved with the CouchSurfing project hosting people in our flat in London.

    The combined excitement of those two experience pushed me to the point that I felt the need to go for a new adventure on my 883 intended to live a CouchSurfing experiment and a challenge: I wanted to meet a different couchsurfer each day in every place I visited.

    From the 6th to the 22nd of September I rode my Harley-Davidson in France towards the Basque Country, through the Massif Central and the Pyrénées, then back to London via the West Coast of France, passing by the Loire Valley and Normandy.

    My challenge ended with a great success that exceeded my expectation thanks to all of the fantastic people that I met in the journey which account to 25 CouchSurfers and their friends and more random fantastic people.

    Following this success I finally gathered the strength and courage to take the decision to change my life, start traveling the world to begin The Journey of Dreams.

    My last 12 months here in London have been totally dedicated to this project and in November 2014 I will leave the UK and start wandering around the world.

    I hope I’ll meet you soon, in the place of your dreams.