-5 days | Last details

These are hectic days for the final preparations of my long journey that will lead me to try to go around the world on a Vespa. If I think that when I decided to start this adventure, it was early August 2021 and the nine months I would have had for the preparation seemed like an eternity. In reality I am here, still with many things to do, sure that I will arrive at the last hour of the day before departure, still very busy with the last details.

In the end I decided to go to Asia and more precisely my first big stop will be India. The idea is to do the whole coast of Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and then leave Europe from Turkey, then Iran, Pakistan and finally India, where I expect to arrive in 5 weeks. More than an estimate it is a goal, considering that the Indian visa requires me to leave on July 12th 2022.

I am already leaving with visas for Iran, Pakistan and India, even if there is the unknown factor that it seems that land customs between Pakistan and India are closed … in the meantime I get closer and then I will try to understand better.

Preparation of travel equipment

As always, one would like to travel with the house in tow, but on a motorcycle and even more on a Vespa, it is not convenient to have too many things with you. However, it is also true that in this case the journey will be long, summer and winter periods, in areas that are not always easy to find where everything can be found.

At first glance, the material and clothing equipment for a Vespa tour of the world may seem excessive, even if in reality this is not the case. Everything has been chosen for a specific reason and in many cases there is stock and consumable material that will run out over time, thus allowing you to lighten the luggage as a whole.

The Vespa’s luggage

The great work done on my Vespa to equip it with a reinforced front and rear luggage rack is now amply rewarded. The arrangement of the suitcases is as follows:

– Front bag with everything you need for an overnight stay in a tent

– Blue bag positioned low on the platform (it is heavy) with maintenance tools

– Yellow bag, positioned on the other side of the platform, with mixture oil and safety chains for the bike

– Small 10 lt side bag with necessary for rain emergency

– Small 10 lt side bag with necessary for cold emergency

– Waterproof bag 49 lt for daily needs for daily use, changing clothes, computers, etc.

– 89 lt waterproof bag with all the reserve, counter-seasonal equipment and everything not for daily use.

In addition there are the cans: 5 liters for petrol, 2 of 1 liter each for oil and one of 5 liters for water.

The total weight of luggage is approximately 50 kg, plus jerry cans, divided between 10 kg in front, 10 kg in the footpegs and 30 kg in the rear rack.

In practice, when the Vespa is stored in a safe place, in the evening only the rear bag with the necessary for daily use can be removed from the luggage.

Soon, as soon as I can, I will make a post detailing the characteristics of the rear rack.

Trip supporters

Really many have contributed and have helped me in these 9 months to prepare my trip. I can’t remember them all, but I try and if I forget some, I apologize:

– Walter who with his dad pushed me towards the choice of the Vespa P200E and helped me in the complete restructuring of the engine, mechanics and chassis

– Angelo who sacrificed a good part of his Christmas holidays and not only to create those works of art that are the two Vespa’s luggage racks

– Maurizio who lent me the van several times, when I went to Verona to buy the Vespa and for the various transfers from one workshop to another

– Alessandro for the additional electrical system

– Gatti(I don’t remember the name) for the beautiful aluminum spare parts box

And a heartfelt thanks to my sons and to all the other people, friends and people closest to me, who have given me a truly unique, priceless and indispensable moral support.

Meeting for departure Saturday 7 May at 11.00 at Ariele di Conegliano

For those who like to be there, the departure is set for Saturday 7 May at 12.00 from Ariele di Conegliano, but I will already be there at 11.00. It will be an opportunity to see the Vespa loaded and ready for its adventure, to say goodbye and exchange a hug.

For those who want to keep me company for a few kilometers, I will head towards Croatia, via normal road (no highway).