Planning a big Trip..... Off we Go! Style
Planning a multi-day adventure motorcycle trip doesn’t have to be strict. While some riders plan every detail, we prefer a flexible approach with only a general direction and a halfway point.
- Our plan… or the lack of it (depending on how you see it)
We hardly plan at all. We have a general direction and what we call a “halfway point.” For example, our rough plan for July 2026 looks something like this: Cross Germany (highway), cross Poland (somehow), ride through the Baltics (more or less via the TET), take a ferry to Finland, then head up to Vardø—that’s our halfway point. After that, we make our way back home… somehow. Maybe via Sweden or Norway, maybe sticking to the TET, maybe not. We’ll figure that out when we get there. The ride back is always easier to judge—you know your time, distance, and limits by then 🙂 - No fixed sleeping plans.
When we wake up, we never know where we’ll sleep that night. We don’t book anything in advance. Toward the end of the afternoon, we usually ask each other: “Is it beer o’clock?” If the answer is yes, we start looking for a place to stay—a campsite, a shelter, a wild camping spot, or, if we’re feeling particularly dusty and smelly, maybe an Airbnb. So far, it’s never failed us. - Never be afraid to change "the plan"
Our “plan” is just an idea, not a rule. At any moment, things can change—the weather, trail difficulty, tips from other riders, or just a stunning view that makes you stop and rethink your route. On our last trip through the Balkans, for example, we met another rider who told us a section of the TET in Hungary was amazing at that time. So we changed direction and went for it. - Start early, stop at the right time
We always try to get on the bike early, so we have a full day to ride. Around 16:00 (4:00 PM for you Americans), we start thinking about where to stay. That doesn’t mean we stop riding—it just means we decide how much longer we want to go. Sometimes we pick a spot two hours away, other times just ten minutes, depending on how we feel. This way, we avoid any last-minute stress about finding a place to sleep.
We’d love to hear how you plan your trips! See ya on the tracks… Off we Go!
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5 comments
Michel aka Sneezle1980
Apr 1, 2026 (edited)
Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Apr 1, 2026Thanks Michel, those longer trip will come someday for you to. But Also for the extended weekend trips it works.
No Frontiers Moto Adv
Apr 3, 2026My first expeditions in South America were meticulously planned, almost obsessively,.... Fear of missing out...
Maybe a way to fight the anxiety of the unknown... but this in the end during the trip was always an extra stress to manage...
Gradually I realised that this was not what I was looking for, and that once in "moto", on the move... all fears and anxieties disappeared.
Now, after 7 international expeditions, I learned that what I look for in the trip is the total lack of commitment with anything that forces me to plan or respect schedules and obligations.... the only thing I know is the day I will go on a trip, the region I will explore and an approximate return date... the feeling of being on the road is magical, additive, once experienced... you are screwed, you just think that day you will return to the road.... free mind in a free body... looking for chance and those moments of unexpected surprises, those spontaneous connections with people and places that only a motorcycle trip can provide.
Off we GO! Karin & Paul
Apr 3, 2026That sounds like the perfect idea to travel. Great story Thanks!
Neo23
May 23, 2026Good tips about travels based on your experience. For me the equilibrium between the planning and the reality of the travel is the key, because the extreme planing impact in the good experience finally.
Author
We are "Off we GO!" Karin & Paul. Riding both on a CFMOTO 450MT trough Europe Check us out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/offwegomoto
Another Great Read Paul and Karin..
how I plan my trips depends on if I go With family or by myself .. with family everything is choreographed. If i go by myself I just start riding and if In don riding for the day a Stop and look for a place to sleep. an go from thre the next day . basically but then again I haven done Real travels Trips yet. only 3 maybe 4 days max because of my family life at home.