Writer driving 50cc Ape from Barga to Utrecht broken down

Remember the Dutch writer Miriam Goudappel, who bought a brand new bright Ferrari red 50 cc Ape from the Piaggio factory at Pontedera and was intending to take the ape, powered by its single cylinder 50 cc engine, for a spin ?

..... well, in fact she is intending to take it home ... to Holland ! ... to Utrecht, more than 2000 kms north to be precise.

No radio, no tape player, no CD or MP3 player to interrupt her thought patterns as she winds her way slowly north. She is writing a book on philosophy and decided that the cockpit of the tiny Ape would be the perfect place in which to be alone and think while she gradually drives up through Europe. Intending to drive for only short bursts, she has given herself 40 days to get from Barga to Utrecht.



Well the latest news is not good news;

at the moment i am stuck at Vonnas; my ape has some serious motorproblems, and, being in France, that's quite hard. parts have to be ordered from Italy, so i am already here for more than a week. i hope to be back on the road again ASAP

For those who need details, so far Miriam since leaving Barga has passed through (slowly) the following places:

pte di catagnana-castelvecchio pascoli-castelnuovo di garf.-sillicagnana-san romano in garf.-giuncugnano varliano- metra- codiponte- gassano- rometta- aulla- la spezia-riomaggiore- levanto- p.so d. Bracco-(ss1)sestri levante- genova- celle ligure- albisola -(n.334)-san giovanni-pontinvrea-mioglia- dego -(n.28bis) millesimo-n.28 nucetto- garessio- ormea- ponte de nava- colle di nava (934 m.!)-pieve di teco- imperia- san remo- ventimiglia----menton-nice- biot- valbonne- grasse- callian- seillant- claviers- callas- chateaudouble- ampus- tourtour- aups- amphoux- tavernes- riants- jouques- meyrargues- pertuis - ansouis-cuceron-lourmarin-bonnieux-lacoste-lumieres-st.pantaleon-cabrieres d'avignon-fontaine~de~vaucluse-le thor-bedarrides-le montelier-orange-bollene-st.restitut-solerieux-montsegur-grignan-salles~bois-la begude-charols-puy st.martin-crest-chabeuil-montelier-st. didier-besayes-romans sur isere-marges-le grand serre-thodure-sardien-la cote st. andre-commelle-st.cristophe-chatonnay-le guilland-culin-bourgoin-jallieu-st.marcel-accueil-panossas-tignieu-st.romain~de~jalionas-pont~de~cheruy-belmont-chavanoz-villette d'anthon-jons-montleul-ste croix-le montellier-joyeux-versailleux-le plantay-abb~de~n.d.des dombes-marlieux-st.germain sur renon-st.georges s.renon-romans-neuville~les~dames-vonnas

Chin up Miriam, keep on going !!!