Arrived home today around 12pm after catching the ferry from Rotterdam to Hull. firstly, a fantastic trip. The tour started wet, very wet...and windy. There was three of us, the fourth was meeting at Baden Baden straight after his holiday from Florida. The trip down to Calais was horrendous. Driving rain and wind. One of the guys on a speed triple really struggled as naked bikes are no good in this type of weather. He was getting blown all over the place, and couldn't keep up the steady 90 on the motorway, so once we got to Birmingham, we peeled off for a coffee and to pick up the A5 and used A roads apart from the m25 all the way to Folkestone. We made Folkestone early, and the rain stopped, but there where problems with the trains, so had to wait nearly 3 hours to board, again in the pissing rain as it started again... Waterproofs held up well, and we where dry underneath. we arrived at Calais to the hotel in the early hours, around 1 am! Knackered, we had a beer or 2 and hit the sack ready for the early morning ride to Nurburg the Next day. We awoke to dry and warm weather, and I put in " twisty roads" in the sat Nav. I don't know what roads it took us on, but they where fantastic. Long sweepers, tight corners, good straights, scenery, the lot! Some switchbacks, double esses and hairpins. I was in my element, as was Tolly on his triumph tiger, Jon on his speed 3 held back as he isn't that confident on the twisties, so we waited now and again at turn offs for him. 5 hours of fantastic roads....heaven! The weather held off, no rain and warm all day. We arrived at what we thought was a place with 2 rooms. We had infact, booked the whole house! It was gorgeous. It had started to spit, just before we where about to ring the bell, we where greeted by a bloke who told us his sister owns the house, and handed us the keys. The next thing was, the owner turned up with a crate of beers, and we noticed a fridge full of beers was also ours, at 1 euro a bottle!. We where hungry, but couldn't be arsed going out, so a lady next door translated a Italian menu to a Restraunt nearby and had them deliver it to us. All for €35 euro which included 2 courses each and a free bottle of plonk. Fabulous food, and loads of it!
After a good nights sleep, and a late night, we awoke to a wet morning. Although not raining, the roads where sodden, and rain forecast most of the day. We where due in Baden Baden at a Monastry today and wanted to visit the Nurburgring, and travel on the B48 on the way We set off, and it soon started raining. The ring was out, but paid a visit as we were close and headed for the B48 straight after.. The rain stopped and the roads dried out, and we where on the B48. What a road! Tight, scenic, sweeping, the lot! after about half 3/4 of an hour, the rain started… and got heavier and heavier…. visibility was down to a few metres due to low cloud and driving rain, so we decided to hit the Autobahn to get there quicker. We pulled in at a service station to fill up, and get a warm and some food. Then, dropped the bike. The classic side stand half down was to blame, and my tiredness. Thankfully, theres hardly any damage, only a scuff on the fairing that you won't notice, the bike protection took the brunt of it. Sheesh….. We arrived at the Monastry, with Craig already there. He had travelled the 400 odd miles from Folkesone in the driving rain, and was soaked through, as we where. The waterproofs had held well in the previous downpours, but our feet where wet and our upper bodies. I guess theres only so much "waterproofs" can take. The contents of the Kriega luggage inc my camera where bone dry though, top stuff is Kriega! It stopped raining just after… which was a bonus. The monastery was gorgeous, with lovely grounds, and old outbuildings. The Nuns where very friendly, and tried to have conversations with us, albeit in German. They seemed to like bikers too, and we where greeted very well. We checked in, and put our wet clothes on the red hot radiators to dry, and headed off for what was a top night in a local German bar. Ended up being the last guys in there, and got given a few shots as presents, on the house! Happy Days! Prost! Totally pissed, and made a right racket back at the monastery…. a few looks at breakfast i can tell you.
We awoke to blue skies and dry roads. After a hearty breakfast of lots of coffee, headache pills and German meats and bread, we headed to Lucerne, Switzerland, vis the B500. It's not one road, you have to come off and join again in various places, but it is stunning. Not as tight as the B48, but wider and better surface. It's very fast too, with corners you can easily see around. We didn't see any Police on it, but got flashed a few times by locals in cars coming the opposite direction, probably to slow down. Again, we stopped for lunch and a fill up, and just rode it. Fabulous. Great weather, warm and sunny, with great views. Arrived at Lucerne around 6 hrs later via some other great roads and stunning villages. The Swiss are very friendly, but don't care for loud bikes much judging by their glances. They seem to dislike you filtering too. The Hotel was fab, with great views looking at the Alps. We chilled with a beer, and got ready to go into Lucerne centre for a meal. Probably the best meal of the holiday, albeit quite expensive (£230 for 4 inc bottle of wine and beers… 3 courses)
After a great night and a good taxi ride back to the hotel due to the very friendly and informative taxi driver, we had a nightcap, and perused over the day. Tomorrow, we are headed for Lake Como….. We Had to use the St Gotthard Tunnel to get to Italy, as all the passes where closed… this meant purchasing Swiss road tax at 40 euro each. This lasts a year, but is expensive for what it is. You can take a chance of not getting caught, but we got fined last year, so purchased it. After the Gotthard, we diverted to A and B roads, taking us through lovely villages and some mountain roads. These for 3 of us, where the best of the journey. They went through little villages, and was side to side throwing the bike through them. you had to be careful of oncoming traffic though, as there where narrow. Brilliant. After another stop for lunch at a little bistro, we continued along the twisty road, marvelling at the scenery if we could. We arrived at the destination 30 miles later. Gorgeous. Again, we where lucky with the weather, all day was dry. We where staying in Como for 2 nights, and the hotel was right on the lake, with a jetty where you could have breakfast, and the use of a speedboat. Fantastic! The food there was amazing, but again not cheap.. we finished off with the best cheeseboard i have ever had, and a bottle of Barolo was shared between Tol and myself. Lovely. Next morning…rain! It cleared up by 12pm, so we decided to head out to Bellagio on the local bus. A gorgeous old town with quaint shops and bistros. We decided to get our other halves presents for our wrongdoings ( 9 day pass from them is worth spending a few quid for sanctuary) A lovely, hot sunny day…again we where lucky, as Alblade seemed to be having bad weather every day. Another meal at the fab restaurant, and retired to bed for the journey to Strasbourg the next day…….
Wet roads greeted us in the morning! Jon was up first, and he said it was pouring, but by the time we got up, it was dry, although wet roads from the previous downpour. We decided to have breakfast, and have a few stops on the way… The weather was a mixture of light rain, then sunny then heavy rain the rest of the day…,We arrived in Strasbourg after doing 248 miles of A roads and some motorway. Again, Craig and I maxed the bikes out on the Autobahn, before pulling off for some great roads to Strasbourg. Brilliant. I put in "winding roads" via the sat nav, and it took us through some towns, and open road with good surfaces and good twists for 100 miles. We got there in great time and we didn't hang about!
A great meal was had in the centre of the city, and after a walk around seeing the sights, we stopped off for a few wines and beers on the river, and a cake that looked like an "arse" according to the waiter! great stuff!! We decided on cheesecake, it was amazing, and very, very rich. lovely.
Next stop, Cologne. Horrendous weather! Couldn't see for toffee, we where pissed wet through….. not enjoyable at all. It stopped for a while, but soon continued. Jons key fob stopped working which meant he could use the bike, but i stripped it and cleaned it up, and bent the contacts for a good connection…all was good. We arrived at Cologne to sunny, dry weather…. but we where wet. after a quick shower, and a beer in the bar, we headed off to a local establishment for a meal. An old brewery, traditional, with long tables…and beer! and lots of food! bloody lovely meal there. we where tired from the days riding due to concentration, and hit the sack around 12am……
Next day… off to Holland to catch the overnight ferry from Europort to Hull. We arrived an hour early, and couldn't believe the size of the ship. It was an old retired cruise liner "The Pride Of Hull" and had everything on it. We pre-booked a 4 berth cabin and meal for the night, as well as breakfast next morning. It was a very good decision to do this…it saves hassle and money. The meal was fab. A buffet, with all you could eat. Food from many countries and we where stuffed. The cabin was small, and hot! quite claustrophobic really for 4 with all our gear, but did the job. I slept like a baby, as did the others, apart from Jon, who had a panic attack in the night and woke early… All in all, a fab time. Yes, the weather wasn't great all the time, but we where lucky…the days where good weather wise, some fantastic roads, and some very challenging rain and wind. It's all experience though! 200ml of oils used and 2,600 miles… brilliant. Here's to next year…363 sleeps!!!!! Cheers!
great write up Si and some cracking photo's too... always tough when the weather is pants but you'd be suprised how many decent rides you do get in despite horrific forecasts. what's the plan for next year??
Fantastic pics and great write up, almost felt like I was there with you guys. Really gets the urge to tour in the blood. Thank you Si
