GERMANY, Sauerland & the Harz.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Getting your motorcycle accross the English Channel used to involve ferries. Negotiating slippery ramps, watching as your pride and joy was lashed down with filthy ropes by some uncaring deckhand...
Now the easy, if rather more expensive, option is the "Shuttle". This is the vehicle carrying train that runs through the Channel Tunnel.
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Half an hour on the train and you are disgorged straight into the European Motorway network.
As always with a long day spent on the Motorway I only ever remember snatches of the journey which took us through France, Belgium, Holland and finally into Germany. Like negotiating the ring road system of Antwerp. A van on it's side blocking one lane near Venlo, traffic being directed round it by a grim faced cop with a K1200GT. A shy smile from a pretty girl on a bicycle on a bridge.
With only half an hour to go to our destination a sudden thunderstorm meant arriving in Paderborn dripping wet.
Paderborn is a nice town, with a huge Cathedral in the centre. there has been a church on this site since (ready George?) 776.
The current building was damaged by Allied bombing in 1945 but has been restored using many of the original features.
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On the other side of the main square is a church with an even more elaborate interior.
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The town symbol since Medieval time has been this motif with three hares. Note how although there are only three ears, each individual hare seems to have two!
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The Sauerland is a popular "leisure" area, with the heavilly wooded hills and pretty little towns. In winter the area around Winterberg becomes a ski centre with lifts, pistes, ski jumps etc.
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This time of year the slopes are full of wild flowers. Sadly the misty weather means the photo's don't really do the area full justice.
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A hearty lunch of pork steak, chips and salad, (not for me though, my bowl of soup and roll kept me going...)
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The Harz mountains lie in what was the former East Germany. It's a lot different now to the last time I was in that area, a couple of years before the fall of the Berlin wall. Then it was barbed wire, machine gun posts and uniformed guards everywhere.
Now, just happy people enjoying the beauty of the area.
Very heavilly wooded with streams and lakes in abundance. Yep, all that greenery and scenery comes at a price. Rain. Again, sorry the photo's don't really convey the full picture.
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There are the ruins of an old Abbey at Walkenried. A couple of newlyweds were having the pictures taken.
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We had taken Chloe, the 17 year old daughter of our hosts, for her first experience of motorcycling. We kitted her out first, of course, in well fitting borrowed gear. She loved it.
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The ride back to Paderborn was sublime, stunning roads, great views and even the sun came out for a while.
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Now, I don't want to be too controversial here, but you guys think you have trouble with road hazards...
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Well, how do you fancy dealing with a bunch of drunken German riflemen then?
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It seems every town or village has a "Home Guard" type of armed militia. They have annual shooting/drinking contests to choose the leader for the coming year.
All in all a great trip. I arrived home feeling quite the two wheeled adventurer, only to get a postcard from my friend Spencer who (at 69) is touring Alaska on his 650GS. Oh well, another time maybe.
Cheers all,
Si

[BobFV1]

Si -

Thanks for the great ride report! I think we need to have one of these fests here in the DC area:

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[Promethean]

Si....nice report. You really DJed this ride. :eusa_clap:

[denverchuck]

Very well done, fantastic photos.
:109:

[Dallara]

Great report, even better photos!

Thanks, Si.

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara - NAABSCD)

[geechie]

Very nice, Si. Thanks.

One of the real treats for me in watching coverage of the Tour de France, is the spectacular aerial views of cathedrals and abbeys and ruined castles. Very cool. Here in Charleston we have a few churches that predate 1776... but not by much. I can't imagine stuff that predates the reign of Charlemagne.

George

[arkline]

Simon,

YAFRR (Yet Another Fantastic Ride Report)!!!!

Since I spent a year and a half auf Deutschland long ago, I am always interested to see what changes may have occurred and what haven't. These photos are very evocative of the times and places. I can only wish you would never have to work again, so that you'd be out there on the road, taking pictures, posting travel notes, and corrupting young folk who've not been on a motorcycle before...

That Schutzenfest sign reminds me of attending Backfischfest. Lordy, lordy how the beer does flow during these fests. Even if you're on hands and knees. But, typically you have to pay to get bladder relief...

Great stuff this.

[DarthRider]

Great stuff Simon!
You and Deej are running neck & neck, keep up the good work.
Thanks,

[Bones]

Si,
Schweeet.


Jeff

[Sir Limpsalot]

For the kind words and encouragement. By way of a "Post Script" there are a couple of things I meant to mention but forgot.
The Harz is such a Bikers paradise that Cafes and Bars display "Motorcyclists Welcome" signs. No one turns a hair at the sight of bike gear strewn all around the tables.

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When you fill up at an "Aral" station, the cashier gives you a free visor cleaning kit. Two sachets, the first has a sort of "wet wipe" in it that cleans off bugs and road grime and the second a buffing cloth. It's a small gesture that probably costs the company pennies but is worth untold amounts of goodwill and repeat sales. When did you last get something for nothing while the cagers were ignored?
The other thing is the Autobahn traffic. My word but you need your mirrors! You'll be tooling along feeling like the fastest thing on the road when *WHUUMPH* a big silver Mercedes or black Beemer (don't they do other colours?) will pass you at about 140! The slipstream effect damn near sucks the leaves from the trees.
I think the limit is 80 but you can go as fast as you like untill something goes wrong. That is to say, if you have a crash you may well be done for speeding as well as causing an accident.
In Paderborn the "you are here" map of the town centre is a bit out of the ordinary too.

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Cheers again,
Si.

[Promethean]

There was an article of Germany being a biker haven in MCN a few months ago and they did mention the wet and dry wipes.

I like the "You are here" maps. Very very nice. I'd like to ride around Europe one of these days. It would be a cool trip. :020:

[DJ Down Under]

Thanks Simon..great pics.

DJ

[Sir Limpsalot]

Thanks mate. Having you say that is kind of like having Sinatra say "Cool song" or Valentino say "Great wheelie!".

Si.