Jack's Blog: September 2008

UPDATE in progress; 2nd December

Sunday 7th - Calais to The Black Forest

Ten bikes crossed the channel on a not so warm September Sunday. Bill & Chrissy were on the Fire Brigade Sprint ~ ah, such modesty!
Some nosy bloke dressed in dayglow poking his nose in as usual.

Unfortunately, Brian had an accident near Arras and was unable to continue but survived to fight another day, more of this epic tale later. France proved to be rainy at times and very windy and we couldnt wait to get to Bad Peterstal in the Black Forest.

We arrived at the hotel in groups of three or four, ready for a scrub-up, a drink and some excellent food prepared by our welcoming hosts, Willy & Michelle.
Also our German friends Thomas, Gunter and Erica
were there to greet us, Thomas forever keen to organise some interesting days out.

Yum; trout with buttered almonds!
Monday 8th - The '500' to Baden Baden, the Spa, sea food, coffee and cake.

We are off with Teutonic timeliness at ten hundred hours, onwards and upwards to the glorious five hundred; the road over the Black Forest ridge, this time blessed with fine weather and great views.

Us lot outside the Spa after a well earned soak.

Swimming, or should I say 'lounging' gives one an appetite, what? So off to the seafood cafe in the centre of Baden Baden.

UPDATE: "Oi! Jacko! - Lunch is this way! I can feel it in my water!"

Everyone enjoyed their lunch ~ Andy was especially hungry!

A stroll around the town before we got back on the bikes was necessary to make room for the obligatory coffee and cake up the mountain and far away; Thomas and his friend Martin guided us in two groups....

.....along the lanes to the Kernhof hideaway; UPDATE: (pics)

UPDATE: Willy & Michelle (from the Hotel Hirsch) and Gunter & Erica who drove down from Iffezheim in their car to be with us. Gunter is still recovering from a non-biking accident and they always make an effort to meet up with us when in the Black Forest.

Willy and michelle having driven up on their 'his and her' trikes;

UPDATE: Michelle and Chrissie (up for a joy ride)

UPDATE: "Come back darling! All is forgiven" - cries Bill as he tries to catch up.

Those trikes dunnarf go!

Another of Willy's trikes, how on earth did he get >>>>>>>>>
it into the hotel foyer?

Tuesday 9th. - Forest roads and the 'Roof of the World'

Martin, Peter and Frank joined us and Thomas for the day on a route through the hills in ever decreasing circles until we disappeared up to lunch time!
A halfway break to cool the tyres and refresh those inner parts;
and onwards to lunch at the Linde biker-guesthouse at Oberwolfach, where again we met Gunter & Erica ~ they just cant keep away from the motorad and the strange people that ride them!

Just in case anyone was repentant about food
and drink, the church is next door!

The afternoon was still warm so we rode up to the Brandenkopf observation tower (932 m) and, oh yes, more coffee and maybe an incy wincy cake?
A view of a communication tower from the observation tower. The bikes are down there somewhere.

Just a little top up >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

and a quick look at our next destination; Innsbruck.

Wednesday 10th - to Innsbruck via Lake Konstanz

We said our goodbyes to Willy and Michelle at the Hirsch and wound our way through the hills to Lake Konstanz and the ferry;

<>>>>>>

Lunch stop at Meersburg and
Billy Biggles gives us a rendition of 'our lad with a Hovis on his head' or some such yarn.

Suitably entertained, fed and watered we pressed on to Innsbruck. The weather was wet and the tunnels were hot. Thomas, Andy & Nicky, Bill and Jacko decided to go over the mountain route but me old steed decided to overheat, so main road it was. "Probably the most boring combination of roadworks and tunnels in the world" said someone.

Hotel Kappeller was a welcome site;
and so was my liver and bacon.

And so to the tale of 'Super Brian' who was unceremoniously thrown from his mount in Arras.
Having spent a while in a French hospital with an application of vinegar and brown paper to his bonce, he returns to England sans Tiger to collect another velocipede from his stable - the Thunderbird. Brian then rides all the way from Calais to Innsbruck, arriving at the hotel 2am Thursday morning. He was down for breakfast at 8am. What can we say? Our hero and 'man of the match', except we had no football.

The Brian Machine.

Brian with his 'Hero' gong >>

Thursday 11th - to Taxenbach

The day looked good at Innsbruck and only a short trip today.

Over the pass and a stop for lunch before we arrived at the Taxenbachenhof.

Jacko with
Green Gilbert.

A pleasant lunchtime view >>
where I received a text message from Neil:
New member Neil wanted to go ahead when we left Innsbruck, he didnt want to hold anyone up because he is Captain Slow. "I'll be ok, I've got my Garmin".
When heading east from Innsbruck you head toward Salzburg. Well, our route turned off after a few miles to take us via Zell am See. At lunch I received those memorable words 'Salzburg is nice! Neil'. His moto is now 'The Wrong Way Round' and not a his T shirt (The Long Way Down)

UPDATE: The Taxenbacherhoff; very welcoming.

UPDATE: Eric; talking to one of the locals.

Friday 12th - Berchtesgarten, The Eagles Nest

The day started well over the pass but gradually misted over as we neared the target area.

Going up to the 'Nest' and its getting murky!

The Long Mile >>>>>>>>>>

Lots of people in the restaurant but not a lot to see outside, but I bought a book so I got some photies, so there! And your not allowed to see them!

UPDATE:
Brian decided a SMALL wine was in order - to cool those inner parts!

Saturday 13th - Trainspotting and Salzburg

Some of us decided to go by train and some us by mini coach;

Bums away!

And so to Salzburg >>>>>>

Where the shops are bustling and things are grand.........

Dont let everyone know
but they even have an ornate sign
for the big M (round things made
out of cows)

......and Neils' pork knuckle is enormous......... and so is the restaurant.

There where also lots more people who seemed a tad more sensible ~ they were inside keeping warm!

UPDATE: A view from the 'Fortress' ...................... Going down?

UPDATE:

....and a view of the Fortress

Soon it was time to get on ya bike to the bahnhoff...... >>>>

UPDATE:

<<... but not before Jane was

tempted by some borbles!

On the way to the Station;

we passed this dedication to Brian 'Two Broken Wheels'

The Mirabelle gardens with the Fortress in the background >>>>

UPDATE:

More flowers in the Mirabelle...

The train;

Mr Tea - the man that never sleeps - has been sussed!
The view was great; but Thomas missed it as well!

And so to bed.......zzzzz............
Sunday 14th - Farewell to Thomas and up the Castle

Thomas had to go home, so a fond goodbye to our friend, guide and interpretor.

"A quick vash viz zish bush, ah, zee leafs are zo invigorating"

Alf Veedersane >>>>>>>>
(good bloke that Alf)

Various peoples did various things today; some went medieval, some got sent to the salt mine

UPDATE: (pic)

and some hoped for glorious boating weather on the See, shame it rained!

11th century Castle Werfen (just south of Salzburg) UPDATE (pic):

A grand view down the valley>>>>
from the bell tower.

This early motorcycle suit
must of been a bit chilly
I think.

The family ghost patiently posing for the camera >>>>>

UPDATE:

Someone has left a deposit! - Do you recognize this man?

Monday 15th - Zell am See and Up the Pass

Sharing coffee and pizza with the birds near
The Grand Hotel by the See (lake). >>>>>>>>>>>

Zell am See after it stopped raining.

The Grossglockner pass was closed due to lack of interest; no actually it was bloody cold and wet so it was just as well because I think we would of slid off the edge!

We should of done the Pass on Sunday - Mr Tea was successful - hopefully some piccies coming soon?

Tuesday 16th. - Time to leave Austria and head for sunny Germany?*

We said goodbye to the guesthouse,
'I suppose we better go! Can I stay here as my gloves don't fit?'

and the day was looking good............................

It didnt last long, as soon as we rode through the Thurn pass over the Kitzbuhler Alpen; the rain and cold was upon us.
Now, I forgot to tell you that Jacko forgot his maps for this trip so I have been using bits of paper and hieroglyphics. Well, Billy Biggles (as opposed to Billy Boyer) had to go ahead of us in search of his camera that he left somewhere in Zell am See so we agreed to meet up in Hopfgarten, halfway to Munich. Richard and me got to the said petrol station/cafe and waited, looking down the road as you do. Ten minutes or so later, the silver machine appeared from the other direction! Que?
"I missed a turn and Nora Garmin took me the long way round".
I said "it sounds like the day we went to the Triumph Factory and you sailed straight passed the lunch stop, arrived at the Factory and asked for your lunch". Bloody Nora, she's at it again! (Sorry Bill, could resist it)

DACHAU:

The day gradually cleared by the time we stopped at Dachau, the memorial sight of the concentration camp ~ a stark, grey and haunting place.

I think this says
'Freedom rewards
labour'

'The maintenance building was built by the prisoners themselves in 1937 - 38. It served the needs of the prisoners camp and contained a kitchen, clothing supply room, baths, laundry and workshops. In the so-called Schubraum (literally "shunting room") in the west wing of the building, the degrading registration process began for newly arrived prisoners. On the roof a text was painted in large letters: "There is a path to freedom, its milestones are: Obedience, Honesty, Cleanliness, Sobriety, Hard Work, Discipline, Sacrifice, Truthfulness, Love of thy Fatherland."

'The defeat of Germany in WWI led, with the November Revolution in 1918, to the fall of the monachy. The new democratic state guaranteed all citizens, both men and women, political equality. The young republic was jeopardized from the very beginning. It had to bear the resultant costs of the lost war and was made vunerable by severe economic and political crisis. The democratic forces lost influence. The radical nationalists fought against the new state and held its representatives responsible for the defeat of 1918. The Communists strove towards a dictatorship of the proletariat. During a severe economic crisis in the early 1930's, parliamentary democracy was increasingly annulled. The voters turned in masses to Adolf Hitler and the NSDAP. He even received the support of the traditional ruling classes as he rose to power.'

Extract from 'Dachau - World Without Mercy': "...The floors were considered hallowed. In order to preserve them no one could enter with clogs or slippers, but only in socks or barefoot... ...Just as the cleanliness and order of the armed services was a medium for deception and trickery, so in the camp it was too, but to an extent which was devilish....

The Camp Road (left)

Former inmates on the camp road after liberation (right)

'After the morning in the camp roads the prisoners marched along the camp road to the roll-call area. After work and the evening roll-call they returned in closed formation to their barracks. The road lined with poplars was the prisoners' central meeting place. In the few free hours they had, here they could meet friends from other barracks and exchange information. The 'spirit of the camp road', as the prisoners expressed it, was a symbol of the solidarity amongst the prisoners which developed despite the omnipresent violence.'

The camp road as it is today >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Back on the road again, to LEHR nr ULM: Our halfway stop to Speyer

Hotel Engel We're only here for the beer!

On the northern outskirts of Ulm, still a quite village, apart from the pigs squeeking before breakfast as I have an early walk around.

<< high="">

Don't think about it! Just eat it! >>>

Now, that DOES look pleasent >>

Wednesday 17th. Onwards to Speyer and a hotel too far!!

Some of us set off via the Motorway for an early arrival in Speyer.

Some of us wanted to go the scenic route via the 28 to Freudenstadt, then north.

So the 28 mob (Jacko, Bill, Richard, Andy & Nicky) set off. Well? Nutty Nora (Billy Biggles infernal route finder) took him the wrong way again! So we had to rescue him from the motorway queue by zipping off down some very pleasant rural roads until we eventually joined the 28. Eventually we reached Freudenstadt and turned on to the 462 north. Somehow we became split up and we never saw Bill & Richard again that day! Jacko said "Wouldn't it be nice to cross the Rhine by ferry then a short hop to Speyer?"

The ferry that never was!>>>>>>

The border guard.........eaten by foliage.........>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So, foiled we was! It was now rush hour time, so we set off just after five o'clock and toiled our way to Speyer. Past the main square on to the 'hotel from hell'.

Hotel Pension Klaer;

It was getting dark when we got there and a more seedy place you couldn't find. Herr 'Rigsby Comb Over' welcomed us with hand-wringing indifference. Pay-now regret later as it turned out to be. All the other crew had already booked in and gone up to the city centre for an evening meal. Andy, Nicky and me looked at the rooms and decided to move on; I mean, would you stay in a room with wallpaper like this?No ensuite. An old shower cubicle a few feet from the bed. Curtains that are smaller than the window. Dark musty smelling hallways. Stairs with lights that keep switching off. Communal bathroom. Smokers talking outside your door. Anyway you get the idea?

So off to the city to hunt for rooms. Very fortunately for us we found a place right in the city centre. I had to bunk in on the put-you-up bed for the first night (thanks Andy & Nicky) and a seperate room was available for the second. Apparently, it was a very busy time of the year, so we struck lucky!

A lovely hotel, well recommended; Hotel Goldener Engel