VTR1000.ORG

Hi all

Got back from Germany yesterday after a gruelling 700 mile ride from the Harz region (Bad Lauterberg) to home in Leyland, Lancs. I went with 5 others from various parts of the country and we all met at Harwich for the trip over. Got over on Thursday evening but one of the lads had missed the ferry so rode back 100 miles to meet him at Hoek van Holland on Friday morn before riding around 350 miles to the Harz. Managed a steady 180-210kph on the autobahn which ain't bad with me being on a naked bike and all. Spent sat / sun riding around all the Harz which is made up almost exclusively of fantastic twisty mountain roads. We were blessed with good weather the whole time which was a bonus since my waterproofs parted company somewhere on the A14. We stayed at the Pension Roseneck http://www.pension-roseneck.com/ which is run by Greg and Jackie, an english couple who not only go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure you enjoy your stay but make sure you have a right old laugh along the way. ;) We did a bit of the touring thang, visited one of the few dams that our boys didn't rearrange during the war ;) and enjoyed great food and a friendly welcome all round. More time would have been nicer but we'll make sure the next trip is done over a week instead of a weekend. Rode back to the Hoek during the daytime to catch the 4pm ferry then continued on home after it docked. My bike did itself proud, despite being only a Z750 it had no problem keeping pace with 3 VTRs, an 06 Blade and a Speed Triple. In 2000 miles it didn't miss a beat, although it blew a bulb as I left Corley Services meaning I had to ride 130 miles on full beam...!

All in all a great trip with incredible roads, can't wait for the next one!

Some piccies here:

http://www.at-cc.com/harz/neilo/album/

Nice pickys number 60 has a right dodgey looking bloke in it .
I took some when I went to spain a few weeks back and made the mistake of taking them from the bike when it was running most were pants.

That sounds like a very good trip as well, nice to see the pic's Neil

Chris.

Yeah dunno who that bloke was that kept creeping in to the piccies...

It was great, can't wait for the next trip!

Looks like an excellent trip. What was the total cost (If I may ask). Just that I need to start saving NOW!

Hard to say since we paid part of it upfront and got a 'squaddie' discount since Fluffy is ex-army.

If you go Harwich > Hook of Holland, the return crossing works out at about £106 on the fast ferry. The Pension where we stayed at is approx £22 per person per night then you've just got fuel which is slightly cheaper for the most part in Holland/Germany.

I'd recommend doing what we did, stayin the first night in a cheapie hotel (ie Formule 1) somewhere in Holland and taking your time getting over to Germany the following day. Make sure you pick up a map on the ferry as services are marked and with the storm you will need to plan fuel stops a bit.

From where I live (Leyland, Lancs) to Harwich is about 280 miles, there are then another 350 miles from Hook of Holland to the Harz. Add any miles you'll do while you're there (for me it worked out about 1800 miles but we were out all day every day on the bikes) so at roughly 120 miles to a tenner fuel cost about £150 in fuel. Some of that went on the old card and some I paid in cash at the time. I reckon ferry, fuel and accommodation worked out at £330.

Food etc is very cheap, you can get a decent coffee and a huge slice of cake for 2.8 euros.

Booo, as I leap out from behind the curtain :-)

I am organising another one for September so will post up here as well to see if anyone wants to tag along.

Costs wise, the ferry prices are the variable, I got the ticket's for £106 for a bike and rider for Harwich to the Hook using the (ex) Squaddie discount, the best discounted price I could get elsewhere was £140.

This trip woked out at about £173 per person and that included...

Return Ferry - Harwich to Hook of Holland
1 night Formule 1 motel with breakfast
3 nights accomodation in Pension Roseneck

The only thin I think was missing from this trip was a certain person (let's keep him anonymous but call him Del') that hoiked the biggest minger past the largest polizei station in the westfalia region of germany .... blissfully unaware of the fact :-)

there are more pictures at

http://www.at-cc.com/harz/album
http://www.at-cc.com/harz/darthbear/album

What I am thinking of for September is that if enough are interested, do a group of 12, then split into a Fast and intermediate group for the rideouts...

more as it happens folks

cheers

Fluffy