Khulu's Tour 2 2023

[Khulu]

More photos:



Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring (104 miles riding there and back over the weekend):

As I was riding I couldn’t partake of the alcoholic beverages but did catch a bit of the “Break Free” Italian Queen tribute band (I saw them there once before and they were brilliant!) Being in Austria KTM had an autograph session with Brad & Jack so I waited an hour and was at the front of a very long queue for Brad’s autograph (my wife’s South African) and also a brief chat with them both – nice guys.

 

[Khulu]

And more photos:

 

[Khulu]

Monday 21.08.2023


480 miles today heading towards the B500 and the Baden-Baden area. I found the Landhotel zur Traube, Baden – Baden and had a nice few biers, a walk about the local area, and a fine dinner there. Some nice places but all very quiet and away from the main tourist areas.

 

[Khulu]

More photos:

 

[Khulu]

Tuesday 22.08.2023

550 miles today starting with a free ferry over the Rhine to get into France! A lovely ride through France, through the tunnel and then into traffic jams and road works on the M20. I tried a couple of hotels en route north but no room at the inns but the last one suggested the “Dog and Castle” in Wood Walton. I found it, got a room and settled in to a couple of beers. Went for a walk around this very sleepy hamlet (that didn’t take very long at all) then had dinner and another couple of beers (it had been a long, hot, tiring day). An early sleep, as usual, to be ready for another long day heading north towards home.

 

[Khulu]

Wednesday 23.08.2023

325 miles today to my daughter’s place near Dalkeith, Scotland. Popped into the local Tesco for a couple of bottles of red wine for the evening’s dinner then played with my two resident grandkids there for a while until (and also after) dinner.
No pictures from here!

Thursday 24.08.2023

185 miles today and home with my trusty and very reliable Ducati Multistrada steed tucked away with its stable mates!



All in all I covered 5826 miles and only met a little bit of drizzle en route. The driest long haul run I’ve ever had and got a great tan into the bargain (riding like an Italian in a t-shirt helps get the arms nice and brown).

Next summer’s plan?

I’m considering the Czechia WSBK meeting at Most and then on to the World Ducati Week (a long weekend only) at Misano, Italy.

Maybe the Misano MotoGP (I've just looked at the ticket prices and they're a fortune so I may not bother!) followed by a trip to the Picos in Spain, in September, and on to northern Portugal but I’m still undecided on that one.

 

[Khulu]

fab pics ..had a fab time

It was great to meet you again Steve.
If you ever want to tour the highlands you're very welcome to use my place as a base.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Great write up Ian, I look forward to sharing a beer with you at Sid's in August.

 

[Santa-2512]

Wow that was some trek Ian,

Good to see you at Sid's

Are you popping over to Strontian to join the triple hard mob?

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

That ferry crossing is familiar........

 

[mspenz]

Fantastic stuff Iain...loving the Multistrada then ?

I can sympathise with your slow upload speeds but your's is obviously way faster than mine...can easily take me 5 minutes to upload one photo so it's just too frustrating to try, and my 4G is also garbage being on the other side of a hill from the transmitter !

I would love to visit Sid's but it's just the wrong time for me unfortunately.

Keep at it

 

[wessie]

That ferry crossing is familiar........

they are very handy - I found three of them across the Rhine between Baden Baden & Strasbourg when I stayed a few nights in Buhlertal in the Baden wine region. All were free unlike some further north. I did some circuits from the base including sections in Alsace so used the ferries rather than the major crossings over the EDF dams.
On one ferry, heading from France back to the base I saw two young lads on mopeds. They had finished college and were on their way over to the German off licence as they could buy beer at 16. France is 18.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I had no idea there was a ferry en route. I'd set the Sat nav to 'Twisty roads' between Baden-Baden and Reims. When I got within a few miles of the river the Sat nav just showed the road ending and I had no idea what I was heading to but carried on regardless. Imagine my delight to find the ferry when I got there.

Edit: This is the one.

 

[wessie]

I had no idea there was a ferry en route. I'd set the Sat nav to 'Twisty roads' between Baden-Baden and Reims. When I got within a few miles of the river the Sat nav just showed the road ending and I had no idea what I was heading to but carried on regardless. Imagine my delight to find the ferry when I got there.

Edit: This is the one.

I did the same in 2014, stayed overnight in Haguenau and wanted to cross the Black Forest to get to Kempten in the Bavarian Alps. Garmin took us to the ferry at Drusenheim. Last year, I stayed longer and deliberately searched for more ferries just for giggles instead of using the busier bridges.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

There us something quite charming about them isn't there?

 

[mspenz]

It was great to meet you again Steve.
If you ever want to tour the highlands you're very welcome to use my place as a base.

Perfect location for a Highland Dentesque event you have there

 

[Troppo]

Great report and pics, thanks.

 

[Khulu]

Wow that was some trek Ian,

Good to see you at Sid's

Are you popping over to Strontian to join the triple hard mob?

No, Christmas at home.

 

[Khulu]

Fantastic stuff Iain...loving the Multistrada then ?

I can sympathise with your slow upload speeds but your's is obviously way faster than mine...can easily take me 5 minutes to upload one photo so it's just too frustrating to try, and my 4G is also garbage being on the other side of a hill from the transmitter !

I would love to visit Sid's but it's just the wrong time for me unfortunately.

Keep at it

How are you?
Multistrada is great - I can flatfoot it easier than the GSA.

 

[Doc]

Nice write up and pics Iain.