Deleted account rno
Guest
We're just back from our annual summer hols to see my Mum and Dad in Germany. We took the bike over on the Newcastle/Ijmuiden ferry and did the run down to Rheinland Pfalz at a healthy pace as I was deperate to get there in time to see the Germany/Argentina game.
Going over as often as we do, it's hard to try and find new places to go and see in the relatively local area. The great thing about taking the bike is that return visits to places can be just as good as the first time round.
Schwartzwald (north end) is an easy ride from Jockgrim, where my folks live and for a wee change, Christine and I crossed the Rhein from Lermersheim on the wee ferry. It only cost 3.5 Euros for the both of us and the bike.
The road between Baden Baden and Freudenstadt (especially to the half way point at Forbach) is one of my favourites.
We also went on a great road from Jockgrim to Dahn, near Pirmasens. The road takes you through Bad Bergzabern and some nice twisties into the Pfalzerwald. We stopped at Altdahn where there are the ruins of three castles which were built into the soft sandstone of the Wasgau. The castles were originally built in the 12th century but as they disintegrated after their destruction some 400 years later, the castles and rocks gradually merged into one. The ruins and view from the top of them are fairly spectular. The climb up to where I took the photo from is not for the faint hearted.
We then went to Austria for a few days and unfortunately (in one way) I had to leave the bike in Jockgrim. We took my parents with us and had a brilliant five days based in Lech Tal. We again stayed with The Schwarz family in Stanzach and I cannot praise their B and B highly enough. 21 Euros per night is outstanding value.
To combat the big meals and numerous steins of beir I was endulging in, I went on a few high level walks. In temperatures of plus 30, I was confident of keeping my weight down in order to get into my leathers for the rest of the holiday...(well, I could try anyway)
Here are a couple of photos that I took on the mountains, near Stanzach.
I got to about a couple of hours or so's walk to the summit of this one and had to throw the towel in. I was out of water and absolutely drained. It was a great day though...
My Mum wanted to see Oberammergau and Kloster Ettal.
On our way back to home we went past the beautiful Plansee and past Schloss Neuschwanstein.
It was great to be able to take my parents and show them the small part of Austria and Bayern that I know. They really loved the trip.
Needless to say, it was magic to get back to Jockgrim and back on two wheels.
Christine fancied a return trip to Rudesheim (we hadn't been for about 10 years) so we headed off in brilliant sunshine and took the ferry over the Rhein from Bingen. The Niederwald Denkmal never ceases to amaze me with it's sheer size and sense of achievement. It took 6 years to complete in the late 1800s and is absolutely massive. It was built to celebrate the re establishment of the German Empire. My photo doesn't really capture the full scale of the monument but to give it some sense of scale, the Imperial Sword in Germania's hand (top figure) measures 7 metres. The large group of figures across the centre of the monument are all life size. I shudder to think what such a piece of sculpture would cost today.
It was then back on the bike for the nice wee run over to Idar Oberstein. The Felsenkirche is built into the rock high above the town and the footslog up to the church in teperatures of over 35 degrees had me almost praying...
Outside the Museum there is a monumental tribute to the Jewish residents of Idar Oberstein who were deported and murdered during the Nazi regime. It was erected several years ago by todays residents. It was quietly humbling.
The home run was made keeping off major roads and via Kaiserslautern down through the Pfalzerwald on the Johannisskreuz road. It's an absolutely brilliant road.
We had another run up to Ludwigshaffen to visit my cousin Uwe at his converted church which is now a bar/restaurant. It's in the city centre called 33 and he'll give discount to UKGsers
. Here's a photo of his daughter, who was helping him out. I reckon she might be slightly popular with young German lads...
All in all, we had a brilliant trip. The only complaint (if you could call it that) was the heat. Jeez, opening your visor was like someone blowing a hot hair dryer into your face.
To finish with, here is a photo of my bike at the back of Hinterstadtel, Jockgrim
and one of me, (wearing my "unlucky for some" German top on the night Germany played Italy), Christine and my Mum and Dad. We're in the Zum Elefanten pub, Jockgrim where the hosts did much to add to my weight problems during our holiday. Great food
My parents are both 80 in a few months and I reckon that they look great.
I should have mentioned my Garmin Quest. It was the first time that I really got a chance to try it out and I was very, very pleased with her. No hiccups whatsover and I really wonder how I managed before...
Well, thanks for allowing me to share this with you. Hope it wasn't too boring...
Going over as often as we do, it's hard to try and find new places to go and see in the relatively local area. The great thing about taking the bike is that return visits to places can be just as good as the first time round.
Schwartzwald (north end) is an easy ride from Jockgrim, where my folks live and for a wee change, Christine and I crossed the Rhein from Lermersheim on the wee ferry. It only cost 3.5 Euros for the both of us and the bike.
The road between Baden Baden and Freudenstadt (especially to the half way point at Forbach) is one of my favourites.
We also went on a great road from Jockgrim to Dahn, near Pirmasens. The road takes you through Bad Bergzabern and some nice twisties into the Pfalzerwald. We stopped at Altdahn where there are the ruins of three castles which were built into the soft sandstone of the Wasgau. The castles were originally built in the 12th century but as they disintegrated after their destruction some 400 years later, the castles and rocks gradually merged into one. The ruins and view from the top of them are fairly spectular. The climb up to where I took the photo from is not for the faint hearted.
We then went to Austria for a few days and unfortunately (in one way) I had to leave the bike in Jockgrim. We took my parents with us and had a brilliant five days based in Lech Tal. We again stayed with The Schwarz family in Stanzach and I cannot praise their B and B highly enough. 21 Euros per night is outstanding value.
To combat the big meals and numerous steins of beir I was endulging in, I went on a few high level walks. In temperatures of plus 30, I was confident of keeping my weight down in order to get into my leathers for the rest of the holiday...(well, I could try anyway)
Here are a couple of photos that I took on the mountains, near Stanzach.
I got to about a couple of hours or so's walk to the summit of this one and had to throw the towel in. I was out of water and absolutely drained. It was a great day though...
My Mum wanted to see Oberammergau and Kloster Ettal.
On our way back to home we went past the beautiful Plansee and past Schloss Neuschwanstein.
It was great to be able to take my parents and show them the small part of Austria and Bayern that I know. They really loved the trip.
Needless to say, it was magic to get back to Jockgrim and back on two wheels.
Christine fancied a return trip to Rudesheim (we hadn't been for about 10 years) so we headed off in brilliant sunshine and took the ferry over the Rhein from Bingen. The Niederwald Denkmal never ceases to amaze me with it's sheer size and sense of achievement. It took 6 years to complete in the late 1800s and is absolutely massive. It was built to celebrate the re establishment of the German Empire. My photo doesn't really capture the full scale of the monument but to give it some sense of scale, the Imperial Sword in Germania's hand (top figure) measures 7 metres. The large group of figures across the centre of the monument are all life size. I shudder to think what such a piece of sculpture would cost today.
It was then back on the bike for the nice wee run over to Idar Oberstein. The Felsenkirche is built into the rock high above the town and the footslog up to the church in teperatures of over 35 degrees had me almost praying...
Outside the Museum there is a monumental tribute to the Jewish residents of Idar Oberstein who were deported and murdered during the Nazi regime. It was erected several years ago by todays residents. It was quietly humbling.
The home run was made keeping off major roads and via Kaiserslautern down through the Pfalzerwald on the Johannisskreuz road. It's an absolutely brilliant road.
We had another run up to Ludwigshaffen to visit my cousin Uwe at his converted church which is now a bar/restaurant. It's in the city centre called 33 and he'll give discount to UKGsers
. Here's a photo of his daughter, who was helping him out. I reckon she might be slightly popular with young German lads...
All in all, we had a brilliant trip. The only complaint (if you could call it that) was the heat. Jeez, opening your visor was like someone blowing a hot hair dryer into your face.
To finish with, here is a photo of my bike at the back of Hinterstadtel, Jockgrim
and one of me, (wearing my "unlucky for some" German top on the night Germany played Italy), Christine and my Mum and Dad. We're in the Zum Elefanten pub, Jockgrim where the hosts did much to add to my weight problems during our holiday. Great food
My parents are both 80 in a few months and I reckon that they look great.
I should have mentioned my Garmin Quest. It was the first time that I really got a chance to try it out and I was very, very pleased with her. No hiccups whatsover and I really wonder how I managed before...
Well, thanks for allowing me to share this with you. Hope it wasn't too boring...
