Thanks to this site I enjoyed a Valentine's weekend in Black Forest. Sorry this is not a report of an exciting bike trip . A rendevous with my better half in Frankfurt was followed by 3 nights in Sinsheim, Freudenstadt and Titisee. Using 4 wheels from Hertz, not 2 wheels from BumWee. In fact I never saw a single bike. I hadn't fully considered the possibility of Germany being covered in snow in February, but the hire car receptionist brought me down to earth by asking if I had booked Snow Tyres!! WTF?
Following hints and tips from this site I was able to identify towns and routes in the Black Forest region.
One well recommended hotel was still shut for winter, but www.priceline.com and www.booking.com made it easy to find accommodation in advance.
On day 1, the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum exceeded my expectations. The adjoining hotel provided a DB+B package with full museum tickets with iMax show for only (?) 150 Euros. Not bad. A local football match on the Friday night provided entertainment in hotel as numerous fans occupied the bar before and after the game.
http://www.museum-sinsheim.de
Quote - It opened in 1981 and is run by a registered alliance called "Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim e.V." which also runs the Technik Museum Speyer. As of 2004 it has more than 3,000 exhibits and an exhibition area of more than 50,000 m². The museum also has an iMAX 3D theatre. Air France donated one of its retiring Concorde aircraft to the museum. With a Tupolev Tu-144 on display since 2001, it is the only place where both supersonic passenger aircraft are shown. Sinsheim Museum also has the largest permanent Formula One collection in Europe along with Ferrari’s, motorcycles, land speed record holders and classic cars. Other exhibits include vintage cars, Mercedes and Maybach collection, "American Dream Cars" collection from the 1950s, race and sports cars (including the only Vector W8 on public display in the world), Formula-1 collection, Blue Flame rocket-propelled vehicle once holding the world speed record, motorcycles, locomotives, airplanes, including fighters from both world wars and the early jet era, passenger air planes, tractors, steam engines, trucks, steam organs, several early jet fighters and other aircraft, tanks, artillery and other military equipment. End quote.
To put 1 Euro in the slot and watch an old steam loco or WW2 tank turn over with sound effects was amazing. My good lady's patience was tempered by the numerous scenarios using period models, fashions, etc. My camera battery expired before I could capture all the Ferarri F40s, F50, Enzo. Plus a fleet of Bugattis. Top motors for me were Mr. Hitler's old open armoured Merc plus 6 wheeled open top Merc that had been rescued from being a post-war fire engine. Stunning. You can actually climb inside both Concord and Tupolev and admire the ancient cockpit technology that took these guys to mach 2 so many years ago.
Day 2 took me to Freudenstad via stunning snow covered scenery. Nice hotel. Who's staff get bonus points for rescuing the necklace my wife left behind.
http://www.hotelhohenried.de/
Day 3 to Titisee with a blue sky and minus 5 temperature was more interesting. Especially when my planned Zumo route led me to a very snow covered minor road, where I chickened out and retraced my tracks on clear roads. Even so, the B500 down through Triberg was interesting in places. Thank goodness for traction control and ABS. Titisee must be a nightmare in the height of summer. But a frozen lake in Titisee was a pleasant surprise. Interesting to see a piece of red tape indicating where the pavement finished and thin ice started. Nice hotel. Not cheap, but very comfortable.
http://www.maritim.de/typo3/english/hotels/hotels/titiseehotel-titisee-neustadt.html
The last day meant a very uninteresting 300 km up the A5 to Frankfurt in snow, sleet and rain with people travelling at up to 150 kph, but all with reasonable discipline and without incident. Took a pit stop near Hockenheim, but track and museum looked snowed in.
All in all a fantastic looking area and one well worth a re-visit. Maybe even on 2 wheels.
A few pics.
Sinsheim Museum:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0252.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0252.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0248.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0248.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sinsheim to Freudenstadt:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0258.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0258.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0278.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0278.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0281.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0281.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Freudenstadt to Titisee:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0348.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0348.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Titisee - Frozen Lake:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0360.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0360.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sorry for the mug shot - me enjoying a beer at -5 degrees outside pavement cafe:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0365.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0365.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Following hints and tips from this site I was able to identify towns and routes in the Black Forest region.
One well recommended hotel was still shut for winter, but www.priceline.com and www.booking.com made it easy to find accommodation in advance.
On day 1, the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum exceeded my expectations. The adjoining hotel provided a DB+B package with full museum tickets with iMax show for only (?) 150 Euros. Not bad. A local football match on the Friday night provided entertainment in hotel as numerous fans occupied the bar before and after the game.
http://www.museum-sinsheim.de
Quote - It opened in 1981 and is run by a registered alliance called "Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim e.V." which also runs the Technik Museum Speyer. As of 2004 it has more than 3,000 exhibits and an exhibition area of more than 50,000 m². The museum also has an iMAX 3D theatre. Air France donated one of its retiring Concorde aircraft to the museum. With a Tupolev Tu-144 on display since 2001, it is the only place where both supersonic passenger aircraft are shown. Sinsheim Museum also has the largest permanent Formula One collection in Europe along with Ferrari’s, motorcycles, land speed record holders and classic cars. Other exhibits include vintage cars, Mercedes and Maybach collection, "American Dream Cars" collection from the 1950s, race and sports cars (including the only Vector W8 on public display in the world), Formula-1 collection, Blue Flame rocket-propelled vehicle once holding the world speed record, motorcycles, locomotives, airplanes, including fighters from both world wars and the early jet era, passenger air planes, tractors, steam engines, trucks, steam organs, several early jet fighters and other aircraft, tanks, artillery and other military equipment. End quote.
To put 1 Euro in the slot and watch an old steam loco or WW2 tank turn over with sound effects was amazing. My good lady's patience was tempered by the numerous scenarios using period models, fashions, etc. My camera battery expired before I could capture all the Ferarri F40s, F50, Enzo. Plus a fleet of Bugattis. Top motors for me were Mr. Hitler's old open armoured Merc plus 6 wheeled open top Merc that had been rescued from being a post-war fire engine. Stunning. You can actually climb inside both Concord and Tupolev and admire the ancient cockpit technology that took these guys to mach 2 so many years ago.
Day 2 took me to Freudenstad via stunning snow covered scenery. Nice hotel. Who's staff get bonus points for rescuing the necklace my wife left behind.
http://www.hotelhohenried.de/
Day 3 to Titisee with a blue sky and minus 5 temperature was more interesting. Especially when my planned Zumo route led me to a very snow covered minor road, where I chickened out and retraced my tracks on clear roads. Even so, the B500 down through Triberg was interesting in places. Thank goodness for traction control and ABS. Titisee must be a nightmare in the height of summer. But a frozen lake in Titisee was a pleasant surprise. Interesting to see a piece of red tape indicating where the pavement finished and thin ice started. Nice hotel. Not cheap, but very comfortable.
http://www.maritim.de/typo3/english/hotels/hotels/titiseehotel-titisee-neustadt.html
The last day meant a very uninteresting 300 km up the A5 to Frankfurt in snow, sleet and rain with people travelling at up to 150 kph, but all with reasonable discipline and without incident. Took a pit stop near Hockenheim, but track and museum looked snowed in.
All in all a fantastic looking area and one well worth a re-visit. Maybe even on 2 wheels.
A few pics.
Sinsheim Museum:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0252.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0252.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0248.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0248.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sinsheim to Freudenstadt:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0258.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0258.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0278.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0278.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0281.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0281.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Freudenstadt to Titisee:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0348.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0348.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Titisee - Frozen Lake:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0360.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0360.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sorry for the mug shot - me enjoying a beer at -5 degrees outside pavement cafe:
<a href="http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/?action=view¤t=IMG_0365.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u234/boxerboy55/BlackForest0902/IMG_0365.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
