Hartz,colditz,sachsenring,nurburgring+the mosel valley, day 1

[tarry]

After a mate at work read my report in april when myself and the mrs went to belgium and germany he said how much he fancied doing the same, so i said by a bike and we will. Well 6 weeks later he did so out came the maps and some dates in july were put forward, we decided on a trip to the sachsenring for the moto gp going through the hartz mountains on the way.
Well after a morning shift in work we set off for harwich and the overnight ferry with stenaline to the hook-of-holland,from there we jumped straight on the dutch motorway system to the border with germany then chose a and b roads to the hartz, we arrived at the hotel-harmonie in bad grund about 6pm and spoke to simon who is a keen biker and runs tours around the hartz after a chat he said the weather forcast for saturday was poor, so of came the luggage and given a couple off recomended roads off we set, the condition the quietness and the stunning views were all superb and we returned to the hotel just before dark, after a quick shower simon ran us into town for some grub and a few pints.

 

[Lars1974]

the 3rd picture is at the Torfhaus near Bad Harzburg right?
i will be there again in the first week of September...

 

[tarry]

Day 2 hartz - sachsenring

We awoke to dry but overcast skys and set off down the 242 a road that runs right through the hartz and what a cracker it is forests, hairpins, open meadows it has it all including two german policeman with a radar gun pointing straight at us but unbelievably we had just been tipped off by the only bike we had seen that morning coming the other way and that saved us a very big fine we continued out off the hartz and onto the a38 autobann then down to colditz castle for the afternoon tour around the castle which was brilliant, the stories the guide told us were amazing and the courage and cleverness from the prisoners especially the glider storie.
After a quick blast in the rain we arrived at the sachsenring and had decided to camp at the famous alterburg which is a field on a hill opposite the race track with bars a fair and live bands,we got there about 5-30 and it was a complete bog, it was a good job we were on trail bikes because i would not off liked to ride a road bike through the mud and wet grass to find somewhere to camp.as soon as we stopped the bike a german came walking over and it turned out he had a gs as well, he had had a few to drink but his mates were far worse and they all came over and gave us some booze and helped us put up the tent there was no real english or german understood but we all got buy and were made to feel really welcome.
Due to the rain and mud we decided to drink in the track area and the party and fireworks went on long into the night

 

[tarry]

yep you have got it

the 3rd picture is at the Torfhaus near Bad Harzburg right?
i will be there again in the first week of September...

Give that man a large hot chocolate with fresh wipped cream

 

[tarry]

Day 3 race day

After the best sleep off the trip so far, might be something to do with the german beer we drank the night before we made our way to our seats and hope bradley and james could pull something out off the bag on this curvy and hilly track but it was not to be, rossi at his brilliant best again sending the german crowd wild, but what really got to me was the sound of the 800cc bikes amazing tried to pick it up on my phone but it is off poor quailty
between the 125 and 250 race we returned to pack and road the bikes right up to the entrance gate so after the race we got a flier and set off for the E40 autobahn bikes were pasing us like we were standing still after a couple of hours we turned onto the 84 a b road another cracker and spent the evening riding through the german countryside till we found a small hotel in lauterbach.

 

[tarry]

video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRPMMYnR3JQ

 

[tarry]

Day 4 mosel valley

We left lauterbach and headed for the mosel valley and cochem traveling down the 275 and 455 until we reached the rhine at a small village called lorch the b road down to lorch from schwalbach was closed to large traffic and gave us a free run down to the rhine, we crosed the rhine at goar on a small ferry then made our way to the river mosel and more belting roads checking in at the hotel sur post about 4-15 we had a chat to claus the owner and he checked the nurburgring website the track was open to the public at 5-15 so off came the luggage and off we went arriving about 5-10as we pulled up there was a large que outside with some fantastic bikes and cars waiting to go on. We parked up and walking around the car park found a 1200gsa with uk plates on it, found the owner and he is also a member on ukgser, hiya andy, after a chat to andy he took us to get our ticket and then led us to the barrier, as i braked for my turn at the barrier i heard a small metal to metal sound left side front brake pad, must of worn them out on the previous days biking, anyway i put it to the back off my mind and off we went, the ring is brilliant and we had a blast though am sure we could of beat our 8mins 30sec time if my brakes had fresh pads in them: well i think that was our time after saying good bye to andy we headed bach to our hotel then into cochem for some good food and a look around and very nice it is to.

 

[tarry]

more pics

more pics

 

[tarry]

nurburgring

If you run your mouse over 6-08 6-09 and 6-10 you will see the three off us waiting to go on
http://www.8200rpm.com/webcam/ on the 20/07/2009

 

[tarry]

day 5 and 6

We road down the mosel valley for 2hrs then onto bouillon for lunch, then into the french and belgium ardennes, more brilliant roads which we both loved, the temperature rose and rose and by the time we got to the A26 it was about 33c, we rode north till we got about an hour outside of calais and called at the hotel les ballastieres without a reservation but sue and paul made us feel welcome and found room for us in there converted barnhouse which upstairs has been converted in to a dorm with campbeds shower and toilet facilities, downstairs there is a bike park then a large room with pool darts kitchen, chairs and settees all for £18 a night.
Was an early start to get the 9-25 ferry and then motorway all the way home to WESTCHESHIRE 2000 miles covered in all and the bikes never missed a beat, great memories and highlights were the colditz stories, sachsenring, all the german roads and the nurburgring.