A jolly good read William. Thank-you. 
Kicking in the doors at München
- Thread starter Fanum
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LiquidLAN
Registered user
Excellent reading! really well written!
Fanum
Toubab
On the way out, we'd turned up on spec at Dover and had been bent right over for a ticket, so on the way back, I called the agent who does all my ferry crossings and got a good deal- it cost us a tenner less to get a boat from Holland to Harwich (5 hours or something silly) than it did to get a late night crossing from Dover to Calais (50 mins) .
Ah well yet again, live and learn
The hook of Holland ferry terminal has to be one of the most awkward and confusing ferry terminals in the world to find...it's bloody ridiculous
I'd never been there before but knew I was heading for the 'hook of Holland car ferry' 'cos it said so on our ticket- I thought we had plenty of time so wasn't going mad fast but we were making good progress- there are so many hundreds of quays and signs for the Hoek Van Holland and dog knows what but none of them felt right and the GPS which I'd fortunately got on was telling me to carry on- If I'd followed the signage I'd have gone to a dozen different places on the way but eventually, after cruising through miles of what looked like ferry country (industrial stuff and water) we popped out into a silly village and finally picked up signs with a recognisabe ferry on them- we screamed up onto the quay and shot straightr onto the boat with the back door guys (is cool ya?) just about to lift the ramps.....good job GPS (though even that wasn't so simple, I'd had to just follow the ferry line across the sea on the screen and plonk the WP on the end of it on shore- there were several alternatives listed so it was the only way!)
Scraping the last few Euros we had together, we managed to buy some lank greasy chips and mayonnaise to while away the 5 hours amongst the screaming brats and sad old clown come balloon twistting act who was hilariously entertaining them
adn eventually got off the ferry in Harwich half a mile away from the house.
Just behind the breakwater here you can see where we walk the dogs on the beach everyday.
That was interesting wasn't it.
Ah well yet again, live and learn
The hook of Holland ferry terminal has to be one of the most awkward and confusing ferry terminals in the world to find...it's bloody ridiculous
I'd never been there before but knew I was heading for the 'hook of Holland car ferry' 'cos it said so on our ticket- I thought we had plenty of time so wasn't going mad fast but we were making good progress- there are so many hundreds of quays and signs for the Hoek Van Holland and dog knows what but none of them felt right and the GPS which I'd fortunately got on was telling me to carry on- If I'd followed the signage I'd have gone to a dozen different places on the way but eventually, after cruising through miles of what looked like ferry country (industrial stuff and water) we popped out into a silly village and finally picked up signs with a recognisabe ferry on them- we screamed up onto the quay and shot straightr onto the boat with the back door guys (is cool ya?) just about to lift the ramps.....good job GPS (though even that wasn't so simple, I'd had to just follow the ferry line across the sea on the screen and plonk the WP on the end of it on shore- there were several alternatives listed so it was the only way!)
Scraping the last few Euros we had together, we managed to buy some lank greasy chips and mayonnaise to while away the 5 hours amongst the screaming brats and sad old clown come balloon twistting act who was hilariously entertaining them
adn eventually got off the ferry in Harwich half a mile away from the house.Just behind the breakwater here you can see where we walk the dogs on the beach everyday.
That was interesting wasn't it.
Fanum
Toubab
The words of William;
You don't have to plan things, you can just go and do them-sometimes the best times come from that and it gets rid of so much stress being able to just go where you want when you want.
Unless alone, You do need a pillion and partner who is totally at ease with that though or you need to listen carefully and do what they need as well or it'll end in tears.
You have to let go of the worry of breaking down- plan for it and cover your arse up to a point, but know that every stranger you haven't met yet is a potential friend and that whatever comes will come.
Accept that the chances of a breakdown ending in anything other than new friends made under the mostly unlikely of circumstances is rare and you can relax- there are no cannibals in Europe anymore folks
Even packing as a reasonably experienced traveller, I overpacked- I had three pairs of clean socks left at the end and a pair of unworn pants
Spare dry bags, pockets and well placed storage on the bike make the world of difference.
Set your standards and enjoy your luxuries- we camped all but one night but we only cooked an evening meal once, the rest of the time we eat locally and cheaply to offset the fact that we were camping
Europe is clean and that's nice, England is dirty and that's not.
USe GPS Waypoint lists but don't forget your common sense or you'll end up frustrated.
Making a cup of coffee and walking 100 yards away from your bike, your tent and your sleeping partner in the mornings is a great way to start the day, ,looking back at what you have and looking forwards to the day you're going to give them.
You can never have too many spare tie downs, unless they're wire hooked bungees in which case one is too many.
Midges suck.
Macdonalds Europe wide are great places for a McShit
The museum is worth a visit, but I wouldn't ride all that way just to go there.
Try and take a camera that isn't broken
Rosie is a nearly perfect pillion.
An 1150GSA is a nearly perfect touring bike, but you have to break it in and mould it to you.
Noddy is a stalker.
Oompah bands can be fun and firemen in lederhosen aren't just for wessie.
The best moments on a trip are the unplanned, off-route ones.
That's enough bullshit from me.....seeyas
(PS Only joking- was genuinely happy to see Graham out there and a shame we didn't get to have a night out
)
You don't have to plan things, you can just go and do them-sometimes the best times come from that and it gets rid of so much stress being able to just go where you want when you want.
Unless alone, You do need a pillion and partner who is totally at ease with that though or you need to listen carefully and do what they need as well or it'll end in tears.
You have to let go of the worry of breaking down- plan for it and cover your arse up to a point, but know that every stranger you haven't met yet is a potential friend and that whatever comes will come.
Accept that the chances of a breakdown ending in anything other than new friends made under the mostly unlikely of circumstances is rare and you can relax- there are no cannibals in Europe anymore folks
Even packing as a reasonably experienced traveller, I overpacked- I had three pairs of clean socks left at the end and a pair of unworn pants
Spare dry bags, pockets and well placed storage on the bike make the world of difference.
Set your standards and enjoy your luxuries- we camped all but one night but we only cooked an evening meal once, the rest of the time we eat locally and cheaply to offset the fact that we were camping
Europe is clean and that's nice, England is dirty and that's not.
USe GPS Waypoint lists but don't forget your common sense or you'll end up frustrated.
Making a cup of coffee and walking 100 yards away from your bike, your tent and your sleeping partner in the mornings is a great way to start the day, ,looking back at what you have and looking forwards to the day you're going to give them.
You can never have too many spare tie downs, unless they're wire hooked bungees in which case one is too many.
Midges suck.
Macdonalds Europe wide are great places for a McShit
The museum is worth a visit, but I wouldn't ride all that way just to go there.
Try and take a camera that isn't broken
Rosie is a nearly perfect pillion.
An 1150GSA is a nearly perfect touring bike, but you have to break it in and mould it to you.
Noddy is a stalker.
Oompah bands can be fun and firemen in lederhosen aren't just for wessie.
The best moments on a trip are the unplanned, off-route ones.
That's enough bullshit from me.....seeyas
(PS Only joking- was genuinely happy to see Graham out there and a shame we didn't get to have a night out
)
I enjoyed reading that Bill - well done
Mr K
Registered user
Nice one!
Really looking forward to 2009 now.
Really looking forward to 2009 now.
Bill
Really enjoyed all your RR...made me laugh. Especially agree with your views on planning (as in, not very much). There is nothing more futile than getting stressed about reaching a particular place or hotel that you only chose from a book anyway, rather than just stopping when it feels right to do so.
All the best for 2009!
Simon
Really enjoyed all your RR...made me laugh. Especially agree with your views on planning (as in, not very much). There is nothing more futile than getting stressed about reaching a particular place or hotel that you only chose from a book anyway, rather than just stopping when it feels right to do so.
All the best for 2009!
Simon
Thanks Bill, that was great, and wise words indeed in post #104... 
It's years since I spent 5 weeks 'doing' Europe....you reminded me how great the place can be when following your nose (except near to Cow sheds) just going 'walkabout'....
It's years since I spent 5 weeks 'doing' Europe....you reminded me how great the place can be when following your nose (except near to Cow sheds) just going 'walkabout'....
I did enjoy that. Thank you for the experience and good photos of the museum - I'll take your advice and call in if in the vicinity.
Pathologic
Registered user
Top report
Thanks Fanum. I would say more, but I'm off to Dover.
Thanks Fanum. I would say more, but I'm off to Dover.
thanks for posting, I enjoyed that
Deleted account 210609001
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Great ride report, Bill. 
yamonda1
Registered user
This has kept me up three nights running ..........
good read and advice .......
last vodka and kip now ..
good read and advice .......
last vodka and kip now ..
garfield
Registered user
your last few posts left a big smile on my face.....brilliant.....
Fanum
Toubab
A deserved bump
Thank you sir
Took me back, skimming through that trip again
Added this one to my desktop cycle thing....not a great pic, but so much to like in it
STUBBS
undead
missed this the first time around
great read
great read
the only part i didnt understand
why didnt you go from 'rich in the first place.........
nice report
ps they have mullets we have gingas
why didnt you go from 'rich in the first place.........
nice report
ps they have mullets we have gingas
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