The Tech 8 Tour
- Thread starter Mutley
- Start date
Mutley
Registered user
Day 7 (Thursday) - 314 Miles
Today we wanted to have some more mountain fun and then we aimed to end up on the far side of the Black Forest ready for a blast across France on Friday. We looked on the iPad again and thought we'd try the Brenner Pass and then head for Baden Baden (for no other reason than it must be good if they named it twice
).
Sat Navs set we rode off to Italy, and again found ourselves in slow boring traffic. Whatton reckoned the slowest vehicle on the road is an Austrian camper van but Italians in German cars run them a bloody close second
We approached the Brenner Pass and found ourselves behind a group of sports bike riders. Now we may be gnarly off road adventure gods, but we were still on lardy fully loaded and gassed GSAs. These guys were hysterical, particularly the one in the all white Dainese suit and silver boots who got his arse off the seat and knee out on a corner only to ride straight into a traffic cone. We laughed so much we nearly forgot to overtake.
The Brenner Pass is poo and not worth it by the way, maybe not helped by the weather
Further on we realised that I clearly had German ancestry as there was a whole village named after me
The hotel Mutterhof
We then hit a load more traffic before arriving in The Black Forest once more
Either the traffic had got to us or we were just getting knackered, in the end Bounce called a halt. I did wonder why he'd picked this hotel
It was our most expensive night but we did enjoy the view:
the food
and the topiary
Today we wanted to have some more mountain fun and then we aimed to end up on the far side of the Black Forest ready for a blast across France on Friday. We looked on the iPad again and thought we'd try the Brenner Pass and then head for Baden Baden (for no other reason than it must be good if they named it twice
).Sat Navs set we rode off to Italy, and again found ourselves in slow boring traffic. Whatton reckoned the slowest vehicle on the road is an Austrian camper van but Italians in German cars run them a bloody close second
We approached the Brenner Pass and found ourselves behind a group of sports bike riders. Now we may be gnarly off road adventure gods, but we were still on lardy fully loaded and gassed GSAs. These guys were hysterical, particularly the one in the all white Dainese suit and silver boots who got his arse off the seat and knee out on a corner only to ride straight into a traffic cone. We laughed so much we nearly forgot to overtake.
The Brenner Pass is poo and not worth it by the way, maybe not helped by the weather
Further on we realised that I clearly had German ancestry as there was a whole village named after me
The hotel Mutterhof
We then hit a load more traffic before arriving in The Black Forest once more
Either the traffic had got to us or we were just getting knackered, in the end Bounce called a halt. I did wonder why he'd picked this hotel
It was our most expensive night but we did enjoy the view:
the food
and the topiary
Mutley
Registered user
It was amazing...both these 2 visiting the town @ the same time...cuh, who'd have thought it eh....
Mutley
Registered user
Day 8 (Friday) - 370 Miles
Breakfast this morning was a far cry from Hotel Selce. Fresh local strawberries, breads and pastries, cheese and ham, muesli and omlette. Fed and refreshed with really good coffee we check out and head for Brugge by the fastest route (including Peage). Despite this the way out of the forest has some great views:
and the roads were awesome yet again. We are sorry to be leaving hairpin heaven and really not looking forward to the motorway slog.
Heading Northwards in Europe means the traffic builds up and gets more and more aggresive as you get closer to the coast. The Brussels ring road was a bit
Anyway we stopped off in Luxembourg to have lunch and for Bounce to stock up on cheap nicotine. All I can say is there was nowhere to put my skid lid and I really needed a pee
So after a couple of hours we arrive in Brugge to find it packed
We rode around randomly trying out hotels. The downside of the blue tooth intercom means I was inside the hotels talking schoolboy French trying to book a room whilst Bounce is outside with the bikes but doing a Clouseau impression in my ear - NOT NOW KATO YOU FOOL!
Just as we are about to give up and head for the tourist information we drop on lucky at the Hotel Putje
Showered and smelling lovely we head out on the town
It's a lovely city, well worth a visit, and packed with gorgeous women
We settled in for a few
We found a smaller square with plenty of atmosphere for dinner
I wanted to try Waterzoi which is a chicken and vegetable broth. Last time I was here the dish was banned due to salmonella in the chickens, so I was pleased to finally try it
I can't remember much about the next few hours. There were some Dutch physiotherapists and some posh girls from Cambden. This is the only photograph that can be shown
Breakfast this morning was a far cry from Hotel Selce. Fresh local strawberries, breads and pastries, cheese and ham, muesli and omlette. Fed and refreshed with really good coffee we check out and head for Brugge by the fastest route (including Peage). Despite this the way out of the forest has some great views:
and the roads were awesome yet again. We are sorry to be leaving hairpin heaven and really not looking forward to the motorway slog.
Heading Northwards in Europe means the traffic builds up and gets more and more aggresive as you get closer to the coast. The Brussels ring road was a bit
Anyway we stopped off in Luxembourg to have lunch and for Bounce to stock up on cheap nicotine. All I can say is there was nowhere to put my skid lid and I really needed a pee
So after a couple of hours we arrive in Brugge to find it packed
We rode around randomly trying out hotels. The downside of the blue tooth intercom means I was inside the hotels talking schoolboy French trying to book a room whilst Bounce is outside with the bikes but doing a Clouseau impression in my ear - NOT NOW KATO YOU FOOL!
Just as we are about to give up and head for the tourist information we drop on lucky at the Hotel Putje
Showered and smelling lovely we head out on the town
It's a lovely city, well worth a visit, and packed with gorgeous women
We settled in for a few
We found a smaller square with plenty of atmosphere for dinner
I wanted to try Waterzoi which is a chicken and vegetable broth. Last time I was here the dish was banned due to salmonella in the chickens, so I was pleased to finally try it
I can't remember much about the next few hours. There were some Dutch physiotherapists and some posh girls from Cambden. This is the only photograph that can be shown
Mutley
Registered user
Day 9 (Saturday) - 267 Miles
The phone rings, a lot
'Hello? Mr. Bouncer?'
'Yes?'
'Checkout was at 11.30 Mr. Bouncer!'
'Oh, O.K. We are on our way down'
We finally surface about 40 minutes later and the receptionist just says 'You are bad boys!'
We sit outside in our bike gear and sober up
Finally we head for the Chunnel, about an hour away. The wind is gusting heavily as we near the coast, then the rain starts. By the time we have waited for the cars to load we are soaked
The Chunnel is quick but miserable when you are cold and wet
We ride out of the train into torrential rain and I still have 195 miles to go before I get home. Somehow it's a fitting end to a great holiday
The phone rings, a lot
'Hello? Mr. Bouncer?'
'Yes?'
'Checkout was at 11.30 Mr. Bouncer!'
'Oh, O.K. We are on our way down'
We finally surface about 40 minutes later and the receptionist just says 'You are bad boys!'
We sit outside in our bike gear and sober up
Finally we head for the Chunnel, about an hour away. The wind is gusting heavily as we near the coast, then the rain starts. By the time we have waited for the cars to load we are soaked
The Chunnel is quick but miserable when you are cold and wet
We ride out of the train into torrential rain and I still have 195 miles to go before I get home. Somehow it's a fitting end to a great holiday
Mutley
Registered user
So, was it good?
Hell yes, we did over 2,500 miles.
What we could have done better:
What went well:
The Scala rider intercom, once we learned how to use it, was brilliant. We were able to talk about stuff at well over 70 mph. It meant we could stop for photos if one person wanted to and we could let each other know if overtakes and hairpins were safe. The only downside I can see is the range isn't huge so not good for bigger groups.
The best way to listen to music was using the wire to play your iPod directly into it rather than bluetooth from the Zumo 660.
Oh yeah, I forgot. The Tech 8 Tour: I've explained the tech, the 8 is for the number of countries we passed through
Hell yes, we did over 2,500 miles.
What we could have done better:
- Internet access is expensive and didn't seem easily available in Germany & Austria
- That made it harder to plan on the go
- We could have taken a PAYG SIM for the iPad
- We could have planned a little bit more without losing the spontanaity
What went well:
- The 1200 didn't break
- The Zumo 660 was a star (the 550 maps ran out at Austria!)
- The roads we found were mostly awesome
The Scala rider intercom, once we learned how to use it, was brilliant. We were able to talk about stuff at well over 70 mph. It meant we could stop for photos if one person wanted to and we could let each other know if overtakes and hairpins were safe. The only downside I can see is the range isn't huge so not good for bigger groups.
The best way to listen to music was using the wire to play your iPod directly into it rather than bluetooth from the Zumo 660.
Oh yeah, I forgot. The Tech 8 Tour: I've explained the tech, the 8 is for the number of countries we passed through
Bravo 
I enjoyed that
I enjoyed that
jonny5859
Registered user
great tour and write up, using it as an example for SWMBO to look at, to plant the seed in her head you see for doing something like that lol
Hell yes, we did over 2,500 miles.
What we could have done better:
- Internet access is expensive and didn't seem easily available in Germany & Austria
- That made it harder to plan on the go
- We could have taken a PAYG SIM for the iPad
- We could have planned a little bit more without losing the spontanaity
What went well:
- The 1200 didn't break
- The Zumo 660 was a star (the 550 maps ran out at Austria!)
- The roads we found were mostly awesome
The Scala rider intercom, once we learned how to use it, was brilliant. We were able to talk about stuff at well over 70 mph. It meant we could stop for photos if one person wanted to and we could let each other know if overtakes and hairpins were safe. The only downside I can see is the range isn't huge so not good for bigger groups.
The best way to listen to music was using the wire to play your iPod directly into it rather than bluetooth from the Zumo 660.
Oh yeah, I forgot. The Tech 8 Tour: I've explained the tech, the 8 is for the number of countries we passed through
NB:
> The 1200 was belting..
> The Zumo 550 would've been fine if I'd had the maps updated...
> The pics were good cos I took em...
It was a great trip...I still dream about the hairpins and the fact that the Brits led the way with awesome/slick over taking....
Wish it could've been a few days longer...on to 2012...
neilflash
Registered user
Mutley
Registered user
Great report, really enjoyed the read Mutley
It's amazing really, we are an inspiration to understated introverts everywhere
It's amazing really, we are an inspiration to understated introverts everywhere
Doubly amazing....that's what it said in the HOROSKOPS.....
It's amazing really, we are an inspiration to understated introverts everywhere
Well I'm inspired!
Nice one.
Mark
Cracking Write up
Has had me hooked for laast few days
Cheers
Snowman
Has had me hooked for laast few days
Cheers
Snowman
photos in a secret thread?
Mutley
Registered user
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