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Friday 4th October Transcontinental motorcycling, 561miles
As we'd booked a night back in the Voges (Alsace) it was going to be another mileage day
Up early and down to load the bike - a large isolated mountain - Grimming - was looming out of the morning mist occasionally. Impressive beast as fairly free standing in the landscape - but no time to explore as had to be off, hate 'up and leave' but sometimes you just have to stick to the plan - or you won't get home. The shadow side of the bike was iced so it had been a cold night alright and no surprise at about 650m above sea level. Wrap up warm! Misty but dry so we'll take that and hope the heated grips play. Half eight and we were already away - early for us
Onwards onwards toward German autobahn in the belief this would be fastest way across even though not direct - WRONG. Not been to Germany for a few years - or even central continent to be honest but couldn't believe how congested the autobahns are - crazy crazy busy. Mile after mile of trucks caught in 'slow' lane on sections were not allowed to overtake. Never seen anything like it. Not just a mile or two, miles and miles and miles of stationary traffic - purely from congestion not an accident or breakdown. Truly staggering. I assume just too much traffic. Won't be going that way again. Combine that with the frankly suicidal German drivers and you get roads you don't want to use. Plenty of past experience of Autobahn use and the scary view of a Merc coming up behind you at 130 (miles not kms) with lights on full on open sections. Now it seems to be a free for all and bloody dangerous tail-gating and people driving far too fast and definitely dangerously. It was never that bad. With no doubt whatsoever the most dangerous driving of whole trip.
Very frustrating going.
We'd been heading towards Munich and thence towards Stuttgart before down and right towards Strasbourg way. The route to Stuttgart was insane, then stationary. Bugger
Decided after several miles of congestion to get out of dodge. It's illegal (still, as far as I'm aware) to filter in Germany but I didn't fancy spending the whole afternoon sat in queue so filtered very slowly, cars seemed to move aside which they didn't used to, but did pass a couple of bikes stopped in fast lane so I assume we were still illegally manoeuvring. The whole point was to get to the next junction and leave the road.
MacDonald's was a brief interject for warmth and food and the weather was taking a dive. I regretted having taken the long 'fast' route, should have gone across country on minor roads - would have been faster.
It was getting somewhat tiring but the GPS at least helped us find a route (whether fastest or not!) through towards our destination. Dark cold and pissing down it wasn't much fun - but a great way to top up your riding skills
Our place for the nice was basically a house a young couple let out while they were doing it up. Warm and very funky, quite boutique hotel like and very welcome late at night (again!) when the weather was hard against us. The bike stood outside in pouring rain after all it had done for us - the chain was lose as feck again, really failing. found a bit of a lean to on the side of house and parked in under so I could have a proper look in morning. When the going gets tough....everything starts conspiring against you
Not many pics
As we'd booked a night back in the Voges (Alsace) it was going to be another mileage day
Up early and down to load the bike - a large isolated mountain - Grimming - was looming out of the morning mist occasionally. Impressive beast as fairly free standing in the landscape - but no time to explore as had to be off, hate 'up and leave' but sometimes you just have to stick to the plan - or you won't get home. The shadow side of the bike was iced so it had been a cold night alright and no surprise at about 650m above sea level. Wrap up warm! Misty but dry so we'll take that and hope the heated grips play. Half eight and we were already away - early for us
Onwards onwards toward German autobahn in the belief this would be fastest way across even though not direct - WRONG. Not been to Germany for a few years - or even central continent to be honest but couldn't believe how congested the autobahns are - crazy crazy busy. Mile after mile of trucks caught in 'slow' lane on sections were not allowed to overtake. Never seen anything like it. Not just a mile or two, miles and miles and miles of stationary traffic - purely from congestion not an accident or breakdown. Truly staggering. I assume just too much traffic. Won't be going that way again. Combine that with the frankly suicidal German drivers and you get roads you don't want to use. Plenty of past experience of Autobahn use and the scary view of a Merc coming up behind you at 130 (miles not kms) with lights on full on open sections. Now it seems to be a free for all and bloody dangerous tail-gating and people driving far too fast and definitely dangerously. It was never that bad. With no doubt whatsoever the most dangerous driving of whole trip.
Very frustrating going.
We'd been heading towards Munich and thence towards Stuttgart before down and right towards Strasbourg way. The route to Stuttgart was insane, then stationary. Bugger
Decided after several miles of congestion to get out of dodge. It's illegal (still, as far as I'm aware) to filter in Germany but I didn't fancy spending the whole afternoon sat in queue so filtered very slowly, cars seemed to move aside which they didn't used to, but did pass a couple of bikes stopped in fast lane so I assume we were still illegally manoeuvring. The whole point was to get to the next junction and leave the road.
MacDonald's was a brief interject for warmth and food and the weather was taking a dive. I regretted having taken the long 'fast' route, should have gone across country on minor roads - would have been faster.
It was getting somewhat tiring but the GPS at least helped us find a route (whether fastest or not!) through towards our destination. Dark cold and pissing down it wasn't much fun - but a great way to top up your riding skills
Our place for the nice was basically a house a young couple let out while they were doing it up. Warm and very funky, quite boutique hotel like and very welcome late at night (again!) when the weather was hard against us. The bike stood outside in pouring rain after all it had done for us - the chain was lose as feck again, really failing. found a bit of a lean to on the side of house and parked in under so I could have a proper look in morning. When the going gets tough....everything starts conspiring against you
Not many pics