The European Chronicles 2024.1 - The EC Are GO!
Two-up, loaded and ready!
Tucson - Houston - Frankfurt, no delays, no drama, only one occasionally screaming kid - no problem! A good start...
Well, there is always some packing drama when you try to pack a motorcycle for an extended trip 2-up. Mine's on the right, Krisanne on the left, mostly because she's bringing a new Rev It Sand 4 riding suit to replace the old one-piece Aerostich that has been stored at Stefan's with Mia. The Sand is similar to mine and will travel a bit better in Europe; doesn't take up as much space when you're off the bike. The pants are in her carry on; we'll leave that at Stefan's and she'll have a similar pannier liner to mine.
Leave at 11 am local, land at 11 am in Frankfurt. 😂
Waiting for the bus...high on adrenaline. I still can't believe I get to do this and so happy Krisanne can make the entire trip! Retirement Rocks.
Getting ready in Houston.
Christopher picks us up at Frankfurt and shuttle's us to the Moto B&B...there's Mia, waiting patiently.
Change the oil, hook up the battery charger, shine her up and she's ready; we're in the BMW room.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Dinner that night at the local Italian restaurant, the Golden Rose, fantastic as usual. Helps to get on local time. Plus, Montepulciano. 😍
Everything is blooming at Stefan's.
The Art of the Motorcycle...Stefan just bought another building on his block...more expansion.
First sticker!
First laundry...
Sleep, then a shakedown run the next day. This is usually along the Neckar River, very pretty, but Germany has been experiencing heavy rains and flooding, so I head in a different direction...a "wine road" west of Frankfurt and Heidelberg. According to TomTom:
Relive 'Shakedown'
A very nice ride, through some beautiful villages, each with their own Wine Princess to welcome you.
On the return, we stopped at Technik Museum Speyer.
Back to Stefan's...Mia is running perfectly, a very nice first day!
The things I learn when Krisanne's with me...the ladies restroom at the Golden Rose restaurant...
Too funny! The next day...
To Freiburg im Breisgau through The Black Forest
We tried to save some time on the first section by taking the Autobahn...that didn't work out as planned. Splitting lanes made it somewhat less painful.
I know this road...you turn into what looks like a driveway...
And are rewarded with this:
There's a reason it is called the Black Forest.
Waterfalls too...
At the top of the Panoramastrasse, there's a parasail launching point. So cool.
You can even do a tandem...run and jump off the cliff together!
A fantastic ride that ends at the Novatel.
With this view:
I'm pleased to announce a new for 2024 feature of The European Chronicles - The Pillion Point of View (PPOV ;) - take it away Krisanne:
The Pillion POV
I'm in love with Germany. (Or, the Germany I've thus far experienced.) The people feel oddly familiar - chalk it up to my kiddom and happy occasions spent on the knee of my Great-Grandpa Schlauger or baking in a kitchen with my Great-Grandma Reinerth - neither spoke English and I no German, but somehow we figured it out. Smiles and kindness - then, as now - go a long way.
The ride - unbelievably and overwhelmingly green and lush - forest bathing from the backseat of the bike. Incredible scents...each village, vineyard, meadow, tree holds its own aroma (some of those may be manure!). Lucky me to be on the back while Mike expertly pilots these itty-bitty roads through the Black Forest around hairpin turns (or, when we started out, in traffic jams for miles - he moving us between the the lanes - and the folks driving actually move over to let us pass). I feel safer riding here than anywhere in the states (save the middle of nowhere with no cars around for miles).
And did I mention how clean it is? There's virtually no garbage anywhere. The errant piece of paper on the roadside seems almost apologetic. (KB climbs on soapbox...) I chalk much of this up to the culture of BYOB (bags, not bottles) - merchants don't offer single-use plastic. Even water is in glass bottles. The folks here seem to realize we get one planet, and we should do our best not to muck it up...
(KB climbs off soapbox...)
More next time!
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