Swansong

Time to say my goodbyes. Friday. Hel on the roads I have chosen. Roadworks, miles of it. In an hour I have managed 30 miles from where I dropped the missus off. Not all is wasted. I ride a bit of the coastline and discover even more tourist traps. Some with massive new build houses.

Szczecin is a massive place, lots of industry and old town. Marked as a place to visit in the future.

It is sent from my phone. So fucking what?
 
Up early to get out before there is any movement on the roads. Breakfast at the hotel was ace. The northern part of Germany doesn't get much looking into by British bikers but it is a beautiful place with lots of woodland, smooth roads, lakes and loads of little lanes that turns off into the woods.

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Talking about that smooth roads. Took a shortcut and ended up on a good old fashioned post war road. Cobblestones for miles. No turning back but what a place to stop for a break. Nothing but falling acorns, oh and a couple taking a dog for walk while they drive the car. Dog seems to like it.

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Another break in the woods. This time the sounds are different. Wind blowing through the pines, branches creaking, cars passing by infrequently.

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Eventually the road leads to Magdeburg. I was planning to walk around and go for a snack somewhere but best laid plans and all that. Street party or is it plain party?

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And then today. Woke up still feeling the effects of the night before. Room is in a mess. Packed my stuff, went for breakfast in what felt like a retirement home dash for the plates.

Harz mountains and oh boy. What a place to ride a bike. Boots got scraped good and proper.

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Rode through my town ....

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The truck eating trees had me worried but I keep the speed up so they don't have a chance.

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Bad Lauterberg is worth a visit. Not far to the border.

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More boot scraping on some minor roads. Another break and some green water.

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What a view. Just a shame there is a bloody GS in the way.

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Ended up at the Edersee. Proper tourist trap but being here gives a good insight in the skill of the Lancaster pilots. Don't mention ze war.

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And now for some advice. Don't bother booking any other hotel in Kassel but the Schloss Hotel.

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I'm toying with the idea to cut the trip short. Do tomorrow and then make a break for it on Tuesday. About 500 miles through Belgium, Luxemburg, France to home. Touring without the missus gets boring.
 
Enjoying this:thumb2 Great photos!

We've done a bit in Germany and Poland, not in any of these places though:)

We may have to add north Germany and Poland onto the ever growing list:bounce1
 
Thanks Mide. The less visited places has a certain attraction to me. I'm enjoying your thread. I like to read about the stans, Mongolia, China, Siberia etc. One day.

On a more personal note. The missus txt me to say that I should enjoy the trip as there won't be any soon in the foreseeable future. Which I'm dreading as the plan is to sell the GS after the trip. Reading the thread about 2nd hand values I'm starting to wonder if that would be a wise choice. The replacement costs might just be a bit much as I don't intend to part ex it for a newer model. It won't get replaced if I sell it.

I need to own the bike outright as I plan to take it places were leasing companies don't like their property to go to.

It is sent from my phone. So fucking what?
 
It was no problem to get out of Kassel. It is bit cooler on the city but soon you drop into the Ruhr valley and one can feel the warmer air. A few miles in and one fantastic road. More boot scraping.

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A detour and another strange road sign.
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There is a good mix of roads in the Ruhr valley and the GS gets abused. I'm trying to wear the PR4s evenly but there is only so much sidesaddle one can ride.

A bit of art to spice up the day.

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Then the Mőhnesee. Enough said about it. It is a massive dam for something built by hand.

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I spent a bit of time here. Taking a break and having an early lunch.

From here to the Edersee, Oerstesee and a fruitless search for the smallest Beatles museum. Then some traffic, a frantic search for a thirsty bush which is where this photo was taken.

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As you can see the soil is a bit dry.

Some more good roads, overtaking and boot scraping corners, traffic, motorway and then keeping to the musical theme.

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Thanks to Moritz from the Total garage near where Mozart was born. You are a star.

Wanted to take a pic of the postal building in Bonn which is an architectural masterpiece. One of my interests. But it was getting late and road works, ahh bollocks to it. Off to the Eifel.

As you crest the hills overlooking Cologne and Bonn the landscape changes dramatically from houses and villages to vegetable farms on a big scale. Stick with the road, stop somewhere nice, take a break and look where you came from ....

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and where you are going ....

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Some art farty ....

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Checked into a guesthouse for the night. Not a bod days riding despite the miles and traffic.
 
And that brings us to today. What is more like a means to an end. Almost home but for one more night.

More wind turbines. Note the winglets on the tips.

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An early start to a common theme today. Road works and route bareé. Thought I was clever and did my own thing only to criss cross the road and ended up on a gravel track where I feared the pannier might catch the bank of soil.

Folowed by more breaks. I take a turn somewhere, ride to wooded area, gloves off, helmet off, earplugs out, do your thing, listen to the silence. Must rain soon because the place is dry ....

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A lunch stop for a break. As I was watering the bushes I noticed I stood in the middle of a massive ants nest. Yikes.

Lidl has everything to offer for a cheap lunch. Pizza thingies, sweet stuff and some coffee drinks which is not too bad and serves the kicks needed. Can't resist even more photos of the GS off-road.

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And this is how you cheat such a photo ....

Notice the road at the bottom.

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From here on it was a bit shit. I was tired, it was hot like 27 deg and I couldn't suck enough water out of my camelbak to cure my thirst. But all was not lost. The road offers up some respite from the tedium. As I pass the Euro Space Centre on the N40 going west from Lubin, an endless set of boot scraping curves appears for the last time. And as the last curve disappear in the rear view mirror I set the sat nav to get the boring and predictable over and done with the quickest way possible.

And what do I mean by scraping the boots. Exactly that. The one boot feels the gear lever and the other one covers the rear brake. Hence the way the tarmac sands it down.

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Love Gdansk there last week before heading to east then south, currently in Zakopane heading to Wroclaw tomorrow. Polish drivers remind me of the Portuguese at roundabouts, any lane in for any exit you want and NEVER EVER use an indicator.
 
Cheers Nutty. Can you believe it is a phone.

It is sent from my phone. So fucking what?
 
Thanks Mide. The less visited places has a certain attraction to me. I'm enjoying your thread. I like to read about the stans, Mongolia, China, Siberia etc. One day.

On a more personal note. The missus txt me to say that I should enjoy the trip as there won't be any soon in the foreseeable future. Which I'm dreading as the plan is to sell the GS after the trip. Reading the thread about 2nd hand values I'm starting to wonder if that would be a wise choice. The replacement costs might just be a bit much as I don't intend to part ex it for a newer model. It won't get replaced if I sell it.

I need to own the bike outright as I plan to take it places were leasing companies don't like their property to go to.

It is sent from my phone. So fucking what?

IMO you need a smaller, cheaper bike to do the 'stans etc. I wouldn't want to do it on my GS;)
I'm actually really looking forward to doing a trip in Europe on the GS next year. We've done off road trips for the last 4 years and frankly, my ass is killing me:augie
 
Yes. Ewan and thingy have shown why you need a small machine. I have read the ride reports of Walter Colebatch and the bike preps threads. A lot of detail but a light bike is a must.

So, your donkey is not happy

It is sent from my phone. So fucking what?
 
Yesterday afternoon at the apartment I was met by a plump French woman that I assumed is the owner. She showed me around and because there is only me I asked if it was only me sleeping here tonight. She didn't understand but I rephrased the question and I could see a twinkle in her eye. It was just there that I cut the conversation short with some hand signs and mumbling something.

A trip to the Intermarché for fuel and some supplies. Getting sick of restaurant food.

Had a restful sleep and woke before the alarm went off. Last day. The object: Home. But first there are 2 stops to be made. Looking out the window it is real foggy. Very apt for the first stop.

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On 15 July 1916 the 1st South African Infantry Brigade was involved in an attack to capture the forest of Delville Wood. I visit this place every time I go to France.

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Next stop. One of our favourite chocolatiers in Arras. Something for the missus when I stop by her work later today.

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Now it is time to burn fuel and square off the last bit of tread on the PR4. Engage warp drive, eye eye Captain.

Even the weather knew I was returning so a welcome was arranged, just a light drizzle.

Package delivered and safely back home. Close to 4k miles and one dirty bike. That will have to wait till Saturday.

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And some goodies came back with me. Whisky from an Uncle and Nalefka from another, an owl for my mum which I buy every time I go somewhere.

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A special mention to my extended family in Poland. They always make me feel right at home no matter if they have not met me before. And to Natalia and Olek whom we stayed with in Bydgoszcz, big thanks and you are welcome every time.

Thanks for reading.
 


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