| Author | Message | ||
     Galloper |
Yesterday I got home from my 5 day trip. I booked the same hotel like last April. Day 1 On monday 14th I left my hometown and got on the highway to Antwerp - Brussels. At Brussels Airport I got in some slow moving trafic but the lanes are wide so lanesplitting is easy to do. Got past Brussels without much delay and went onward to Namur. Just past Namur I left the E411 (main highway to Luxemburg) and got on the toeristy N4 (the old route de soleil) 231km later I stopped at Martelange, a town on the border with Belgium and Luxemburg. On the luxemburger side of the road there are only petrolstations that also sell cigarettes and alcohol.  After filling up I went back on the N4 towards Arlon, passed the city and went on to the french border. Nothing much to see at the little town where I crossed into France and headed towards the Elsas region.  The twisting roads lead past cornfields and forrests... While planning this trip a saw something on Google Earth that I found interesting   The Roman aquaduct at Ars-sur-Moselle. Look in Google Earth with this: N49 04.074 E6 04.239 Getting deeper in the Elzas region the curves got sharper and after miles of having fun I came on the Struthof mountain. During the second WW the nazi's build a concentration camp at that mountain. It is now a museum. This was my first visit to a concentration camp.  The gate at Struthof.   The memorial. I did not take pictures in the barracks, it was very impressive. Google earth: N48 27.269 E7 15.204. More information here: http://www.struthof.fr/ I spend about an hour in the camp. There were many visitors, many of them german. Back on the bike and towards the german border into the Swarzwald and without problems I reached my hotel.   Hotel Rebstock is run by the Heitzmann family, it was my second time and they really make you feel at home. So after a shower I got down and had this served.  View from my hotelroom:  After the beer I had a fantastic swarzwald dinner made by father Lothar and son Michael. Everything they use is local. Mother Erna keeps an eye on the bar, daughter Katrin is the waitress. They've got things running smooth as they tend to the hotel guests and the locals who come to the restaurant for dinner. http://www.rebstock-simonswald.de I had to get to bed after dinner and 2 of those big german beers. I hardly touch beer at home but enjoy it while on vacation after a long ride. I also prefer to taste the local brews. Day 2 I had plans to go to Switzerland, I planned a route in Mapsource at home and wanted to ride it. So I set of to Altdorf at the Alps.  Now I was at the beginning of the Klausenpass. Try Klausenpass on Youtube! Half way up the pass at Hotel Posthaus, Urigen. Google Earth: N46 52.307 E8 45.481  http://www.hotel-posthaus.ch But I wanted to go higher, up to the top to Hotel Klausenpasshohe.  I had a swiss lunch here, noodles, with tomato and grilled cheese. Very nice. http://www.klausenpasshoehe.ch/ Google Earth: N46 52.343 E8 50.219  After lunch it went downhill from there. I put my little sony to work and made a little movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tplaqXVQaGw After I stopped to shut the camera off, I got passed by two Swiz military motorcyclists. They allowed me to follow them for about 20km and they really showed me how to cut those corners.  Please note that in this region the farmers let there stock run free. In my little movie you can see cows walk the road. Getting back to the hotel in Obersimonswald took a little longer. Swiss traffic sucks. But whn I got back I had a shower, a beer and dinner.  Dinner at Rebstock, Lamb with tomato grilled cheese and grilled potato. Forgive me for having a white wine with meat  Again this was to die for. Day 3 This day I planned a trip to France, to the Vosges region. Famous for it's mountains like Le grand Ballon and Col de la Schlucht. The problem with planning atrip at home is that Mapsource does not know about new laws.  I had followed this road for over 15km and that sign said I was not allowed any further with a motorbike. So I had to return.   Due to the not perfect weather conditions, rain and fog, I decided to wear my fluovest over my allweathers. It's not a pretty sight but I hope to stick out   After a few cols I got to Col de la Schlucht.   In wintertime this place is packed with people. I do not like to ski, tried it once, was glad I could go home. But I had one more mountain on my list, the infamous Grand Ballon. The highest mountain in this region. Seen on the Tour de France this mountain was going to be my glorious moment. And then I got there:   I decided to eat something in the restaurant, it was way past 12 and I was hungry and cold. The cake I had was good and so was the hot coco  Took another picture of the view from the restaurant.  Later I heard that le Grand Ballon is often covered in clouds. The ride back to the hotel it started raining, ofcourse... An excellent dinner after a warm shower made up for all the fog and rain. Did enjoy the twisties Day 4 It was raining when I woke up at 8. Weatherreport said it would dry up areound the afternoon. After breakfast I lend an umbrella from Katrin and walk to the waterpowered Oil-mill in Obersimonswald.  It was a nice walk and I wasn't alone, I named him/her speedy  And old little chappel  Some beehives  and a few minutes later I came to the watermill. Build about 300 years ago.     The entire tour took for almost an hour and if you are into old mechanics this is a must. Very interesting. The weather got better so I decided to ride to the biggest coocoo's clock in Triberg.     It's very touristy, old folks by the busloads but being a tourist myself I bought a weatherhouse (note the size as my helmet is next to it)  I did get that thing home in one piece!! Back at the hotel I still had time to visit the Obersimonswald museum. This has old tools used by local farmers.  This is the carriage used on Sunday by a farmer to ride to church with. now it can be used for weddings.  The museum used to be a house and it was decided to keep some rooms as they were. This is how a bedroom looked many years ago. In the museum there was a dutch retired engineer with is wife and with the museumkeeper we talked about the old machines and tools, some I remembered as my grandfather had these himself. Others I had no idea what they were. So I got some lessons Very nice. At the hotel I had my last dinner.  Deer with cranberries and mushrooms, yummie. Also had a few beers. Had great time at Rebstock and will get back next year. Day 5 Lets keep it short, I wanted to go north on the Swarzwaldhohestrasse (B500) But after some miles I got, again, in a dense fog. It was't nice so I decided to take the nearest highway and get home. Looking back I had a great little vacation. The waether could have been better but this time the Uly didn't leave me stranded 2 hours from home in the middle of the ardennes. Forgive me any spelling errors (Message edited by Galloper on September 19, 2009) | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 Thanks for taking us along! Love the pics... now I'm gonna go back and watch the video... Damn, that food looks good! If ya ever make it to the states... I got a extra bike and I would love to take ya on a tour... when I hit the Lotto you could return the favor!! LOL! Come over for Buelltoberfest and we would have great ride south! I could take some time off for that! | ||
| Rotorhead |
I'd love to return to Europe with my ULY!! This post would be nothing without the shots of the food. I'd ride my bicycle for hours to get to food like that!!! Now I'd drive my ULY days to get food like that. | ||
| Bosh |
Wow! Fantastic photos, really enjoyed that. Wishin' I could take a trip over to the other side of the world someday. Very cool, Thanks! | ||
| Galloper |
Great to hear you guys like the food shots  The food at the Rebstock hotel is excellent. | ||
| Blake |
Thank you, Luc, for taking us along on your vacation. I needed that! Looks wonderful. The bike looks nice too. | ||
| Hooper |
And man, you pack light! I went to Triberg once in college - I remember that clock museum. | ||
| Galloper |
@ Hooper: you don't need a lot when on vacation. Next time I will take a small laptop with me. | ||
| Etennuly |
Awesome pics and story! Thanks! | ||
| Court |
Holy Cow ! . . what a ride! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUMAN7JFOZU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoQG8G5fN_E | ||
| Paralegalpete |
I've been to Europe many times, but sadly never on a motorcycle. As someone already said, I would love to take the Uly on those roads. Thanks for sharing your trip. | ||
| Galloper |
I've just uploaded the uphill Klausenpass movie. I took it a bit slower than that Porsche in the link Court posted http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6KU2Bg-Z0 | ||
| Hooper |
My ears popped while watching that. | ||
| Thesmaz |
Looks like a great ride! switzerland is one of my favorite places to ride! | ||
| Kevinaye |
Hooper, nice ride. I rode around some of those areas in May. Amazing riding. I assume you have the Uly tall screen. but what is the add on? I have the same set up as you but with the Zero gravity screen. I would like to get a little more protection. You set up looks like it might be the ticket. | ||
| Mnrider |
Thanks Galloper. Cool to see where my ancestors came from. | ||
| Odie |
Absolutely fabulous ride report. I so miss Germany and Europe as a whole. Tons of great places to ride in the USofA but nothing beats Europe in my opinion. The scenery, the history, the people, the great food, and of course, the best beer in the world. Reminds me of a trip through Brenner Pass on the way to Venice one year. Thanks for sharing! Send more, please. | ||
| Hooper |
Kevinaye, I think he's got a Laminar Lip on his windscreen, or some brand similar to it - I think his profile calls it an "MRA flip up spoiler". Lots of people swear by the Laminar Lip. | ||
| Galloper |
@ Kevinaye: It's the MRA vario windscreen for a Suzuki V-Strom. http://www.twistedthrottle.com/imagecatalogue/imag eview/3729/?RefererURL=/trade/productview/2710/344 / I screwed it on the Buell tall windscreen. Perfect fit. It works for me, your mileage may vary (Message edited by Galloper on September 23, 2009) | ||
| Brumbear |
damn sweet |
