Again my son and I planned and toured down Europe; this year the goal was the Split area in Croatia, former Yugoslavia.
I spend just about 10 summers there with my parents in the young years, but really haven't been there since 1967 or -68, with the exception of some short drive-throug Slovenia and northern parts of Croatia during the last couple of years.
The route was in main Trelleborg in Sweden; Berlin - Dresden - Plzen - Linz - Gargagno (at the Lago di Garda, northern Italy) - Trieste - Split - Isle of Hvar - Split - Karlovac - Ptuj (in Slovenia) - a few obscure and impossible to remember places in Hungary - east of Vienna - Brno - Frankfurt ad Oder - Rostock - and home.
I managed to clock just about 5500 km, and all exept an unsane heat day in Italy/Croatia - all of it on minor roads. And also the last 800 km, but more about that later. The tour lasted for 18 days for me.
I've got about 600 pics from the event; do excuse me for not uploading all of them....
Ferry boat to Rostock, Germany - we weren't alone..
-and a frugal breakfast at the first gas staion met
In the evening we hit Dresden for sleeping at my usual cheap place, "Bodega Amigos", owned by a friendly Cuban
-and the best beer in the world
South of Dresden - or the northren parts of Czeckia gives some beautiful wievs
Plzen, the origin of the Pilsener - or Lager, as you folks says.
-and of course, a nice hotel
-and the beer fields. The bottles are not ripe yet.
After Czeckia, Austria; mainly a ski-resort, but certainly spectacular in the summer as well
Passing a surprising pass, he Staller. Not very high - about 900 meters - but on the Italian side, the road is so narrow, that they will only let you pass for 15 minutes every hour to avoid meeting traffic.
At the Lago di Garda. Calm and beautiful
Gargagno:
In these surroundings you'll find the best restaurant ever, only 200 meters up from Gargnano
appetizer
Prima Piatti
Secondo
Dolce
Next day; after a very long and hot ride, and a lunch-pizza in Trieste
-we reached Senj in Croatia right before sunset
Still hot...
Next morning we left for Split, and drove through the most magnificent thunder storm - no pics; I haven't got a waterproof camera!. Somehow a relief anyway, since temperature went down to 20-22*C.
From Split
we went by ferry boat to the island of Hvar
Not really the best places or security for the bikes, but no mishaps. Cheap ferry fees, OTOH.
And rented two rooms, bath and kitchen in the town of Hvar at Hvar. Hvay not?
It's an absolutely stunning island, though going quite exclusive. Never seen so many, so big cruisers & yachts in a harbour - Including Monaco.
Had a day on the bike. And no ATGATT - much too hot. Drove slowly, wearing sandlas, shorts - and helmet. Flipped up.
All these stones! Picked up by man, put in piles and fences to be able to grow crops. Mostly is abandoned today.
-and taking siestas to escape the heat
After 6 days, it was time to head north again. First day I measured 41*C on the onboard thermometer. Drinking much and often is an necessity, as being in the shadow no matter where, when you don't drive
Slovenia...
-and a night in Ptuj, once again an old Centraleuropean town
The hotel was a renovated 1500-century town house
Of course a good supper again
Next day we went through Hungary, which is flatlands and cornfields all over. Only pic, from the Slovenian/Hungarian border.
-and a refueling stop in Austria. What would you chosse but Sachertorte mit Schlag, 20 km from Vienna?
Next stop Brno in Czeckia, again. Another famous label
-and views
After Brno, at mid day the pure fun actually stopped
An elderly driver got the bright idea to try to go left on the main road. Look at the road markings, and you'll know exactly HOW bright that idea was. All to avoid a 200 meter detour caused by roadworks... Went out 30 meters right before my son, who was tourmaster of the day. Speed about 70 kmh, and not a chance to stop in time. The breaking track is from the front wheel.
I'd guess the crashing speed was about 30 kmh. I saw the crash very well, as I was coming up 30 meters behing my son.
We got tremendous help on the spot, police was there in a very few minutes, ambulance also.
Son showed up not to be seriously injured, a broken wrist and brusings.
By the help of the insurance companies he was sent home by air the day after leaving the hospital - where he only had to spend 24 hours, mostly for observations.
But let's finish this story here; a broken bike left on site. The insurance company will take care of the remains, probably scrap it on site.
After a sleepless night and a couple of days, fixing things like transport home, police, a big trunk to carry equipment etc etc and a very compliant receptionist in the hotel, who suggested me to park my bike at the most secure place ever found
:woohoo:
-it was time for me to leave for home. Leaving the Czeck hotel at 1.30 pm I managaged to reach a small Gasthaus in a village north of Berlin before dark.
-and saw what I really haven't seen since I was a kid;
Wild storks in a traditional nest! There's hope for man!
(Well not that wery wild, but at least not raised in enclosure)
Also a slightly modified Wartburg...
(You can see a genuine DDR build 3-cyl 2-stroke motor in there. Was the luxury car for the average man. The nomenklatura drove Volgas, Zil and maybe a Czeck Tatra)
Next day reaching home via Denmark and the
I spend just about 10 summers there with my parents in the young years, but really haven't been there since 1967 or -68, with the exception of some short drive-throug Slovenia and northern parts of Croatia during the last couple of years.
The route was in main Trelleborg in Sweden; Berlin - Dresden - Plzen - Linz - Gargagno (at the Lago di Garda, northern Italy) - Trieste - Split - Isle of Hvar - Split - Karlovac - Ptuj (in Slovenia) - a few obscure and impossible to remember places in Hungary - east of Vienna - Brno - Frankfurt ad Oder - Rostock - and home.
I managed to clock just about 5500 km, and all exept an unsane heat day in Italy/Croatia - all of it on minor roads. And also the last 800 km, but more about that later. The tour lasted for 18 days for me.
I've got about 600 pics from the event; do excuse me for not uploading all of them....
Ferry boat to Rostock, Germany - we weren't alone..
-and a frugal breakfast at the first gas staion met
In the evening we hit Dresden for sleeping at my usual cheap place, "Bodega Amigos", owned by a friendly Cuban
-and the best beer in the world
South of Dresden - or the northren parts of Czeckia gives some beautiful wievs
Plzen, the origin of the Pilsener - or Lager, as you folks says.
-and of course, a nice hotel
-and the beer fields. The bottles are not ripe yet.
After Czeckia, Austria; mainly a ski-resort, but certainly spectacular in the summer as well
Passing a surprising pass, he Staller. Not very high - about 900 meters - but on the Italian side, the road is so narrow, that they will only let you pass for 15 minutes every hour to avoid meeting traffic.
At the Lago di Garda. Calm and beautiful
Gargagno:
In these surroundings you'll find the best restaurant ever, only 200 meters up from Gargnano
appetizer
Prima Piatti
Secondo
Dolce
Next day; after a very long and hot ride, and a lunch-pizza in Trieste
-we reached Senj in Croatia right before sunset
Still hot...
Next morning we left for Split, and drove through the most magnificent thunder storm - no pics; I haven't got a waterproof camera!. Somehow a relief anyway, since temperature went down to 20-22*C.
From Split
we went by ferry boat to the island of Hvar
Not really the best places or security for the bikes, but no mishaps. Cheap ferry fees, OTOH.
And rented two rooms, bath and kitchen in the town of Hvar at Hvar. Hvay not?
It's an absolutely stunning island, though going quite exclusive. Never seen so many, so big cruisers & yachts in a harbour - Including Monaco.
Had a day on the bike. And no ATGATT - much too hot. Drove slowly, wearing sandlas, shorts - and helmet. Flipped up.
All these stones! Picked up by man, put in piles and fences to be able to grow crops. Mostly is abandoned today.
-and taking siestas to escape the heat
After 6 days, it was time to head north again. First day I measured 41*C on the onboard thermometer. Drinking much and often is an necessity, as being in the shadow no matter where, when you don't drive
Slovenia...
-and a night in Ptuj, once again an old Centraleuropean town
The hotel was a renovated 1500-century town house
Of course a good supper again
Next day we went through Hungary, which is flatlands and cornfields all over. Only pic, from the Slovenian/Hungarian border.
-and a refueling stop in Austria. What would you chosse but Sachertorte mit Schlag, 20 km from Vienna?
Next stop Brno in Czeckia, again. Another famous label
-and views
After Brno, at mid day the pure fun actually stopped
An elderly driver got the bright idea to try to go left on the main road. Look at the road markings, and you'll know exactly HOW bright that idea was. All to avoid a 200 meter detour caused by roadworks... Went out 30 meters right before my son, who was tourmaster of the day. Speed about 70 kmh, and not a chance to stop in time. The breaking track is from the front wheel.
I'd guess the crashing speed was about 30 kmh. I saw the crash very well, as I was coming up 30 meters behing my son.
We got tremendous help on the spot, police was there in a very few minutes, ambulance also.
Son showed up not to be seriously injured, a broken wrist and brusings.
By the help of the insurance companies he was sent home by air the day after leaving the hospital - where he only had to spend 24 hours, mostly for observations.
But let's finish this story here; a broken bike left on site. The insurance company will take care of the remains, probably scrap it on site.
After a sleepless night and a couple of days, fixing things like transport home, police, a big trunk to carry equipment etc etc and a very compliant receptionist in the hotel, who suggested me to park my bike at the most secure place ever found
:woohoo:
-it was time for me to leave for home. Leaving the Czeck hotel at 1.30 pm I managaged to reach a small Gasthaus in a village north of Berlin before dark.
-and saw what I really haven't seen since I was a kid;
Wild storks in a traditional nest! There's hope for man!
(Well not that wery wild, but at least not raised in enclosure)
Also a slightly modified Wartburg...
(You can see a genuine DDR build 3-cyl 2-stroke motor in there. Was the luxury car for the average man. The nomenklatura drove Volgas, Zil and maybe a Czeck Tatra)
Next day reaching home via Denmark and the
Best of wishes to you both.
