Sunday 21st May 2017

After all the wonderful and emotional moments in the last few days, we are finally on our way now! After saying goodbye to Egbert and Lenie on the old BMW police motorbike at the German border we make the first mile alone. It still feels like a holiday and I’m curious when the travel feeling is about to take it.

On the first day we drive to Cologne to visit Karin. Last year we visited Karin with on our motorbikes and agreed that we would stay with her on our 1st official day. At 16:00 we parked the motorbikes under the Dome, time for the first ice cream! A little later we arrive at Karin. She had been to a classical concert and she was only halfway the stairs. Fortunately, we are patient people 🙂 . A delicious soup, potato salad, German sausages and a glass of red wine. Karin is quite old and likes her daily habits, which means German Krimi’s every evening. Just sit back and enjoy the Krimi together.

It was an intense day and week, but we’re off and it feels good, or actually amazing!!! Let the adventure begin!!

 

Monday 22nd May 2017

Gut geschlafen! Enthusiastic we wake up because we drive to the first campsite today! At Diez an der Lahn. From Cologne we drive straight into the forest, great route.

On arrival at the campsite, the clutch cable of Erik breaks, what a timing! Fortunately, we have already prepared a spare cable during one of our tinkering courses, so it was a piece of cake for Erik to mount the new one.

 

Tuesday 23rd May 2017

During breakfast we are accompanied by a swan and her kids who feel completely at ease so close. We decide to ride to another campsite, at Neubulach-Liebelsberg, in the middle of the countryside. When making an evening walk through the local town, everyone looks surprised. Apparently, they do not see many people from outside.  

Also, the jump rope is used, just like the night before. This is the way for us to stay a bit fit during our trip.

 

Wednesday 24th May 2017

At 10.30 we leave for Stuttgard, to Regiane and Anderson. Anderson we met 4.5 years ago during the Inca trail in Peru. He lived in Brazil at the time, but decided to emigrate 0.5 year ago and currently he works for a big German company. We spent just a couple of hours together during the trail, so it was secretly exciting whether the click was still there, but JAWOHL it definitely was! While enjoying delicious snacks and many beers, we wondered why in German the words sound so much harder than other languages. The word Schmetterling did not left Anderson’s mind. This German word for butterfly sounds in Portuguese, English and even in Dutch as much as the word is meant. This is totally different when you pronounce the word in German.

 

Just before the fall, almost 20:00, Anderson and Erik decide to go to the construction market for a grill / bbq. Meanwhile, Regiane and Bertha are doing groceries. Doubtful if they dare to order meat after the counter, it eventually succeeded with their little German vocabulary.

 

After the Eurocup Finale Manchester United – Ajax (unfortunately 2 – 0) at Stuttgard’s most smoky sports club, it’s finally the time there. Glad as a child, Anderson starts the grill and serves the freshly baked meat. Until late in the evening we enjoy the meat, the drinks and especially the fun.

 

Thursday 25th May 2017

Ascension Day in Germany means everything is closed. We decide to stop the hangover with a walk around the city centre, but the ice cream eventually was the best solution for the hangover. In other words, time again for games, meat and beer!

Vrijdag 26 mei 2017

We hebben een fantastische tijd gehad bij Regiane en Anderson. Ondanks dat het stel niet eens een ingerichte woonkamer heeft (geen bank, geen tv, geen meubels: we love it!), zouden we hier graag nog twee weken blijven. Maar ja, zo komen we natuurlijk nooit in Australië aan. Op advies van Anderson rijden we naar een uitkijktoren vlakbij Bad Wildbach. Via een loopbrug van 1 km komen we aan bij het uitkijkpunt en kijken we uit over de boomtoppen van het Zwarte Woud. Het was een prachtig uitzicht met een strakblauwe lucht. Maar het werkelijke hoogtepunt was de glijbaan naar beneden. Een absolute topattractie!

We climb on the motorbikes again, leave the Black Forest and drive through the Vosges. Long roads with tall trees make way for steep mountain passes with beautiful views.

 

Saturday 27th May 2017

From the Vosges we drive to Basel, the border with Switzerland. Despite the fact that we have turned off the toll roads in our navigation, we still arrive at the access where we need to buy a vignette. Because we drive through Switzerland for just a couple of hours we find this a waste of money and after a nice conversation with the customs we may turn around. We decide to pass the border on small regular roads and that’s possible!

 

At the end of the afternoon we arrive at Lake Geneva, so many tourists and luxury. We drive around the lake and eventually arrive in the French part of the lake in the village of Thonon-les-Bains. Lake Geneva is called Lac-Lémon on this side. A friendly welcome to camping Le Disdillou makes us decide to stay for two nights. But after this hot day first take a dip in the cold lake, delicious !!!

 

Sunday 28th May 2017

We start the day sporting, a run around the city walls, around 7 km. A route through woods and pebble beach and early in the burning sun. This sporty intermezzo ends with a great omelette with vegetables on a slice of bread. Jummie!

 

 

The realization of going on holiday changes in the realization of our journey and the adventure we are into!

 

1st week from Amsterdam to Australia