After Chuck and I split up I rode across the entire length of England, the long way, in a day. For those of us who live in Texas it is a little hard to grasp that you can easily ride across an entire country and still have time left over.
When I started it was overcast and cool, comfortable riding weather. Then the rains came. It rained for about two hours. I started on back roads which were crowded and progressed to highways, which were also crowded. Everyplace I went in England, it was crowded. Even with the rain and the crowds there were other riders. No pictures were taken, as I didn't want to get my camera out in the rain.
Finally out of the rain and on the highway, I made good time. My destination was the EuroTunnel the following morning. I had found a place called the Royal Norfolk in Folkestone, near the tunnel departure. I can highly recommend this place if you are traveling and want to stop for the night to wait for the tunnel train. Sorry, no pictures, but the room and bar/restaurant were both very comfortable.
The next morning I was on to the train to take me through the EuroTunnel. I don't know what I was thinking for a number of years, but I guess I believed you drove through the tunnel. No so much! They put trucks, cars, vans, and motorcycles on a train that ferries you across.
Waiting to get on the train. The boarding agent took this picture. I found that they get upset when you try to take a picture of them. The agent at the Isle of Man got on my case about a picture I tried to take there.
I don't really understand this restriction in these days as so many people take movie cameras (GoPros) and film with their phones from their cars when boarding. No state secrets are being shared.
Picture looking down the train and the entrance to the train. (pssst, that's the agents shoulder there on the left, don't tell!)
Stowed away comfortably on the train:
I parked behind this Carrera, but most the passer bys wanted to look at the Wing!
Once off the train, it was a pretty unassuming ride to Bastogne, Belgium where I had made a reservation. Because of the easy miles involved, I had decided to take a longer route through the Netherlands, to add that country to countries I had visited. I tried to do backroads but this turned out to be somewhat of a mistake. It put me through a town called Sint Niklaas Belgium. For those of you who ever may decide to ride through this area, avoid Sint Niklaas. Miles of city traffic, traffic lights, pedestrians, etc. Fortunately it wasn't too hot and I just relaxed and enjoyed it. Finally stopping for gas.
I walked in to pay. In Europe there is almost NO pay at the pump. You have to walk inside to pay. But they trust you, and let you pump first then pay. I left my helmet and jacket on the bike and walked in to pay. Three guys were eating at a table and began talking too me. They speak French in Belgium. I don't speak even a little French. One of the guys spoke a little English, and said they will fine you fifty Euros ($65) if you don't have a moto jacket. I explained I had one, but that was interesting information.
My final destination in Belgium was Bastogne, to visit the war museum and the battle of the bulge. The museum was very, ummm, slick. Lots of information and artifacts, but as I told my wife there was limited emotional evocation. It wasn't like the Vietnam memorial in DC where you are left to yourself in quite to feel the impact. Even so, there were a lot of interesting displays, photos and video.
What would WWII be without a Harley or two?
101st Airborne, Screaming Eagle memorial:
Not exactly New York but a good representation. I didn't get anything for perspective but this is about 25 feet tall:
Thank you, thank you very much! For those of you who don't know the flag on the left is the European Union flag, which is having it's share of struggles right now.
The WWII War Memorial:
Texas on the inner ring:
A view from the top:
I stayed an extra day in Bastogne and walked around the city. Even for being a little bit touristy, Bastogne was an enjoyable city. The city square had a bust of General McAuliffe, who's famous response to the Germans demand for surrender was "NUTS!".
A Sherman tank that was disabled during the battle.
From Bastogne, my last day was through Luxembourg and on to Heidelberg, were I would drop my bike and get the flight back home. Let me tell you about northern Luxembourg though. I was completely surprised. I plotted a course that stayed off the main roads figuring if I got in trouble I could find a highway somewhere. BUT ... the little roads were Immaculate... Perfect... Wonderful...
No traffic at all. I got the impression that any road I chose in that area would have been the same. I could go there and spend days riding these roads, but ... Superduke if you please!
Here are a few photos I took, when I decided I needed something to remember this by.
The roads were SMOOTHHHH! And it wasn't just here that it was smooth. No reducing radius curves, smooth like glass, let me put the wing into a turn and feel the peg make that smooth metal contact with the pavement and hear the swishing sound that gave no impression of danger. Wonderful ...
Traffic was almost non-existent!
I spent hours on these roads and probably could have spent days, never duplicating the same road. But I moved on to Heidelberg. Once into the boarder towns in Luxembourg and into Germany, the roads got crowded. It was just a commute at this point. Finally arriving at Stefans. After cleaning the bike and getting things arranged for storage, I walked around taking some pictures.
Lot's of others at Stefans, bedding down for the Winter:
The KLR on the right in the picture above belongs to
Evan Greenlee from Albuquerque. He had already been on the road for three years and done 85,000 miles on that KLR. Evan had his KLR stolen in England, near Manchester. There was plenty of damage done by the thieves and he was spending time repairing it. He was one of the few just starting out again, not storing. Evan was headed down through Spain to Gibraltar then across to Morocco to ride through Africa. Two more years of riding. Good luck Evan!!!
The Wing waiting for it's place in the mix, now with 143,176 miles on the clock:
Chuck and I plan at least two more visits, probably next year. We are barely in the planning stages for that right now. We may take a ride up to the Hill Country in the next few months for some deep dive strategy sessions that may involve beer!
After another great month in Europe, the next morning I caught the 10 hour flight home. I am so fortunate and privileged to have the health, time and means to do this. Thanks for following along.
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