Day One
The first goal was to meet in Bad Frankenhausen at the "Panorama" exhibition. Alex started in Stetternich and Thomas came all the way down via Berlin to his homelands. It was a rather long day for us. However we met at around 19:00 at the meetingpoint where Alex was already done with the exhibition. We decided not to drive the 36 curves via Kelbra instead we took a way trough the forest. What a nice start for the 2015's Tour. The evening was celebrated with a couple of beers - Cheers!
The first goal was to meet in Bad Frankenhausen at the "Panorama" exhibition. Alex started in Stetternich and Thomas came all the way down via Berlin to his homelands. It was a rather long day for us. However we met at around 19:00 at the meetingpoint where Alex was already done with the exhibition. We decided not to drive the 36 curves via Kelbra instead we took a way trough the forest. What a nice start for the 2015's Tour. The evening was celebrated with a couple of beers - Cheers!
Day Two
This day started already quite rainy and under this conditions we decided to do some fixes at Thomas' TransAlp. We took a rather short ride to the southern part of the Harz by stopping in Stolberg/Harz to have a coffee at "Friwi". The centerstand and the brakes were done quickly but the weather was a hell. There was no way to go out on the local roads. Instead of we started planning the track to the East - Go East! (Well not that far to the east as it turned out!)
This day started already quite rainy and under this conditions we decided to do some fixes at Thomas' TransAlp. We took a rather short ride to the southern part of the Harz by stopping in Stolberg/Harz to have a coffee at "Friwi". The centerstand and the brakes were done quickly but the weather was a hell. There was no way to go out on the local roads. Instead of we started planning the track to the East - Go East! (Well not that far to the east as it turned out!)
Day Three
Well prepared after Thomas cameback from the dentist and Alex tested the 36 curves to the Kyffhäuser we decided to start after lunch. It took a while to pack but we made it - We were on the road by 13:00 and had a long way in front of us. The first kilometers turned out to be rather boring and flat. Via Jena the first attraction was the famous "Goitschtal Brücke". The plan was to vistit this amazing railway bridge and have a alcohol free beer at the biker point on its feet. But, big disappointment - Closed! Finally, we found a "Biergarten" with incredible low prices 1.50EUR per bottle beer! The dreamland for Thomas. Wait - Only alcohol-free for us!
Well prepared after Thomas cameback from the dentist and Alex tested the 36 curves to the Kyffhäuser we decided to start after lunch. It took a while to pack but we made it - We were on the road by 13:00 and had a long way in front of us. The first kilometers turned out to be rather boring and flat. Via Jena the first attraction was the famous "Goitschtal Brücke". The plan was to vistit this amazing railway bridge and have a alcohol free beer at the biker point on its feet. But, big disappointment - Closed! Finally, we found a "Biergarten" with incredible low prices 1.50EUR per bottle beer! The dreamland for Thomas. Wait - Only alcohol-free for us!
The way to Klingenthal our place to spend the night was amazing full of curvy roads and stunning nature of the Erzgebirge. The camping ground was lovely located inside the forest close to the boarder to the Czech republic. We ended the day as two guys should while camping - indeed with a self-made fire and meat on the grill! - Strange people with cat are here!
Day Four
The morning started easy but to find the guy who is responsible for the camping ground was a story. He did not show up and we decided to put 5EUR each into the mailbox because it was a nice and clean camping place. After gaining some altitude we suddenly crossed the boarder to Czech republic - a total different world. But Alex was disappointed because of there were no girls waiting for us instead of we got NATURE. We were almost alone on the narrow roads. We passed only some bicycles that was it. In the middle of nowhere we found a restaurant in Jelniz - Palatschinken and for Alex a bit more - "Gulasch mit Knödel". And all for 15EUR! We never eat so cheap. After some kilometers we crossed the boarder to Germany again and headed to the highest point of the Erzgebirge the Fichtelberg (1215 m). We were lucky a hell of a view. At this point of the tour Alex convinced Thomas to buy a Midland headset. Therefore, we decided to leave this nice nature and try to find a bike shop - maybe a Louis or Polo in Chemnitz. So Chemnitz it was. Alex said: "A dream of a town!" Well, I doubt that a bit. Before we made a stop at one of the biggest castles in Europe - "Burg Augustusburg" which is home of the largest motorbike exhibition. It was worth the ride, one sees motorbikes from all decades since motorbikes exist. However we found what we were looking for - Thomas said: "Scheiße!" because know he and Alex can share words on the roads - Dammit! (But when being in a group it is worth the money that you can talk. Everything is much more easy for instance make decisions where to turn etc. - must have!) The last kilometers we drove to Lindenau where Alex gave his no. one comment during the tour. To make it short the woman at the camping was asking: " Brauchen Sie ein Holz zum Unterlegen?" answer: "Ah, nein ich habe einen großen Ständer!" Finally, BBQ and beer - Good night!
The morning started easy but to find the guy who is responsible for the camping ground was a story. He did not show up and we decided to put 5EUR each into the mailbox because it was a nice and clean camping place. After gaining some altitude we suddenly crossed the boarder to Czech republic - a total different world. But Alex was disappointed because of there were no girls waiting for us instead of we got NATURE. We were almost alone on the narrow roads. We passed only some bicycles that was it. In the middle of nowhere we found a restaurant in Jelniz - Palatschinken and for Alex a bit more - "Gulasch mit Knödel". And all for 15EUR! We never eat so cheap. After some kilometers we crossed the boarder to Germany again and headed to the highest point of the Erzgebirge the Fichtelberg (1215 m). We were lucky a hell of a view. At this point of the tour Alex convinced Thomas to buy a Midland headset. Therefore, we decided to leave this nice nature and try to find a bike shop - maybe a Louis or Polo in Chemnitz. So Chemnitz it was. Alex said: "A dream of a town!" Well, I doubt that a bit. Before we made a stop at one of the biggest castles in Europe - "Burg Augustusburg" which is home of the largest motorbike exhibition. It was worth the ride, one sees motorbikes from all decades since motorbikes exist. However we found what we were looking for - Thomas said: "Scheiße!" because know he and Alex can share words on the roads - Dammit! (But when being in a group it is worth the money that you can talk. Everything is much more easy for instance make decisions where to turn etc. - must have!) The last kilometers we drove to Lindenau where Alex gave his no. one comment during the tour. To make it short the woman at the camping was asking: " Brauchen Sie ein Holz zum Unterlegen?" answer: "Ah, nein ich habe einen großen Ständer!" Finally, BBQ and beer - Good night!
Day Five
Today we had to go to Ruhla in order to meet Markus who is a colleague for FZJ. The weather still awesome and we started to enter the Thüringer Wald at the Bleilochtalsperre in Saalburg. While having lunch next to the water and an rather picky "Wessi". Thomas had local trout with potato. We learned that Audi cardrivers are crazy when the temperature is above 30ºC! One almost hit a cyclist while overtaking a bus where the road did not allow to overtake any vehicle but this guy did. The cyclist needed to jump into the bushes. Thank god nothing happened!
Today we had to go to Ruhla in order to meet Markus who is a colleague for FZJ. The weather still awesome and we started to enter the Thüringer Wald at the Bleilochtalsperre in Saalburg. While having lunch next to the water and an rather picky "Wessi". Thomas had local trout with potato. We learned that Audi cardrivers are crazy when the temperature is above 30ºC! One almost hit a cyclist while overtaking a bus where the road did not allow to overtake any vehicle but this guy did. The cyclist needed to jump into the bushes. Thank god nothing happened!
And we experienced the Thüringer Wald is super nice. At the end of the day we met Markus by chance in front of a supermarket. Hello! After we got the basics we further went to the camping at Altenberg Forstteich. The one way grill (prices vary a lot!) is shit, thanks to our friendly neighbours providing us a suitable BBQ grill. Close to the water we said good night!
Day Six
The general direction was southwest and once again we crossed the roads through the Thüringer Wald. A bit slow for Markus who is much more experienced. However, we had another nice day with nice weather conditions and curvy roads. One last stop at teh Rennsteig and having a "Roster" before Meinigen where we stopped for our fav ice-cream that is spaghetti vanilla ice. After that we entered another interesting mountain site of Germany the "Röhn - hier ist es auch schön". It is a highland. On our short off-road experience we lost Alex - too slow this dude! We got him back no worries. Well, the sad part of the day was the camping ground at the "fränkische Saale" river. To give an impression see the pictures tones of people, loud and waiting for 1hour at the restaurant to pay even though we were told at the beginning that there is no free table for us.
The general direction was southwest and once again we crossed the roads through the Thüringer Wald. A bit slow for Markus who is much more experienced. However, we had another nice day with nice weather conditions and curvy roads. One last stop at teh Rennsteig and having a "Roster" before Meinigen where we stopped for our fav ice-cream that is spaghetti vanilla ice. After that we entered another interesting mountain site of Germany the "Röhn - hier ist es auch schön". It is a highland. On our short off-road experience we lost Alex - too slow this dude! We got him back no worries. Well, the sad part of the day was the camping ground at the "fränkische Saale" river. To give an impression see the pictures tones of people, loud and waiting for 1hour at the restaurant to pay even though we were told at the beginning that there is no free table for us.
" In der Röhn ...
... ist's schön!"
Day Seven
After a rather horrible night. Markus was fighting with moskitos. He is a outdoor pada-wan he learn must before! Firstly, the sad part of the day is that this is the last day of being together. Well aware that the day has to end somewhere at the Edersee we picked a specific location - Marburg. The town of lawyers and doctors. Shot stop at Amösburg. I have never seen such a nice village that is on top of a the only hill in this area. It is an old monestary and famous to get married there. Well for sure not us today! It was warm up to 35ºC sweating in out cloths and pretty unmotivated to visit the Marburg. But we went up to the castle. An did our contribution for the physics department of the university of Marburg. We joined the "camera obscura" which provided us a wonderful view to the so-called "monkey-tower" of Marburg. Röhn-Spessert-Edersee on the way Thomas found out Büse is not as good as expected. After Norway and now 18 month the trouser was fixed by Thomas (see our Norway trip 2014) and now the zippers are broken. The end of the day at the Edersee was amazing. We put up our tents direct at the waterside and had a clear view to the castle. And finally we made it into the water! NIce cool and fresh! With a last beer we sad somehow goodbye!
After a rather horrible night. Markus was fighting with moskitos. He is a outdoor pada-wan he learn must before! Firstly, the sad part of the day is that this is the last day of being together. Well aware that the day has to end somewhere at the Edersee we picked a specific location - Marburg. The town of lawyers and doctors. Shot stop at Amösburg. I have never seen such a nice village that is on top of a the only hill in this area. It is an old monestary and famous to get married there. Well for sure not us today! It was warm up to 35ºC sweating in out cloths and pretty unmotivated to visit the Marburg. But we went up to the castle. An did our contribution for the physics department of the university of Marburg. We joined the "camera obscura" which provided us a wonderful view to the so-called "monkey-tower" of Marburg. Röhn-Spessert-Edersee on the way Thomas found out Büse is not as good as expected. After Norway and now 18 month the trouser was fixed by Thomas (see our Norway trip 2014) and now the zippers are broken. The end of the day at the Edersee was amazing. We put up our tents direct at the waterside and had a clear view to the castle. And finally we made it into the water! NIce cool and fresh! With a last beer we sad somehow goodbye!
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