It was just six months ago that I placed an advertisement on the Moto Guzzi Club of Great Britain asking if people would help me buy a Moto Guzzi in the UK to tour the UK and Europe.
Six months later I’m sitting at my campsite at Kunzelsau in southern Germany half way through my tour to Europe.
I pinch myself again.
My last post summarised the tour of the northern mainland of Great Britain.
The European part of the journey started with catching the ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam.
Then to the new TLM premises in Nijmegen, the Netherlands to get a couple of issues I had with the bike sorted out
A quick dash across the German border heading north
To Hirtshals, at the top of the Jutland Peninsula in Denmark a ferry and fishing village and a crossroads for bike travellers
A ferry port for those going to northern Scandinavia
For me I was seeking a taste of Norway
I say a taste because Norway may be revisited. I think Scotland and Norway in one trip was too much high northern latitudes weather for a fellow from the driest of continents.
A dash to Rodby, Denmark thought torrential rain to catch the ferry to Germany
Where it’s warmer and drier.
Yes sometimes I pinch myself to check it’s not a dream.
I’m halfway through this tour and the Alps only 300km south.
I’m sitting at balcony of my room in Sete looking down over the town
View over Sete
But before I write on Sete it’s time reflect on the 1100km run south from Nijmegen to Sete.
The side trip through the Swiss Alps into Italy is covered earlier.
A dominant feature in the Rhine
The river of castles
Running south beside it crossing it through Germany
Staying of the main roads
Lots of small villages
Bacharach village
Travelling further south at the top of the Black Forest the German high country spread out to see
View from the top of the Black Forest
The there was the taste of Germany epitomised by thick slabs of smoked pork, strong vinegary salad and scalloped potatoes at the Hausbraurei Feierling in Freiburg.
Washed down by the brewery’s beautiful beer
Across the Rhine
Across the border to southern France
The taste and river different
At Nueville Sur Ain
The river was the Ain
The village French in style
Nueville Sur Ain
Still castles on the hills
But the taste was different veal in the thick tomatoe sauce with green beans
Washed down by Cotes Du Rhone at the Le Faisan Dore