Germany's amazing driving machines

Just back from the trip to Europe and wanted to share a few thoughts as I adjust to the jet lag and 7/8 hour time zone changes....the 'fun' part of travelling.

First off I travelled the Autobahn and can safely say that's the craziest highway I've ever driven on, albeit their system works like crazy. Most of the highway we drove on was three lanes wide and the drivers adhered to the respective 'lane situations' very well. The very right hand lane is reserved for trucks, slower vehicles, and large buses. The middle lane is reserved for people who travel at 'approximately' the normal speed limit (120 kph) while the left hand lane is for the 'give 'er' drivers and you are advised to keep an eye on who/what is behind you because they're coming 'fast.' There is NO passing in the right hand lane so it certainly eases the worry about idiots scooting by you at any speed from any side. But the most overwhelming part of driving in Germany is the 'quality' of vehicles you encounter. Porsche; BMW; Mercedes; Audi and Volkswagen rule the roads and, especially in Stuttgart, a quick survey of the ten cars parked at a traffic light shows that 8 out of 10 are one of those cars. Quality is the key and when you visit the car museums over there you'll see a stark reminder of not only how great these cars are built but how long they have ruled the car business. The buildings alone speak of the dynamic.

We arrived at the Porsche Museum as it opened, and at about the exact time that the fire engines arrived for a 'false alarm' in the building.

After huddling outside with the staff; the cooks (yes they have TWO restaurants inside the building); a Porsche representative came outside after about 20 minutes and shouted instructions into a megaphone, whereas everybody walked back in to the building to be met with a nice 'bonus' - FREE ADMISSION due to the false alarm. (Cost is usually $8 Euro's) Inside the building you walk around on ramps that chronicle the history of Ferdinand Porsche, and his all important 'credo' about why he started Porsche.

It takes about an hour or so to wander through the various vehicles and you are amazed at the sheer 'power' on display - let alone how many millions of dollars of vehicles are sitting in this impressive building.

Next up was the Mercedes Museum, which is beside the Mercedes Arena, an impressive all purpose arena that houses top soccer and 'football' matches - practice fields, etc. This building too is 'magnificent.' (Cost $8 Euro's but for me the seniors special - half price)

The Mercedes Museum was hopping and security was huge. Everybody had to check their jackets and back-packs and once that was completed was sent to the top floor of the building by a George Jetson type fast elevator that looked right out of Star Wars.

You're up about 8 stories and this display goes back to the beginning of time in the Mercedes world - at around 1890 - and there are hundreds upon hundreds of simply mind blowing vehicles on display - everything from the Pope Mobile to buses to 'future' Mercedes concept cars.

The eras are broken up so that you can see a chronological history of the brand as well.

So although our Tres Amigos do Europe Tour 2011 was focussed on 'two wheel' travel throughout five different countries, one of the best highlights was spending a day looking at these magnificent automobiles at the Porsche and Mercedes Museums in Stuttgart, Germany. It's a very 'young' city that was totally rebuilt after severe damage in WW II, and the fact that it is a University town makes it very young focussed and dynamic. If you get a chance to visit either, or both, of these fine tributes to automotive delights I 'highly' recommend you attend....it's a great way to spend $4 Euros (my special price for the day) Both have websites for full information and I have posted about a hundred pictures on my personal Facebook site as well.

Opps...'that's Europe for you."

There will be NO pictures in today's blog...for a very good reason which will become evident.

The Tres Amigo's do Europe 2011 crew decided to make today a rest day, prior to Mr. P heading home to Scottsdale and Mr. N and I heading to Stuttgart so we wanted to visit the most famous water spa in Germany.

It's called Therme Erding and if you want to Google it go ahead - and dial it in on the English feed.

It's about five times bigger than the West Edmonton Mall's waterpark. It's complete with about a dozen huge water slides - an amazing main pool area with special 'jets' (more on this later) - sixteen sauna's - several other mini pools - a steam room - food kiosks - swim up bars - indoor/outdoor swim pools - and the ah, 'special rooms.'

We paid about $25 Euro for the full pass and were told that there were special rooms where the cost was 'extra.' When you check out you find out - like about a ten minute steam costs another $11 Euro.

You're given a key, and a wrist bracelet with an electronic insert that you hold up to get past the security entrances to the extra rooms.

Well we change in to our bathing suits and immediately hit the big pool - and this thing 'lights it up.'

There are hundreds and hundreds of jets throughout the pool that go off in sequence...some from the walls - some from the roof (cave) - some from the floor - and all extremely high powered. It's the most relaxing sensation you can imagine as the water is set about 34c.

Oh, and the roof to the pool can be 'opened ' for prime weather conditions too.

By the way, there is virtually NO English either spoken or on signs so our challenge was formidable as we walked around trying to figure out what each room was all about.

After about a half hour in the main pool Mr. N and I check into the 'clothing optional' section of the complex thinking that 'optional' means just that...by choice - so we weren't too afraid of what would happen when we walked into the area.

Well we quickly found out that 'optional' means NUDE. Very NUDE. All NUDE. Everybody but us NUDE.

Well Europeans have no qualms whatsoever about walking around totally in the buff - but obviously North Americans don't share that confidence. After a quick swim, and walk through, we headed over to the water slides to grab Mr. P to tell him about hour little 'wander into nudism' trek.

A few runs down the slide - and Mr. P is now in tow wanting to see himself.

That's when we got 'busted.'

A nice young employee wanders over to us - again with 'barely' any English - and politely explains to us that we are now in the 'all nude' area and we should either a) doff the gear or b) leave the area.

We took option b) - well at least Mr. N and I did but Mr. P, with his Italian heritage, dropped the trunks and headed for the danger zone.

It was quite the experience and even though we were thousands of miles from home; away from any potential family or friends, clients or associates Mr. Happy was kept hidden in the Fruit of the Looms where he remained quite pleased. (Honest Kim)

So - very simply I think you'll understand that - there are 'no pictures' in the blog today!

Switzerland

Another beautiful day of riding through western Europe.

It appears we’ve hit a ‘record’ weather week with clear skies, little wind, and perfect road conditions although today is a holiday so the highways were a tad busy.

(By the way Mayor Mandell - in the four riding days so far in mountain countries we’ve seen ‘nary’ a pothole so it CAN be done!)

We road from Northern France this morning back through a section of the Black Forest, ending up in Switzerland.

We stopped for some ‘authentic’ Black Forest cake in Germany and some of the guys grabbed some Black Mountain Ham - which has the most beautiful aroma you can imagine when you walk in to the little cafe on the mountain.

Today my mind was on inspiration and in studying our other riders all who have come from very different scenarios.

The prime motivator is Jack Cartright from southern California. Jack is 76 years old and travels all over the world ‘riding’ motorcycles by himself. He reminds me of Jack Palance - a good sized man - rugged - and totally ‘in shape’ as he rides his bicycle ‘at least 100 miles a week.‘ His sense of humour is immense and can tell stories til the cows come home.

Then there’s Ray and Teresa Silva, the only Harley Riders in the group, and they’ve taken a fair amount of ‘fun’ heat about that fact but he’s a hell of a rider and keeps up with the BMW’s easily.

On the back of Ray’s jacket you can see his inspiration - a cancer survivor.

The two “Johns” are Dentists and it’s their first trip over to Europe. Both are as wide eyed at the rest of us about the stunning topography; the amazing ‘new’ foods; and the head clearing two wheel feeling you get on a ride like this.

Patricia and Stan Hickle from Hanna, Alberta have had the toughest time as they have had a few ‘spills’ due to the fact that they are both self described ‘big people’ and are riding a much smaller bike in the BMW 1200 than what they are used to on their Honda Gold Wing. They too have property in Arizona.

Every time Patricia ‘falls over’ she gets up with a laugh and hops right back on the bike. Today they bumped into Jenn (our guides) while making a turn and both bikes hit the tarmac. Little damage and as Jenn says “shit happens.”

Another ‘almost’ bad accident happened when one of the kids from Taiwan was waiting by the roadside. A car came past him and ‘clipped’ the side of his bike sheering the turn signal clear off - then the car kept on going. The kid was fine but again both incidents remind you of how vulnerable you are out there on the road.

I’d have to guess the ratio of motorcycles to cars is close to 50% over here - so cars and trucks are quite used to bikes on the road, mostly giving us lots of space, but there have been a few times when we’ve had to be ‘very’ aware of traffic conditions on the motorcycles.

Today I decided ‘not’ to use the term “Bucket List” anymore - simply because it has a finality to it.

I’m going to call it the “Dream List” because this surely is a dream that I’ve had for many many years - and when you sit here at the end of the day ‘bagged’ from riding and look out at the beautiful homes, churches, castles, and buildings it’s just such a positive feeling that you get rushing through your head.

Many people say I’m lucky - and for that I concur - but by having a list of things you really desire as a basis to ‘getting it done’ truly is a blessing and I’m allready thinking about the next place in the world I’d like to visit.

Even though language is an issue the people who have all helped, or served us, along the way have truly been great and congenial.

Sometimes it’s just fun pointing at something on a menu and saying ‘lets go for it’ - to discover yet another delight from this part of the world.

The other aspect that is forefront all the time for me is the fact that my late step father Mike Sheehy lost his leg in the Second World War fighting for our freedom. I wish he was alive now so I could ‘truly’ thank him for his sacrifice for I ‘most likely’ would not appreciate the gift of travel like I do.

Plus - if indeed we all are reincarnated in the future - I promise to pay attention in school the next time around because there is ‘so much’ to learn from the past.

This has been ‘great’ - with more to come.

The Tres Amigos do Europe 2011 tour hits Lietchenstein and Austria tomorrow.

Best of Europe bike trip continues

First off the weather has been spectacular and the riding the same. Yesterdays ride from Heidelberg (check this castle) through the Black Forest was simply amazing with more 'twistees' than I've ever been on before.

We rode through about 50 different villages and I swear it was like being in a 'fairy tale' with the beautiful Bavarian homes. We also went past several vineyards - and farms growing feed corn as well as cabbage.

It was a real test of skill as you go around those curves fairly swiftly with the rest of your crew (about 21 other bikes) about 2 to 3 seconds behind you so 'no goofs.'

And at about the half way point we stop at a beautiful lake area for a quick rest. Our two guides are amazing. Jenns (pron: Yens) speaks 'at last' 4 different languages and will use all four throughout a conversation making sure that everybody knows what the heck is going on.

Then theres Sigg (Ziegfried) who we believe is "map challenged" - either that or he HAS to take a smoke break every 45 minutes so pulls over to check a map and lights up.

We are now in a small town in Northern France called Ribeauville, which is part of the Alsace district which wine lovers surely will recognize.

We've met some great people and I'll try to highlight a bit of info about each with these updates.

Bob and Donna Torche are from Washington - and in fact "the Pentagon" - and have some really interesting stories...They bike all over the world and Donna is a total character.

Language can become an issue when you're this far into the countryside - and the look on some of the peoples faces when we try to order something in English is hilarious as they shrug their shoulders and grin.....at which time the game of Canadian charades breaks out as we point at whatever we want.

At lunch the 'special' was something we had never heard of but Donna 'jumped at it' - so the entire crew ordered this....which 'was' spectacular.

Today is a rest day but most of the guys took off again across the country side for another ride while Brian and I rested our butts, literally, in town. The BMW's are great bikes but their saddles are as thin as wafers and a 7 hour ride can be a tad painful - but as you can see in this picture - we're taking it like grown up MEN.

Tomorrow we cut back through the Black Forest and stop where the 'real' cuckoo clocks are made and for a piece of authentic Black Forest Cake. We then ride through what Jens says is some 'spectacular' Alpine mountain riding and end up in Switzerland.

Boy what a guy won't do for his Edmonton Sun Publisher!

Cheers everybody - miss you Kim, Lauren, Rayanne and the mighty Duke.