Riding onto the Eurotunnel carriage

An epic day, I think 750kms from home to my destination. Met some lovely bikers on the Eurotunnel, unlike the previous journey. Got lost in Liege, was shocked to see kids on 600cc scooters, no helmets, fag in mouth. Was expecting this further east.

So finally made it to a campsite not far from the Nurburgring, where I met Richard, and Ed. 

Ed was on his way back from Malaysia on his Honda C90. It had technical issues, it was running without an oil pump for hundreds of miles. The very kind caretaker of the campsite, Gerhard helped the chaps find a Royal Enfield dealership, who in turn ordered the parts from Honda in Belgium. So we had a couple of random days waiting, one involved fetching C90 back from the enfield dealership, getting a part welded at a rubbish truck depot, and mooching around in Lidl. We had a barbeque, and relaxed in the sun.

The parts were collected, C90 rebuilt. Richard headed off back to blighty after his tour of Eastern Europe.

The reason for wanting C90 in tip top condition was because we wanted to do a lap of the famous Nurburgring . Unfortunatly, just as C90 was ready, there was no public session, so a third day of waiting.

We rocked up to find a car park full of zooped up cars, lots of Porsches, some regular granny cars, and a range of bikes, but none like ours.The session had only just begun, and there was a big accident, and the ring was temporarily closed. After some discussion about the speed of C90 and Ed’s jeans, we were allowed on. So exciting. The smell of petrol and rubber were amazing although kept thinking something on my bike was burning. After 2/3rds of the ring, and every other vehicle whizzing past, the saftey car came up behind, so I trundled off ahead and left C90, which I felt terrible for, but if they wanted to pull us off, better for one not two of us as the financial repercussions are horrendous.

As soon as the lap was over, we nipped back to the campsite, loaded and headed off. Ed and C90 back to Blighty, and me south. I rode far too late, hoping to find a campsite before dark. I broke my rule, riding in the dark, but was pleasantly surprised to find myself camped in a meadow near a river, very picturesque in the morning. Took the back roads through lots of german villages, and then a stint on the autobahn to make up some time in the afternoon. Was keen to crack on to Switzerland.

Richard hunting Ed.

New Royal Enfield. Interestingly, they use Mefo explorer tyres.

C90 on Gerhard’s pickup, returning to campsite, awaiting new parts

Ed welding a part at the bin lorry garage

Our camp for three nights

Ed’s mess

C90 with her plastic nappy on, don’t know whether its to prevent more bits falling off, or dirt getting in.

Ed getting AA recovery (Richard works for the AA!)

worn and new parts

makes a nice change, not me on a recovery truck. An expensive tow though.

Mission accomplished

You can see the blue line showing my progress around the ring. I reckon there may have been some sort of GPS jammer, as it said my max speed was 300kph, about 200mph. Impossible unless you threw my bike off a cliff maybe.

Me on the ring

I’d like to go back and do it on a fast sports bike, or car.

Note. Ed and I ate this. Used my brain and realised it is football pasta, because it is halftime pasta. Der!

Ed kindly gave me a new sticker

The first dead camera, got epically wet between Lille and Frankfurt.

Richard breaking Camp

The mess of my camp

The Iranian Embassy in Frankfurt, beautiful new building

What my bike looked like before modification, this one was at Hein Gerike at Frankfurt

Waiting for the bank to open near the embassy

Horizons Unlimited Meet in Germany:

In the Guesthouse on arrival

My first German beer

peaceful

Local horse riders on the public holiday

Putting the circus tent up

wild strawberries.

Dinner kindly cooked by Bertrand

Local Apfelwein

Hot chocolate, as it was still cold at night

and mud…

Apfelwein from the guesthouse

Ladies meeting

Jens plugging tubeless tyres

The three Austrian lads trying to remove a tubed tyre

Geese

KTM

Sack race

Inner tube strength competition

Anyways. What a week.

21/06, 22/06
An epic blast from Calais to near the Nurburgring to meet Richard and Ed. Ed’s C90 was poorly and needing help. The campsite caretaker Gerhard kindly offered help. They found a Royal Enfield dealership who could order the parts. Waited two days, then Ed and Richard got C90 running, ready to do a lap of the Nurburgring, however the day we wanted to go, the Ring did not have a public session. Doh! So three nights in one place. Did have wonderful company so this made up for the lack of progress. Whilst running around a German Industrial Estate getting parts welded for C90, I managed to drop my bike (unloaded!), and Ed and Richard came to my help. Oops. Had a barbecue, and daringly ate 2 day old unrefrigerated sausages and survived. Got to live dangerously.

23/06

Lots of sitting around at the campsite, waiting for the ring to open. I stupidly got sunburnt and a little heatstroke.
So off we went to do the lap. Fantastic. Followed C90 for 2/3rds and then the Saftey Car gave C90 a personal escort for the remainder. I then rode on, but not crazy as so scared of crashing and the massive financial consequences. It was soooo much fun. I’d love to take a faster bike/car round there. Impressed as I overtook a big sportsbike. My little thing on semi knobblies.

So after the lap, I headed further south and was in a little panic to find a campsite, It was getting dark, I usually like to be camped up much earlier. It was all good in the end, I woke up in a beautiful meadow, and moved off quickly in the morning.

24/06
Another mission to get to Switzerland. Took the scenic route in the morning, and then some faster roads in the afternoon to make up time. Camped up next to Lac Lucerne. Very pricey, but was expecting that from Switzerland. Moody campsite lady moaned as my tent was not in the right direction, and my bike tyre was protruding into the next (empty) camping pitch by 3 inches. End of the world hey! Switzerland was lovely and green, neat and tidy. I do love Germany and Swiz, I think it appeals to my love of rules and orderliness.

25/06

Despite the pouring rain last night, It was refreshing to wake up next to Lac Lucerne. The lake was crystal clear, and crazy me, went for a swim this morning, in the pouring rain. It was surprisingly warm for a glacial lake. As soon as I crossed from the German Alps through the Gotthard Tunnel, the weather improved. However as soon as I takled some Alpine passes, I was soon riding through clouds, with one minute fantastic jaw dropping views, and the next visibility down to ten metres. Finished the day with the Stelvio pass, and crossing into Italy. Tonights campsite: 6 euros. Swiss campsite: 20 euros. So treated myself to a big Italian pizza with the difference. Yumm.

The engine has been pulled apart, and we cannot find any damaged parts that are causing the metal in the oil. Therefore the only conclusion is that this is old debris from the previous problem. My mechanic didn’t flush the oil tank. This is good news in that I haven’t blown something major, and it won’t cost me a fortune to rectify. 

Chris noticed that two gears had a little wear, as did the gear selectors, so we’ll replace these, and the cam chain was on its last legs, so best to replace this too. Parts should arrive tomorrow, and bike could be back together soon. I’m going to ride 500 miles in the UK and back to Chris’, check the oil and hopefully be good to go again.

Unfortunately, i’ll have to do Eastern Europe another time, which is a shame as this has a special place in my heart. I will motor through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and get the Ancona to (Greece) ferry. As advised by Bertrand, this will give me a good rest, cut down on the KMs, and  bring me onto a new motorway that transverses Greece, nearly straight through to Istanbul. 

My Engine!!

Naked Kitty!!!