northern europe
 

I'm planning on going with friends for a brief biking weekend to Ostend early Sept. They then return to the UK whilst I have a week off work.
Wondering what to do in approx 5 days before I must return to the UK (though there's potential to take 2 weeks off).

I could go to Austria and Italy but I have been wondering whether it's worth going north to Denmark or over to Berlin instead. Never been. I ride a CBF600 so off-road isn't an option.

Open to suggestions. Oh - my budget is at the hostel level and I won't be taking camping gear.

That's a rather broad question and pretty much unanswerable without further input on your side. It basically depends on what you want to do and what you want to see. The northern part of Germany is rather flat - no mountains, just some tiny hills every now and then, and so is Denmark. Despite its apparent lack of hills and mountains the countryside is really beautiful though (except for Berlin, which - in my opinion - is a fugly city).

Austria and Italy (northern part thereof) are the exact opposite in terms of mountains, but also very beautiful (obviously).

The real question is: what do you want to do? Ride or take a break? North or South? Alps or not? Italian Lebensfreude or German/Danish cordiality?

Yes, sorry. I was being vague because I had no idea about that area. My heart lives in mountains and lakes so your description has made my mind up.

I once lived near Augsburg and have attended bike rallies south of Munich and Stuttgart. But surprisingly, never ventured over the mountains into Austria or Italy. So that's where I will aim for.

We used the Autobahn's to make the fastest progress but I would like to avoid these unless necessary. A non-motorway route from Ostend would be appreciated.

I will also be posting on another thread to see if anyone wishes to join me.

European Bike Week is held in early September at Faaker See in Carinthia, near the Slovenian and Italian borders. It's a massive (100,000+ people) event staged around a lake, it's very Harley-biased (fat Germans pretending to be fat Americans) but it's worth doing just once. From there you could strike out into the most beautiful country in the world, Slovenia or come back through Italy or return via the Tyroll and Switzerland.

Thanks for the recommendation. I can imagine that this is an event never to be forgotten but not sure if this is my type of event. Never been a big fan of harleys - can't understand the attraction. But the location looks fantastic!

This is, without a doubt, the single greatest description of anyone ever. EVER! :thumbup:

That said I can absolutely second your opinion. Not about the bike week per se, but about Slovenia being really beautiful. Actually, that entire Italian/Slovenian region near their shared border is very nice, no matter what side of the border you're actually on.

pheonix:
There's plenty of possibilities to get from Ostend (assuming you're talking about the one in Belgium) to the Alps. I recommend going through Belgium to either Luxembourg, then into Germany to Trier (beautiful city), or into Germany further North into the Eifel region and then to Trier, which is at the southernmost tip of the Eifel region. From there on you go either south into Switzerland/France into Italy and across towards Slovenia, or you go across Germany towards Munich, drive down from there to Garmisch, Innsbruck, across the old Brenner road into Italy (very lovely road), take the Penser Joch towards lake Garda (even better than the old Brenner road - it's like the Brenner road on steroids!) and then see where you want to go from there.

We'll be going to lake Garda from Munich somewhen in August for four days (probably thursday - sunday) and I'd like to invite you to join us, but that'd probably be too early for you. Either way, if you choose to drive towards Munich you have to pay us a visit and stay with us for a day or two ;)

Many thanks for the invitation. Yes, August is too early but Lake Garda is wonderful. In fact, I can't think of anywhere in that region which isn't!
As my plans come together, I will definitely let you know if I'm touring your area - are you north, south, east or west of Munich?.

Thank you for the directions. I'll be busy Googling during my lunch break! :innocent:

Getting up into the Fjords/mountains is a bit of a stretch in 5 days but could be done. I did a loop of the North Sea coming into Norway on the Newcastle ferry then riding down to Calais in 4 days. The bridge between Denmark and Sweden is definately worth a look unless you get vertigo. Coming back to Ostend would make for long days.

Berlin always disapoints me as I was there before and during the wall coming down. It's a very nice European city now, with lots to see, but to me it lacks the buzz it used to have (not that I would want Soviet guns pointing at people again). Think Brussels only bigger or London with a little more charm.

Andy

Neither, we live in Munich ;)

You ever been there? I live close to the Lake Garda, about 25 km south.
I don't know if I'll be home the first or second weekend in September, but if you think to come over here, PM me and I'll let you know if we will be able to hook up along with my cell phone, if you want.
:welcome:

I live in Mantua, which is a small medieval town, very interesting and nice (search for some images on Google).
And I'm a Harley rider, but not fat... AHAHAH
Let me know, dude!

Thank you. Such generosity on this site. I wish I'd known about it when I found myself unexpectedly alone in France last year.

Could be in touch Knight - I would love to go to the Guzzi factory in Mandello.

Andy, thank you. Doing the Fjords would be fantastic but has to be saved for another trip when I will take the ferry from the north of england or scotland. It's the weekend in Ostend which is determining the point of departure.

I have a very vague plan:

Ostend, head towards Munich (non-autobahn?)
Slovenia (possibly via the European Bike Week in Austria)
Lakes and Mountains of Italy

So the topic shouldn't be northern europe anymore but I can't change it.

Thanks for the offers of meeting up. A woman from another bike site is interested in going with me but since she's never ridden overseas before, she may change her mind when she adds up the mileage!! :mchappy::mchappy:
Waiting to hear if she can get the time off work - I'm definitely going for 2 weeks now! Whooppeee!! :Beach:

Biker Hotel in Ostende
 

Hi :mchappy:

Are you staying at the Bikers Hotel in Ostende?, as it is highly recommended before you travel into Europe and if not, well worth calling in for a drink if you are in the area. Have a look at Motorhotel Groenedijk - Oudenburg, Oostende

Wasn't a great Harley fan myself, but they have come on since the bigger engines and a 1450 Harley Road King, with the right exhausts, really is a capable, surprisingly relaxing touring bike, as my wife and I found out last month when we went off on one for a few days.

During my hitching days, in the 70's, I worked in Munich twice, once for a month in the Drie Rosen and the other time, after returning from Italy and Tunisia for another month in Zum Spockmier, both near Marianplatz. You got a free room, 6 beer tickets a day, all you could eat, without getting caught and £40 per week, plus my local was the Hofbrauhaus, which was also one of Hitler's locals at the time. Fantastic times and all in a great city. Must go back sometime.

Have a great trip.

Cheers


Chris

OK!
Remember anyway that from July 31 thru August 20 I will be on summer holidays from work, motorcycling Eastern and northern Europe and I think I'll see possible messages from you not before my return to Italy.
I hope not to be away the first two weekends in September due to work reasons.