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One really cool thing was the light dimmed to dark every 15 minutes or so for the night action.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4179/3...934d025e_b.jpgReturn to Hamburg-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4173/3...68bed784_b.jpgReturn to Hamburg-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4162/3...46f95f6d_b.jpgGemany mini by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Airport is fully functional with takeoff and landings as well as taxi and service to the planes. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4169/3...f95bb6be_b.jpgReturn to Hamburg-26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We did a tour of the centre including the Rathaus or city hall and then Brigitte joined us for an excellent Syrian meal.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2886/3...3d74d3e3_b.jpgReturn to Hamburg-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/3...5c57e00d_b.jpgReturn to Hamburg-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4183/3...ddb8fb76_b.jpgReturn to Hamburg-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
May 4 it is time to hit the road if by rental car and drive the 442 km to get the bikes where we had stored them for 8 months at MotoSoul Resort, Mutzschen. (Thanks Tad and Gaila).
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4171/3...878cd752_z.jpgScreen Shot 2017-05-06 at 23.04.29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had arranged a guest house stay with an amazing family in nearby Tautendorf. We were very well taken care of by Nicole and Matthias and kids! They welcomed us into their family, fed us, and helped us with some bash plate bolt removal issues. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4159/3...40afa651_b.jpgThe Best Guest House-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4158/3...d9fd3d7e_b.jpgThe Best Guest House-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4158/3...63b9221f_b.jpgThe Best Guest House-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Friday May 5 we had arranged to pick up the bikes at 9 am at Motosoul and they kindly let us use their facilities to do the work we needed to do. We had a few snags. The first was there was a 1200 parked in the door to the garage with the steering locked. This required careful maneuvering and a bit of shimmying to get our bike out. Next the new batteries from Louis that are we checked the “correct” ones do not fit in the bikes as the cables can not be connected. Luckily the Deka’s we have are amazing and again started right away after 8 months off tenders. Next after 45 min of struggling with the screws for one exhaust silencer we gave up and packed them in the luggage for later. We really need a magnetic driver to try to get the angle of attack right without fear of dropping ht screw into the pipe. Dan's is a bit bent after the crash last year in Italy. This is a project for later in Kosice. Now the bash plate…. stupid system of rubber and metal bolts that are very difficult to get out. We did not manage to get out more than 1, but back at the guest house and with help and tools from Matthias they finally got them off to be able to mount the new bash plate at 9 pm. After 5 hours of fixing and packing later at Motosoul we dropped off all the gear 20 km south at the guest house and then had to drive 40 km north to the Louis in Leipzig to return the batteries and then another 15 km north to drop the rental car at the airport. This done we had to go back for Sara’s bike at Motosoul and finally arrived back to the guesthouse tired and starved after no food all day at 630. Nicole we will be forever grateful for the delicious hot dinner. Needless to say jet lag and all the work we did not take a single photo! This is courtesy of MotoSoul!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4183/3...8122bbb8_b.jpgWendeberg_Schloss_Mutzschen_HiRez by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Finally both of us back on the bikes!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/3...6d46464f_b.jpgGemany_ by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4162/3...78688cec_b.jpgGemany_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Our plan today was to be up at 7 get the bash plate on and the bikes packed and be on the road after breakfast at 9….have jet lag and be awake at 4 am and then sleep until 9….left there at almost 11.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4184/3...169ca124_b.jpgThe Best Guest House-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had some fog and drizzle and cool 8.5 degrees weather until after 1 pm and then it was mostly sunny on our ride south into Czech republic after 6 hours and 367 km. This was mostly on small secondary roads, but we did have about 60 km of highway today. There are lovely winding roads thru picturesque villages in Germany and Czech. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4172/3...eedc7aae_z.jpgScreen Shot 2017-05-06 at 23.39.51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/3...611fb2e8_z.jpgScreen Shot 2017-05-06 at 23.37.00 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We woke up to a grey and ultimately rainy day. We headed back to Cesky Krumlov for some fuel and then made for the small roads in an almost direct line across Czech to arrive to Trencin Slovakia after 381 km.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4165/3...855b4643_b.jpgScreen Shot 2017-05-07 at 17.58.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had some heavy rain for about 45 min and this was also on the only freeway section we did. This was a nasty 30 km. Czech’s drive very fast and pass dangerously close too often. Finally we did have some sun in the afternoon. The route is cross-country to the Slovakian border. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4193/3...09c10740_b.jpgSlovakia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived to Trencin just before the rain started and we did not get to see the castle as it was closed by the time the rain stopped at 630. We did have a nice dinner on a terrace overlooking the city. We were staying at a very cheap hotel that was above a small casino. Small but clean and comfortable. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4164/3...3ed303d7_b.jpgSlovakia-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4193/3...bc2cb68a_b.jpgSlovakia-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4190/3...78f4ef56_b.jpgSlovakia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today the forecast is 20% rain, but it is pretty windy and chilly for our ride across Slovakia to Kosice.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4179/3...0f3a1b9a_b.jpgScreen Shot 2017-05-07 at 18.11.01 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We set out first for Bojnice (Bod-neet-sa), where we had breakfast with a view of the castle. The funny thing today was we asked the waitress if she spoke English and she said no, but her friend that did not work there said “ yes” and proceeded to take our order and serve us! “The town is most known for its castle, first mentioned in 1113 and originally built as a wooden fort, it was over time built as a stone castle and in the 20th century in the Romantic style.” https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4161/3...98413baa_b.jpgSlovakia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr From here we continued on the narrow secondary road thru the Low Tatras national park and onto the 18, which wound around not far from the main road. We ultimately had to put on the rain gear at Poprad because of the cold. It then got sunny and warm by the time we were in nearby Levoca. There was a great fair taking place in the old town and we stopped for a break and some fresh donuts. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4156/3...8152f6d3_b.jpgSlovakia-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Our plan was to keep riding from here on the 547 past the hill top Spis Fortress and then onto Kosice.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/3...6f72506e_b.jpgSlovakia-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It was all going well until we arrived to Jaklovace, where the sign for Kosice had a red X thru it. This means in Europe the road is blocked ahead. This is sometime a small detour, but in this case when we were 35 km from our goal it was blocked and had to re route back 60 km. Later this week we saw why when we approached the bridge from the other side. About a month ago it started to sag in the middle. We were a bit low on fuel, but made it with a few liters left and arrived to Kosice after 382 km and strong wind all day. Of course our Slovakian fiends who were watching us on Spotwalla saw the problem unfolding. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4158/3...e1597cde_b.jpgScreen Shot 2017-05-09 at 22.40.45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Arriving to Kosice we were warmly greeted by Tomi, Majka, and Lenka. They had a customary welcome drink for us and a hot soup “which you need after a long days ride”.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4161/3...b2e536cd_b.jpgSlovakia-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4179/3...93b29641_b.jpgSlovakia-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4191/3...3672648e_b.jpgSlovakia-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4190/3...7475a754_b.jpgSlovakia-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4178/3...223cfbde_b.jpgSlovakia-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4192/3...d4e410cf_b.jpgSlovakia-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Tomi reviewing the “program” he has planned for us in the next 4 days. This he had emailed me and the time line is in 30 min intervals!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4191/3...b8733b7b_b.jpgSlovakia-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4194/3...782794c3_b.jpgSlovakia-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4172/3...fbd4d648_b.jpgSlovakia-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Crocs for comfort! They thought of everything…5 star treatment for sure. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4181/3...eecb84b7_b.jpgSlovakia-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We had brought a few “Canadian” gift for them. They are small, but as bikers they know that having carried such items on the bike is “special”.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4163/3...9c8af92e_b.jpgSlovakia-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We have been hosted here by them for 3 days including a walking tour of the old town, visits to the Dam and boat tour, Cognac tasting and a tour of the Congac institute, a tour of the Old time car collection of Kosice, small airplane flights over the city and surrounding countryside, a KTM event, and a number of parties. At KTM they were setting up for an event, but for us they had a special demonstration of the motorcyclists air bag. You have to pull surprisingly hard on the release, but this simulates being ejected from the bike. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4166/3...1e088fc7_b.jpgSlovakia_ by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4174/3...886e97d2_b.jpgSlovakia_-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4171/3...d8237003_b.jpgSlovakia_-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4181/3...c47799f4_b.jpgSlovakia_-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/3...b6235a26_b.jpgSlovakia_-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We stopped by the Real estate office to make sure Tomi’s people are hard at work.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4176/3...3b6a943d_b.jpgSlovakia_-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Since Tomi knows everyone here this includes the local OLD TIMERS car collector and we had a tour of the restoration shop where they can fabricate everything needed to restore a classic car in house. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4157/3...e91215ce_b.jpgSlovakia 2.0 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4194/3...593a2902_b.jpgSlovakia 2.0-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We drove outside the city and made a detour for some Venison goulash for lunch. It was the off
to the Ruzin Dam for a visit to Marcella and Peter’s lake house and for another welcome drink or 3! We had a bout tour, which was a bit chilly when we started out, but warmed up out of the wind. https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/3...2c1891ea_b.jpgSlovakia_-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4188/3...67b153b6_b.jpgSlovakia_-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4188/3...ba31bfc1_b.jpgSlovakia_-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/3...49d825c1_b.jpgSlovakia_-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4174/3...eb75e64a_b.jpgSlovakia_-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4167/3...59e5ac10_b.jpgSlovakia_-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4155/3...96bfe48c_b.jpgSlovakia_-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4159/3...773503e3_b.jpgSlovakia_-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4172/3...6bf0a877_b.jpgSlovakia_-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4163/3...46be18d3_b.jpgSlovakia_-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4190/3...cb74a069_b.jpgSlovakia_-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
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