Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Hello from Holland

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Hello from Holland

Hi dear fellow bikers,

Here's one more dutchman wanting to see a little bit more of our world, both nature and different cultures.
Being rather unexperienced I will be looking for oppurtunities for travels into East European countries and the Maghreb esp Morocco.

Kind regards,

Eddy

Hey welcome Eddy,
Hang on, that doesn't sound very Dutch, misschien Engels, ja?

Well, tell us a bit more about what you ride, and any details of trips or any upcoming trips.

I'm just on google maps having fun guessing and thinking about where I'll go.
I might peek into Nederland to visit family, but then again, maybe not, it's all way tooooo flat.
I like the mountains, ja :mchappy:

Eddy wrote:

Quote:

Being rather unexperienced I will be looking for oppurtunities for travels into East European countries

Why?

____
Paul

Hi Paul,

I wouldn't be too sure about those Dutch Mountains not being there. Check out this one:the nits - in the dutch mountains (1987) - YouTube

Besides no mountains doesn't mean no twisties. Check our medieval villages along the rivers and the dykes between them

Okay, there are some hills in the very south of the Netherlands very close to the french speaking part of Belgium:the notorious "Voerstreek"/"Le Fouron". Very close to the german border too ('Aachen'). And that is exactly where I was born about 56 years ago.
Later I moved more north, first because of my study mathematics and later because of my work in the ICT. And again there are some hills where I live now and also long straight roads in the neighborhood. Yes many different landscapes are within reach from my hometown, Amersfoort.

I have just bought a new Triumph Tiger Explorer XC. I initially wanted the KTM Adventure 1190 because it's better suited for offroad and supposingly still comfortable enough for long trips. But the KTM is too high for me, so I choose the Triumph.
I started taking lessons for motordriving when I was 49-ish because I was fed up getting stuck with my car in traffic jams every day commuting from my work. Now my focus is shifting in the direction of less neat roads and paths to beautiful sceneries. So I think of taking courses this year for offroad driving.

No shortage of big plans (Norwegian fjords, Silk road, Maghreb, MiddleEast, Iran and South-East Asia) and it seems fantastic to me to travel within a group. But first I need to improve my driving skills. In the mean time, I look around at HU for knowlegde, experciences and ideas to pick up.

Do you mean why these countries? Because they can be visited within 3-4 weeks time, that my boss would let me go for holidays. And Marocco, apart from the beautiful landscapes and being relatively safe, I have a special bond with Maroccans, which are currently targetted by a smear-campaign of Wilders' political party.

But now enough of me. Let's turn to you! Do you still feel a bond with Holland, or it it just the country where some of your relatives live?

Kind regards,

Eddy

Eddy wrote:

Quote:

Besides no mountains doesn't mean no twisties. Check our medieval villages along the rivers and the dykes between them

Yes, I have the year before last, except I didn't have my moto at that time, just a car with French number plates. Do you mean the bike paths, fiets weg for the twisties? I know they can be really nice and winding, but for bicycles only.

Quote:

Okay, there are some hills in the very south of the Netherlands very close to the french speaking part of Belgium

Ja, vlak bij Maastricht, right? I remember travelling by train and after being in The Netherlands for a while, I was suddenly shocked to see the ground rise up higher than the train track. :wave:

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And that is exactly where I was born about 56 years ago

Not that far behind you at 49'ish now. (I can still say that for a short time at least) You have been riding longer than I have, about four years for me I think.

Quote:

Triumph Tiger Explorer XC

You have nice bike then, I have thought about it myself possibly for the not too distant future. Looks like a very capable moto. Here in Van Diemens land (The island of Tasmania, just under Australia for those who haven't heard) I have a Kawasaki Versys, the 650 parallel twin. It's quite nibble and a go anywhere type bike, a bit underpowered for my needs sometimes, especially when I want to pass several cars in one vvvrrooom.

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No shortage of big plans (Norwegian fjords, Silk road, Maghreb, MiddleEast, Iran and South-East Asia) and it seems fantastic to me to travel within a group. But first I need to improve my driving skills. In the mean time, I look around at HU for knowlegde, experciences and ideas to pick up.

Well they sound like plans to me alright, count me in when you want to go, that is, as long as I'm over there. Next year I would like to think I'll do a bigger tour into more eastern block section, just need to organise Visas and such. I'll go half way this year. I find riding in a group can be both good and not so good. Good in that if you have a good bunch it can be a lot of fun. Not so good if the group don't respect the skill level of other riders and the less experienced riders are allowing themselves to be pushed beyond their capabilities. Riding by yourself, you can better focus on your own riding and the road environment around you, and not be distracted by other riders close by. I rode last year around Briançon (south east France) with a German chap on a really nice BMW F800R. We were well matched, in terms of time spent on a bike, but his skill level was much better than mine, so I was always pushing the limits of my heavier TDM around the mountains whereas his F800R was a fine machine indeed.

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Do you still feel a bond with Holland, or it it just the country where some of your relatives live?

Oddly, yes I do sense a bond of sorts with Nederland, it's my heritage (I guess with a name like 'Alting van Geusau' it would have to be) and where a lot of my father's family still live, and have always felt quite alienated living here in Australia. Not sure why I wasn't invited to the recent festivities in Holland, I must have a word with Betrix about that. :rofl:

I have thought France could be a wonderful place to live. Many years ago, my oma bought ago an old French stone house in the south east of France at the foothills of the Alps, which has been the family summer home for many years now. During my childhood I dreamed of going there one day. I have gone to stay there a number of times now, and to see what it might be like to live in France, and have made good friends there. Almost feel a local.
_____
Paul

Welcome to the HUBB!!!:welcome: