You know on my last big trip to Turkey I said don't take camping gear as hotels so cheap in Europe. Well I ignored my own advice and dragged all that camping gear around for 10 days for no reason.
Excellent trip and by far for me the three highlights were:
1. Colditz Castle - just an amazing place with so much history.
2. Russia borders - Kaliningrad was great but the experience of transiting the borders was brilliant.
3. The company - first time done a big trip with another person, and enjoyed the company. Certainly made the evenings more interesting.
So what next....planning is already underway for a trip to India.
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Russian Trip Day ten
No rush this morning nice breakfast Holiday Inn style. Electrical problem in the room, EU converter broken.
Bikes removed from the uncle cage and over the kerbs to exit €24 saved. Out of Eindhoven and onto the motorway to Antwerp, successfully managed to get round the ring road and up the E40 to Calais.
We couldn't finish this WW2 themed trip without one last visit. To up to Cap Gris Nez and a visit to the bunker overlooking the channel. Cap Griz Nez was a gun emplacement that shelled Kent and Sussex during the war from France. The battery Todt was built as part of Hitlers Atlantic wall. Excellent visit and a lot of work has taken place since my last visit.
Off to the channel tunnel for 3.30pm and it was heaving. Through customs etc and loaded on time. 35 mins later we are in Folkestone.
We rode out of the train and down the tunnel exit road side by side. At the exit slip for local traffic a quick shake of hands and that was the Russia trip complete.
Russia who have though.....
Bikes removed from the uncle cage and over the kerbs to exit €24 saved. Out of Eindhoven and onto the motorway to Antwerp, successfully managed to get round the ring road and up the E40 to Calais.
We couldn't finish this WW2 themed trip without one last visit. To up to Cap Gris Nez and a visit to the bunker overlooking the channel. Cap Griz Nez was a gun emplacement that shelled Kent and Sussex during the war from France. The battery Todt was built as part of Hitlers Atlantic wall. Excellent visit and a lot of work has taken place since my last visit.
Off to the channel tunnel for 3.30pm and it was heaving. Through customs etc and loaded on time. 35 mins later we are in Folkestone.
We rode out of the train and down the tunnel exit road side by side. At the exit slip for local traffic a quick shake of hands and that was the Russia trip complete.
Russia who have though.....
Russian Day Day nine
Left Lubeck and got back onto the autobahn and headed west. Today is all about putting milage down so we are in a position to catch the train back on Sunday. Riding was good few small showers. Headed to Hamburg, Bremen, Osnabruck, Arnhem and eventually settled on Eindhoven to stay the night. After riding around the ring road looking for a cheap hotel we settled on the Holiday Inn. In fact wasn't that expensive but was pure luxury from we had been using. We rode over the kerbs and had the bikes locked in the cycle cage. Hopefully avoiding the €12 charge for parking.
About 7pm went off into town which was only a short walk away. Found the market square full of restaurants and the street of pubs. Beer first then dinner. Celebration meal as it was our last night. Nachos (large) and triple burgers....and beer. 90 mins later both of us too stuffed to move.
Anyway had a walk down the street of pubs again and it slightly busier but we are told it dosen't start till midnight then goes on till 4/5am. 10.30pm us old farts are back to the hotel.
Lots of facebooking and twitter updates then bed; asleep in seconds.
4am wake up call from all the police sirens in town, sounds like a fun town.
About 7pm went off into town which was only a short walk away. Found the market square full of restaurants and the street of pubs. Beer first then dinner. Celebration meal as it was our last night. Nachos (large) and triple burgers....and beer. 90 mins later both of us too stuffed to move.
Anyway had a walk down the street of pubs again and it slightly busier but we are told it dosen't start till midnight then goes on till 4/5am. 10.30pm us old farts are back to the hotel.
Lots of facebooking and twitter updates then bed; asleep in seconds.
4am wake up call from all the police sirens in town, sounds like a fun town.
Saturday 15 September 2012
Russian trip Day eight
Day started with a hangover from the amount of Polish beer we drunk last night. Good nights sleep. Had breakfast and packed up the bikes. Weather seemed good.
Headed north across the country towards Germany. Roads good in parts and some carriageways had deep ruts from the lorries making it difficult to overtake.
Eventually ended up in a small town of Swinoujscie the sat nav and maps showed we could enter Germany but how..... There is a stretch of water separating the town. Found the town ferry and had free trip across and with 10 mins we had entered Germany. Made our way to Peenemunde and walked around the town museum. Peenemunde was the Nazi test site for the V1 & V2 rockets. Not a lot is left now as it was stripped by theRussians after the war. Interesting visit.
Left there and rode for the last 2 hours of the day through intermittent rain to Lubeck where we found an Etap hotel. Guess who's on the top bunk :-(
Went out to dinner at a small German bar recommended by the hotel receptionist. Had two German beers in steiners, goulash soup and currywurst with chips. Excellent nosh.
2130 and time for bed.
Headed north across the country towards Germany. Roads good in parts and some carriageways had deep ruts from the lorries making it difficult to overtake.
Eventually ended up in a small town of Swinoujscie the sat nav and maps showed we could enter Germany but how..... There is a stretch of water separating the town. Found the town ferry and had free trip across and with 10 mins we had entered Germany. Made our way to Peenemunde and walked around the town museum. Peenemunde was the Nazi test site for the V1 & V2 rockets. Not a lot is left now as it was stripped by theRussians after the war. Interesting visit.
Left there and rode for the last 2 hours of the day through intermittent rain to Lubeck where we found an Etap hotel. Guess who's on the top bunk :-(
Went out to dinner at a small German bar recommended by the hotel receptionist. Had two German beers in steiners, goulash soup and currywurst with chips. Excellent nosh.
2130 and time for bed.
Thursday 13 September 2012
Russia Trip Day seven
Up early this morning, quick breakfast and off into the rush hour traffic. Raining like hell and took a short amount of time to find the A194 to the border. During the ride was stopped by the Russian traffic police just outside Kaliningrad. The officer examined our passports but didn't have a clue and could not speak English. Anyway left with a thank you and no bribes. The cop was very interested in the armoured jacket.
Made it to the border and horrendous queues, but he local Russians and Polish waved us through to the front of the queue. The Russian guard on seeing our UK passports let us into the border area and in no time we were through customs and passport control and stamped out of Russia. Andy had a few hairy moments with his passport.
Then onto the Polish controls and do they take there time....had the passports examined twice in 10 feet and the panniers searched. Total time about 2 hours.
Got motoring into Poland in the pouring rain, soaked to the skin but made it to Koszalin about 200 miles from the Russian border. Holed up in a cracking little motel for the night. Had Polish food for tea and a variety of polish beers.
Early night tonight.... Perhaps....and into Germany tomorrow.
Made it to the border and horrendous queues, but he local Russians and Polish waved us through to the front of the queue. The Russian guard on seeing our UK passports let us into the border area and in no time we were through customs and passport control and stamped out of Russia. Andy had a few hairy moments with his passport.
Then onto the Polish controls and do they take there time....had the passports examined twice in 10 feet and the panniers searched. Total time about 2 hours.
Got motoring into Poland in the pouring rain, soaked to the skin but made it to Koszalin about 200 miles from the Russian border. Holed up in a cracking little motel for the night. Had Polish food for tea and a variety of polish beers.
Early night tonight.... Perhaps....and into Germany tomorrow.
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Russia Day six
Day off........it's raining cats and dogs with a bit of thunder. Breakfast done fried eggs/bread/pastries/coffee.
Despite the rain walked into the city centre took about 30 mins. Saw the cathedral and Typical Russian buildings/patriotic squares. Got soaked to the skin.
Eventually found the Large Russian Authodox church in Victory Square. Walked home via the old city walls. Chill out for the rest of the day an prepare for the return journey tomorrow. Meal out with beer tonight.
Despite the rain walked into the city centre took about 30 mins. Saw the cathedral and Typical Russian buildings/patriotic squares. Got soaked to the skin.
Eventually found the Large Russian Authodox church in Victory Square. Walked home via the old city walls. Chill out for the rest of the day an prepare for the return journey tomorrow. Meal out with beer tonight.
Russia Day five
This morning we left the motel and rode the 17 miles to the Wolfs Lair near Ketsyrn.
On arrival paid the 20 zl to get in then spent 90 mins walking around the site with an English guide book. The ruins of the bunker complex are in woods which camouflaged then during the war. In 1945 they were blown up on Hilters orders to stop them falling in Russian hands. All are destroyed but some bunkers have single sides intact. Saw the ruins of Hilter, Gobbels and Boormans bunkers. Saw what little remains of the conference room where Hilter was blown up.
Following this we slowly made our way to the Polish/Russian border. Stopped and bought Russian insurance (22€).
Went through Polish controls and they were concerned we didn't have Russian visas in our passports. However the let us exit the EU.
At the Russian controls we were pulled out of line and asked if had visas, no came the reply and were told to wait, a short time later a lady from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived with all of our paper work we mailed and put visas in our passport. We were then taken to the front of the queue. Quick search of panniers and passport stamped onto customs where we had to import the bikes to Russia temporally. 90 minutes and we were free of controls.
Didn't realise we were 2 hours ahead in Russia. Rode into Kaliningrad passed the Russian traffic police with a speed camera, didn't stop us only because they were busy hassling another person.
Managed to find the hotel in the suburbs of the city quite quickly. Very impressed, clean, cheap (£20 each per night), modern, free wifi.
Had a quick shower and then out to find cash and food. Cash machine served up 3000 roubles about £60.. Got beer from the supermarket 80p can.
Had a pizza delivered to the room which was good and then managed to find the England v Ukraine on telly. Russian commentary.
Bed a midnight 10pm your time.
On arrival paid the 20 zl to get in then spent 90 mins walking around the site with an English guide book. The ruins of the bunker complex are in woods which camouflaged then during the war. In 1945 they were blown up on Hilters orders to stop them falling in Russian hands. All are destroyed but some bunkers have single sides intact. Saw the ruins of Hilter, Gobbels and Boormans bunkers. Saw what little remains of the conference room where Hilter was blown up.
Following this we slowly made our way to the Polish/Russian border. Stopped and bought Russian insurance (22€).
Went through Polish controls and they were concerned we didn't have Russian visas in our passports. However the let us exit the EU.
At the Russian controls we were pulled out of line and asked if had visas, no came the reply and were told to wait, a short time later a lady from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs arrived with all of our paper work we mailed and put visas in our passport. We were then taken to the front of the queue. Quick search of panniers and passport stamped onto customs where we had to import the bikes to Russia temporally. 90 minutes and we were free of controls.
Didn't realise we were 2 hours ahead in Russia. Rode into Kaliningrad passed the Russian traffic police with a speed camera, didn't stop us only because they were busy hassling another person.
Managed to find the hotel in the suburbs of the city quite quickly. Very impressed, clean, cheap (£20 each per night), modern, free wifi.
Had a quick shower and then out to find cash and food. Cash machine served up 3000 roubles about £60.. Got beer from the supermarket 80p can.
Had a pizza delivered to the room which was good and then managed to find the England v Ukraine on telly. Russian commentary.
Bed a midnight 10pm your time.
Monday 10 September 2012
Russia day four
Today was an early start with breakfast at the hotel, pack up the bikes and get on the road. Went through the centre of Poznan and headed north east. Got a bit lost and ended up in the toll motorway to Gdansk, managed to get back on track and head to the NE of the country.
Polish roads are either very good or exceedely bad. Polish drivers are not the same standard as us. (drive it like u stole it springs to mind).
Polish lorry drivers well just incredible
Made it to NE Poland and after 8 hours riding we booked into a motel.
Meal and 4+ beers later things are good. Tomorrow is the entry to Russia
and the wolfsshanse (wolfs lair).
Excited about the day ahead.
Polish roads are either very good or exceedely bad. Polish drivers are not the same standard as us. (drive it like u stole it springs to mind).
Polish lorry drivers well just incredible
Made it to NE Poland and after 8 hours riding we booked into a motel.
Meal and 4+ beers later things are good. Tomorrow is the entry to Russia
and the wolfsshanse (wolfs lair).
Excited about the day ahead.
Sunday 9 September 2012
Russia trip day three
Excellent nights sleep and for the first time since being a boy slept in a bunk bed. I had a lower one and Andy took the lower on the other side. The room was in the old guard building and is now a international youth hostel although we were the youngest on site.
Had breakfast and checked out. The Colditz museum opened at 10am and we booked ourselves on the 1030 tour. It was just two and we were taken on a full guided tour of the castle lasting 2 hours. We saw the remains of various escape attempts even the holes In the ceiling. A fantastic experience and well worth a visit. We then had to get on the road and into Poland. We travelled to Dresden (looks quite good even though the RAF flattened it) and up the country to the Berlin ring road. Took a right and into Poland. We found a brand new toll road and found ourselves on it with no local currency. Anyway managed to change up a few euros into Polish zloti to get us off the toll road.
We made it to Posnan and found a cheap hotel for steak and chips and few cheap beers. A good day.
Had breakfast and checked out. The Colditz museum opened at 10am and we booked ourselves on the 1030 tour. It was just two and we were taken on a full guided tour of the castle lasting 2 hours. We saw the remains of various escape attempts even the holes In the ceiling. A fantastic experience and well worth a visit. We then had to get on the road and into Poland. We travelled to Dresden (looks quite good even though the RAF flattened it) and up the country to the Berlin ring road. Took a right and into Poland. We found a brand new toll road and found ourselves on it with no local currency. Anyway managed to change up a few euros into Polish zloti to get us off the toll road.
We made it to Posnan and found a cheap hotel for steak and chips and few cheap beers. A good day.
Russia trip day two
Wild camp was struck and yes we're discovered by a couple of German dog walkers. One insisted in telling us were a camp site was. Two issues with that, don't speak German and we we done camping.
On the motorway heading east. Stopped for breakfast cheese roll and coffee.
It's was a day of motorway miles until we arrived at junction 64 of the A4.
Just a short drive to Colditz but yes got lost.... Arrived in the town about 4pm. And found the youth hostel. Wow the youth hostel is once side of the castle complex. Third floor room with an excellent view. Quick shower and put the tents out to dry.
Into town for Hungarian soup, venison with Chantelle mushrooms/cranberry sauce and proper German strudel washed down with dark Colditz beer and coffee.
8.30pm kackered, beds made and ready for the castle tour in the morning.
On the motorway heading east. Stopped for breakfast cheese roll and coffee.
It's was a day of motorway miles until we arrived at junction 64 of the A4.
Just a short drive to Colditz but yes got lost.... Arrived in the town about 4pm. And found the youth hostel. Wow the youth hostel is once side of the castle complex. Third floor room with an excellent view. Quick shower and put the tents out to dry.
Into town for Hungarian soup, venison with Chantelle mushrooms/cranberry sauce and proper German strudel washed down with dark Colditz beer and coffee.
8.30pm kackered, beds made and ready for the castle tour in the morning.
Russia trip day one
Day one
Not a good start delays of 50 minutes on the Eurotunnel. Anyway once on the train we were in France in no time. Onto the E40 and headed for Belgium.
Lots of other bikers on the train headed for all sorts of places.
3pm arrival and the job was about getting the miles done. All went well till Antwerpen were we hit rush our traffic and then a slight miscalculation at Eindhoven and managed to see the town centre.
Once we crossed the German border we then had to find somewhere to stay. We exited the motorway and ended up near Wankum. Had McDonald's and with failing light headed for a camp site on the sat nav; which wasn't... Found a field and in a hidden corner put the tents - mine particularly badly.
Our first wild camp of this trip. Not a bad nights sleep considering.
Not a good start delays of 50 minutes on the Eurotunnel. Anyway once on the train we were in France in no time. Onto the E40 and headed for Belgium.
Lots of other bikers on the train headed for all sorts of places.
3pm arrival and the job was about getting the miles done. All went well till Antwerpen were we hit rush our traffic and then a slight miscalculation at Eindhoven and managed to see the town centre.
Once we crossed the German border we then had to find somewhere to stay. We exited the motorway and ended up near Wankum. Had McDonald's and with failing light headed for a camp site on the sat nav; which wasn't... Found a field and in a hidden corner put the tents - mine particularly badly.
Our first wild camp of this trip. Not a bad nights sleep considering.
Thursday 6 September 2012
September Russia Trip
Well tomorrow is a big 9 day European trip across Germany, Poland and into Kaliningrad. All packed and ready for the Channel Tunnel tomorrow morning. I will be blogging.
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