richardmorris Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 You know, I’d start heading south a lot faster! I cycled for 30mins in sleet yesterday and that was quite enough thank you. Marm Toastsmith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Six-cylinder Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 No wonder Mr Toucan decided to hang around our Rayburn and not travel with you! Mr Toucan had an offer to move to Silverstone last week but they only have gas central heating so he declined them! The Moog, Junkman, mat_the_cat and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 That upcycled tanker-cum-bottlebank has an expression of pure existential dread. John F and Junkman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 ...and it also looks a bit like monorail cat. Skizzer, Asimo, John F and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 A LHD Ghia with Ka 'Starfish' knave plates. The acceptable face of Escort ownership? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted December 16, 2018 Share Posted December 16, 2018 Aber rostet es trotzdem wie ein Mofo? Junkman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 I think the arse end is rusting off of them, a bit like Scorpio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Sterling job Alex, I told Mrs Spart about your planned adventure and she was extremely envious. I'm sure you know this but with each couple of days moving South you'll feel a noticeable difference in temperature. Even as close as Fontainebleau, just south of Paris, the temp tonight is forecast to be 3°, an improvement on below freezing, by the weekend is forecast to be 9° at night there. While many of us would like to have a go at what you're doing I don't think we should forget how draining it can be to sleep in a cold tent for days on end, pulling on damp shoes and socks and relying on Maccy D's for a dump without getting frostbite on your bits.You clearly have a strong spirit of adventure! aldo135, Jerzy Woking, The Reverend Bluejeans and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel R25 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Hi,I would not consider your trip during winter... However, I enjoy reading about it. As you are close to Cologne I can offer my support.Bike parts, a washing machine, a warm shower or a bed are available in central Cologne. That's what they told me one should offer to a biker when I checked into Sarajevo's The doctor's house hostel last summer... Since then you will also find me on warm showers.I prefer temperatures over 30 degrees to this cold: I did Corfu-Sarajevo last summer. This picture was taken close to the Tara canyon / Montenegro. Send a PM for my number.RegardsDaniel Rave, doug, Bucketeer and 29 others 32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spartacus Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 That's twice I've read about 'warm showers' on this thread now.I've just googled it and must say, I'm sorely disappointed. mrbenn, aldo135, willswitchengage and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Golden times. The Reverend Bluejeans, DeeJay, Stanky and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel R25 Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 I think warm showers are a great idea And offering to wash the clothes is not due to sympathy with the biker but with oneself - they explained to me in Sarajevo. They do seem to get some smelly folks... which does not surprise me. I had only 4 t-shirts myself.Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 17, 2018 Author Share Posted December 17, 2018 Thanks for the offer Daniel, that's very kind. As I type this I am about 15-20km outside Cologne. I have a friend who lives there who I am going to visit tomorrow. I think/hope he has a bed for me for tomorrow night. We could always meet up for a beer or whatever though if you fancy? I have spent the last hour trying and failing to upload photos but the phone signal in these woods is not great so I'll do it tomorrow when I'm in the city. Carlosfandango, Dave_Q, Dirk Diggler and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted December 17, 2018 Share Posted December 17, 2018 Golden times. FFS! chaseracer, GrumpiusMaximus and Cavcraft 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 18, 2018 Author Share Posted December 18, 2018 The last couple of days I made my way southeast to Cologne, where I arrived this morning.This post will mainly be a photographic account of this latest part of my journey as I'm currently sat by the side of the Rhein with freezing cold pinkies that really don't want to type. oldcars, Jim Bell, Schaefft and 23 others 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 Set fire to that Escort van to keep warm. Lacquer Peel and mercrocker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 That's an impressive pogweasled Audi 80, Alex - well spotted! I like the concrete pineapple too. oldcars 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mally Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 You have missed a nice warm driving job in the open section.But since you are having such a nice time, carry on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 There's a lot of smoke belching out those chimneys for 'clean energy' Germany . Been to the Cathedral yet? Probably actually warmer than outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John F Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 They're cooling towers, that will probably be just steam. Lacquer Peel, egg and The Reverend Bluejeans 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheefag Posted December 18, 2018 Share Posted December 18, 2018 'clean energy' Germany . Momentary Lapse Of Reason, DodgeRover, mercrocker and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 19, 2018 Author Share Posted December 19, 2018 There was a large clump of those stacks belching out steam/smoke along the route to here. I did think they were probably cooling towers releasing water vapour as they seemed to create their own microclimate of rain. Anyway, a few more pictures from yesterday's final leg into Cologne. At one point in the morning a mystery bright yellow orb appeared in the sky. I think that was what people call 'sunshine'. On a side note, I've been impressed so far with Germany's provision for cyclists. It's not quite on a level with Holland obvs but I've still only had to spend maybe ten percent of the time actually cycling on the road. Most of the way was paths to the side of the road or separate cycle routes (as pictured above). They are a lot less smoothly surfaced than their Dutch equivalents but overall I can't complain. Right, spots. I fancied a 'wheeeeeeee' moment down this slide in a deserted play park but unfortunately I sat in the top and didn't move. I think it was a bit narrow for a 6'5" lump. I visited Motorworld also yesterday. It wasn't as good as I was hoping but was a decent distraction for a little while and I have plenty of pics from there which I'll post later. The view of the Rhein from where I was posting yesterday with chilly fingers. I'm going to stay here a couple of days with my friend before heading off. There are a few different directions I can take, I just want to avoid lots of hills/mountains wherever possible. I'm off to visit the cathedral now, and no doubt do a bit of spotting along the way. Mrs6C, DeeJay, egg and 26 others 29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 I've not had an Xmas in Germany for many years. It's much nicer than here, believe it or not. purplebargeken, egg and Schaefft 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Dentressangle Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 I'm going to stay here a couple of days with my friend before heading off. There are a few different directions I can take, I just want to avoid lots of hills/mountains wherever possible. Then the obvious one is following the Rhine upstream, no? Pretty much a straight line south towards Switzerland. I'd be looking to turn off onto the Rhine - Rhone canal at Mulhouse: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhone%E2%80%93Rhine_Canal then follow the Saone / Rhone valley south to the Med. Hills dodged! The Mosel also makes a tempting turn off at Koblenz, taking you towards Nancy where you can pick up the Canal des Vosges: https://www.french-waterways.com/waterways/north-east/canal-vosges/ which also brings you to the Saone / Rhone valley. Handy site here https://www.af3v.org/index.php if you haven't seen it already. Choices, choices... Sloth in a bowl, John F, Mrs6C and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saabnut Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 Pity about the slide, I would have done the same, with the same result! LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sloth in a bowl Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 I'd head for Luxembourg, then Dijon and the Rhone to the med, the quickest way out of central Europe where it can get brutally cold and also from Dijon onward you probably have a lot of traffic free riverside paths to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loserone Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 If you went to Mulhouse, you could do the schlumph collection and the musee du train. Recommended! purplebargeken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skattrd Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 A few years back I worked in one of those inverted "L" shaped buildings behind the middle bridge in the pic of the Rhine.If you like Guinness then head to Barney Vallelys in the old town, possibly the best Guinness in Germany. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucketeer Posted December 19, 2018 Author Share Posted December 19, 2018 A few years back I worked in one of those inverted "L" shaped buildings oldcars, Split_Pin, Cavcraft and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junkman Posted December 19, 2018 Share Posted December 19, 2018 I'd head for Luxembourg... Yeah, cheap petrol! Oh, wait... A few years back I worked in one of those inverted "L" shaped buildings behind the middle bridge in the pic of the Rhine.If you like Guinness then head to Barney Vallelys in the old town, possibly the best Guinness in Germany. Those buildings are supposed to reminiscence the cranes that once stood there. Nothing beats drinking Guinness, which reportedly doesn't travel, in a country that's world famous for its art of brewing. forddeliveryboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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