The Eifel, the Mosel and the Ring

[image: Posted Image]
The moral of my story about my triumphant return to the Eifel Forrest is never leave your rain suit behind.  Our story begins in the Dutch town of Echt.  That is funny in itself because echt is Dutch for “really”.  I arrived and was shown to my new ride at MotoPort Echt.
[image: Posted Image]
The man to see there is Peter.  He was very friendly and helpful and got me going in no time at all.  I liked the looks of the CBR600f and before I knew it, it was time to start off.
[image: Posted Image]
The weather had improved, and I was hot in my leathers.  At the last second, I decided not to take my tank bag because of the shape of this bike’s tank.  Inside the tank bag was my rain suit and my rain gloves.  Rene arrived and we split.  Needless to say, 20 minutes later, it was pouring down and the temperature had dropped by at least 20 degrees.  All through Belgium and Luxembourg, I was wet, really wet and very cold.  I couldn’t complain much though because a wet ride here is better than a dry commute to work any day. I was well wet be the rain slowly stopped and I could laugh at myself for bringing my Dutch bought rainsuit back to Holland, not taking it and needing it.  I managed a small grin here, I mean really, who could complain?:
[image: Posted Image]
I got to the campground where the extended family had already made a perfect place to relax.  We had a spaghetti dinner and lotsa beer. Here is out home base in Wallendorf Germany.
[image: Posted Image]
The next morning our plan was to head out into the Eifel and look for squiggles on the map.  That wasn't too hard because the map is ALL squiggles.  I knew it was going to be a good day when I left slider plastic for the first time in Europe on the Germany-Luxembourg border very early on.  The border is a strange place for a hairpin, but I wasn't complaining.
[image: Posted Image]
We went up, down, left, right for hours.  
[image: Posted Image]
I then realized one of the best qualities of this area:  All roads are good and you never have to stop.  I spent well over an hour at a time either tear-assing open sweepers or bombing hairpins without putting a foot down.
[image: Posted Image]
Zero traffic lights and on the rare occasion we came to a town, the only control was a roundabout.  To say there are great roads is just silly.  Most of the time the roads are alot like 28 between Franklin and Deals Gap.  And the view.  Jiminy Christmas, the views were so nice.  A post card in 360 degrees out of my visor.
[image: Posted Image]

We ended day one and back to the tents and the beer.  Not bad huh?  Day 2 was dedicated to the area near the Mosel river.  It was now Saturday and I began to see more and more bikes.  All in full leathers and all looking as happy as I felt.  Saw many BMW GSs and a ton of V-Stroms.  Oddly enough, there were alot of KTM RC8s as well.  We got to the Mosel River valley and stopped for a pee.  You may want to avoid Mosel wine with a vintage of 2011, because we both had no where else to pee but near the grapes.  And again, the view was just silly.
[image: Posted Image]
We found this totally alpine road that got you down the valley in no time and we felt the need to do it 3 times.  It was like Deals Gap turned sideways 25 degrees.  If you look in the middle of this photo, you can see the first hairpin going up.  Well, on my third trip up, I noticed a bunch of guys had stopped there on their sportbikes, so I figured I would come through hot and give them a show.  In my excitement, I lost track of what gear I was in and I was in way too low a gear.  I decided to get through the corner anyway, to please my audience.  The too low a gear combined with my boot and peg on the ground cause a violent near-high-side that threw my feet off the pegs and made me wobble.  I had blown my chance at stardom.  Those guys are prolly still telling their friends about the idiot they saw at the Mosel.
[image: Posted Image]
We got back safe and repeated the good food, beer and family time.
[image: Posted Image]
The gopro clips just had to be examined though.
[image: Posted Image]

Day 3 was the Nurburgring day.  I suited up, complete with Bob de Bouwer backpack compliment of my nephew Joost.
[image: Posted Image]
Since I was on my way to a racetrack, my beautiful and talented wife was my official brolly girl.  This was just as good as the trip to the ring.  My very own brolly girl-at last!
[image: Posted Image]
thanks, Pien!
[image: Posted Image]
The road leading to the Nurburgring is almost as good as the ring itself.  I stopped for a pee and was greeted by a bathroom complete with helmet-holder. Pretty cool, I say:
[image: Posted Image]
[image: Posted Image]
Really good time getting there and after a counting down the kilometers, there it was.  I wasn't even in the parking lot and I was intimidated.
[image: Posted Image]
We didn't really know where to go or what to do, but we found ourselves at the parking area.
[image: Posted Image]
We talked with some guys who had just come off the track and they told us how crazy it was.  Rene insisted on providing me with my very own "Ring-Card"  that was good for entrance to the Green Hell.  I was getting a bit nervous as I went through the toll booth and used my card to open the gate.  I was about to ask Rene what was next and he took off like a rocket on his ZX10, passing a Porsche GT3 on the straight.  I always say "when in doubt, give it gas", so I nailed it and went through a few corners.  I was being passed by supercars who carry an alarming amount of corner entry speed and it really spooked me for a moment.  Then it sank in where I was and what I was doing and I let out a disturbing primal scream in my helmet.  The course is cray, where every corner is blind and most are very fast and it isn't uncommon to change a few hundred meters in height between the start and the end of each corner.  That is the single aspect of this place that photos and video do not show: the massive elevation changes.  I sorta go into a groove in between groups of Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Masaratis, and accomplished one of my goals: to leave some of my knee sliders at the Nurburgring.  I accomplished this, but I am no 'Ring slayer".  That is the most humbling peice of tarmac anywhere.  The sheer anarchy and speed of change was mind blowing.  I loved it.
[image: Posted Image]
We came back just as the track was closed due to a crash.  WE met an American serviceman stationed in Germany who spends his weekends here and we both agreed that this set up would never, ever, be allowed in the USA.  AS I left, I saw the car I am glad I did not meet on the course.
[image: Posted Image]
We got home and everyone smiled and told Rene and myself that we were giggling like children and we both had a little boy who did something wrong look about us. We went back out for some celebration supplies:
[image: Posted Image]
The next day, I was on my own, bike-wise because Rene had to get back, so I toured around and took it easy.
[image: Posted Image]
[image: Posted Image]
Fun, I tell you.  To say I am fortunate is such and understatement.  I have to be one of the luckiest guys in the word.  Before we all left......we agreed to do it again next year.

I will add another report on the bike in the right forum and I reserve the right to add photos and stories if and as I remember them.  I hope I could convey to you-all how amazing this really was.




PS:  I am 43...........still funny:
[image: Posted Image]

Thou, mister Decoppe, sucketh mightily. I detesteth thee verily.

Keep posting.   :fing02:

Great report TTC, makes me wanna visit those fine shores and do it on 2 wheels like you. That CBR isn't available here is it, looks sorta like a 1200 front end set-up.

Timmy,
Thanks for the great report.
This just reminds me of how much I love Europe.


P.S.
I'm not too far bahaind ya... And Yep.  That's still funny.

Nice pics, looks like you had a lot of fun. :fing02:

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 03 August 2011 - 08:39 AM, said:

We got to the Mosel River valley and stopped for a pee.  You may want to avoid Mosel wine with a vintage of 2011, because we both had no where else to pee but near the grapes.  And again, the view was just silly. I can recommend the 2008 vintage when some finnish and dutch flavour was added :biggrin:
[image: Posted Image]

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 03 August 2011 - 08:39 AM, said:

That is the single aspect of this place that photos and video do not show: the massive elevation changes.
:+1:

:cheerleader:

. :fing02: :fing02:    Looks like fun. Can't wait to get over there myself.

Wow! What a riding experience. That's a fantastic looking 'test bike' for you to get to ride.
That Gaillardo is a pretty sweet looking ride, too.

Riding through Europe is definitely one of my goals. Thanks for sharing.

I  am a card carrying member.
[image: Posted Image]

I liked part 1 of your report.. Can't wait for part 2.........

Thanks, Timmy.  Great report.
I've been to Europe a couple of times, but never to those areas.  And never on a bike--unless you count a scooter I rented for a day to check out the tank battle fields of WWII near Riccione with a buddy who was a tank commander in the military.  No knee-dragging was involved.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 03 August 2011 - 08:39 AM, said:

PS:  I am 43...........still funny:
[image: Posted Image]

You said "...fahrt" Posted Image   (Bad news, I'm 48 and still find that funny too.  Heck, even "eingang" is a little funny...)

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 03 August 2011 - 08:39 AM, said:

thanks, Pien!
[image: Posted Image]



The fact we never managed to hook up, ride, drink beer and see your ugly face,

I can live with that.


But that I didnot get to meet your lovely wife again...................   :pissed:





Nah... :biggrin:

Glad you had a great time with your family and got to do your thing   :fing02:

[image: View Post]Dutchy, on 03 August 2011 - 01:47 PM, said:

The fact we never managed to hook up, ride, drink beer and see your ugly face,

I can live with that.


I'm not gone yet......and I have plans to go to Utrecht, so my ugly face may need some drinks....................

Awesome report.  You can tell us all about it at the Catskills Ride!

Great part 1!!  The ausfahrt sign made me think about when I was in Austria & Slovenia when I was in high school - still makes me laugh too.

Now we'll see if the TSA lets him back into the US on the way home.....

Edit - just went back through all the pics - this road, and the entire picture,  is just amazing!!!
[image: Posted Image]

It really is a beautiful area even in a car... can't wait to get there on the bike.

PS: I thought I was the only one to find the Ausfahrt signs a giggle... glad to see that I'm not the only one :biggrin: .

Cheers,

Michael.

I almost frogot the half eaten food pic.  Mine went fast, so Dutchy's lunch will have to do.
[image: Posted Image]  
[image: Posted Image]

Yeah, proof Timmy is in NL.....  where else can you buy hot snackfood from a wall?   :laughing6-hehe:





[image: Posted Image]



(yo Timmy, got home and literary 5 seconds later the torrential rain started that was forecasted all day...)
We never got a shot of the Guinness.....

thats a nice belt I have on there.  where does a guy get a belt like that?

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 06 August 2011 - 11:31 AM, said:

thats a nice belt I have on there.  where does a guy get a belt like that?


A place I plan to be next year................

Just got back from the neighbor who deals in exotic bikes. This year there were 2 yamaha factory racers from 71 and 72, a kreidler racer and a la weds sf750. He is going out now to see an mv agusta across town. His man cave makes sebs area look like a pig sty. Everything was not close to perfect, each bike had zero scratches, smudges or dirt of any kind anywhere. Even the safety wire was perfect.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 08 August 2011 - 04:44 AM, said:

His man cave makes sebs area look like a pig sty.
That's not really saying too much, is it? Pics or it doesn't exist...

Wow... what an adventure. Really enjoyed the read and the pics. Thanks for sharing.   :fing02:

At the airport, sad and alone........

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 09 August 2011 - 05:30 AM, said:

At the airport, sad and alone........


There are
bars
a massage parlor
working girls (look for east european looking types with a small handbag)
a branch of the Hermitage
a micky dee
a cheese shop
duty free

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 09 August 2011 - 05:30 AM, said:

At the airport, sad and alone........



Miss the flight


























and stay!!

Do the clogs come with toe sliders?

[image: View Post]YoshiHNS, on 10 August 2011 - 07:05 PM, said:

Do the clogs come with toe sliders?
They ARE toe sliders.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 03 August 2011 - 08:39 AM, said:

I will add another report on the bike in the right forum

review here:

http://www.vfrdiscus...978#entry794978

oh.....one other thing.....................

THATS RIGHT!
[image: Posted Image]

Ha, some proper riding shoes :fing02:

SEBSPEED, on 08 August 2011 - 05:18 AM, said: timmythecop, on 08 August 2011 - 04:44 AM, said: His man cave makes sebs area look like a pig sty. That's not really saying too much, is it? Pics or it doesn't exist... I didnt take any photos because he has a LOT of valuable stuff in there and I didnt want to presume.  He speaks a dialect and I needed a special translator.  BUT...I did find this on the interwebs.  He built all these bikes and he is the one shown riding the bikes.  His name is Joop Berghorst.  Most of the at-home photos were taken steps away from where I was staying in NL.  The room at 31 seconds is his garage, where we had coffee and smiles.

Alright....this may be stretching the bounds of shamelessly bumping one's own topic, but I just saw that the local newspaper wrote an item about me meeting the guy with all the cool old bikes.  I cannot read it or translate it because it is in a local dialect "Heerdens".  All I can make out is when it says Timmy The Cop.  It was read to me though and was very nice.

http://www.harmuuttd...7fkdsA.facebook

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 12 August 2011 - 03:29 PM, said:

Alright....this may be stretching the bounds of shamelessly bumping one's own topic, but I just saw that the local newspaper wrote an item about me meeting the guy with all the cool old bikes.  I cannot read it or translate it because it is in a local dialect "Heerdens".  All I can make out is when it says Timmy The Cop.  It was read to me though and was very nice.

http://www.harmuuttd...7fkdsA.facebook

I tried reading it. Not quite sure about my interpretations. Something about Timmy the Cop is a racemonster who was seen riding the N�rnburgring, naked.

Yeah, and that you were screaming in your helmet for fear when you went through the bumpy carousel on the Nordschleife.

V4 Rosso, on 12 August 2011 - 04:29 PM, said: Yeah, and that you were screaming in your helmet for fear when you went through the bumpy carousel on the Nordschleife. all true, all true. and since I dint bump it this time, here is another bad movie:

Dig that soundtrack

Harm must have misunderstood your accent, he thinks you ride a CBR in DC as well   :laughing6-hehe:

Awesome!     I'm so jealous.    

I hope the weather is nice when I'm there, I plan to try to attack the ring the first weekend in October.

[image: View Post]WERA910, on 14 August 2011 - 07:41 AM, said:

Awesome!     I'm so jealous.    

I hope the weather is nice when I'm there, I plan to try to attack the ring the first weekend in October.
I had October weather when I was there: Overcast and about 60.  I had on long johns and a fleece liner under my suit.  Remember that from wherever you come from, the temps fall dramatically when you go up the mountains.  Pm me if you have any questions about the place.  I had a tone of them (and some are still un-answered)

Will there be more video?

yes.  this is just a first attempt.  Unfortunately I had many gopro problems, so footage is limited.  Either the batteries would die (couldn't find my rechargeables) or I would hit the wrong button or I would leave the SD card in my tent or..............

In one case I hit the wrong button and I now have 637 like this photos to wade through.
[image: Posted Image]

Thanks for the link. I look forward to reading more.

Not a shameless bump, I just wanted to show you how cool my mother in law is.  I mentioned that I like flat black and that I like some of the clogs I've seen her paint before and asked her is she could do a set for me.  I asked her to just do whatever she wanted on them. Here is the result, with absolutely no input from me:
[image: Posted Image]
[image: Posted Image]
[image: Posted Image]
[image: Posted Image]

Niet voor mietjes !!!!

Cool clogs! :fing02:

Clever Clogs.......     :biggrin:

Those clogs are the best vacation souvenirs I've ever seen.

Bitte ein bit.

Bitte ein bit.
[/quote]


Looks like you had a great time I sure miss the Mosel Area here I am in '83 at Trier's 2,000 Birthday fest


porta nigra, trier 2000 birthday party 1983ish

I liked the Bitte Ein Bit salutation!,  I liked the beer so much when I moved back in '88, I had "Herr BitBurger" tatooed on my shoulder :beer:

I would love to go back & ride again!

Gary

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 14 August 2011 - 06:54 PM, said:

Will there be more video?
I know this video isnt very exciting, or even funny for that matter.  But for the sake of seeing some of the scenery, here it is, and the end should get a very slight chuckle.
http://vimeo.com/27917152

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 19 August 2011 - 11:09 PM, said:

...the end should get a very slight chuckle.

Don't sell yourself short, I actually went with a semi-moderate to medium chuckle.   :fing02:

Weeks later, and I'm still jealous.  You did something right over there, that's for sure.

Please.....Pulease tell me you got some vid footage on the Ring??? :computer-noworky:

[image: View Post]KG4LHO, on 01 September 2011 - 09:55 PM, said:

Please.....Pulease tell me you got some vid footage on the Ring??? :computer-noworky:
there is a total ban on filming at the ring, although guys in cars break that rule a lot.  The penalty if caught is a lifetime ban, and I am banned from enough places, so I didn't push the issue.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 02 September 2011 - 03:42 AM, said:

[image: View Post]KG4LHO, on 01 September 2011 - 09:55 PM, said:

Please.....Pulease tell me you got some vid footage on the Ring??? :computer-noworky:
there is a total ban on filming at the ring, although guys in cars break that rule a lot.  The penalty if caught is a lifetime ban, and I am banned from enough places, so I didn't push the issue.



You told them you were a cop, right?  Not seeing the problem here....  

And...if you knew this before, couldn't the "spooks' at teh CIA got you some spy camera so we could enjoy your ring footage?!?!   :pissed:




:goofy:

[image: View Post]KG4LHO, on 03 September 2011 - 09:49 PM, said:

so we could enjoy your ring footage?!?!   :pissed:

The one thing I really wish I had on tape was when I was passed by an Audi twin turbo V-10 station wagon with a half an inch between us.

timmythecop, on 03 September 2011 - 10:04 PM, said: KG4LHO, on 03 September 2011 - 09:49 PM, said: so we could enjoy your ring footage?!?!   The one thing I really wish I had on tape was when I was passed by an Audi twin turbo V-10 station wagon with a half an inch between us. might have been this guy.................

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 02 September 2011 - 03:42 AM, said:

[image: View Post]KG4LHO, on 01 September 2011 - 09:55 PM, said:

Please.....Pulease tell me you got some vid footage on the Ring??? :computer-noworky:
there is a total ban on filming at the ring, although guys in cars break that rule a lot.  The penalty if caught is a lifetime ban, and I am banned from enough places, so I didn't push the issue.

This is not necessarily true, as the 'Ring will gladly rent you a GoPro camera with mounts at the entrance to the 'Ring. They have to know that people will use them for their trip around the circuit. I don't remember how much it is to rent, but it's not that much. Now you might get busted if caught using your own devices, but there are plenty of places to mount a camera on a sport bike if you're clever.

I remember a sign at the entrance to the nordschleife, next to the ticket office, that said that filming is not allowed. Still there are plenty of videos on youtube.

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 10 August 2011 - 09:46 AM, said:

oh.....one other thing.....................

THATS RIGHT!

Sweet Report, Timmy.  I don't know how I missed it before now. I wanna go with you next year
[image: Posted Image]

Remember my friend I told youall about with the classic racers?  He made page 14 of the Jan 12 Motorcyclist magazine.  He is Joop Berghorst and this is the bike they featured:
[image: Posted Image]

This endeth the

"is a Corbin better than Sargent?"

topics here on VFRD   :tour:

I shouldnt have re-read this.  Now I have been passing bike rental web sites that ARE NOT on the way home.

Cool trip Timmy :fing02:

Some places are werry familiar, as V4Rosso alredy mention.
[image: Posted Image]
[image: Posted Image]

So, yes the 2008 wine that is made after 17 June 2008 should be something extra :laugh:

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 09 December 2011 - 02:14 AM, said:

I shouldnt have re-read this.  Now I have been passing bike rental web sites that ARE NOT on the way home.

If you didn't, I would have missed your decorated toe sliders. :fing02:

I said earlier in this thread that I didnt take photos of Joop's bikes because I didnt want the whole interwebs knowing where all the high priced goodies were being stored.  Well, this bike was recently sold for 35,000 euros and it was just one of a large garage full.

Next time when you're off to do another lap of The Ring give these guys a visit. They have a nice collection of antique motorcycles on the showroom floor, itś almost like a museum. youtube channel

Hey Timmy, one thing I wounder (even not conserns the trip specific), hows a -11 CBR600F compare to a VFR800 to ride? You miss the low end power of the VFR on the 600?

[image: View Post]keny, on 28 December 2011 - 03:27 PM, said:

Hey Timmy, one thing I wounder (even not conserns the trip specific), hows a -11 CBR600F compare to a VFR800 to ride? You miss the low end power of the VFR on the 600?

http://www.vfrdiscus...978#entry794978

[image: View Post]timmythecop, on 28 December 2011 - 05:38 PM, said:

[image: View Post]keny, on 28 December 2011 - 03:27 PM, said:

Hey Timmy, one thing I wounder (even not conserns the trip specific), hows a -11 CBR600F compare to a VFR800 to ride? You miss the low end power of the VFR on the 600?

http://www.vfrdiscus...978#entry794978
Thanks Timmy, :fing02:   I did miss that topic for some reason.....
Edited by keny, 29 December 2011 - 07:09 AM.