Europe 2023
Participants...
My wife and myself
Dave and Louise
Bob and Jonathan
My wife and myself
Dave and Louise
Bob and Jonathan
After deciding to plan a trip into Europe, we collectively decided to try the overnight train from Dusseldorf to Verona.
Drive down to Pula for a few nights then ride back over the Alps and up through the Black Forest back to Europoort in The Netherlands then an overnight ferry back to Hull.
We were informed after booking the URLAUBS EXPRESS that our train was diverted to Innsbruck, so a longer day riding than was planned transpired.
The following is a brief record of what we rode...
Drive down to Pula for a few nights then ride back over the Alps and up through the Black Forest back to Europoort in The Netherlands then an overnight ferry back to Hull.
We were informed after booking the URLAUBS EXPRESS that our train was diverted to Innsbruck, so a longer day riding than was planned transpired.
The following is a brief record of what we rode...
Sheffield to Folkstone
Calais to Dusseldorf
The following morning, we rode the (literally) 5 minutes to 'Le Shuttle' and boarded the train to Calais.
Once in Calais, we travelled to Dusseldorf to board the overnight train to Innsbruck. The motorbikes were loaded onto the overnight train then we located our cabins. |
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Pula (Croatia)
San Lorenzo di Sabato (Italy)
Timmelsjoch
Timmelsjoch is a mountain pass just East of the Brenner Pass and crosses the border between Italy and Austria.
Being a mountain pass, it is advisable to check when it is open as it is snow-covered in all but the summer months. We rode it on 7th June and it had only been open 10 days. |
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Timmelsjoch Mountain Motorcycle Museum
Right on the border between Italy and Austria lies the Timmesljoch Mountain Motorcycle Museum.
This is well worth a visit. There are a multitude of old motorcycles from Brough Superiors to Puch mopeds... Triumph to Harley Davidsons... Indians to well, you get the drift.
There are a multitude of obscure motorcycles as well, in addition to the very early pioneers of motorcycle designs and creations. Some I have not even heard of as well.
Oh... and the cafe is brilliant too!
This is well worth a visit. There are a multitude of old motorcycles from Brough Superiors to Puch mopeds... Triumph to Harley Davidsons... Indians to well, you get the drift.
There are a multitude of obscure motorcycles as well, in addition to the very early pioneers of motorcycle designs and creations. Some I have not even heard of as well.
Oh... and the cafe is brilliant too!
Linderhoff Palace
After leaving the Timmelsjoch Motorcycle Museum (and paying the toll to cross the border), we travelled down the German side of the pass to stay in Fussen for 2 nights. Some of our party wanted to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle the next day but as we had already seen that, we decided to visit the Linderhoff Palace.
Linderhoff Palace was where King Ludwig II resided most of the time and was the only castle (out of 3) which he finished in his lifetime. He reigned from 1864 - 1886 and died under suspicious circumstances being found dead in a lake in his estate. All castles are stunning with an emphasis on grandeur and opulence and visiting them is a must if you are in the area (although booking in advance at Schloss Neuschwanstein is advisable). We visited Linderhoff Palace which is quite small but the attention to detail and the gardens are outstanding. At the time of our visit (summer 2023) a guided tour of the house cost only 10 euros. |
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Fussen
Arriving in Fussen, we checked into the Hotel Christine and what a find.
The Michelin Star owner is semi-retired and does not serve evening meals now, only breakfasts but by golly... what a breakfast! It is nothing like a 'greasy spoon' and you don't get bacon, beans and black pudding but you do get local produce with an array of fruit, bread and drinks presented with such delicacy and beauty that it is rare to experience a layout like it. I would recommend it to anyone for a clean, comfortable and enjoyable BnB experience (it is only a 10 minute walk to the town centre). We ate in the evening at 'Steakhaus Füssen & Tapas Bar' just outside the town centre (across from 'Lechfall' viewpoint) on the first night and the steak was very good indeed. On the second evening, we ate at 'Restaurant Il Pescatore' in the town centre. Although it was very busy and we experienced a bit of a wait, they did fit us in without booking and the food again was excellent. |
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Titisee-Neustadt
Upon leaving Fussen, we traversed Lake Constance to reach Titisee-Neustadt.
B500 - Black Forest
The following day, we rode the B500 from Titisee-Neustadt to Hotel Rebstock in Neuweier (near to Baden-Baden).
The road and scenery was stunning throughout and with it being very hot, we needed stops along the way for refreshments (see below).
We ate in the village in the evening as the hotel was preparing to serve evening meals the following week but the hotel and the breakfast the following morning on the patio area was again very good indeed.
The road and scenery was stunning throughout and with it being very hot, we needed stops along the way for refreshments (see below).
We ate in the village in the evening as the hotel was preparing to serve evening meals the following week but the hotel and the breakfast the following morning on the patio area was again very good indeed.