BT XII - Day 4 pics

BT XII - Day 4

Not quite as planned.
Today should have been a gentle introduction to Austria but after breakfast with the lovable Henri and Daggi we set off. We had been assured that the journey along the Bodensee {lake constance) would be fine but they hadn't taken account of the 1hr queue, and extensive filtering, caused by the train having run someone over {another first for barbietours). Some people just have no thought for others
Austria arrived with the rain which must have been going for some time because the rivers were in torrential flood.  In fact there were some rivers where rivers shouldn't be.  In fact there are some rivers where roads should have been,  our roads!
Because of the delays and the rain and the extreme cold,  we cut our route and chopped 45 minutes off ensuring an arrival at our hotel just as they were closing All access to it for the regions classic car rally.   We were also told when we checked in that today had been the wettest day of the year with almost 45cm of rain!!
Dinner was served early so that the staff (and ourselves) could go and watch the cars.
Who says that i don't lay on entertainment.

BT XII - Day 3

A ride in the black forest.
A blessed mercy, after breakfast we were able to dispense with our waterproofs and set off on our first dry day.
The day was spent wandering down the  B500, a route which we hadn't done before and which lived up to expectations with its sweeping curves and excellent surface.   The only thing limiting our enjoyment were the speed limits which John advised me were only advisory.  A view not endorsed by the police officer manning the mobile speed trap.  He urged me through hand signal to calm it down a bit.  I was offended as i was within  (just)  the speed limit,  OK I was overtaking a camper van on the wrong side of the road on a bend,  but really.
With an arrival time agreed we took several long-ish breaks and still managed to arrive at exactly  17.00 hours,  at the same time as the rain.
We are currently alone in our friends house (they obviously decided to go on holiday when they heard we were coming) but have been fed, watered, entertained and generally looked after by their sister Daggi.  We were eventually joined by Sasha and Jelena but will have to wait till breakfast to see the lovable Henri.
Despite our hostesses promises tomorrow will be damp according to the Norwegian weather service.

BT XII - Day 2

An eyeful of Eifel.
During a decent breakfast we watched the mist transform itself into thick low cloud necessitating another day in the waterproofs.
The morning was spent zigzagging up and down and round the valleys and hills of the Eifel region.   Whenever there was a danger of a dry line forming on the road we would head back up a ridge into the low cloud. At one point we crested a ridge to see the huge wind turbines cut off at hub level by the cloud, leaving only the lower sweep of the blades visible.  It looked seriously strange.
Then onto some circumnavigation of The Ring. (no not on the track but round the towns surrounding the track)  It was evident by the foto that when they crash,  they really crash.
The Mosel was the first place that was really busy, so no stops there.
Having completed the majority of the days 'umleitungs' (diversions)  - when the Germans dig up a road they really go for it!  (The final umleitung of the day even had an umleitung,  rendering it impossible to return to the town) We found ourselves having to do several miles on the autobahn, which was scary in the solid rain and the spray.
We stopped at the services for a comfort stop and John lent me 50c for the toilets,  turns out they dont accept  Egyptian money! Thanks John.
While stopped, the rain took the hint and followed suit leaving us to cover the final 40 miles on the first dry roads of the trip and letting me use, previously untroubled parts of my tread.
We arrived at our hotel as wet as we had been at any time so far only this time it was sweat,  at least our gloves had dried out.

BT XII - Day 1

The day commenced with the bad news that i had forgotten to pack some of my hay fever meds, The good news was that looking at the weather this was hardly likely to be an issue.  The ferry docked in what looked like a 2M day  (misty and moist)  The thick mist soon have way to light mist before settling down into a 2D day (distinctly damp) 
We started away from the port on motorway before switching to a tour of Dutch industrial estates and roads that were so narrow that I've seen wider cycle paths  (we were on roads, weren't we?).
All potential stops were thwarted by the Dutch and Germans showing sympathy with the weather and remaining shut resulting in a Barbietours first a stop at a Mcdonalds,  which we left slightly underwater - oops.
The afternoon at least saw some fine,  if a trifle wet, roads and an enjoyable jaunt through the  Eifel region.

BT XII - Day 0

Setting off at midday, we piloted a rural route down to the ferry at Hull.  The day was relatively uneventful except for the car trying to squeeze John into the central reservation.
You could tell the route was a rural one by the grass growing down the middle of the road and the children riding four up on a cow.  Other wildlife included two white doves ??
After a warm days rode we spent the last few (dreary) miles racing the rain clouds.  A race which we mostly won.
Once safely aboard and showered we settled down to our overpriced beers serenaded by the lounge pianist and trying to see the Humber bridge through the rain.

Barbietours XII - Day (-6)

With only a few days to go, the routes have been finalised, hotels booked and the bike fitted with brake pads which we hope will last the distance.  All that remains now is to wash the bike ?  Prepare the equipment and pack.
This years edition will take us on a new ferry route to Rotterdam and from there down through Germany and Austria and returning home via the Czech Republic and Poland with a few more inspections of sites that my father bombed in Germany on our way back along the north coast.

BARBIE TRIVIA

2016 will be the twelfth  Barbietour, since the initial tour in 2003
We will be visiting Poland this year to make a total number of 13 countries that have been have been visited (incl England and Wales)
10 riders have participated (incl 2 Germans)
This years tour will add 3202 European miles to make a total of 25,588 miles covered in mainland Europe.
Add extra for getting lost etc.
The 25,000 mile barrier will be breached on day 13 (13-6-16) – what could possibly go wrong ?.
The equivalent circumference of Earth will also be breached on the same day (European miles only)
12 of those miles were on unpaved roads. !
The total number of Barbietour miles now exceeds the total number of miles of Motorway AND Main roads in the UK.
After Barbie, John has completed ALL Barbie days EXCEPT 2. 
This years trip will add 3202 European miles making it again the longest yet and over the length of the first TWO tours combined.
BT12 is again 14 days riding in Europe.
We have 1 x 2 night stays ie 1 days riding without luggage.
The average daily mileage is 229 which is the slightly above the Barbietours average of 226
I would love to calculate the number of miles excluding roads we have done twice (or more) but life is STILL too short !
We have stayed in 61 different Hotels/ locations and this year will  add 11 new venues. 
We have used 6 different Ferry routes
Only 1 major 'incident' and ALL bikes have been ridden home.
Still only 3 occasions where the group 'lost' a rider. (Ainslie, John and Mac in Paris)
Numerous occasions where the group 'lost' the route.
46 (approximately) Wiener Schnitzels eaten by JB this was NOT added to last year but this year will see the opportunity for him to break his half century.
3 Rabbits have been eaten improperly, with little chance of adding a fourth this year.
(UK miles, hotels etc have not been included in the Barbietour Stats.)
The Statmeister