Drinks on the deck last night went on longer than some thought prudent, but a small celebration after arriving back in Munich safe and sound was in order. For the first time in several weeks, there was no rush to get up, breakfast being served at the Achat Hotel until 11am - very civilised, far more so than some of our fellow breakfasters, either oblivious or still becoming accustomed to European customs in the dining room. So, some observations gathered over recent weeks: Different parts of Europe are like chalk & cheese, from rural areas that are exclusively mono cultural (and quite happily so), to very diverse city areas (with the price being paid socially, culturally and financially fairly apparent, and very high). Smoking is alive and well, often evidenced by the cigarette butts in abundance. The Alps provides a riding experience in both quality and quantity that is probably not emulated anywhere else in the world. Whereas in NZ an intrepid motor cyclist may cross one or two mountain passes in a day (perhaps the Lindis, Arthurs or Haast), a keen rider may cross 10-12 alpine passes in the same time. This can be repeated day after day (weeks on end) without crossing previous ground. The skill level of riders in the Alps is extraordinary, far more so than most I've seen back in NZ - they've cut their teeth here and it shows. An average Kiwi rider with an open mind and the courage to try can learn a lot, and reasonably quickly. As humbling as it may be, I know of riders with many years of experience, who would describe themselves as "better than average" , whose basket of skills would certainly come up short when confronted with the conditions we experienced (I count myself in this group). Regards the bike - most of the machines we saw were one up, carried very little gear (perhaps enough for one or two days), and were "go fast machines" ridden by leather clad enthusiasts who really looked the part. If you only had a day or two, this is the path to take. If you're a Harley guy with a pillion wanting comfort and decent performance, our Ultra would be hard to beat - certainly more comfort for the co-pilot, and the satisfaction of taking a big American tourer and really putting through its paces. Would I return - in a heart beat. Any rider who wants to test themselves should add this to their bucket list. So, last day in Europe - U bahn underground into the centre of Munich, typical touristy stuff, lunch in a beer garden restaurant, then back to the hotel to pack (an a pre flight nana nap). Now at the airport, departure in a few minutes Don Comments are closed.
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Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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