Germany day 6.
Did something daft last night. Went drinking with a couple of Welsh guys and now I’m suffering for it. I should have known better.🤣
The two British bikes that were parked up were owned by a couple of Welsh brothers (Dai and Dai)? who are doing a dam busters tour of historic places. We chatted way past my bedtime about bikes, touring and life in general.
I awoke in my ‘cell’ to lots of loud angry shouting in German, coming from the hall, and couldn’t help but chuckle at the alarm for rollcall. In fact it was a teacher trying to round up his sleepy students!
Unfortunately the English tour isn’t until 11:30, way too late for me as I wanted to be on the road by noon, so I did the self guided tour and was first into the castle. What a fascinating place. Apart from the obvious war links, it was built around the same time as Henry 8th was doing his castles and palace buildings. It housed officials and princes, before becoming a noted hospital for psychiatric patients. Unfortunately at the end of the 1930s, many anti-nazi Germans, as well as anyone not ‘normal’ was sent here for treatment and basically starved to death. There’s a somber reminder of this as you walk into the castle.
The rest is history and I was a giddy schoolboy. Seeing the places and tunnels and windows and hiding holes that I read about as a kid. The 3rd floor window that two polish officers swung down a home made rope to be later captured, to the 44m tunnel the French hand dug (nicknamed the Metro), and Pat Reid’s attempted escape during a theatre show through an ornate ceiling, that’s still in place.
There’s even a replica glider in the attic (that was built, never used and never found by the guards)! Anyway, I got me a sticker and a certificate that says I escaped from Colditz castle, so I’m happy.
It was past noon when I got on the road and really wanted to makeup time, so after a bit of A roads, I hit the autobahn and whizzed past Liepzig, heading west across the flat plains of central Germany.
After an hour I was getting stupidly bored and found myself going way too fast without realising, so came off and found a more sedate rural route through the forests. Sedate is the wrong word. The roads were empty and open and it was a refreshing wake up.
I got into Melsungen which is slap in the middle of Germany. A sleepy town but busy by European standards. The hotel I’m staying in, the Hotel Sonnenhof recommended the Balkan Restaurant up the hill. The place is heaving but had a space for me, so I am feasting on a Yugoslavian specialty of a shed ton of grilled meat, olives, salad, bread and beer. It’s the sort of place when the owner shakes hands with half the people coming in and his wife cheek kisses the other half. It’s a great family run atmosphere.
The waitress placed a bowl of sauce on the table and warned me that it’s hot.
I really must listen more. Good excuse for ice cream though.
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My video gear:
GoPro Hero 11 – https://amzn.to/41CqbRZ
Insta360 v3 Motorcycle Kit – https://amzn.to/3twe4ZW
My bike and gear:
2023 Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro
SW-Motech engine crash bars (top and bottom)
Molle pouches on top crash bars – https://amzn.to/3TUSmK7
Cinch straps – the most useful little Velcro straps – https://amzn.to/41I6mZl
Lomo Motorcycle waterproof leg bag – https://amzn.to/48mFqRe
Bull-it Icon II Covec Jeans – https://amzn.to/4b4CrPh
CamelPak Podium Insulated Waterbottle – https://amzn.to/493LUVx
Cheap hotel bookings? After checking on TripAdvisor, I find TravelUp have better deals: https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-101065671-15602558
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1 Comment
Brilliant intro Dude, and a great series of videos.