Germany, Munich, 19 May 2017

Posted on Sunday, 21-May-2017 by Chris Desmond

First stop today was the Residenz Musuem, this place is actually a palace and it is filled with the most amazing stuff. Art of every description that the kings collected. It is worth visiting just to see the huge intricate tapestries.

From the Residenz Museum I walked to the Eisbach Wave, not sure what to expect, turned out be be another amazing sight, year round surfing in the heart of Munich. The surfers line up on each side and take turns jumping in alternating from one side to the other.

Watch these videos, looks like fun

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From there I caught a tram to the Beer and Oktoberfest Museum 4 euro entry, interesting place but most of the explanations are in German. At the end there is a short video on the history of beer with sub-titles in English.

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Germany, Munich, 17 – 18 May 2017

Posted on Saturday, 20-May-2017 by Chris Desmond

The ride from Stuttgart was uneventful on the autobahn, fine weather if a bit windy and cold, Munich is at an altitude of 540m.

Marienplatz – the heart of Munich where all the tourists hang out. Public transport in Munich consists of the S Bahn (railway), U Bahn (Subway), Trams and Busses. The easiest way to get around is to buy a one or 3 day pass valid on all forms of transport. I bought a 3 day pass for 16.50 euro, a single ride costs 2.80.

BMW Welt – showcase for BMW products which now include the Mini and Rolls Royce, free to wander around. Tour of the BMW plant 9 euro, some sections are 99% staffed by robots, no photos allowed, the tour lasts 2 hours and you walk 3.5 km stairs included, come prepared, fascinating insight into modern car manufacturing.

BMW Museum – located across the street opposite the BMW Welt building.

Olympiaturm – The Olympic park complex is located across the road from BMW. I only went to the top of the tower, you can also go on guided tours of the whole place.

 

 

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Germany, Stuttgart, 14 – 16 May 2017

Posted on Wednesday, 17-May-2017 by Chris Desmond

I rode from Veghel in the Netherlands to Stuttgart in Germany, the day started off fine but then it rained for an hour and poured down for about 30 min hahaha, not too bad for a 5.5 hour ride.

 

The main reason for visiting Stuttgart was to see the Mercedes Benz and Porsche Museums. I wandered around the city on Monday due to the Museums being closed (take note) and visited them on Tuesday.

Mercedes Benz Museum

Porsche Museum

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Netherlands, Veghel, 7 – 13 May 2017

Posted on Sunday, 14-May-2017 by Chris Desmond

From Hastings I rode to Veghel in the Netherlands to spend some time with friends. Under the English channel in the train and through France and Belgium, easy ride cold but fine weather.

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UK, Hastings, 02 – 06 May 2017

Posted on Sunday, 7-May-2017 by Chris Desmond

Hastings – I left Perth on 1 May 2017 and flew to the UK where my bike is in storage in a friends garage in Hastings. Charged the battery, oil and filter change and then had to take it to a Suzuki dealer for a Recall notice to replace the Stator even though I did not have a problem with it, MOT which is the annual fitness test for motor vehicles in the UK more than 3 years old and have a new set of tyres fitted. I also fixed the Bash plate under the engine by cutting about 10 mm off the back end so now I can use the centre stand.

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Netherlands, Germany, UK, 13 – 28 November 2016

Posted on Monday, 28-November-2016 by Chris Desmond

13 Nov 2016 – The last stage of my journey, arrived back at Dusseldorf, then to Veghel in the Netherlands.

17 Nov 2016 – Train to Hamburg, spent the night at a hotel and early the next morning took the metro to the shipping agent. Completed the paperwork and paid their fees €462 in cash, bike was waiting for me in the warehouse, connected the battery, pushed the start button and it started HURRAY. Grey and drizzling, rode to Customs, had to leave my credit card with the agent, their guarantee that I did not leave without getting the bike cleared through Customs.  Not an easy place to find, went around in circles hahaha, no signs, they had a look at the bike and stamped a form, back to the shipping agent to give them a copy and retrieve my credit card. Left at 1035, cold 9c, had heated vest and gloves turned up to the max, fine weather now, good to be on my bike again, arrived back in Veghel at 1520.

24 Nov 2016 – Rode from Veghel to Hastings, almost on auto-pilot I have done this trip so many times, managed to avoid getting off at my nemesis exit going through Antwerp hahaha. Unusually long queue of cars waiting for the train under the Channel, fine and cold weather good ride.

Hastings – I tried to put my bike on the centre stand and it would not cooperate. After investigating I found that the bash plate had been bent by an impact with the something on the road and was blocking the centre stand so I removed it, have to figure out a solution when I return.

28 Nov 2016 – Flight back to Perth

 

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USA, Blue Ridge Parkway, 6 – 11 November 2016

Posted on Friday, 11-November-2016 by Chris Desmond

Blue Ridge Parkway (755 km) – one of my favourite roads and this is my second visit, the last time was on my bike in September 2010. This time I was driving a car with friends. This is a National Parkway managed by the National Parks Service, there is no entrance fee, the speed limit is 70 kph or less, there are no gas stations or hotels along the Parkway, you have to find a nearby town for gas and accommodation, most of the Visitors Centres and other sights along the way close on 30 October. The best place to start is from Skyline Drive (170 km) which is part of Shenandoah National Park and has an entrance fee of $20 per car.

Day 1 – New York to Winchester, Virginia. The New York marathon was on and we had to drive via White Plains to get around all the road closures and crowds in Manhattan.

Day 2 – Winchester to Charlottesville, Virginia. The road follows the ridge so there are lookouts with views on both sides, looking East and West. We stopped at Skyland for their famous Blackberry ice-cream pie but the restaurant does not open until 1200 so we carried on to Hawksbill mountain, a 1.8km walk uphill with 360 degree views. Next stop the Wayside restaurant at the Meadows where they had the Blackberry ice-cream pie, huge serving enough for three people.

Day 3 – Charlottesville to Fancy Gap, Virginia. First stop Natural Bridge which is off the Parkway and the Monacan Native Village. Then off the Parkway to fill up at Buchanan and back and on to Mabry Mill, beautiful drive all day through colourful forests.

Day 4 – Fancy Gap to Cherokee, North Carolina. First stop Blue Ridge Music Centre but the gate on the entrance road was closed hahaha could not even get near it. Next stop Moses H. Cone Visitors Centre and it was open, basically a house and estate donated to the NP and now used as a Craft Centre. On to Little Switzerland, small village wandered around, a biking road 226A runs through it something to remember for future rides. Next Mt.Mitchell State Park short drive off the Parkway and then walk to the top of  Mt.Mitchell 6,684 feet highest mountain East of the Mississippi freezing cold and windy at the top. Had to backtrack 15km for fuel from just past Asheville fuel gauge on the last bar.  Beautiful scenes at sunset, got dark and then a deer ran into the side of the car after I saw it and braked, bounced off and kept on running did not look hurt, car undamaged as well.

Day 5 – Cherokee to Nags Head, North Carolina. This was a straight boring run on the freeway to Nags Head on the Outer Banks.

Day 6 – Nags Head to Atlantic City, New Jersey. Along the coast and then over the bridge and tunnel complex to get across Chesapeake Bay then to Chincoteague Wildlife Reserve. Next to the Delaware Bay ferry where we found it was full and you have to book in advance so we had to drive all the way around the Bay to get to Atlantic City.

Day 7 – Atlantic City to JFK, New York. Only one stop today at the 9/11 Tear Drop Memorial built by Russia in New Jersey across the Hudson from Manhattan. Then return the hire car, on the plane and back to Dusseldorf.

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USA, New York, 21 – 26 October 2016

Posted on Wednesday, 26-October-2016 by Chris Desmond

I travelled by bus and train to Dusseldorf Airport and then a flight to JFK, New York. The NS International App is very useful for booking bus and train tickets, you don’t need paper tickets, it is also cheaper than buying tickets at the station. You can also book online or by phone, a word of warning, prices are not fixed, the system uses “Demand Pricing” on some routes similar to the Airlines and prices change from one day to the next depending on time and date of departure. Clearing your browser cache and cookies between enquiries can help get you a better price with these systems.

First stop was to see the One World tower which has finally been completed but there is still a lot of construction going on around it. First attempt it was crowded and there was a queue a mile long so I decided to book online for the next day, the only tickets available were Priority tickets (more expensive). But when I arrived at the Tower the following day there was no crowds or queue at all so why were there only Priority tickets available looks like a scam. Probably the best way would be to turn up on the day and if it is crowded, use your phone to check the online booking system and then only book your ticket.

China Town

Walk across Brooklyn Bridge

I discovered Williamsburg in Brooklyn, get off at the Bedford Avenue Station on the L line and walk towards the river.

NYC Walkabout

 

Posted in Netherlands, USA | 3 Comments

Netherlands, Veghel, 15 – 21 October 2016

Posted on Friday, 21-October-2016 by Chris Desmond

Upto this point in time I was expecting my bike to arrive in Hamburg mid October and had booked my flights accordingly. From Shiraz to Dusseldorf, visit friends in the Netherlands and then a train to Hamburg to pick up my bike. BUT while waiting at Shiraz airport for my flight I got an email from the shipping agent that my bike would only be available for pickup at Hamburg in mid November which means I had a month to kill. After some research into flights to various countries (I had to get out of the EU as I am only allowed 3 months in the Schengen area) and a few quick messages I booked a return flight to New York.

I now had a week of taking it easy with friends in Veghel and doing nothing after months of non-stop travel.

 

Posted in Iran, Netherlands | 2 Comments

Iran, Shiraz, 11 – 14 October 2016

Posted on Friday, 14-October-2016 by Chris Desmond

The day I planned to travel from Isfahan to Shiraz turned out to be a religious public holiday (Muharram) and everything was shut for a couple of days, no bus services either. After investigating various possibilities including flying I decided to take a taxi for the 500km journey, cost 5 million rial  (USD$140) and visit Persepolis and some other sites along the way. This did not work out because all the tourist sites were closed as well, you were given the day off to stay at home and pray dummy hahaha. Though I did manage to visit one site where the sole guardian let us in after he received a donation. I picked up a bug (flu) and lived on a diet of tablets for the next few days.

The taxi driver turned out to be a woman (Mariam) and she brought her 3 children along Sargala 16, Milad 15 and Ali 10. We communicated using Google translate on my phone and it turned out to be an entertaining journey which included a picnic at lunchtime.

First stop Pasargadae which was closed, next Nagshe Rostam also closed, next Persepolis closed but we did manage to sneak in through a back gate and get a bit closer, we weren’t the only ones getting turned away, lots of locals were disappointed as well, next Nagshe Rajab where we were allowed in unofficially….

Shiraz – population 1.7 million, most people stop here to visit Persepolis and the surrounding ancient sites. I spent one day in bed listening to hammer drills in the building next door and the next two wandering around the city not feeling the best.

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