So, there's been a big thread with lots of stuff mentioned. I learnt about skiing, E series for BMWs and all sorts of things, there were a few posts pointing at the Elefant itself also. My story: Had to work in Dusseldorf on Weds, parked at Heathrow (business parking) on Tuesday and then returned on Weds evening and met Simon at the Channel Tunnel, crossed to Calais and stayed in a hotel on Weds night. Thursday, Simon and I passed from Calais to Randersacker (Germany), about 710km and 9 hours (we stopped to eat, fuel etc several times). The weather was a bit rough but really mainly cold. Friday we left the hotel at 9AM but were told that the weather was crap. There was quite a bit of snow on the way, no problem for me (BMW K100 RT fairing on the sidecar) but Simon (BMW K75S) couldn't see a thing because of slush on his visor. Still, didn't bother me. We got numerous texts from Andy about another foot of snow overnight but based on previous experience I expected tropical weather so wasn't bothered by anything he'd told us. However... I thought it might be a good idea to get a shovel 'just in case'. Simon and I left the A3 at Regensburg to find a snow shovel and stopped at an Aldi- complete waste of time. When we went to leave the supermarket Simon disappeared. I went back to look for him and he was stationary... his clutch cable had broken; that'll explain why his clutch was going out of adjustment. Fifty or so minutes of fucking around and we found a BMW dealer with a suitable cable in stock- note to Lozzo, pretty good for a 25 year old bike... even if it was 'quote' "THIRTY FUCKING QUID". Changed the cable and on the way again... after I'd found a snow shovel. Interesting place, Regensburg- went past a brothel "Amour Hotel" (at least I think it looked like a knocking shop by the illustrations on the window), a few porn shops (one called something like pornucopia) and most amusingly a shop called "Mister Lady"... fuck knows what that was about. All of this excitement and I managed to forget where Simon was with his bike... Of course, took the occassion to send Andy a text saying we were bailing out because we'd had enough, Andy said he had a cable replacement kit. Next fuel station (an hour later) I checked the response from Andy- fuck all. I had been panicking with the risk that Andy would let the tent pitching space go. Stupidly I sent a text saying "Bite you bastard, 40miles away". Shouldn't had bothered he hadn't saved any space anyway. So... arrived at the site at about 4pm with an hour or so of sunlight. Fucking around with getting all the luggage down and buying our entrance passes it was about 4:45 before we got to the site and started pitching our tents. Got them up just about before it got dark. Friday evening- drank beer, talked shite. Froze bollocks off trying to sleep; except Simon who was quite keen to point out the army surplus sleeping bag is 'the dogs bollocks'. Saturday - dug out tent, dug out sidecar, started sidecar, drank beer, looked at bikes, talked shite. Froze even more when my airbed died. Sunday... left site at 10:30AM ish and with a bit of fucking around got to the top of the road by 11AM. Changed wheel on the outfit as Simon dug his bike out of its grave (I had a TwinEnduro knobbly I used for the snow on the rear- bloody good, no problems on the snow at all). And then 220 miles and four hours later we end up at Gasthaus zum Lowen. I'm now looking forwards to returning to Dusseldorf tomorrow morning for a meeting on Tuesday whilst others are on there way back. Only downside is that the weather forecast for Dusseldorf on Tuesday is 'heavy snow'. Still, could be worse. And... Platy's just turned up so we're all in the bar.
