At least it's dry at the moment to load the bike. Will it be by the time I finish this cup of tea? This dreadful spring weather continues, and Gales are forecast for my North Sea crossing from Harwich to Rotterdam. I have extra straps to lash Elsa to the deck, and tablets to control my poor stomach. I expect to go to bed hungry tomorrow night on the boat. It beats the alternative! If the ferry sails I will disembark at breakfast time at the Hook of Holland near Rotterdam, then head East into the Dutch road system and then the autobahn's of North Germany. I am scheduled to spend the weekend in Bielefeld with my friend Andreas. The guy I told you about who rode his bicycle around the Baltic in 2010.
Today's plan is to get everything on to Elsa and then back her into the garage, ready for lift off sometime tomorrow. With rain all day forecast, I might as well start out mid afternoon after a good meal. Probably my only one before Bielefeld. Sea sickness is an opportunity. I need to lose weight. My leathers are tight again.
The main points of my later trip from Sweden to Finland are now agreed with Aki. We have a race track day in the West of Finland, some chill out time at his weekend place near the Russian border, and also a side trip over to Talin Estonia as foot passengers on the Baltic ferry. All that is virtually a month away though. For now I just need to focus on getting the journey to Bielefeld done, then on Monday start the run up to Jonkoping Sweden to meet the guys and girls of VMCK, ready to go to Lilletraffen on the island of Gotland.
Satnav Jane is charged and ready, loaded with routes to do her job. The blue tooth on my helmet is also charged ready to receive her posh and bossy instructions. I have maps for when she has one of her senior moments. boB is out of sorts having been in hibernation too long. Notice his new name. boB is Bob backwards! He had a breakdown. He thinks he should have been an Ipad. No sign of Vatta for months. I'm not even sure he is coming on this trip. Black Dog stalked us last year. I'm hoping he is also missing this time.
Friends ask if I am excited. It may be excitement, but more likely it is pre trip nerves. Travelling alone by motorcycle through the motorways of Northern Europe is no small thing. But then again it is what I do. Time to get cracking.
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