SOOOOO....we made it to Austria. After a great farewell ,from our friend's in Belgium, it was off to Germany. So much to tell.....winding roads, friendly people, all the way to the holy mecca of racing; Nürbürgring!

We stayed in the greatest little guest house just down the road from the race track. Haus Veronika!!!! Karl, (also the Stihl chainsaw dealer), and his wife Hanna, welcomed us and the "Torquemada" like we were family. Fabulous place....had dinner at a Gasthaus in Nürburg, the Cafe' Paddock. If you go, you'll know the place as soon as you enter the town. The racing mural is a dead giveaway. Didn't work up the nerve to try out the track, but we did make a stop at Bikeworld. DROOL!!! Huge dealer in Nürburg. They tried to make us welcome with my limited German and their limited English, but it worked out.

The 'Torquemada' loved the highway. You can keep the sucker for touring but, you have got to love this hussy for the 'twisties'! She rode out great and made us feel at home in the mountains.

Yes, I know! Where are the pics? Well this cafe' wouldn't let us down load from our camera so we'll have to wait until we get to a friend's house in France to put up some pics.

We got nailed by some weather in southern Germany. Nothing heavy, but we found out the good and the bad regarding our choice of FROGG TOGGS for our rain gear. Jackets, OK. Pants ..NO WAY. Maybe if your legs are only 20 inches or so. Otherwise..... Actually, this has been a terriffic shakedown for choosing RTW gear. We are definitely finding out what works and what doesn't. Soft panniers suck. Period. On,off,on,off,on,off.....what a pain. A tank bag of Goretex. A definite must have. We'll add a lot more on gear, from novice bike travelers like us, as we go along.

Now, about that Cop thing. So we get into the Alps, head through the most fantastic country. You know what we mean? Really start getting into the ride. We stop at the first "REAL" Tourist Info building we see. Nice place for a rest and to visit, right? Wrong! Here comes a cop with a van full of computer equipment and a belly full of importance. "Ver are your PAPERS?" You have NO toll sticker!" Now 'fellers, there must be 50 signs around in 20 different languages, and not one of thoses suckers says ANYTHING in English about a toll sticker. Oh well. SIXTY-FIVE Euros later ( 5 for the sticker and 60 for the hell of it) and we are back on the road. Now I'm not generally too difficult about the law but this one was bullshit! I mean, guys ! Setting up a ticket trap in the Tourist Info parking lot? That not only stinks, it ain't even fair. Our rental company didn't clue us in either, and i guess it really isn't their problem, but.... Anyway, that's 60 Euros that somebody ain't gonna' git in someplace as spent money....hell the guy acted like he was on commission! (At least he didn't have to smile)...So off to Italy through the Alps. We'll backtrack when we post pics in France. Hi to all our friend's. Love to the danged dawgs! (That was from Karen)

Adios for Now, Bill & Karen

15 July 06