It's a new adventure! Although the trip is titled 'Austria', really we're going just about everywhere including France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria (for the MotoGP), Italy and Switzerland.
Tim couldn't make it this year after merging his bike with a car last year and Cheesy is also out, he was last seen being a sex slave on a boat on the North Sea again. So it's just Mark and Steve this year making the trip...
We had an 8am start as we had to catch the Chunnel at midday. The trip was good, the M40 and M25 were kind so we made record time arriving in Folkestone so early that they put us on an earlier train. Unfortunately they put us both on different trains, so Steve had to sneak on Marks train!
Now the Chunnel train wasn't what we were expecting, we thought we'd secure the bikes and then sit in a nice plush carriage like Lenny Henry on the Virgin Train ads. No, it's not like that, they don't chain your bike down and you have to sit on the floor next to your bike to make sure it doesn't fall over when they hit the brakes.
We befriended some other bikers and had a chat, then they broke out the hip flask and they nailed that during the 35min journey. Safe.
We left the train in France and desperately needed fuel, there was a sign saying 500m and we could see it ahead. Then Steve forgot and drove past it so we were on fumes looking for a petrol station. We'd be fine do long as we didn't take a wrong turn.
Literally 2 turns later and we were lost. Don't buy a Garmin. Marks computer said he had 0 miles left as we found a BP station unfortunately it was on the other side of the motorway but we made it work, don't ask how.
At the petrol station we noticed standard European health and safety as a woman filled up her car while smoking a cigarette.
Back on the road we made good progress. Now a lot of people give the French shit for bring stinky, surrendering, only eating garlic, wearing onions, being rude, speaking French, being on strike, always miserable, shooting Harold in the eye, and making crap cars, BUT they know how to make roads without potholes every 20 yards.
After a few hours we stopped for fuel and food only to find we were at a gay truck stop. The campest Belgium guy served us and hey only sold baguettes for some reason, although in true Belgium style you could also get chocolate, Leffe and waffles.
After a bacon baguette we were back on the road to Düsseldorf where we had to get another train. As we hit six hours in the saddle, the ride was taking its toll and we tried to do an Aerobic routine while riding along.
We'd just about had enough when we realised that we were in Germany and the speed limit disappeared from Steves satnav. Autobahn it is then! We made good use of the opportunity although we were dismayed when we were overtaken by a car, although it was a Mercedes SLS so we didn't feel too bad.
We made it to Düsseldorf without incident and boarded the train. When driving the bike on the roof was so low that you could barely kneel on the floor without hitting your head. Not to worry, our cabin would be much better.
On dear. Now our cabin is small, think of a wardrobe but cut in half and only one of the doors work. Mark can stretch his arms out and easily touch both ends, and width ways can just use one arm to touch both walls. Tiny!
We do get free slippers, a shot glass of trifle and a bottle of preosecco. There is no bar so we have to summon the waitress who brings cans of beer to our shoebox, that can work. However we found a better drink, on the menu, under the wine section they had Chateax de Strongbow.
Shortly after the train set off, Steve was creaming himself because we went past a church and then gave our neighbours a history lesson on when it was built, who lived there and the priests favourite age of choir boy.
The driver came on the intercom to I've his welcome message and at the end said 'good night and good luck'. Good luck?!?
Hopefully we'll make it through for Day 2.
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