Routes - Day 2 Part 1 - Kobern-Gondorf to Würzburg

Once I had decided to change the destination hotel for the end of Day 2 it meant the overall route had to change.

The first part from the hotel in Kobern-Gobern to Afschaffenburg and Würzburg hasn't changed. 

The same plan  as https://czechinvader2022.blogspot.com/2021/09/routes-day-2-kobern-gondorf-to.html

This is an all motorway route. With places to visit in Afschaffenburg and Würzburg, getting around quickly between them and the hotel is important.

Routes - Day 2 - Kobern-Gondorf to Königstein in der Oberpfalz

I have an "overall" route for each day  that I use as the basis for splitting the day up into chunks. day was ended up in three pieces to ensure that parts could be planned as "no highway" and others to include highways/motorways.

Day 2 "overall" is only 250 miles and so that could be knocked off in about four hours plus a fuel stop. But I want to get off the motorway and visit something.

I have split Day 2 into two pieces. The first to utilise the motorways to get to places I want to visit, and the second, off-motorway to take in what I hope if some countryside.

For part One I am currently investigating Pompejanum, a replica Roman villa with elaborate mosaics and ancient artworks, and Schloss Johannisburg a 17th-century Renaissance palace in Aschaffenburg. With the stops that should be about 3 hours after setting off from the hotel and it will be lunch time. 

Looking for "biker" style cafes seems to have become more difficult once you get into Bavaria. I posted a note on the "Stromtrooper" V-Strom forum in the Europe section in case someone knows of places but so far no response.

Searching about on Google and Google maps looks equally futile.  

Parking in cities is also a problem.  Usually there is street parking.

I emailed one of the parking garage operators in Würzburg and they replied to say that there are no spaces reserved for motorcycles at all. I have tried the Tourist Board as well. In desperation  I even posted the question on the Bavaria Tripadvisor Forum.

The Tourist Office in Würzburg have come up trumps.  They said that they didn't have a list of places themselves but suggested I try this link - https://www.kilometerfresser.eu/motorradparkplaetze-wuerzburg/ 

See http://invictamoto.blogspot.com/2021/09/kilometerfresser.html for more info on Kilometerfresser.

So after Würzburg and the Castle I might get a chance to visit the old town. The "off-motorway" route here takes me down from the Castle to the Main riverside and the old bridge over the river. There may be time and space to stop for the photo opportunity or a coffee!

The area around Königstein is full of caves and I have added a couple to the route that are near enough to the road so that the bike isn't left unattended for too long and the walk is about ten to fifteen minutes.

Now that I have mastered the changing the odometer to kms from miles, I need to see if I can easily change Fuelly in the same way. I am sure it can't be complicated.

Routes - Day 1 - Eurotunnel to Kobern-Gondorf

Whilst I am working from home and waiting for someone to log a call on the MIS Helpdesk,  I have turned my attention to places to visit on the way across from Calais Eurotunnel to Vernířovice. 

With a longish day from Eurotunnel to the first overnight stop in Kobern-Gondorf, a break other than at the motorway services might be nice.

When my brother, Neill,  plans our trips and those that he goes on every year with his mate Patrick, he includes fuel stops as Patrick's Shadow has a lot lower tank capacity than his BMW. I tend not to do that but maybe once I know what sort of mileage I can expect from Vera's tank, then I can add that into my planning.

Anyway, I digress.  Places to visit/stop on the way across Belgium and western Germany. Where to look? The internet I guess! Or maybe for POI's in MyRouteApp? Success.

I have started to split to overall routes into bite sized chunks, by day and parts of days.  

Day 1 Part 1 is Eurotunnel to the Biker Ranch Eifel near Simmerath.  This will be all on motorway into Germany and then exiting for Simmerath.

Depending on what time I get to France on Eurotunnel, the Biker Ranch should be about lunchtime. Then we reset TomTom with Part Two.

Day 1 Part 2 is a ride through the Eifel Naturpark from the Biker Ranch to Bad Münstereifel.  I chose this as it cuts off the corner that would be the motorway routes. Bad Münstereifel is also the twin town of Ashford in Kent near where I live.

Sadly, in the massive floods or "hochwasser" earlier in July '21 many buildings in the town centre were badly damaged. Hopefully things will have improved by May. 

It's not that far and I was sent the route by a friend in Germany as a "tasting" as he put it. I have driven in this area before in my old Fiat Panda!

According to Google Maps the total trip should take about 5 hours and is about 250 miles. Add on petrol stops and lunch at the Biker ranch that looks more like 6 hours at least.

Day 1 Part 3 takes us from Bad Münstereifel to the hotel in Kobern-Gondorf. Once again this is off motorway.

Waypoint 2 is another biker stop at the Haus Waldfrieden Biker-Treff.  Depending on what is consumed in Bad Münstereifel this looks like another watering hole for both ends.....

That adds another hour and a half and some more decent looking miles under the wheels.

Day 2?  Work in progress.

Change of Hotel for First Night - May 25th

I had an email from a German friend who said that Troisdorf is not the sort of  place to stay overnight and especially not around the station area.  As a result I have changed my booking. I have cancelled B&B Hotel Troisdorf.

Instead  have booked a guesthouse/restaurant a little further south.

• May 25th 2022 - https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/haupt-alte-kellerei-erneuert-2019.en-gb.html

It does mean that the first day's riding it extended to 303 miles (according to Google maps) and thus reduces the riding on Day 2.

I guess we are already on Plan D for the outward journey.

AACZ - Invader - Calais to Vernířovice