My September 2012 road trip through Europe

[slodave]

I posted awhile back that I was going to go to Europe for 10 days and asked for ideas. I received a number of good suggestions, but had a starting point planned out in Frankfurt for a dinner date that canceled on me at the last minute. Before I found this out, I planned the rest of the trip. One night in the Frankfurt area and then on to Stuttgart for the Porsche museum. Great place and once near Stuttgart you can't get lost! Just follow any Porsche and it's almost guaranteed to lead you to Porscheplatz.


The Typ 64.



Notice the XL wheelbase? A 4 seat concept.

It happened that there was a factory "suit" tour at the same time we were there, so in the beginning, we were able to tag along and listen to the guide. She opened a few doors and I was able to sneak in and get a few pix. She was very kind in holding the door open a few seconds longer for me.

The #1 in the background was hung upside down to help make the point that with the right amount of down force and speed, that car could drive upside down.





Wha?? A Harley? Hmm.. (yes, I know why)

Another rare treat, was to see the elevator doors open and this specimen wheeled out.

Con't...

[slodave]

Stopped by the dealer and visited the VIP lounge. Nice little Junior tractor. Oil spots were on the floor under the tranny.


On to Heidelberg...

[slodave]

I had not been to Heidelberg for years, so we spent two nights, for some photo ops and touring.






A view of the "Old Bridge".

I really wanted to take this for a spin.

Seems that the castle is good for model shoots.

Any guesses as to what came out of the two square areas??

An interesting stairwell.

This was the gunpowder storage area for the castle. It went "boom!".

After a lot of walking, what better way to end the day.

Con't...

[slodave]

A night shot of the Old Bridge.

The Heidelberg castle at night.


From Heidelberg it was on to Bonn for a night. Mostly for dinner with my mother's best friend, her granddaughter and her best friend. On the way to Bonn, a stop on the Rhine was required, where I took a lot of pix, even had a couple of pix from the bar later in the night, but seems I had a little too much to drink and did not copy them to my laptop and formatted the card the next day on the way to...

The Nürburgring!











After driving the Nürburgring, it was time for a 4.5 hour drive into Belgium to meet with Stijn in his hometown of Ieper. We arrived in time to go to the Menin Gate and watch the "Last Post". A bit of a somber time. It's a memorial to British WWI soldiers that were never recovered and buried. The Last Post started in 1928 and short of three years during WWII, it has occurred every evening at 20h.

[slodave]

As night fell on Ieper, it was time to get our drink on.

After a few drinks, it was picture time of Stijn and myself.

Next morning, it was time to wander around Ieper for a bit, while Stijn got things together at his place for a Sunday lunch BBQ.








We arrived at Stijn's place a little early and I thought I'd help prepare lunch.

Stijn thought it better that I just pet the chicken instead.

[slodave]

After lunch, it was time to head to Gent with Sijn, my cousin, G and his girlfriend.
First it was time to chase Stijn down the Belgian highway.

G's 911 is sweet! Thank you so much for letting me drive it. A rare treat!





After saying goodbye to G and his GF, it was time to head back to Ieper for one more night.

After saying goodbye to Stijn, it was a long journey via Holland to get back to Bremen, in Northern Germany, my home away from home.

I really wanted to take the picturesque Holland Windmill. How hard can it be?? Almost impossible! This one was the best and captured from a moving car.

I found it interesting how a passenger would sit side-saddle on the back of bikes and not seem to be worried about crashing.

This was the only other windmill I found not surrounded my a modern city! Took 2 hours of searching. Found in someone's backyard.

[slodave]

Back in Bremen, it was time for a day off, laundry, wander around the city again and find new spots to photograph.





Hello Roland! Good to see your still standing around.

The Bremen town musician's looking good as well.






After resting, it was time for a final 5 hour round trip drive to visit my mother's hometown again. I had not been since the early 90's....

[mossguy]

Great trip and wonderful pix, Dave! Thanks for sharing.

[slodave]

On the way. Can't rally take the Autobahn to get there.

Entering..



The clock tower.

Another home away from home. My grandparents hotel. The bay window was courtesy a tank in WWII. Blew a hole in that spot.

The town has been around since the late 1400's, but is dying these days. Sad.

Up the chairlift to ride the Sommerrodelbahn. Last time I was a teen and nearly ended up in the hospital after flipping the "sled" in a corner.

Getting ready to head down.



On the way back to Bremen, I was able to do this:

243kph in the pic. Right after, I hit 245kph or 152.2mph. I had to slow down or I would have maxed it to the speed limiter of 250 on that BMW. Good times!

[911-32]

Cool trip !

Europe, despite being a financial basketcase, still does so many things well and is soooo good for holidays.

[slodave]

Thanks! My cousin and I had fun. We drove around 3000km's (1864 miles). I feel a little guilty that I had him bring his Z4 down from Bremen for most of the trip, since it's petrol. The last two few days were in a 330d. Much cheaper, but not as "sporty" in my mind. I really wanted the Z4 for the 'Ring only. This trip was a bit different from normal trips to Europe for me. I'd love to something like it again, longer, but just use a cheaper car.

[imcarthur]

Thanks for the travelogue & the great pictures, Dave.

Ian

[trekkor]

Makes me want to go on a trip.

Thanks for the posts!


KT

[GH85Carrera]

That trip make me jealous. It is on my bucket list for sure.

Great pictures and thanks for posting!

[95avblm3]

Slodave:

Your pics are fantastic! What kind of camera are you shooting with? Thanks again for contributing to my Stuttgart thread... I am a step closer in getting my time off approved (pain, I know but a necessary evil).

Really starting to get excited now!

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

That trip make me jealous. It is on my bucket list for sure.

Great pictures and thanks for posting!

My thoughts exactly.

[bivenator]

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.

[Don Plumley]

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

[vash]

what a trip!!!

i want to ship my 911 over there for a road trip..i just need to pawn my kidney..or my wife's.

soon, my friends. soon

[kaisen]

Dave, you're a fantastic photographer!

That would be the trip of a lifetime, to me