This was a hard one to get going. The original plan was to go to Norway and enjoy the fjords and the mountains. Unfortunately Nikolai got the chicken pox when I came home from work, so that was out of the question. Then a month later, my next time home, he was supposed to go to the Faroe Islands with his mom, and I had therefore planned a trip to the Austrian Alps by myself. Fate turned out that they didn't go, so I could plan on a little trip with Nikolai to somewhere not to far away. Based on the weather forecasts I chose Northern Germany and Harz. On a sunday morning we left home and blasted down to the ferry across Fehmarn Belt. Landing in Germany we immediately turned off the main route and went through Holsteinische Schweiz. Weather wasn't to good, so I didn't shoot so many pic's. Stopped for lunch here. We got past Hamburg in shit weather (therefore no pic's) and rode over Lüneburger Heide, looked like a beautiful area through the rain... The goal of the day was Heide Park just north of the town Soltau.
Heide Park is a giant theme park for kids. Nikolai was devastated that he couldn't go to see his grand-parents on the Faroe Islands, so I thought this trip had to be in his favour - now you're warned... We checked in at Hotel Port Royal, right next to the park. It was a Pirate theme hotel, very well done, a fantasy for kids. Nikolai loved it. Nedless to say, it costed half an arm, but that's what it's like when kids are involved. Parents are willing to pay a huge rip off as long as their kids ar having fun. Never the less we had a good time there, this is dinner the first evening. We spent a very nice day in the theme park - I will not bother you with to many pic's.
Next morning we continued south through the Wesergebirge. South of Hildesheim we turned east, and headed towards Harz. Reaching Bad Lauterberg, we checked in at the biker hotel Pension Roseneck. After dropping the luggage, it was time for a beer in the cozy garden. Next morning the ride went through the beautiful Harz landscape towards Pullman City. Pullman City is a western town, all right for a few hours entertainment for the kid. After lunch here, and some shooting it was time to move on. On the way back home on nice roads. Passing lovely hamlets, and on through these landscapes. Back home at the hotel, the evening was spent exploring the old city center of Bad Lauterberg, before we went in here for dinner. Fish for Nikolai and roe deer for me. Then it was back home to a good night's sleep.
Next days goal was the town Wernigerode, where an airplane museum is located. En route to Wernigerode, before we reached the museum. Here a MiG-21 SPS A Lockheed F-104 "Starfighter" After this visit, it was back home to the hotel. Nikolai wanted to move on, so the next day we packed our bags and headed north to the mountain Brocken. Brocken is known as the playground for the devil and his witches. The views from up here was excellent. Then it was time for lunch here. Starting out with a local soup, followed by trout. And a nap afterwards. We then continued north. We checked in here, and went to the bar for something to eat.
Next morning we went out for the second last leg of the journey. The landscape had changed the further north we rode. Me, during a break where Nikolai was playing around with the camera. We went through beautiful villages, Riding into a small town, we stopped at this square for lunch. We got to the Elbe river and reached a ferry crossing. The little man is taking a 5 min. nap waiting on the ferry. Crossing the Elbe river. We continued on the minor roads and thus found ourselves in nice landscapes. When we got to Lübeck, it was time to call it a day. We found this wonderful cottage hotel with a very friendly owner. He was very nice towards Nikolai, so that was maximum score by me. After getting unpacked, we sat down in the garden area for a beer. Nikolai didn't really want anything, but the owner brought him a chocolate-milk anyway, on the house. It gave a good feeling to my old heart. Next time we're passing through Lübeck we'll stay overnight here. After a good breakfast next morning, we had a nice ride through farm-land, untill we reached the Baltic. From here it was just an hours ride up through the peninsula of Fehmarn before we reached the ferry to Denmark. A quick blast up the motorway, and we were home after another succesfull and very nice trip. Hope you enjoyed.
