Trip to Germany - Help!

[brownetara]

A suggestion for an outward route that would a get you there fairly quick and give a decent mix of times on ferry / bike (assuming you coming from Galway) is Dublin / Holyhead Ferry ride to Hull (about 4 - 5 hrs) ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge / Rotterdam ride to Germany.

.. on what to take with you; a good travel tip when going anywhere is before you go to... lay all your clothes and money that you intend to take on the bed... then take half the clothes and twice the money

Sounds like a plan - actually one of the best pieces of advice i've ever heard for packing! I have done the across england and over to Rotterdam from harwich route in a car a good few years ago and i have to admit, it nearly killed me, i was wrecked but we never really stopped at all, so lots of coffee breaks!

[cbrpaddy]

I would probably take the ferry from Rosslare direct to France. I rode down to Plymouth a month back and returned from Portsmouth and I nearly died of the boredom. At least on the ferry ye can get pissed and laugh at the magician

Practice some two-up riding with your mate first if you haven't carried a pillion before.

Get your E111 card, now called EHIC, online from here if you haven't already got one.... E111 / EHIC European Health Insurance Card

Ring your insurer and make sure you're covered in Europe.

After that it's just a matter of packing depending on whether or not you'll be camping/hotelling/etc. I've attached a packing list document in case it's any use, but you'll have to rename it to .xls instead of .doc.

Enjoy

[Snaphappy]

You should try to get to Kaiserslautern fast but safe
the area between there and home is fantastic and very biker friendly, no shortage of hostels, hotels, camp-sites and places to eat.
Your going to Germany not Guatamala dont make an expedition of it, travel light, all camp-sites/ hostels have drying rooms and if push comes to shove nip into one of the discount shops and buy a few t-shirts for a couple of euros.
what luggage do you have fitted
if you have panniers, divide them down his and hers what you both need goes in the topbox.
Take a basic tool kit, but if you break down with anything more than what you can fix in half an hour call recovery.

do you have a satnav preferably with European Points of Interest ie Fuel Stations, Chemists, Food if not don't worry too much, sign language will get you everything.

as for places to go everywhere between Kaiserslautern and Bonn is paradise you will enjoy it go and explore and take a couple of days then head back

another alternative is you ride to Germany and collect your freind after she has flown to Weeze Niederrhine from Shannon for next to nothing with Ryanair.

[africajim]

I'd cut across to Newcastle personally, get the DFDS sleeper ferry, arrive fresh in the morning and straight over to Germany same day. Price is reasonable.

[brownetara]

Well, we've decided to stick to France as we can go over to Wales/England any time from Dublin. So the plan is

6th/7th Galway - Rosslare - Le Harve (arrive at 16.45 on the 7th)
7th (evening) Le Havre - Reims
8th (morning) Reims - Kaiserslautern (quality time with family )
9th Kaiserslautern (more quality time with family )
10th/11th/12th Take our time back to Le Havre for 8 pm ferry on the 12th
13th Rosslare back to Galway

So any suggestions for good places to see between Kaiserslautern and Le Havre (thinking of going back via the coast) - gonna get to Kaiserslautern as quick as we can and then take our time coming back when we have the 2nd bike.



Also, if any one has any pointers on what i need to do to the bike to change it for 2 up riding with luggage - feel free to comment. And how easy it is to change back when i get there as she'll be on her bike on the way back.

[Snaphappy]

What month???
If its June I may be able to meet up (I'll bring your helmet cover warning triangle) failing that I'll post it

I'll get a few Thursday and post them in the for sale section so dont send money till I've got them

[brownetara]

It will be June yes, whereabouts you live, we can maybe swing by you.

TB

[PanRider]

Snap is out & about.

Look at

from: 48268 greven to: Sassenberg, Germany - Google Maps

I'm A, Snap is B

[brownetara]

Aaah, well, now, ya see, don;t think we'll make it that far in, we've only 5 days all told in France/Germany and 2 of those we have to stay with my buddies brother so we'll probably just do this route - from:Le Havre, France to:Reims, France to:Kaiserslautern, Germany to:Leuven, Belgium tounkirk, France to:Eu, France to:fecamp to:Le Havre, France - Google Maps

[Snaphappy]

Might be able to meet up for C-D
send a rough timeplan