Flashback

Germany, at last.

The sign said Dresden... 91 km.  But then again, it was only 263 to Berlin. 

I'd planned a short loop, an over nighter into the Republic of Slovakia.  That was several days ago! 

True, I had limited clothing and money, but so far neither had been an issue, bank machines were easy to access and everywhere. 

The autobahn I was riding dried out from its earlier rains, but it sure didn't look positive ahead.  I didn't have a rain suit, in fact I didn't even pack one when I left Canada.  No idea why, after all I was going to be "over there" four and a half months had to be rain sometime... 

After my first fuel stop in Germany, I decided to stick to the plan and head to Dresden.

The closer I got, the more I thought to myself (and you have lots of time to think traveling by bike) 'what am I thinking?' 

I have no plan!

The idea was to cross the northern Hungarian border into the south Slovak and then ride west till I got tired.  The next day I would be back in Jaszkiser.  A simple overnight shakedown cruise.  This was already my fourth day, so truthfully, I was just riding.  Isn't that the best way to do it?  Go where the road takes you.



I headed north to Berlin. 

After all, this is why you ride Europe unescorted, I was finally here on a 600cc motorcycle, just like I'd dreamed about it 35 years ago. Only thing different was the two additional cylinders, and my ride was a bright red Yamaha instead of a metallic green BMW. 




The weather threatened rain all day and indeed we rode through several short squalls.  Never enough to soak me, but just enough to dampen my gear but certainly not my enthusiasm, which had been reaching one high after another, since I'd left HU days ago.

Reaching the outskirts of this world famous city I was in heavy traffic and low on fuel on a Friday evening. 

With no plan, I saw a large white building with a very large HOTEL sign visible from the autobahn, and peeled off at the very next exit.  Urban Berlin was even more congested than the highway! 

Of course, the traffic was very orderly and I had no problem navigating to a gas stop where I had a Snickers while contemplating my road map.  English was no problem, and a helpful attendant pointed me back the way I came so I could find the hotel I had seen from the highway.

Backtracking through city streets, brought me to the appropriately named Hotel Berlin, where I was able to get a room for the night.  It was small, but as I had been finding throughout my trip, quite adequate. 

True, there were no paintings of large breasted Slovakian princess' this time around above my bed, just a simple TV, a tiny desk and a shoebox bathroom.  Sparse but neat. 

Waitress, chef and owner.

Once the bike was tucked away and locked up, I walked to a local restaurant the desk clerk had suggested.  It was quite a hike I must say, well over 5km but I did manage to find the street name scribbled on my little tourist map and sure enough there stood the family owned eatery.  A very good meal washed down by a healthy and ice cold German Lager, had me satisfied and glad to be walking!


I'd get a chance to work off some of my meal. 

The evening was pleasant if cool and I couldn't help but glow with the knowledge that I was here, riding my bike, in this famous city.  This famous country.

I had the desk arrange a very early wake-up call so I could get into the heart of the city before the traffic began.  I wanted to be able to visit several locales on my little paper map, and then head back south before noon the following day, Saturday.

The SMART car they should have imported to N.A.

to be continued.