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LIMES RENANUS 2019

For this year the destination of our motorcycle tour was Northern Europe, the trip was planned also for the search for historical sites of a remote past. Motorcycle formation is made by the two Sirio and Giorgio "twin" V7 Specials, now fifty years old and the less aged and lighter Alfredo Transalp.

Rendez-vous near Brescia to climb the two Stelvio and Rombo passes, with destination Fussen, where the touristic route Romantic Strasse begins. This famous road, generally organized in two lanes flanked by a cycle path, unfolds among pleasant ups and downs, in green open spaces and with beautiful curves; the speed limits allow us to fully enjoy the landscape. Finally, the road crosses many characteristic towns of tourist and historical interest, that are well-kept and hospitable; the road ends on the river Main in Wurzburg. Finally in Mainz, we have the first contact with the Rhine, an huge navigable water way, which, in the past, was the border (limes) between the Roman Empire and Germanic tribes. The riverfront trip goes on up to Koblenz, where a Roman fort existed, guarding the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle rivers. Left the banks of the majestic river we reach Aachen, which is one of the most significant destination of the journey. The city center is characterized with buildings that are truly unique for their architectural structure, grace and charm of her past, linked to Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire. The journey continues towards the Baltic sea and, in the Teutoburg forest; a visit to the museum on the place where the Germanic tribes ambushed the Roman legions of Varus and destroyed them. After riding  a flat area with little fun, from a motorcycle point of view, we reach Lübeck, the ancient capital of the Hanseatic League, which welcomes us with her monumental gate. Although much rebuilt following the Allied bombing of the second war, Lübeck still shows her urban structure, many buildings and view points, which recall and testify her shining past. The three motorcycles advance, now, from the Baltic toward the Atlantic and, after stopping in Groningen, a typical Dutch town rich in canals, bicycles and beautiful youth, the impressive Afsluitdijk dam is finally reached under a consisting rain. The dam, with its 32 kilometers, contains the fresh waters of the Zuiderzee from the salty ones of the Atlantic, lower  about 7 meters. After a visit, always under alternating rain showers, to the characteristic fishing village of Enkhuizen and the more touristic Volendam, where the typical zero kilometer herring is consumed in the late morning, we leave the Netherlands, towards two fascinating Belgian cities, also from their past linked to the Hanseatic League: Antwerp and Ghent. Antwerp, in addition to welcoming us with its beautiful centre, buildings, the Cathedral and classic hanseatic-style houses, is now enriched with multicolored posters and balloons. It's the day of the Gay Pride 2019 and streets, bars and restaurants are frequented by a colorful and posh fauna, ready to give the best in the typical parade. The journey continues along a road bordering the Moselle, characterized by pleasant curves and pleasant landscapes, in the direction of Trier. We arrive, with a little emotion, in front of the majestic Porta Nigra of Augusta Treverorum, an ancient imperial Roman capital, an important bishopric and birthplace of Karl Marx. In the town are still present buildings, as well as the two wonderful medieval churches testifying the importance and the role played by the city in the long period before and after the fall of Rome. Always accompanied with an intense rain, we reach Strasbourg, which, planned as a transit stop, turned out to be a wonderful stop. The Gothic Cathedral, the center characterized by a homogeneous architecture and the network of canals that surround the town, have been fully appreciated, as well as a welcome beautiful sun.

The journey tends towards the end and, upon reaching the Swiss border, a pleasant tradition: the mandatory purchase of the classic vignette to circulate in the Swiss territory. At the conclusion of this brief chronological account, here are some funny comments elaborated along the way.

The perfume of travel.

Very often, at the edge of the roads, far from the cities, genuine and bucolic perfumes of zoological origin have often been happily inhaled.

Quadrupeds

Very often the northern roads are lined with pastures with numerous equine quadrupeds and cattle intent on grazing.

Prosperous animals

Seen many cows with beautiful teets; in the Netherlands also human.

Roads and roads

The roads abroad: wide with large lanes, excellent surfaces, free, with cut grass, well marked with few essential signs, few road works and well organized.

4 seasons

As in just over an hour Vivaldi cheered us with the 4 seasons, so, at the same time, we often sow the alternation of meteorological phenomena of the 4 seasons.

Aging

As the wine acquires flavor with aging, so the V7 Specials gain more and more weight.

Europe

We, vintage riders, like Europe without borders and with the same currency.

Bicycles

In northern Europe, there are many bicycle paths, even if they are not frequented by wooden bicycles or bicycle sidecars.

Scooters

Very few scooters met; on the other hand, many bicycles.

Concurrent failures

The "twins", within a day, recorded two failures (gas cable break and coil malfunction), both resolved also with the removal of the tank.

i miei viaggi
my trips