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Well, Algeria isn't going to happen. Reviewing the Government of Canada's recommendation for Algeria it said to avoid all travel to the border with Tunisia so I put Algeria on the back burner. Then the government recommendations changed and a corridor opened up to Tunisia so I thought, "Let's go!" As per the visa requirements, I booked all the hotels for the trip and was ready to apply for the visa when I thought I should check the processing times at the Algerian consulate before sending in my passport. No reply to my message on their answering machine and no reply to my email told me all I needed to know. So, cancelled all the hotel reservations and abandoned the idea of travelling to Algeria for now.
In addition to planning for this trip I was also planning for the trip in January from Cape Town to Uganda as well as the trip next September with a lap of Australia. Last minute preparations included the storage of the motorcycles at home. I wouldn't be riding them until April next year.First up, take Audrey's F650GS for a ride
Day 1 of the trip to Dakar is in the books. Job 1 was to get over the jetlag (I'm working on it) and Job 2 was to get the bike running after being in storage for a year (thanks Willi and Helena for the use of your garage!). After I installed a new GPS and tankbag, the bike started immediately. Only bummer is that the right turn signal button didn’t fix itself while it was parked. Tried disassembling it and spraying liberally with contact cleaner but no joy. Might need to buy a new switch cluster or just do hand signals for right turns. Then I met with my friend Alex Lübbe-Sloan and managed to spend three hours laughing and telling stories over cappuccinos and pastries. (You just knew my first stop would be at a bakery, didn’t you?)The bike has been on the trickle charger since last year
Reset the GPS. Pro tip: Always reset the max. speed field after riding in Germany
First ride, out past Schloss Kronwinkl
The turn signal switch was giving a little trouble last year but quit working altogether now
Meet Alex at a local bakery for fun conversation
Taking the apples harvested from the tree in the front yard to the juicer
Departure from Helena and Willi's house
On Thursday morning I enjoyed the €13.50 buffet breakfast at the hotel, but I might have to rethink this. It seems that hotel breakfasts are not included by default anymore, there is usually a charge. Perhaps I’ll do what I did in New Zealand (where motels often didn’t even have the option of breakfast) and pick up granola and milk powder for an inexpensive start to the day. I stopped off at SW Motech to see if they had a spare screw for my tankbag mount. They did, and there was no charge. At Blackfoot in Calgary (where I bought the tankbag) they indicated the screw wasn’t available from SW Motech so I should go to a fastener store to get one. That’s when I thought I should just drop by their headquarters in Germany. I’m glad that worked out OK. I stuck to smaller country roads until Paderbron where there was heavy traffic, and not much fun riding so took the autobahn for the last 30 kilometres to Bielefeld. Peter und Inge warmly welcomed me and showed me to my room for next few days.Heading north through wine country
Inge was working on Friday, so Peter and I headed off on electric bicycles (Peter had just bought a new one so I could use his old one) for a 54-kilometre round trip to Borgholzhausen for ice cream. That evening we met Inge after work at an archery club where I was able to try the sport. I am happy to say that I didn’t impale anyone. I was rewarded for this success with a BBQ. Saturday was a motorcycle day. The three of us rode out to the PS Speicher museum in Einbeck. Lots of cool motorcycles and cars on display but my favourite was the Megola with its five-cylinder engine inside the front wheel. Since the engine is attached directly to the wheel there is no clutch so starting and stopping are a bit of a challenge. The manufacturer suggested planning trips to avoid stops. We left the museum at about 5:30 and then took smaller roads (including a gravel section!) to Höxter for supper. They asked what I would like to have, German or Italian food? I said, Thai! Of course, that was pretty funny to be in a traditional German town and ask for Thai food. Unbelievably, around the corner was a Thai/Indian restaurant! I swear I didn’t see it beforehand! I’m glad Peter was leading back to Bielefeld after a delicious supper as it’s always a bit of a challenge riding an unfamiliar road in the dark. Sunday it was another eBike ride followed by archery. The three of us rode about 70 kilometres return to Lemgo. On the way out of Bielefeld we stopped off at the cemetery to visit Inge’s mom and Peter’s brother. Also, the graves of the Dr. Oetker family are here since Bielefeld is the home of Dr. Oetker. Lemgo is another lovely town, perhaps most famous for its witch hunting heritage, including the hexenbürgermeisterhaus. Back home, we drove to the archery range where I finally managed to have my entire quiver of arrows hit the target, not one went astray. Naturally I quit then, at the top of my game. Sunday evening was the total lunar eclipse (it started just before the moon rose) so we ordered a “blood moon pizza”. Obviously. Unfortunately, clouds meant that we didn’t actually see the blood moon. Pizza was good though.Peter and I go for an eBike ride
Sweet Katana
Home / Dakar | 2025
Dakar | 2025
September to November will see me ride from Kronwinkl to Dakar, Senegal and then up to London.Well, Algeria isn't going to happen. Reviewing the Government of Canada's recommendation for Algeria it said to avoid all travel to the border with Tunisia so I put Algeria on the back burner. Then the government recommendations changed and a corridor opened up to Tunisia so I thought, "Let's go!" As per the visa requirements, I booked all the hotels for the trip and was ready to apply for the visa when I thought I should check the processing times at the Algerian consulate before sending in my passport. No reply to my message on their answering machine and no reply to my email told me all I needed to know. So, cancelled all the hotel reservations and abandoned the idea of travelling to Algeria for now.
Planned route (not quite, no Algeria)
In addition to planning for this trip I was also planning for the trip in January from Cape Town to Uganda as well as the trip next September with a lap of Australia. Last minute preparations included the storage of the motorcycles at home. I wouldn't be riding them until April next year.
First up, take Audrey's F650GS for a ride
A local bison ranch
Finish up at the Bragg Creek Bakery
Sweet Bun Sunday!
Then took the 1250 for a last ride and ended up at the Bragg Creek Bakery (again)
What a fabulous send off!
OK, bikes put away until next April
Update the First Aid Kit
Goodbye Sweetheart
Chapter 1: Arrival in Germany
Friday, 29 August, 2025Day 1 of the trip to Dakar is in the books. Job 1 was to get over the jetlag (I'm working on it) and Job 2 was to get the bike running after being in storage for a year (thanks Willi and Helena for the use of your garage!). After I installed a new GPS and tankbag, the bike started immediately. Only bummer is that the right turn signal button didn’t fix itself while it was parked. Tried disassembling it and spraying liberally with contact cleaner but no joy. Might need to buy a new switch cluster or just do hand signals for right turns. Then I met with my friend Alex Lübbe-Sloan and managed to spend three hours laughing and telling stories over cappuccinos and pastries. (You just knew my first stop would be at a bakery, didn’t you?)
The bike has been on the trickle charger since last year
Installed the GPS from the R1250GSA and a new tankbag
It looks ready to try to start it
Will the bike start?
Reset the GPS. Pro tip: Always reset the max. speed field after riding in Germany
First ride, out past Schloss Kronwinkl
The turn signal switch was giving a little trouble last year but quit working altogether now
Meet Alex at a local bakery for fun conversation
Saturday, 30 August to Tuesday, 2 September
During my stay at Helena and Willi’s I helped with the apple harvest (99 litres of juice!) and did some work on the bike. At Zierer on Saturday, an hour before closing time, I ordered a new turn signal switch. BMW didn’t do deliveries on Monday, so I was a little surprised when we got a call on Tuesday morning that the switch had arrived. Essentially overnight for a part for an 18 year-old motorcycle is pretty amazing. Installing the new switch was easy and fixed the problem. I also noticed that the horn wasn’t working and traced that to loose wires at the relay. Now the bike is ready for Africa! I had contacted Tom und Andrea (Blue Knights whom we befriended in 2007 when I broke my knee) and arranged to meet them. We met at a bier garten in Freising (where I had my knee surgery) and chatted for a couple of hours. They mentioned that the Blue Knights International convention is in Calgary next year. I hope they decide to come!Taking the apples harvested from the tree in the front yard to the juicer
11 3 litre bags for 99 litres of freshly squeezed apple juice
Ordered the new turn signal switch (Kombischalter heizgriff rechts)
Stopped by the guesthouse where we stayed for 4 months in 2007
Meeting at a bier garten in Freising
Going for a short ride with Tom and Andrea
Next time we meet might be in Calgary in 2026
Wednesday to Sunday, 3-7 September 2025
After visiting Helena’s new workplace, right in Kronwinkl, on Wednesday morning I saddled up and hit the road north on the way to Bielefeld to visit Inge und Peter on 3 September. I’ve always enjoyed riding the German back roads and today was no exception. Until I got to the busy traffic of Ingolstadt where an Audi tried to take my lane anyway. At least I had the opportunity to use my newly functional horn. My hotel in Würzburg was about five kilometres from the old town and that turned out to be a great walk. On the left bank of the River Main, next to a canal lock, I found the Goldene Gans bier garten. For some reason I ordered the XL sausages with sauerkraut. Whoa, that was a lot. Better make a mental note that German portions are more than adequate. Then a walk around the old town after picking up an ice cream at a grocery store (the lineup at the gelato stand was too long) showed Würzburg to be a lovely town. Leaving downtown I crossed back over the Main just as a Viking river cruise boat was going through the locks. I took a time lapse video and then walked home, up the five kilometres through a dark park. That may not have been the most security conscious decision, but it all turned out OK.Departure from Helena and Willi's house
First, a stop at Schloss Kronwinkl
Bye Kronwinkl, see you in 2027
Riding north through the fields of hops
I truly love these German country roads
Time for a break?
Yum!
The architecture changes as I head north
Arrival in Würzburg
Walk down to the Main and find the Goldene Gans bier garten
OK, who ordered the XL sausages?
The old bridge over the Main is pedestrian only now
The old town of Würzburg
Time lapse video of a river cruise boat in the locks
On Thursday morning I enjoyed the €13.50 buffet breakfast at the hotel, but I might have to rethink this. It seems that hotel breakfasts are not included by default anymore, there is usually a charge. Perhaps I’ll do what I did in New Zealand (where motels often didn’t even have the option of breakfast) and pick up granola and milk powder for an inexpensive start to the day. I stopped off at SW Motech to see if they had a spare screw for my tankbag mount. They did, and there was no charge. At Blackfoot in Calgary (where I bought the tankbag) they indicated the screw wasn’t available from SW Motech so I should go to a fastener store to get one. That’s when I thought I should just drop by their headquarters in Germany. I’m glad that worked out OK. I stuck to smaller country roads until Paderbron where there was heavy traffic, and not much fun riding so took the autobahn for the last 30 kilometres to Bielefeld. Peter und Inge warmly welcomed me and showed me to my room for next few days.
Heading north through wine country
Yes, the architecture is changing yet again.
Inge was working on Friday, so Peter and I headed off on electric bicycles (Peter had just bought a new one so I could use his old one) for a 54-kilometre round trip to Borgholzhausen for ice cream. That evening we met Inge after work at an archery club where I was able to try the sport. I am happy to say that I didn’t impale anyone. I was rewarded for this success with a BBQ. Saturday was a motorcycle day. The three of us rode out to the PS Speicher museum in Einbeck. Lots of cool motorcycles and cars on display but my favourite was the Megola with its five-cylinder engine inside the front wheel. Since the engine is attached directly to the wheel there is no clutch so starting and stopping are a bit of a challenge. The manufacturer suggested planning trips to avoid stops. We left the museum at about 5:30 and then took smaller roads (including a gravel section!) to Höxter for supper. They asked what I would like to have, German or Italian food? I said, Thai! Of course, that was pretty funny to be in a traditional German town and ask for Thai food. Unbelievably, around the corner was a Thai/Indian restaurant! I swear I didn’t see it beforehand! I’m glad Peter was leading back to Bielefeld after a delicious supper as it’s always a bit of a challenge riding an unfamiliar road in the dark. Sunday it was another eBike ride followed by archery. The three of us rode about 70 kilometres return to Lemgo. On the way out of Bielefeld we stopped off at the cemetery to visit Inge’s mom and Peter’s brother. Also, the graves of the Dr. Oetker family are here since Bielefeld is the home of Dr. Oetker. Lemgo is another lovely town, perhaps most famous for its witch hunting heritage, including the hexenbürgermeisterhaus. Back home, we drove to the archery range where I finally managed to have my entire quiver of arrows hit the target, not one went astray. Naturally I quit then, at the top of my game. Sunday evening was the total lunar eclipse (it started just before the moon rose) so we ordered a “blood moon pizza”. Obviously. Unfortunately, clouds meant that we didn’t actually see the blood moon. Pizza was good though.
Peter and I go for an eBike ride
To reach the high point of our ride we had to climb this tower
I am not a big fan of heights so quite proud of myself for having made it up
Definitely deserving of an ice cream treat
Passing by a wasserschloss on the way back to Bielefeld
Trying my hand at archery
Saturday the three of us go for a nice motorbike ride to Einbeck
Peter knows all the smallest roads
The parking lot of the PS Speicher museum is already interesting
Well, this is awkward
A most interesting motorcycle, the Megola with the engine part of the front wheel
