FEHMARN DAYS OF AMERICAN BIKES 2010

(just kidding)
In Burg/ Baltic Isle of Fehmarn 27.- 29. August 2010

This was one event I’d been looking forward to for quite some time, as I had never before spent any quality time on the island of Fehmarn. (Some may argue that I have still not succeeded to do so, but I’ll question that.) The island is located opposite Lolland, a Danish outcrop across the Fehmarn Straight, about 250 plus km from where I am staying.

Well, by any measure this place is not massive, but there is much ado on and off shore. When we cruised across the Bridge…and by the way, I wonder whether the bridge does not make it sort of part of the mainland anyway…but that’s of course beside the point…we were greeted by a vision of hundreds of colourful kites cutting through the air, transporting their precious cargo across the bays. It seems kiters have taken over from the windsurfers of the Eighties.

The previous couple of days were wet and ugly and it was touch and go whether we’d take the bike or pop over in the car, which would have cut the fun-factor by at least a half. Erwin decided it was time to take the bike when he woke to a sunny Saturday morning and the promise of at least a days worth of break in the cloud cover. What a good decision it proved to be, as we were unbelievable lucky with the weather both days.

This meeting was one of the better ones I have been to. What it lacked in numbers it gained in enthusiasm and spirit. There was of course the obligatory parade and parcour, but this time the ride was cut in half by a stop-over and a free feed of Chilli concarne in one hand and a beer substitute in the other…well I call it that because it was non-alcoholic. Many volunteers were at hand to help distribute the brew and direct the flow of hungry punters.

The ride was quiye picturesque and took us along huge wind farms and countryside without much oncoming car traffic. Most of the small towns featured cobblestone streets, so at times it got a little bumpy, but generally the group ride went very smoothly. A lone guy on a red Ducati, sporting an orange vest kept flying past us, only to be seen again and again, marking a corner with a big (I want what he’s having) smile on his face.

Our hotel was in Avendorf, which is, as the crow flies, about 8km from town. When we got there the owner informed us that one of the rooms had unfortunately been water-damaged and was courteous enough to provide us with a holiday flat a short stroll up the road instead. It worked out beautifully, as the boys were all self-proclaimed heavy snorers and we could get away to our own little pad. The whole experience at the ‘Gruener Jaeger’ was pleasant and I can wholeheartedly recommend the place…especially the breakfast buffet. I was most impressed with the variety and quality of their fare and the kindness of their staff.

Once we got ourselves a taxi into town we met Uschi and Rudi, who had booked into the main hotel in town. They had been there for a while and showed us the ropes. The town square had been transformed with a stage and forecourt/dance area and there were plenty of merchandise and food and beer stalls. There were enough chairs and tables and loads of space. Every one was friendly. I did not see one single scuffle all night…the closest it came to it was me telling some weirdo to shove off, because he hovered a little close to my chair. He had a strange dress sense, wearing a Che Guevara scarf around his head…wrong movie, mate!

Harry and his band did all the right songs…his playlist was a mixture of Westernhagen and Torfrock with a little ZZ Tops thrown in for good measure. Super ‘time of our lives’ stuff for a largely middle aged German audience…well, who else should be able to afford the luxury of riding an All-American bike, hm?

The company was simply magic…I certainly got to feel those facial muscles…the beer whet the whistle and the laughs got louder. Like everywhere else in the world: you pay out and get payed out…what a hoot!
Here is one I picked up…Two guys hover over the urinal…one turns to the other and says with an all explaining smirk: ”VB in- Fosters out.”
(just substitute your not so/ preferred beer brand!)

Sadly all good things have got to come to an end and even though I could have easily added a couple more days to this trip, it was not to happen. The return journey had the additional thread of a cloud heavy sky and we decided to make our way along the coast for as long as possible. We were quite lucky and avoided that all too familiar road-side dance to get into our wet weather gear all the way home.

Most of us postponed going home for a little while longer with a quick trip to Hoopte, a popular bike destination by the Elbe river, where we put a local fish restaurant through its paces and recounted the events.

I had a ball and’d do it all again in a flash …once the rain subsides.