A ciity tour by foot before the real tour starts is always a good choice to get in touch with the country and set the anticipation higher.

It wasn´t a easy start, Jerrys flight got cancelled and the other ones delayed but this things can´t stop a tough rider like him, to complete Murpheys law the train to Munich was cancelled too :´D

We arrived Munich with a splish splash welcoming on the stairs to Isartor, which is one of the last three remaining city gates of the medieval time built in 1337 we went directly to the oldest wheatbeer brewery from 1872 to get a typical bavarian breakfast whitesausage with prezles and of course a wheat beer.

Dressed up with our new stylish red ponchos we took a walk thru the Viktualienmarket where all kinds of goods, foods, spices, flowers and crafts are selled. Passing the impressive Marienplatz with the St. Marys column in the middle of it which is the geographical center of the city.

To dry up a bit we visited the Frauenkirche, Munichs largest church offers space for 20 000 people even tough Munich had only 15 000 inhabitants in the late 15th century, so maybe they already knew about the potential of the city.

The next church Theatiner with it´s italian look which is coming from planning and building by italians, next to it we had a really good coffee at Cafe Tambosi from 1775 and completes the italian feeling.

But we are not in Italy so we head up thru the Hofgarten to the Hofbräuhaus the most famous pub in the world, we had a blast and ended up with a delicious bavarian original.

we got dressed up

And the first Best of Europe tour is on the road again. Yesterday pretty much everybody was coming in, despite of missed or delayed flights. A smooth handover and a warm welcome dinner was a good beginning of the tour. We left the heavy rains of Yesterday behind us and started with a very nice and comfortable temperature on our way in northern direction. After a few detours we were again on the designated track and under a more and more blue sky we followed the nice Bavarian roads through the hop growing area and the romantic roads towards the ancient cities of Dinkelbühl, Eichstadt and finaly to our last destination of tonight in Rothenburg. After a firm dinner we went off for a citywalk with our famous Nightwatcher who took us around within the old citywalls and told very interesting and funny stories about life in the medieval times in old Gemany

All together a very nice beginning of the weekend and of the tour!

Today we left the lovely medieval city Rothenburg on the romantic road thru the Hohenloher area, our first stop the Schöntal monastery in the picturesce Jagst village is founded in 1157, a mix of medieval and barock you can see there. Also the knight with the iron hand Götz von Berlichingen is buried here, who later become famous thru Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

On the hilly smooth twisty roads we stop for a picture at the archbridge Unterregenbach from 1821, the romantic landscape and the villages with the half-timbered houses bringing us to a lunch stop with a wonderful panoramic view over the Neckar valley on top of the vineyards at castle Hornberg. Its the largest and oldest castle in the valley built in the 11. century, Götz von Berlichingen bought it in 1517 and in the museum you can see the original armor and weapons of him. The winery of the castle is still the oldest of the world and the oldest of baden-Württemberg.

After a great lunch we keep on riding along one of the longest rivers in Germany the Neckar, that leads us directly to my hometown Heidelberg! The university city is the embody of romantic and also fascinated, poems, artists and philosophs. At the old bridge we take a look at the impressive castle of the city.

After a refreshing shower we had a fantastic dinner in the oldtown of this gorgeous city.

Last night we drove into the old town and had a very nice dinner in the cosy city of Heidelberg. Strolled around a bit and just had a relaxed evening. Today it was Black Forest day. This well known holiday area is a perfect place to be on a monday when all the weekend guests are home again and we have almost the road for ourselves. A good recipe fie motorcyclists like us on the Best of Europe tour. With only a little bit of rain just before lunch we had a very nice rise down to Ribeauville in France where we will stay two nights

At the rest day everybody can choose what to do, we offer a ride thru the Vosges or you can rest. So Sandy and Chris visited Ribeauville, the others joined me for the ride.

Before we hit the curves we visited the Haute-Koenigsbourg castle from the 12. century it was burned by sweedish troops in the 30 years war, after that it was abonded for 200 years, in the 19. century it was restored inside out.

We pass thru the old mining town, and head up to the Route de Crete an magnificent panoramic road, crossing a couple of passes and enjoying the twisty winding roads up and down the mountains.

What a great riding day we had today! Blue sky, warm and not much traffic on the road! Always a mix which stands for garanteed pleasure!

Over the small mountainroads to the Hexenlochmuhle in the morning was alrady amazing but later In Gossweiler chef de picnic Claudia prepared us a great picnic. After the picnic we spendt some time at the Rhinefalls area ! Super relaxed day!!

From Schaffhausen in Switzerland we ride along the Rhine to Bodensee from the beginning of the biggest lake of Germany which crosses 3 country's, (the other 2 are Switzerland and Austria) we heading up to the mountains.

From the wide and long curves we come to more narrow and snaky roads, and much more riding fun. Very soon the Säntis rises in front of us, from Schwägalp pass (1299m) we come to the northernmost highest peak of Switzerland with 2502 meters. We take the cable car to get the breathtaking view above the alps, like Albert Einstein also did. After a great lunch on this gorgeous scenery the cable car brings us down where we saddle back on our bikes.

We leave Switzerland and pass the 6. Smallest country Liechtenstein, in the back of us is a storm coming and try's to catch us. 
Already in Austria we ride up on Faschinajoch (1486m) and what I saw on the top was that we are already surrounded by a bad weather condition, so time for the rain gear. 

Perfectly equipped the ride thru the alps and our last pass Hochtannberg (1679m) is coming to the end, the Hotel in Elbigenalp is surrounded by the mountains in and let us easily calm down and enjoy the typical austrain dinner. 

From Schaffhausen in Switzerland we ride along the Rhine to Bodensee from the beginning of the biggest lake of Germany which crosses 3 country's, (the other 2 are Switzerland and Austria) we heading up to the mountains.

From the wide and long curves we come to more narrow and snaky roads, and much more riding fun. Very soon the Säntis rises in front of us, from Schwägalp pass (1299m) we come to the northernmost highest peak of Switzerland with 2502 meters. We take the cable car to get the breathtaking view above the alps, like Albert Einstein also did. After a great lunch on this gorgeous scenery the cable car brings us down where we saddle back on our bikes.

We leave Switzerland and pass the 6. Smallest country Liechtenstein, in the back of us is a storm coming and try's to catch us. 
Already in Austria we ride up on Faschinajoch (1486m) and what I saw on the top was that we are already surrounded by a bad weather condition, so time for the rain gear. 

Perfectly equipped the ride thru the alps and our last pass Hochtannberg (1679m) is coming to the end, the Hotel in Elbigenalp is surrounded by the mountains in and let us easily calm down and enjoy the typical austrain dinner. 

And then there is already the kast riding day again!

Woking up this  morning with already a nice temperature and a sunny sky rose  the  expectations for this day. So we took off and followed the beautiful road throughout the Lech valley down to the Linderhof palace. Then on our way to a very nice picnic at the Plansee. And the temperature went up to almost 32 degrees celsius

And  then before you know the end of the tour is there! 
After a bootbeer and handover of the bikes we had a very relaxed farewell dinner outside. 

Thank you dear customers: Chris, Sandy, Jerry, Jody, Carlos, Paolo and Andrè for your great company this week. Hope to see you all on another Edelweiss Bike Travel motorcycle tour