Table of contents
- Motorcycle trip from Stuttgart to Stockholm Father, daughter and Indian Chief Vintage on tour
- “That looks impossible!”
- My scream can be heard as far as Bullerby
- Why is Trelleborg already signposted?
- Info and tips
Lohse
17th pictures
Nicolas Becker
1/17
Picture gallery: On two wheels into the school holidays.
Nicolas Becker
2/17
Holidays at long last: After hours in the saddle, sailors’ socks are steaming.
Nicolas Becker
3/17
The long day’s reward: the ice-cold refreshment in Lake Vattern.
Nicolas Becker
4/17
Moose signs? You already know enough.
Nicolas Becker
5/17
Finally switch off: School is over, but your best friend has to stay up to date. “I’m already in Denmark at the Farø Bridge.”
Nicolas Becker
6/17
Truckstop suggests canteen food: delicious Kottbullar on the E 22 before Karlskrona.
Nicolas Becker
7/17
Finally there: Stockholm is reached after six days of driving. On the name day of Queen Silvia, with cannon guns as a greeting!
Nicolas Becker
8/17
And what do we hear when we say goodbye in the ABBA Museum? Thank you for the music.
Nicolas Becker
9/17
Finally recharge your batteries: Get rid of dull textbooks, quench your thirst for knowledge while driving. And also ask yourself: How does gasoline actually get into the blood?
Nicolas Becker
10/17
Finally see more: the imposing coast guard cruiser in the old fortress town of Karlskrona, …
Nicolas Becker
11/17
… maritime flair in the capital Stockholm.
Nicolas Becker
12/17
Any math on board? Sure, we solved the rule of three very quickly on our imposing Indian.
Nicolas Becker
13/17
Practical: When traveling with children, the equipment must be right. Great leather jacket in XS from the Alpinestars Oscar collection, …
Nicolas Becker
14/17
… Cardo radio …
Nicolas Becker
15/17
… and plenty of bits with beats on your smartphone.
Nicolas Becker
16/17
Idyllic: Instant home, here with an unobstructed sea view on the east coast near Kalmar. Silver moon included.
Nicolas Becker
17/17
Picture gallery: On two wheels into the school holidays.
to travel
Motorcycle trip from Stuttgart to Stockholm
Motorcycle trip from Stuttgart to Stockholm
Father, daughter and Indian Chief Vintage on tour
To Stockholm? From Stuttgart? With the motorcycle? With a ten year old? 3,000 kilometers? You are crazy! That’s crazy! Admittedly, our vacation project was also ambitious …
Jorg Lohse
10/13/2016
The beads of sweat are already on my forehead 150 kilometers behind Stuttgart. Stockholm is on a completely different planet right now. First of all, I’m happy when we can make the next four kilometers from Feuerthal to Oberthulba. Hannah also notices that something is getting out of hand: “Is that really the right way, Dad?” For me the question is more whether we are here with the 360 kilogram Indian Chief Vintage are correct. We peek through the windshield onto the washed-out, muddy fairway that is lost in the dark forest. GS, KTM-Crosser, Unimog – all of that would fit here, but definitely not the fringed V2. Turn? Impossible at this point. And the signpost was clear. Oberthulba – that way. So radiate confidence and pull through: “Yes, and over there you’ll be on the Autobahn!”
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Like a heavy-duty barge in a rough sea, we sway across the forest path through the Rhon, from behind we are reminded of deliberation: “Not so fast, Papa!” Of course … “But you have to go through it when you declare the hackneyed saying about the path that is the goal to be the meaningful maxim of this tour. And it works! The forest becomes lighter, soon red roofs shine through the green, and the blue signpost follows.
“That looks impossible!”
But now it’s time to do a few tight meters again. Puff cake. The passenger reports on the on-board radio: “Can we stop?” – “Toilet?” – “No, I have to write something to Rozeen quickly!” That the e-logistics has to be right at all will be with me for the next three weeks: During breaks (“Let’s go to McDonald’s, there’s free WiFi”) or in our accommodations: “Where’s a free socket for a headset? Otherwise I can’t continue listening to my playlist! ”At the same time, important style questions have to be clarified:“ Should it rain tomorrow? I want to go with the leather jacket! “Or:” Can you tell them that these stupid motorcycle pants are cut too wide! That looks impossible! ”In contrast to the landscape, which – the further we go north – more and more into the Indian Summer Dream & Country is changing.
On dead straight avenues we roar through Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein towards “Land’s End” on Fehmarn. The bearded seaman of the “Prins Richard” grins broadly as the little pillion man heaves the heavy lashing strap over the saddle of the US twin. A lot has happened on our third day of driving towards Copenhagen, besides philosophical considerations (“If everyone in the world were to ride a motorcycle, you couldn’t drive through the middle of the traffic lights!”), There are also essential tips from helmet to helmet discussed: “Did you see that Low Fuel is flashing there now !? Can I refuel right away? “
My scream can be heard as far as Bullerby
My co-pilot managed to handle the nozzle despite the obstructive bridge in the filler neck of the Indian Chief Vintage quickly internalized, which also leads to soon releasing the machinist from other activities – the engine is then started with a proud look by the little girl’s hand, and the folding of the side stand is ultimately part of Hannah’s sovereignty. Anyone who has children knows what will happen next: things are taking on a life of their own, they are being dragged in, and parental control is being cut back. Which later, somewhere in the outback of Sweden, will speed up my pulse dramatically again. The tank is full, the lid is screwed on, the engine is started – and the Indian is balanced by the side stand! Arrrg … my scream can probably be heard as far as Bullerby. And what do I hear? A dry “was on purpose, papa!” Thank the motorcycle god that modern side stands no longer snap in when the load is removed!
The fact that my heart rate quickly returns to normal has a lot to do with the calming beat of the 111 cubic inches of our Indian Chief Vintage. Forests, meadows and clouds pass by in the richly chrome-plated panels. The wind rustles in your ears, sunbeams make the endless strip of asphalt glitter and shimmer. The rearview mirror is adjusted so that I always have my daughter in the corner of my eye. Hannah’s gaze also goes into the distance, lost in thought, her lips are moving, she’s probably listening to her favorite song for the umpteenth time. Should I – again – interrupt and ask if everything is still okay? Exactly at this moment she catches my gaze and interprets it exactly right: the thumb goes up, everything is fine, keep going!
We have long left the Swedish west coast with fantastic views of the Kattegat and made the pilgrimage past the no less impressive Lake Vattern further north. Stockholm is suddenly just a stone’s throw away. At the Malaren we pitch our tent and relax for a few days with the rest of the family, before we lie back in the wonderfully crumple leather sofa of the Indian Chief Vintage and align the compass on course south-southwest.
Why is Trelleborg already signposted?
In our minds, dimension and time have completely shifted in the meantime. At the beginning of our journey the kilometers trickled down as tough as honey in steps of ten, they now fly past us in hundreds of sizes. The trip counter of the Indian Chief Vintage races on mercilessly and the east coast passes by: 2,000, 2,400, 2,700 … that’s not possible. We crossed Oland far too quickly, and why is Trelleborg already signposted?
After a short night, the “Nils Holgersson” in Travemunde spits out of her stomach. The rest of the vacation is planned behind me: “Would you be very sad if I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in Braunschweig and you then had to go on alone?” I swallow. Minutes later I feel the tight grip around my stomach and then the helmet on my shoulder – asleep! But no sooner have I rolled out the Indian Chief Vintage than my thumb goes up and Hannah’s eyes shine from the rear-view mirror: “Come on, Dad, let’s go on!” Another 150 kilometers …
Info and tips
Drivers of Scandinavia know: curves are rather rare in the north. But you can enjoy a dreamlike landscape directly from the saddle. Our tip for everyone who wants to travel with children!
Generally: When are the youngsters allowed on board, how long should you be on the road? Standardizing the whole thing in rules of thumb – impossible and not very effective. From a purely legal point of view, children have to reach the footrests on the motorcycle. The legislature does not prescribe much more. Practical experience is therefore all the more important.
In principle, the youngsters should already be thoroughly familiar with motorcycling before such a big tour – whether it’s the two kilometers to school every day or exploring their own region on the weekends. As a driver, you quickly get a feeling for the concentration and attention of the little passenger. When planning the route, always allow for a generous amount of breaks and, if possible, have an alternative (earlier) stage destination in your tank bag, should you feel tired or the weather changes.
Motorcycle: A super sports bike or power-naked bike would even make the rider walk on the gums quickly – what would it look like for little co-pilots? In our case, the Indian has proven itself very well. Silky engine characteristics (hard load changes can wear down the driver and passenger in the long run), an extremely comfortable pillion seat, all-round well encompassed by side pockets, luggage roll and (!) Sissy bar. Children love this type of “cocooning” – and this feeling of security is also transferred to the driver, who can step on the gas with the necessary calm.
Destinations: Here, too, it is best to rely on your own feelings. Of course, an alpine tour would also be a (feasible) highlight. In our case, Scandinavia (here Denmark and Sweden) offered itself as “easy going”. (Motorcycle) driving is much less demanding, but the child gets their money’s worth on board. On tours along the Kattegat and Baltic Sea coasts as well as in the interior of Sweden (as a tip: Småland), picturesque beaches, medieval fortresses, small Astrid Lindgren villages and (bathing) lakes always invite you to spontaneous and refreshing stops. Which is worth gold for the onward journey!
Equipment: There is now a large selection of children’s clothing – be it in the large chain stores (Louis, Polo, Gericke) or at specialist retailers (e.g. from Buse or Held). An all-weather textile combination paired with waterproof gloves and boots is of course ideal for long tours. A recommended set from Held was used on this tour: children’s jacket Jill (129.95 euros), touring trousers Sarai (139.95 euros) and women’s Shiva boots (169.95 euros). Of course, you have gloves twice in your luggage: with airy mesh, the women’s summer model Desert (79.95 euros) or the waterproof Ronjas (59.95 euros). Reference information: www.held.de. Advantage of taller girls: You can also help yourself with small women. A real hit that is well equipped and fits perfectly: the Oscar Shelley leather jacket from the Alpinestars lady collection (459.95 euros). Reference information: www.alpinestars.com. Open helmets with a large visor that cover the entire face are recommended for quick and easy communication on board. On this trip, the Shoei J-Cruise (from 449 euros) impressed with top comfort (seat, ventilation, volume) and equipment (sun visor!). Reference information: www.shoei.com. A Bluetooth headset is essential for two-way communication and listening to music. Like the partner kit from Cardo, here as the Sho-1 model already configured for installation in Shoei helmets (319.95 euros), which is literally child’s play to use. Reference information: www.cardo.com
Accommodation: Children want to find like-minded people quickly and run around. What could be more obvious than checking in at campsites. Especially since camping only really rounds off a motorcycle holiday. Our tips for Denmark and Sweden: Tangloppen Camping in Ishøj near Copenhagen (www.tangloppen.dk); Mariefreds Camping, 30 kilometers west of Stockholm with a wonderful bay and view of Gripsholm Castle (www.mariefredscamping.se) and Kalmar Camping Rafshagsudden, directly on the Baltic Sea (www.kalmarcamping.se).
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