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TT-story 2006, part 2

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Some like it cold:
frozen boots before sunrise ...

Mr, Koarrl, warming his fingers.

Right: Mr. Löws Russian Diesel.

Driving down the Kaiserau north ramp, Andreas W. ("Keksi") wrecked his vehicle. The rear brake on his BMW overheated and broke, so he slammed into a snow wall and demolished the front of the bike completely..

Keksi got back up to the hut somehow, but had to drive home in a rented car.

The short ride, guided by Flint:

After a start according to plan, Mr. Koarrl told Flint, that his Jawa would like a more extensive ride than just to lunch. So at a roundabout he took a different turnoff - only most of the riders followed him! .

Surprisingly, Flint was nearly alone now. With only a handful of drivers left, he decided to change the route, and they drove a nice 170 km detour to the Donnerwirt inn.


Gert from Feldkirch (western Austria) came with Flint

John likes that pic: "Renate and partner Andre were a real joy to be with. I would love to see the picture I took of Renate dressed in all that gear next to Matthias Buttners M.Z at the fuel stop,showing off the very very large coat and the very very very large boots that Andre had given her. It just has to be good for biking when we have such nice girls like Renate and the formidable Thoeny Jung on her 250cc MZ out there mixing it with the men folk ..."

The alarm clock goes off at 06:45. Get out of the sleeping bag, then out of the other one as well. The boots - in the tent again - are not frozen. Only minutes later I leave the tent, completely dressed. The site is humming - silent but concentrated packing and gearing up everywhere.

Slowly we drive our engine down the sledge track, at sunrise. Breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 at the petrol station - unfortunately two tourist busses were on the same time table. Anyway, the motorcycles get their drinks first, and the 8:00 departure is postponed to 8:15.

14 Sidecars and a solo MZ approach Liezen like a roll of thunder - on the old road, not on the highway.

There, at a turnoff, we loose our second half
.

After a pursuit and a preaching of "ALWAYS wait for the guy behind you!" , this works perfect for the rest of the day ...

Driving over the Phyrn (945m) we get to the Upper Austria province, turning right in Windischgarsten, along the snowy Dambachtal up the Hengstpass (1010m), along the Laussa river to our first coffee stop in Unterlaussa.

The Inn "Gasthaus zur alten Schmiede" is filled abruptly. The landlady is surprised but helpful, and offers us coffee and tea, some bread and cake, while our only girl Renate (co-driver of Andre) plays with the landladies' little grandson.

Andre, drifting

Right: British photographers make quality pictures >

I admit freely, that I am not 100% sure where all the pictures were taken - but they should all be from the saturday rides at least ...

Starting the engines again - from 150 to more than 1000 ccm - we drive along to Altenmarkt near St. Gallen, then heading north to Weyer, then Waidhofen an der Ybbs in Lower Austria province.

After filling up, another highlight: driving through the Mendling valley from Hollenstein to Lassing, and back to the Styria province. This road is closed in winter, but may be used on your own risk. Not sanded, a narrow but perfect snow road.



Let me loose a few words on Matthias B. - clearly another candidat for the 2006 hero list!
He came with his 150 ccm Solo MZ, after participating twice with his self welded SR500 sidecar. After a ride of 1000 km from near Köln, he attended the 270 km saturday ride, and - still in good spirit - rode home again the next day. All that on 11,5 hp and old Pneumant tires, and nothing else there was.

After the snow ride, we have a second coffee at the Gasthof Fahrnberger .

Driving another 50 km of snow road through the Innere Palfau, we arrive at the Johnsbachtal and meet Flint and his guys.

We are not in a hurry - due to a sledging competition the track up to our camp site is closed for the afternoon.

The little church near the Donnerwirt, viewed from the Inn


Meanwhile at the hut ...

Ian and the BMW.


Andy from Yorkshire: the saturday ride he made as guest in a sidecar - his 90 ccm Honda Cup got some rest.


Fortunately, we do not need any petrol desperately at that time ...

Darkness has us at our way home over the Kaiserau mountains. Matthias falls down once, with no injuries and only minor repairs necessary.
Back on the camp site, todays stories are told. Jörg repaired Thönys MZ meanwhile - the exhaust is fixed and will do up to Stuttgart - THANK YOU!


Jörg, fettling on Thönys MZ



Later in the evening, we sell patches and stickers. It is getting a little bit exhausting - too many people this year.

And today we get to bed a little earlier.