The Pancaketour with MC Hoogeveen.
By Motormeisje on October 2nd, 2006 at 20:39

At the beginning of the year, Roel had volunteered to lead the members of the FMC along this tour. The weatherforcast is not looking too good, but he has to go. And so we leave on sundaymorning just before 8 o'clock into the direction of the gatheringpoint behind the FEC. First we fuel up in Leeuwarden.

Who are coming along?
At 08.30 we are standing there with 7 bikes and the same amount of people. We drive by a detour into a southern direction. Near Heerenveen, we leave the highway, just to check if there are any members on the second gatheringpoint, on the parking of a fast-food-restaurant. Here we find only one bike and 2 people. So we drive up to the highway again with 8 bikes, into the direction of Hoogeveen, to the clubhouse of the bikerclub there. Just passed Meppel, my counter passes the 45.000 km-mark. During the past week, I've mentioned in the bikerforum, what was awaiting me this sunday. Some members have asked me if they can join the group. On arrival I see Rudyhadee and his brother Henks standing in front of the club-building. Shortly after that JanBMW arrives as well. First I greet the men, then we go inside to get registred and a cup of coffee. When we come out again, 3 more bikes with FMC-members just arrive. They join in. With 14 bikes and 15 people we leave for the tour.

Exiting...
During our first nicotine-break JanBMW shows me the oil-spill right behind his flywheel of his BMW R 69 from 1957 (see picture). He had no intention to drive the bike anymore, but the temptation was too big. This winter the bike should get an overhaul. Who knows, Jan will find some aspects that he has not mentioned in the restauration of the BMW's R50 and R60/5. If so, there will be an update on his website. But today he has a go at it, to drive this tour with us. Weatherwise is not a problem, we have almost the sun shining all day and the temperature is nice as well. The bike is keeping real well, the whole tour. It smokes quite a bit, but that was known already from earlier forum-tours. It already had the surname: "chippy".

Germany.
We drive along lovely scenery and soon we drive into Germany. As soon as we have passed the border we see "Ja-Knikkers" ( that is the part above the ground of a pump that pumps crude oil) and they are at work as well. Unfortunatly there is a lot of "strassenschaden" (damage to the road). Because of the damage and holes, we have to pay attention to the surface and have little time to see or enjoy the scenery. Economy-measures demand their toll here as well. But still we enjoy the tour. Eventually we end up in the province of Drenthe again. Immediatly the quality of the roads becomes better, although some clinkerroads could use it to be redone as well. Then we find a restaurant for a snack and a drink. Just before Hoogeveen we get a drizzle, but soon we drive out of the shower again. Then there is the finish, the pancake, the reason why we drive this tour, saying goodbye and the homeward journey.

Fuelling up first.
In Rogat, Roel and I fuel up first. We usually do that after a tour in Hoogeveen. Last year I had to go on reserve right underneath the aquaduct of Grou. So I'd rather fill it up again, saves me for surprises. Here the group devides. We are left behind with only the three of us. Leaving Meppel I almost make a mistake. In the nice curve towards the highway, I open the throttle too far and have to push the bike down, to stay on the ramp. For the first time after the slide on the racing-track of Lelystad last year, I have the pluck-button underneath my footpeg in the ground again. But I end up real nice. Near Heerenveen we drive into the direction of Drachten and Paul continues on his own. Today I drove 414 km. We can look back on a succesfull day, despite the weatherforcast.

Betty Smit.
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