Fair bikeweather.

In the beginning of March I popped the question on the Dutch bikerforum if there were any members who love classic bikes, that would be interested to join me for a visit to the Indian Motorcycle museum of Tony Leenes in Lemmer. Eventually there were three forum-members left, that would love to join me...

Saturday
On thursdayevening JanBMW calls on me on MSN. He tells me that he can't make it. His front wheel is still in the alignment-rack. He wanted to align the wheel, but some of the spoke nipples are damaged. So the front wheel won't be ready before the weekend, because he also has to put the tyre back on. Jan won't be joining us, pity. Then there are only Henks and Rudyhadee left. From the first forum-meeting, the "fish-scoring", I know both gentlemen, so it's going to be nice to catch up again. When I arrive at the museum, they are already there. Rudy has arrived on "Wolfje" and Henk has been driving his from South Africa imported bilious green Peugeot 404 with the steering on the right side, where we usually have our glove-compartment. We talk a while and then we take the guided tour through the museum. Tony tell his fascinating stories about his special projects and about the models present. And then there is coffee.

Roam around a bit more...
After we've had our coffee, we turn back into the museum-space. We make some pictures of the shown objects and we discover novelties over and over. The Indians of Tony and Henny are brotherly parked at the entrance. When we think we have seen most of it, we go outside to talk for a while with Tony and Henny. We ask Henny if she is willing to make a picture of us with Tony and she's prepared to do so. Then our roads part. When I open my mailbox at home, Rudy's pictures are already in. I start making a page with a picture-impression and put it on my website, with a link in both the text and amongst the forum-meetings. The visit is an absolute must, not only for classic bike-lovers or mechanics.

Sunday...
The past few days I have a feever in me, because my counter is approaching the fifty thousand limit. Roel wants to go to Nieuw Statenzijl, near the German border. On the way there on the countryside of the province of Groningen, my counter passes the 50.000 kms. When we are at Nieuw STatenzijl, we notice that we can't cross the border there. It is a path for pushbikes over about 200 metres. Pushing the motorbike is not exactly an option, a bit too far, so we find ourselves an alternative way. We would like to have a drink at Frans his place in Stickhausen, in the "Alte Zollstation". Roel used to visit them on a regular basis when he was at work in Detern last summer. So we drive by Driebond and Nieuweschans to the German Autobahn. Untill Leer there is a restriction of 100 km/h, but passed Leer Roel opens his throttle and I follow. With the wind in the back and the throttle all the way open against its stop I have the needle on 195 km/h for a brief moment. It's cool, it's a thrill, but comfortable? Not really.

On the terrace...
In Stickhausen we sit on a terrace by the Jümme, close to the turn in the direction of Holtgast. We have a view on the bridge and it is a coming and going of bikes. I am curious how busy it must be at the Bikermotel in Holtgast and so we move on via Velde and Detern to Holtgast. It was a good idea to have a stop at Frans his place, as there is not a spot left for any bike, that many bikers have gathered here. Then we find our way back towards the Autobahn. It is already late in the afternoon and so with 150 km/h we drive home. I am leading this part of our trip. On arrival Home Roel says to me: I hope the speedcam was not in the gadget near Groningen. You were still doing 120, while 100 is permitted. It's on large traffic-signs. Well I will keep a close eye on my mailbox. It would be the first fanmail of the CJIB in the almost six years I ride the bike. That would be a small spot on this perfect weekend, with fair bikeweather.

Betty Smit, Motormeisje.nl