Category: general

It was amazing to arrive at the rally and meet up with everyone again. This time I managed to arrive early and could have time to check out the camp and get settled in the hotel before the evening. The Swedes were busy setting up their tent and inflating the matresses and at the same time having beer. Bit by bit the camp site filled up and the flags were put up. This year’s WIMA rally has participants from Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Sweden, Finland, USA, Japan, Poland, Curaçao, Estonia and Korea.

The location of the rally is in the north of Austria in the region of Waldtwirtel. The village which hosts us is Reingers. It is a tiny village and the big business here is to grow hemp and it is virtually used for all kinds of things except smoking it.

The first evening was spent drinking and exchanging travel stories and the next morning we continued filling in with information of different routes taken and it was especially interesting to hear my Finnish friend Kaija’s stories since she had travelled down on her own from her home in Estonia, through Belarus, and to join with the Polish WIMAs for the last bit. A challenging journey in – for me – as yet unknown countries. I have yet to see the photos.

When we settled the worst eager to talk we rode out to look at the area. I rode last, enjoying following the others and it felt great to ride with friends again. Coming to think about it, I have been riding solo ever since riding with Estonian Anneli at the WIMA rally in England last year. In Spain, I don’t meet friends to ride with and talk bikes with on a regular basis and now was time to make up for that.

In the evening there was a welcome dinner and traditional food was prepared for us. Country by country we were welcomed with an introduction for our president to the sound of our national hymns. Then the party continued for as long as you’d like.

The next day was the parade and that is one of my favourite activities at these rallies. This year we lined up prepared with national flags and rode to an unknown destination led by a retired police officer. At the destination we boarded a train and left for a cultural experience with music, food and dance. When we got back to the campsite the festivities continued with lots and lots of local wine and dancing until late.

Today is the third day of the rally and most of the women have taken the opportunity to go and see Vienna. For me, I am taking the opportunity to rest, there is so much going on all the time that some more sleep and relaxation suits me better. Plus I can take the opportunity to update the blog.

On my way north from Lake Garda I opted on the mountain road to Cortina, thinking if I didn’t I would regret it later and fearing that in the end of the day I might regret it anyway. Probably both theories were correct. I struggle in the hairpins and I can now conclude that it is me that struggle, not the bike, because it is no easier with the Versys compared to the Monster and all other riders seems to pass me happily throwing themselves into the next corner. For me it is more of a sacrifice I have to do for the view.

It proved to be a long day. There were roadworks and I was re-directed a couple of times which made the trip longer but also there were more hairpins than I had anticipated. When I finally arrived in Heiligenblut I appreciated the swim in the pool and the 5 course dinner so much more than I would have imagined.

I turned in early and was still tired the next day. Breakfast was rich and filled with energy, I somehow managed to pull myself together for a new day of pass-chalanges. So I thought. Heading of to Grossglockner I was surprised of the 22 euro fee. I somehow had managed to blank out that information but now was to late to re-consider. I paid and rode on thinking it can’t be to bad this mountain pass since people pay to enter, hoping that it wouldn’t be as tuff as yesterdays paso di Pordoi and paso di Falzarego in Italy. I had merely thought of it as a road to ride to destination but now I felt obliged to stop more often to take pictures and to do the detours up to Franz Josephs-Höhe and Edelweisspitze. Afterwords I was content and felt that now I have had my fill of mountain passes for some time and felt rather like swimming in a little lake for a bit.

Up in the mountain it had been quite brisk and nice but when rejoining the world bellow the heat struck me and I was wondering how come I had dragged al those cold weather clothes along which filled up the left pannier. Now I decided to cancelled my next stay in the mountain and rather ride along the lakes east of Saltzburg and see if I could find a place to stay and more important, go for a swim. I did find a place to stay, with access to the lake Mondsee. I just managed a swim before the weather suddenly changed and there was rain, thunder and lightning. Now I have managed dinner and the rain has given away for sunshine. The evening air is fresh and I am sitting on the terrace with a weissbeer. There is a birthday celebration in the guesthouses’ restaurant and some guests do arrive in lederhosen. It is indeed exotic to see, the world never stops to amaze me.