Main target of this holiday: visiting the annual bike meeting in northern Germany organized by MSC Vaale.

As always the weather forecast wasn't too positive: 2012 was already in the top 5 of wettest summers since 1905.

By the way: 'Schauer' means 'showers', and 'Regen', well ... 'rain'.

Trip 1a, Wednesday July 11, 135 km.

The first twenty km were dry (yeah!) as I rode to Erwin's home. Did I say 'home'? It's a more like a castle since he rebuild his place the last couple of years.

Before we left he made a minor repair on the swingarm; Erwin's first weld on the CBX, and he did a good job.

Trip 1, Wednesday July 11, 88 km.

We rode to biker camp site De Motorschuur in the small town called Gasselter-and-the-rest-I-always-forget.

No reason for complaints: we got a warm welcome from Madeleine and Gijs, and a similar dinner.

Until 01.30h we talked bikes, dogs, stupid regulations, windmills, beer and work.

Next morning Gijs made us a healthy breakfast: eggs, ham, cheese, bread.

Erwin went home; recently his third child was born which made it difficult to stay away too long.

Trip 2, Thursday July 12, 335 km.

As I left I put on my rain clothes because the sky looked quite threatening. But, o wonder, after one hour I concluded that barking dogs seldom bite so I took it off. Plastic-free makes riding more fun.

Like two years ago, close to Hamburg, the barking dogs came into a bite frenzy. It rained like hell.

It didn't bother the bike – the engine runs even better when it's a bit wet and cold – and it didn't really bother me because rain is a familiar companion. But I always have to pay attention twice as good because, while raining, bikers are less visible to motorists.

Remarkable: all day, all 335 km, I didn't see any bike on the road.

I visited Willi, a.k.a. 'Hammer of Justice', whom I met four years ago at the Trommelslagertreffen. Beside him is Jos, a funny guy (how's your hair, Jos?).

Willi made us a lentil soup 'Großmutter Art'. Indeed, it looks like a puke but believe me: it tastes like heaven.

Trip 3, Friday July 13, 45 km.

Friday the 13th we visited a guy called Herman, in Kiel. Herman's supposed to be a bike technician specialized in Honda CB's. All I can say is that he does not represent the famous 'Deutsche Gründlichkeit'. Willi and Wolfgang (r) are obviously happy to take their bikes home again.

We put up our tents ...

Next morning it was raining. Beautiful clouds though.

Just get out of the way if one shouts: 'FLEISCHBERG!' (meatheap).

About twelve o'clock I was ready for my first beer ...

... followed by a stronger fluid: one third rum, one third beer, one third coke. The first one hurts, but after that it's actually quite tasty.

On the left you see Burghart; for whatever reason he was always around.

Finally he wanted to show us his hometown, Hüll, on the map.

He failed.

In the afternoon more bikers arrived at the camp site.

... some photographing ...

At the Dyno stand a familiar bike with a familiar sound was tested.

Erwin did some dirt track racing on his GL; his sidecar course payed off (and prevented anyone from getting hurt).

The weather was nice. What do you do at such an occassion? You walk, you talk, you look, you drink. No more, no less.

With a bike the sound and smell is spectacular ...

... a party tent ...

Trip 4, Sunday July 15, 170 km.

The sound of music, laughter and revving bikes lasted until six in the morning. I'm glad I'm a good sleeper. Still someone said to me, as I came out of my tent: "Du siehst aus wie 'ne Toilettenfliege!" ("You look like a toilet fly!"). Not a compliment. But true.

We packed and slid our way from the party area.

I seem to have a difficult relation with Hamburg: two times I had heavy rains, this day it was the tunnel under the river Elbe. Riding through a tunnel is no fun on a bike anyway; getting caught in a traffic jam in a tunnel is a scary experience. Temperature over 40 degrees, the CBX overheating, inhaling unfiltered exhaust gasses and not being able to overtake cars because it's a one track road.

No picture taken: just use your imagination.

Willi and his son Yarik showed up so we shared our sausages.

'Love is... sharing your sausages' ;)

In the evening the plans were made for the next day. Again we would split up: I would ride to biker camp site The Rose in Hoogstede (D), Erwin would ride home and visit the site in the afternoon, and so would Willi and Yarik.

Trip 5, Monday July 16, 290 km.

We went to bed early and got up early. Again Garmin, map and TomTom were consulted.

Before we split up, we had a nice sunny breakfast in the village Müden.

... and parts of it ended on my visor. Still, I found my way.

Again no other bikes on the roads. Perhaps they are not welcome on the German roads? It's desturbing to see that the signs at the parking places deny the existance of bikes. Is it a conspiracy?

A few minutes after I arrived two sidecars came in. On board a man called Roger, a woman called Wilma and three Cocker Spaniels named Jan, Koos and Sjaak. From that moment on it I felt I was in a stand-up comedy show: relaxing, enjoying a beer and listen to a Rogers barrage of bike related anecdotes. Very entertaining.

Erwin came, and Willi, his girlfriend Helga, their sons Jos and Yarik and even their dog Alaska: another big reunion.

Trip 6, Tuesday July 17, 177 km.

After a good breakfast (which was as good as the dinner the evening before) the rain stopped. I took the time to take a look at Rogers self built sidecar, based on a Alfa Romeo engine. I'm not a great sidecar fan but this sure is a nice one.

The ride home was heavy clouded but dry again.

In proper German one could ask the question: "Hat es sich gelohnt?" ("Was it worth while?"). No doubt: yes!