After not even 24 hours – far too short for this spot – I say goodbye to Laase again and set my sights on Eckernförde. My AWO still drags Ulla’s Ural for a while, until our paths also split on the A20. The rest is more transit, so just keep moving fast. Only in Lübeck do I want to take the ferry toward Travemünde and Timmendorfer Strand. However, despite the GPS, I miss the ferry and end up in front of the toll tunnel. So I make a U‑turn onto the bike path and am forced through the city. Unfortunately there’s nothing worth seeing there and I’m glad to be…

Laase, the smallest yet finest AWO meeting, is back on the program for its ten‑year anniversary, after I had to miss it last year for reasons. My conscript will correct me at this point, because it’s not an AWO meeting but a gathering of types. And he’s absolutely right! You do meet a few types there… The route takes me this year west of Neubrandenburg toward the north. After Penzlin the side road turns into Plattenweg, not fast to drive, but decidedly rambling. Demmin, on the other hand, seems trapped in a 1990s time loop. Or perhaps it’s designated as a museum village and they’re trying to preserve the charm…

Until 9 I still keep both eyes shut and head to the cereal, fat the boots, and Offjerechtsein to the ritual farewell coffee with Master Lutz in the workshop. Master Raik also drops by as a wink element. By my standards I get up incredibly early and say goodbye shortly after high noon towards Leegebruch. First, warm‑up with a good 200 km. Or we could say hot‑up, if you like, the midsummer is in full bloom and by the time you put the helmet on you get the first little sweat burst. Theory: One go through the B2 via Heide and Fläming, then west around Berlin, and Scholle is already waiting…

Looking back at 2021¹: England in view, and corona on the neck. Traveling to more or less distant countries becomes a matter of luck, because each country cooks its own little soup of entry regulations. And the British have served up a very special broth. Corona test on entry, again after a few days, and again … and only British tests are allowed at an outrageously expensive price. One day before departure my destination therefore changes to the more relaxed Scandinavia. Bye‑bye, you funny Brits! 2024: So now after all Britain! Where in economic crises you hustle coconuts and on Chamelot the TV reception fails. My vehicle (Simson 425 Sport / AWO / junk‑box / coolest ride in…