Prologue
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 the world) hopefully gets through the land of whisky and rocks, castles and sea monsters without the imitative smashing of coconuts.
The powertrain has been running like a bee since last year in Norway. Only the drivetrain, also called the gearbox, needed a basic overhaul. For that I was allowed to take some gold dust from the shelf of a person who has been kind to me. I may not name them for reasons. It is now the best‑functioning gearbox I have been allowed to ride since the beginning of my AWO calendar.
Due to work a maintenance backlog on the motorcycle accumulated up until shortly before the start. So three days before the fear I had to change the throttle cable, which the trip would not have survived otherwise. Child’s play; in the past I changed engines or swing‑arm bearings the night before a start. A new luggage system also makes its debut. Suitcase from the photo department, light, sturdy and waterproof. Why, after decades of trying out saddlebags, pack bags and aluminium cases, I only now as an amateur photographer get a photo case, I don’t quite understand myself.
Around 2:30 a.m. everything is packed and I’m ready to go and I’m looking forward to the last night in my home bed, where I can finally sleep in properly again. So a little …
The journey itself again involves detailed planning of the route as all the years before: Follow your nose! There are three exceptions. For “Let’s store before Liddow”, a small family gathering on the island of Rügen I’ll take a little detour. Likewise the ferry to England is booked in advance. In advance I already looked at what there is to see in Britain and simply found too much. So I quickly gave that up again and wanted to let it come to me. Too much planning only creates pressure. But: I didn’t want to miss the discovery of an old‑timer motorcycle club on Shetland. So a few days earlier I got in touch with El Presidente of the club and checked the situation a bit, whether there was anything to see during my visit and what the accommodation situation looked like on the small island. The answer summed up: Yes.
