RHONDDA MOTOR CLUB REPORT ON THE WOLFENBUTTEL TRIP SATURDAY JUNE 24TH - MONDAY JULY 3RD 2000

Saturday morning 06.00hrs. Everybody turned up on time to start off on the M4 Motoway at Llantrisant, and we arrived at Dover early. The crossing was smooth. Arrived at Calais filled up with petrol and we were on our way again.
We agreed to stop every 100 miles to fill up with fuel and take on drinks ,and we arrived in Antwerp at approximately 17.00hrs. on Saturday evening. We stopped at the Camponile Hotel and the rooms were very good.
We went into town and had a good meal, it was the first of the foreign meals we were due to have in the next week or so.
We left Antwerp at 09.00.hrs. Sunday morning and traveled on to Gutersloh where Dave met us to take us across country and keep away from Hanover where Expo 2000 was being held .The trip across country was very pleasant, but the feelings of the group were that we should have stuck to the original plan of going straight to Braunschweig. We eventually arrived at approximately 19.00hrs. Sunday evening and everybody was tired. We were then given our rooms, and a meal was prepared for us as it was too late to find a meal outside.
Monday.
Everybody up fairly early for breakfast and to meet the council of Wolfenbuttel. Dave picked us up at the hotel and we traveled to Wolfenbuttel station to meet with some of his friends. Introductions were made and then we travelled on to meet with the Mayor of Wolfenbuttel.
We were then taken up to the chambers and introductions were made, and given a brief lecture on the town in German which was translated Mozart.
The club captain Robert Gibbons made a presentation of a motorcycle made of coal to the Mayor which will be placed in the chamber. The Mayor then presented the Rhondda Motor Club with a book entitled IN THE HEART OF EUROPE.
The council then gave everyone tee shirts and badges and light refreshments. We went downstairs and had photographs taken by the local newspaper.
We were then taken on a tour of Wolfenbuttel by one of the local guides by the name of Doris which took about one and a half hours. We were taken to lunch in one of the local restaurants. Mozart then took us back to Braunscweig for another tour which seemed to be too much to take in for one day, but they were trying to pack in as much as possible as we were only there for a few days.
It was back to the hotel for food and drinks and an early night to catch up on our sleep.
Tuesday.
Another early start as we are now off to Goslar a lovely little town (well worth a visit again) We were not there long enough. It was then off again to tour the Harz mountains, we stopped at various vantage points to take in the scenery.
Here we go again across the border and we were held up in a lot of traffic but eventually reached a very nice place called Wernigerode (East Germany).
We had a nice time there but were all getting tired again, so its off back across the border to the motor club in Wolfenbuttel . It was an old building made of wood but it was well looked after and placed in the middle of a wooded area.
A presentation was made to the club thanking them for their help. We all had food currywurzt and pommefritz again (long sausage, and chips with a type of curry sauce).
Mozart then took some of us up to a tower to see the sunset over the Harz mountains which was quite spectacular.
It was then back to the Hotel for a drink and well needed sleep.
Wednesday.
10.00 hrs start today and off to Celle, and then to Bergen Belsen Memorial. This was a very moving experience knowing what happened there during the war. it was back to the hotel to get ready to go to the motor club in Hornburge.
This clubhouse is another old wooden building in the middle of a wooded area. A presentation was made to the club, food, drinks and a chat, and then it was back to the hotel .
Thursday.
Early breakfast and off to Colditz Castle. (over the border again) this was a long trip but well worth it to see how East Germany has been improved since the wall has come down.
Friday.
This was a rest day for us and we did our own thing, some went into town and others went for a ride and visit motorcycle shops.
Friday evening the motorclub ferried us all to their club and put on a barbercue for us with free beer, and that was a good night. We were then ferried back to the hotel by the club members.
Saturday.
Another rest day for some of us and a visit to some motorcycle shops for others and a ride out with Frank from the hotel for the others. Saturday evening was a trip on the river Ober. The majority of the group was not really looking forward to this trip and it proved to be a bit boring, and we could not get off the boat fast enough to have a drink and get to bed, to be ready for the off the following morning.
Sunday.
Up early for breakfast and get the bikes loaded to leave at 10.00hrs. Some of the German motor club members were there to take us as far as the first services on the autobhan. We said our goodbyes and we were then on our way back to Antwerp for a nice meal and then to bed.
Monday.
This was the last leg of the journey to France, and then the ferry home. The ferry crossing was another good one, and we had one torrential downpour on the M4 motorway.
ALL IN ALL THE TRIP WAS A START TO FURTHER TRIPS ABROAD AS EVERYONE ENJOYED IT.

The first photo shows some of the gang in the hotel
Claus's wife, Club captain Robert Gibbons, Claus, Dave and Dave's wife
Second photo René Medcraft and Michael Bailey check out the local talent and the latest superbikes in Wernigerode (East Germany).
Third photo checking the housing situation in Wolfenbuttel.

First photo Janis Bailey and Lyn Medcraft with Natalia and Gunther at the Barbeque.
second photo The meeting at Wolfenbuttel Station.
Third photo having a meal in the Hotel

The photos below show some of the places we were entertained by the clubs in Germany.
And will be updated as soon as possible.



Translation of writeup in German paper
PHOTOGRAPH. Rainer Hasselman (left) and district presswoman Kornella Vogt (middle) Greets the bikers from the Rhondda.
Reception in our district OUR MOTOR BIKING FRIENDS FROM RHONDDA

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The Rhondda motorbike club was met in Wolfenbuttel yesterday. Rainer Hasselman, the deputy councilor officially greeted the bikers on behalf of the district. He provided them with information about Wolfenbuttel and outlined a bit about its history. The Rhondda - Motor - Club keeps dutiful contact with its motor biking Friends from Wolfenbuttel and Iberg (Hornburg). The guests from Rhondda - Cynon - Taff, the welsh town twinned with Wolfenbuttel And undertook journeys into the Harz mountains and to Celle. A Grillfest (sort of barbeque type party) was also planned in Iberg