We have come to a cross roads. It has revealed itself, it is too difficult sightsee and motorcycle touring. The problem is the bikes/gear are venerable when we are not near. If we go to a museum, restaurant or a sightseeing tour the bikes sit idle waiting for us or whoever is passing by. It is not like a car where you can lock everything up and not worry. So we have decided it is time to get rolling. Perhaps you could tell. It is time to change the trip back to a motorcycle trip rather than a sight seeing trip. This doesn’t mean we won’t stop and enjoy ourselves, or that we won’t take pictures. It means we are going to see what we see while riding the country side. This is the way I prefer to travel so I am ready to get moving.

With that said we stopped in a small Austrian town (6000 people) called Mattighofen. This is the place our new motorcycles where made. When we arrived the sky was getting dark and not just with night. It was going to rain, and the rain drops in Austria are the size of cantaloupes. Jim and I had hoped to get a room at a hotel to regroup (laundry, blog, charge batteries, etc.). We got to town to find there are no hotels. We stopped on main street to try to figure something out for the evening. We parked and jumped of the bikes. Jim went into a real estate office to ask for help while I stood outside. Next door to the real estate office was a bar and 7 guys speaking German sat around drinking. One of them said something to me and I thought “Here we go. I am about to get my ass kicked” I turn walked over to the table and asked if they knew of a room for the night. “You need a room?” Yes. “Hold on”. The guy picks up the phone, calls someone, says he will be here in 10 minutes, “sit and drink?” Alright. Jim walks back and I am sitting around the table with these guys explaining we have rode these motorcycles (KTM, made in this town) half way around the world back to the factory. A cheer goes up. Jim sits and we take turns telling tells about the adventure so far. Within 10 mins. Andy (the inn keeper) shows up. We tried to pay but they would have none of that, I think the Mayor picked up the tab (Jim says he wasn‘t, but I like my version better).

We followed Andy the Inn keeper a mile out of town to his inn. Well I think it was his girlfriends families inn but he worked there. It was a beautiful large building with a bar/restaurant down stairs and 2 stories of rooms above. Andy moved something’s around in a carport so the bikes would be out of the rain (if it did, and it did). We unloaded and he walked up to our rooms. We had two separate rooms each with a twin bed, small table and chair, TV and our own bathrooms. The rooms were immaculately clean. And the price $35 a night, with breakfast. I had planned on a KTM Factory Tour on so we would be staying 2 nights. I asked if they had laundry facilities and Andy said no. His girlfriend spoke up an told us to get our stuff together right now and she would wash them for us. “How much would you like us to pay” because it was worth it no matter the price. She said “Whatever” I love Austria. We got the dirty clothes together and headed down for dinner. The restaurant was serving goulash and that’s it. If your hungry you eat goulash and I was hungry. We finished dinner and went to get the maps. While walking to the room we were approached with clean clothes in laundry basket. I love this place. We studied the maps and tried to come up with logistics plans for Russia and Mongolia then went upstairs to bed.

Today we ate breakfast and met a young couple from Vienna. She was, he was serving his mandatory civil service duty. In Austria you must serve in either 6 months in the military of 9 months in the civil services. He was on a field trip with 14 orphans sightseeing. This was his day off and his girlfriend (possibly his wife) came to visit the were off to see a movie. They were very nice an spoke English very well.

After we ate we headed to the KTM factory to see about a tour. We were unable to set one up before we left and I tried along the route to set something up. I really didn’t expect much and why would or should they care if we ride their motorcycle, we already bought the bikes. How many other riders show up expecting something.

When you arrive at the factory you notice multiple buildings, each behind a fence. We found the company store and took a quick look around. Not too much for us, mostly gear and clothing (which at this point we have plenty). I asked the girl working behind the counter about tours and she told me “The next tour is in September, everyone is on Holiday” (Griswalds). “THAT’S IT???”

As we walked back to the bikes, I walked into the main entrance and introduced myself to the receptionist. I told her we just rode her bikes from half way around the world (true, no exaggeration) and was wondering if there was anyone to show us around. She said she was sorry but the PR department was on vacation. “SO THAT’S IT!” As I stood at the front desk waiting for some other outcome she says “Hey, lets try marketing”. I said “Lets”. She made a call but couldn’t get anyone. She asked if I minded waiting a few minutes. I told her I had been on the road, on my way to see her for 50 days. I didn’t mind waiting. They had some bikes on display outside, so I walked outside to look them over. As we waited, some factory worker were on break. I walk to the fence and thanked them for working on my bike. They didn’t understand, so I did my best to “Charade” my thanks. I don’t think they got it. I then rolled my bike to the fence to show the Texas plate and they understood I had ridden from America.

I went back inside and was informed Martin from marketing would be happy to give us a private tour at 12:30 tomorrow. Now that is showing me the love. I walked back to my bike and the one of the factory workers was on his side of the fence. He threw a KTM calendar over the fence to me. Again, that’s showing the love.

We headed back to the Inn and ate dinner with Andy. We stayed up half the night listening to Jim play the guitar and Andy play the accordion. The local patrons clapped and sang drunken German tunes. Was fun.

The next day we arrived at the KTM factory. We met Martin who gave us a private tour of the factory. He explained how the bikes were built by local suppliers. He walked us past assembly lines filled with workers and showed us each step. Now I really like my bike. The quality of craftsmanship in Austria was amazing. I left the factory with a new appreciation of KTM.

We forgot to give our keys back to the rooms so we headed back to the inn. We returned the keys and felt bad about having to leave Andy. Someone once said the neat part about traveling is people you meet. The bad part is having to say goodbye to the people you meet. I invite Andy to come stay with me, I hope he does. Thanks Andy we had a great time.

 


Comments

Lisa (Svenby) Nance
08/05/2010 11:15am

I love this blog! When I've imagined traveling around the world, I imagine the best parts are the unplanned moments and the unplanned friends. Second only to having that experience would be BEING that unplanned friend for someone visiting my hometown. Wouldn't that be cool? To be "the story" or "that nice American woman" in a story told on the other side of the world?? Great blogs Joe...keep them coming!

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joe
08/06/2010 4:20am

thanks, will do

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