When I say that today was a tough day, it is in our typical ironic self-effacing style. Perhaps it would be easier if I simply said today has been excellent.
As usual, the road numbers in Germany make as little sense as they do in other countries. So even though I’ve diligently planned the route, I’m never entirely sure what I’ll get.
Some of the B classification roads were single-lane and as twisty as you like, while others were dual carriageways with speed limits that made no sense.
I may have inadvertently contributed to the coffers of some small town that had themselves a brand new speed camera, but I’m getting ahead of myself as usual. So let’s start with last night.
Hotel Gerold
I picked the Hotel Restaurant Gerold in Paderborn from the hundreds on Booking.com, which turned out to be an excellent random pick.
The wedding reception that was in full swing when I arrived did make my heart sink, but the soundproofing in the rooms was good, and apart from the odd shout in the hallway, I didn’t know it was happening.
The shower was powerful, the beer cold and the size of the jacket potato with chicken I had for dinner – massive. They even offered me a garage for the Tracer overnight.
OK, so none of this is hard-core motorcycling journalism, but it is a decent family-run hotel that understands motorcyclists. If you are in that part of the world and need a place to stay, give them a look.
Speed Cameras
I’ve come across three different types of German speed cameras today. The most familiar – to the Brits anyway – is the Truvelo camera that faces you.
Next was a large box on the side of the road. The camera was in a 30KPH section, and all the locals knew about it. However, from what I could see, it was only forward-facing, so it was not likely to photograph motorcyclists effectively.
And third on the list was the camera I’ve christened the totem pole. Unfortunately, I only have a photo from my rear-facing camera, so I can’t show you the array of cameras adorning the other side of the totem pole. And unlike the other two, this one will get you from behind.
However, speaking with the wonderful German bikers I met this evening, speed cameras are more complicated than that.
The totem pole in the photo is a toll camera for trucks. The green band at the bottom is how you can identify them. It is a speed camera if that band is black. Alternatively, if the pole had been grey with a black band, then it would definitely be a speed camera.
German Speed Limits
Whoever it is that supplied the German Government with speed limit signs has made a fortune.
Even allowing for the automatic speed limit change that applies when you pass the town sign (50KPH), which self cancels when you leave the town, there are a lot of other speed limits.
When you are on the priority road and there is a side junction, typically, the speed limit drops to 70KPH until you are clear of the junction.
Then there are the places the fun police have reduced the speed limit. Typically just as a decent set of bends appear.
I make it sound worse than it is, and I’m sure they have the statistics to back their decisions up. Nonetheless, it can be mildly irritating, yet it quickly becomes familiar, and there aren’t going to be any decent bends in the middle of a town anyway.
Riding in the Harz National Park
So having spoken about German speed cameras and speed limits, what about riding in the Harz National Park? Is it as good as people claim?
I could waffle on about the scenery and the smooth grippy road surfaces. Perhaps I should talk about the polite drivers who didn’t have a problem with a motorcyclist that wanted to overtake.
Most car drivers held their speed and didn’t do anything daft. When the limit changed to 100KPH, some car drivers only accelerated to 80KPH to help make the overtake easier. All things considered, including my possible indiscretion, it has been an excellent day.
Tomorrow promises to be more of the same, and there is the 36-hairpin B85 to explore.
But as a picture is worth a thousand words, take a look at the video below. This is why you should visit the Harz National Park.
Clarity
For the avoidance of any doubt, none of the links in this article are affiliate links. We paid the normal price for the hotel rooms, the meals and the beer.
