Topic: Letting the cat out of the bag...

[01Thomas]

In 1966 I was that little German boy who boarded a Boeing 707 (or maybe a Douglas DC-8) and emigrated with his young parents to South Africa.

Aside from a few short holidays now and then I have lived here all my life, firstly in Johannesburg, then in Cape Town, then in Ellisras, then back in Cape Town and for the past 10 years in Durban. I saw the country change from a racist but functioning state to a supposedly non-racial state run by a corrupt inept government. But I like it here well enough to have stayed on through thick and thin.

That will change in January 2017 because then I will be taking up employment back in Germany, in Heilbronn. I will be leaving behind my motorbikes (of which I have a few), my cats (of which I also have a few), my dogs, my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, in order to embellish my CV, to put the knowledge and experience I have gained to good use and let's not forget that I'll be earning some decent, worthwhile currency.

So if you're in Germany even elsewhere in Europe (PeWe, Sgt. Pinback ?) we might even meet up some time, some where.


regards
Thomas

[754]

Veil Gluck im Mutterland...

I think you will be near the NSU. Museum in Neckarsulm.. Worth checking out..

[01Thomas]

Vielen Dank, Frank!
Yes, Heilbronn is located on the Neckar and Neckarsulm is pretty nearby.

Veil Gluck im Mutterland...

I think you will be near the NSU. Museum in Neckarsulm.. Worth checking out..

[754]

I remember going along that river , makes a big curve..watching the big boats navigating the tight curves. Fascinating.. Twas a nice spring days, lots of bikes were out....
 You will enjoy the beer choices..
 Pic is not of the tight curve..

[martin99]

Always wanted to go to Germany. No excuse really, I'm a lot closer than most of you lot. Then again, I've never been to Cornwall either, and it's in my own bloody country. Which reminds me, on a trip to the States about 25 years ago, we pulled up at a Days Inn. The woman at the check-in, being a very perceptive American lady, said 'hey, you all from England? You must know my brother-in-law, he lives in Cornwall!'. She looked really deflated when I said to her that I had never been to Cornwall so unfortunately had not bumped into her relation.

Not derailing your thread Thomas, still getting through the Christmas hooch. Best of luck in your new venture mate, I'm sure the sohc folk there will make you feel right at home.

[01Thomas]

Thanks Martin!
I've also been through that "You live there? You must know so-and-so..." experience.

[Bankerdanny]

There's no good reason (well, except for cost I suppose) why you couldn't ship one of your bikes to keep you company in Germany.

[70CB750]

Best of luck, Thomas!

[01Thomas]

And bureaucracy.

There's no good reason (well, except for cost I suppose) why you couldn't ship one of your bikes to keep you company in Germany.

[vfourfreak]

And bureaucracy.

There's no good reason (well, except for cost I suppose) why you couldn't ship one of your bikes to keep you company in Germany.

Generally not, except for France, but that's a different story. If you are transferring residence and you own a vehicle for more than 6 months you should be OK. I've done it a few times already.

Gute Reise !

Kev

[simon#42]

hi thomas you will love germany , i lived there as a kid and still go back most years . even better you are very close to one of the best transport museums  in europe

http://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/

get there early as it will take you all day to see it , some of the stuff is amazing

[01Thomas]

Thanks Kev and Simon

Kev, As far as importing one or two of my bikes is concerned, you've convinced me to explore that option when I'm settled in.
Simon, it seem the Southern Germany is full of automotive museums. I've been to the Mercedes-B and the Porsche museums in the past but now that I will be living in the area I'll be able to go for it in depth.

[754]

BMW museum tour is much better than the Mercedes tour, and you can do the Deutsches Museum same day..start early.
Look in projects a guy in Kaapstadt is looking for some KO bits, if he has not found you yet.
Serial #9*** in the title.. He will wish he found you a few years back..

[hondalav]

Hello Thomas,

If you own anything like a nice original Four or similar, consider taking the bikes with you. Prices for bikes in Germany have exploded in the last few years , and the market is empty at the moment. Have a look at mobile.de or motoscout24.de to get an idea what I'm talking about. Ebay Kleinanzeigen, quoka.de is no better!

As 754 mentioned the road along the Neckar, the B37, is a blast to ride, and the Odenwald to the north where I live is even more fun to ride.

Another museum to check out is the Fahrzeugmuseum Marxzell near Karlsruhe. fahrzeugmuseum-marxzell.de

Bis denne
Gerald

[simon#42]

i have been to the bmw museum and it is very good , but sensheim is amazing  as well as bikes and cars there are steam locos , planes a couple of pocket battleship engines etc etc
my favorite exhibit was a mark 5 tiger tank that had been destroyed at stalingrad , they had made a steel frame then put all the surviving pieces on it . the armour piercing bullets had gone through 14 inches of armor plate neater than i can drill a hole .... a haunting sight

[01Thomas]

Thanks Frank. If you're talking about 'straat-toe' then I've already made contact and he's bought a couple of odds and ends from me

BMW museum tour is much better than the Mercedes tour, and you can do the Deutsches Museum same day..start early.
Look in projects a guy in Kaapstadt is looking for some KO bits, if he has not found you yet.
Serial #9*** in the title.. He will wish he found you a few years back..

[754]

 Thomas, his username is   Thunder......new on here..

[01Thomas]

Thanks, I'll chat to him

Thomas, his username is   Thunder......new on here..