EuroThrottle: Tales from the Dutch-German Ride

Some trips are about the destination. This one was about the people: readers, riders, and the strange magic of a shared road.

Riding a lovely, borrowed chopper in Holland

One of the delightful and unexpected pleasures of being a writer is the readers who have become friends. I’ve had the privilege of meeting a lot of people all over the world. Like-minded people; other writers, pilots, bikers and readers. It’s always amazing how much we have in common.

 My most recent trip in August 2025 started when Jojo a reader turned friend invited me on the annual run of his motorcycle club, the Expendables, based in Beijing, China.

Yeah, I know; They have motorcycle clubs in China?

That was my first thought too. The guys I rode with on this trip are all German, but they live in different parts of the world, Germany, Tunisia and Beijing.

How they formed is a long story, but this year’s run was to start in Wiesbaden, Germany. After picking me up at the airport and checking into a nice historic hotel where the famous Russian writer Dostoyevsky once stayed and wrote one of his books, we were off to dinner for some great schnitzel and bier. Finally, succumbing to jetlag, we retired to the hotel.

Wild Hogs ride again

The next day as we headed out on motorcycles. We had not gone far when I realized I had made a big mistake. Riding first through the city, then through some of the most scenic country I’d ever seen along the beautiful Rhine River Valley, I had not brought my own helmet so I could mount my GoPro camera. The numerous castles up on the surrounding mountaintops looked magical; as if appearing out of the past, beckoning us to explore them. But we were on a mission in the present and held the throttles on.

The road curved along the river as we enjoyed the perfect weather. I enjoyed the German drivers who, unlike in America, never seem to make stupid mistakes, seemingly trying to kill you.

Waiting for the ferry to cross the Rhine River

On the ferry
Note one of the many vineyards in the background.

After a lunch stop we arrived late that afternoon in Bavaria to visit my brothers, the German Hangmen, who welcomed us with a barbeque at their newly refurbished clubhouse. It was back in operation after a fire three years ago. It looked as good as before.

The Hangmen clubhouse in Maßbach, Germany

After a fun visit, we crashed at a B&B for much needed rest, at least for me.

The next day we were on the road again, this time heading west, skirting the heavy traffic of Frankfurt, we then turned northeast towards Cologne, where we stopped for another nice lunch of more good German food.

Our hosts, Jojo, Sasha, Chris and Carston would always find the nicest places to eat and spend the night. Continuing the rest of the afternoon, in the evening we stopped just short of the Dutch border at another B&B. This time I had switched off to drive the car and got separated from the bikes. As we waited in a small town, with no idea where I was or what I would do next. Sasha found his car on his phone and saved the day, showing up like a knight on a shining motorcycle, and led us to the B&B where, after some pizza and bier, I had an reservation with dreamland.

The next morning after another excellent breakfast at the B&B, we hit the road again, staying on the outskirts of busy Amsterdam for the short trip to Opmeer, Holland, checking into another hard-to-find B&B. How would we get anywhere without GPS. Paper maps seem to be a lost art.

So far, I don’t think there are any roads in Europe that are not beautiful, and not having brought my GoPro helmet mount, I can’t share them with you.

After struggling with the Wifi at the B&B, we rode to Beer’s house where he and his wife Els graciously treated us to dinner and some locally brewed Heinekens.

With Beerepoot Ton of Chop Ride & Party fame, on two of his works of art

They enjoyed meeting the worldly Expendables, with their stories of what it’s like to be an MC in China. We were all like-minded people with a lot in common. Beer and Jojo are also published authors. When I learned Jojo has a PHD, I proudly chimed in that I had a GED. Everyone tried not to laugh.

An awesome time with good friends

The next morning, we again mounted the bikes, with Beer and I leading the way on two of his choppers to Vogelhoeksmolen, a historic village that recreated how Dutch fisherman and their families used to live hundreds of years ago. It was charming and enlightening.

Then we rode to the Rogues clubhouse for dinner and more bier while Bob Seger played on the sound system. Everyone had a great time, seeing old friends and making new ones. It’s always amazing how people from different parts of the world can come together and seem as if they’ve known each other forever.

Patches from three different countries

All too soon it was time to head back. We were up early on Sunday morning for the ride back to Wiesbaden. Jojo had a flight to catch, and Sasha and Carston needed to be back to work. Chris would hang out for a bit in Bavaria before he needed to be back in Beijing.

I was relieved to just follow them in Sasha’s BMW. I love riding over there, but five straight hours’ worth of riding at high speed on the Autobahn would have been more than I could handle all at once.

If you haven’t been on Germany’s Autobahn, here’s the one big rule; ‘Stay out of the left lane unless you are passing. As soon as possible, get back in the right lane.’

You might be doing 120 miles per hour, (193 kilometers per hour), but someone will come up behind you going 150, (241 KPH). You’d better move over! You might be doing 150 mph, but a Ferrari or Lamborghini might come flying up at 200 mph, (321 kph). You’d be surprised at how quickly they can suddenly appear. One moment you look in the rear-view mirror and there is no one there, the next time you look, someone is right on your tail, probably flashing their lights.

It's not all a free-for-all though, there are areas with speed limits, everyone has to slow down. But in the unmarked areas, go for it. Just remember, there’s always someone who is going faster.

In the afternoon Carston broke off for home on his Road Glide. The rest of us once again found ourselves driving through the Rhine River Valley. Trying to keep up with a pack of motorcycles left no time for sight-seeing.

These guys were full of surprises. Stopping in a town for an early dinner, it wasn’t schnitzel this time. They found a Chinese restaurant that served traditional dishes. Our waitress and probably the owner was floored when this bunch of bikers started speaking to her in Mandarin. Sasha ordered for everyone, and the chopsticks were flying as we all enjoyed their favorite dishes.

Sasha, Jojo and Chris

Chris, Sasha, Jojo, Dale and Kathy

I was relieved that the hectic pace was finally over as we pulled into the hotel. It was Sunday evening, and we decided to do as little as possible until our flight left on Wednesday.

Wiesbaden was a lovely town to stay in after the traveling from the previous week.

Everyone had a great time and we are already making plans to get together in Varona, Italy early next year for a European Motorcycle Expo. You just never know what can happen when you write a book.

Relaxing in Wiesbaden at the end of the trip