Having spent two weeks riding with this group, it is time to them, to write a little about each member.
PETER LINSCHINGER and FLORIAN NEUHAUSER
Peter was our lead guide, who used holiday time to do this motorcycle tour, to our good fortune. Peter was incredibly patient, a man for whom no question was too trivial, too dumb. He was an Austrian policeman who worked in the small town of Tamsweg, explaining that because the city was so small, his duties ranged from traffic patrol to family squabble settlement. His police duties, no doubt, developed the patience for which he was so noted. But also, we were amazed at his remarkable cartographical memory. I am convinced he rode with a GPS system inside his head for he took us into 5 different countries, over a multiplicity of mountain roads, not once seen consulting a map other than his own cerebral one.
Florian, our tail gunner, a guide in development but already demonstrating sound leadership capabilities: unflappable, consistency, tolerance, patience and sociability. He rode with each of us, keeping up with the most experienced, yet slowing to match slower paced riders. He was cool when under pressure, and persevering when experiencing challenging stresses such as downed bikes, his own included. The young man was a great ‘last rider’ and he’s a great pupil of Peter’s.
BOB JOYNT
Bob was the only rider to carry a passenger, his wife, Barb. The disappointing thing for Bob was the touted Beemer reliability was not confirmed with the R1200RT which he and Barb rode. Because of endless clutch and throttle problems, Bob found his great biking skills tested endlessly, and with a switchback failure, twice. Thankfully, due to their great “get-off-the-bike-fast” skills, neither of them suffered notable injuries. But, had they, no doubt, Barb’s nursing experience would have done them good stead.
Bob was our Gadget Guy, owning just about every piece of electronic gear relating to a bike one could own, many of which he brought with him: video cam, GPS unit, SPOT locator, Iphone, bike adapters and bike adapter cables. He had more electronic gadgets than Future Shop, Best Buy and The Source combined and he knew how to use all of them, too. Additionally, Bob was a Honda man, longing for his ‘home’ bike, a Goldwing, more each day as the Beemer kept causing him difficulty.
BARB JOYNT
Barb was Bob’s married partner, a nurse in the Smith Falls area of Ontario. Her nursing experience showed early but not in the usual and expected medically related capacity. It was displayed in her organized and succinct way of describing anything, outlining anything. It was a pleasure to hear her explain anything for she would do it in a clear, precise and systematic way, so you could easily comprehend what she was explaining. She too tired of the mechanical inconsistencies of the R1200RT which she and Bob rode. A number of times, because of the challenges of the precarious ascents, she chose to ride as Peter’s passenger rather than continue to risk life and limb with the Beemer.
Dr. Dan, dentist to the downtrodden as well as others. Practicing his profession in Tennessee, Dr. D, humbly stated that he owned numerous bikes and many cars and that he would need to review storage of this growing stable of vehicles. First day of riding after getting our bikes in Lenggries, Dan was quite critical of his little Beemer. “Too tall, too high, feels tipsy, too light,” just a few of his early criticisms. Day 2, “a bit light.” Day 3, “Handles nicely.” Day 4, “I gotta get me one of these bikes when I get back!” Day 5, “fantastic little machine, stable, maneuverable, rock solid on the road.” Day 6, “This bike is unbeatable as an Alpine rider!” Dr. D progressively changed his assessment of BMW’s but then he wasn’t riding the R1200RT.
DON THRUL
Don was a New Yorker, clearly evident whenever he spoke. A gentle man, who spoke softly, sometimes so softly, he was almost overlooked. He was a Harley man, having ridden them for years and a ride captain in his HOG chapter back home. Here, he rode a R1200GS, probably the biggest sport bike in the Beemer stable and he rode it with great confidence even though he experienced a couple of challenging moments with it. Again, no injuries, thank goodness. He too ‘videoed’ aspects of our rides and was one of the very first to post fotos and messages about the tour on the web. Reading his description of the tour, one can see Don is a meticulous man who pays attention to detail and takes time to do things in a comprehensive manner.
JP COUTURE
JP, one of the two Montrealers on the tour, was a man proud of his analytical skills. He wore a watch which determined altitude and he gladly interpreted and related our climbs often. But this man was also a daring, accomplished rider. I was following him as we both tailed a log carrying lumber truck up a steep and narrow ascent. Passing was impossible, or so I assessed. As we were about to enter a built up area, speeds slowed, but JP decided to pass. An oncoming curve would prove to be very tight for passing the truck and JP was now stuck out in the oncoming traffic lane. Lo and behold, an oncoming car and JP was without escape, in my view. Lean left, up the far side shoulder, JP passed the oncoming car, the logging truck, leaving me behind the truck, gasping for breath from seeing his narrow escape. “It was my only recourse,” claimed JP when questioned about his daring escapade later.
PAUL HEUMILLER
Paul was our artist, a guitar maker as well as a guitar player. He is a an American from the south, some would say a “good old boy” but knowing him as we did, he was a quiet, soft spoken and a generous old boy. He was proud of his mother’s German heritage and expressed regret at not being able to speak the language of his forefathers. Still, he indulged in all things German with gusto, the schnitzels, the beers, the wines. As a rider, a very capable one underlining that he and his wife were both Harley riders, so the light Beemers were not a difficult riding transition. He also was ranked as one of our more capable riders, occasionally acting as tail gunner when Florian had to deal with other matters.
PENNY BROACH
Penny was our Ms. Bubbly with a lovely, effervescent personality. She engaged everyone in conversation, always remembering things one had said previously and often revisiting that same conversational thread. She and her husband, Larry, live in a rural area of West Virginia, an area where they claim “very well-to-do” celebrities have homes. Both were quick to underline, “they live there but aren’t one of the moneyed many.” We weren’t so sure when we learned that Penny, who hates food shopping, simply phones for food shopping home delivery and the next day receives her ‘vittles’ at her door. Oh that we all should have such service! Again, Penny too was a steadfast, confident and solid rider.
LARRY BROACH
Penny’s other half, Larry was a very soft spoken man. But when he engaged in the conversation, he was a man of detail, of facts, with exceptional recall. He and Penny are what we Canadians call “campers” which means that they will pitch a tent as easily as stop at a motel on a ride. They are proud of a rural home, beyond where they currently live and in warm weather, you likely find them at their “cottage” rather than at their regular home. Larry beamed ceaseless in the short riding time which he and Penny had with the group. Sadly, their trip was cut short because of a family illness back home in the US.
TIM JAMES
Another New Yorker, Tim was our ‘techie on the bike’ guy for he had camera attached to his bike with which he videoed everyone. Nightly, the entire group gathered around Tim’s dinner spot as he displayed the day’s takes. Yet, Tim too was an exceptionally capable rider, having ridden bikes, from trail and off road, to cruiser and autostrada heavy weights. Often seen standing on the pedals of his bike, he would seem to be peering way ahead for a better view of the riders ahead of him. Tim would zip in and out, and flit about in positioning himself for new shots, new subjects for his video taping. A jovial, caring, generous man, whose age belied his youngish looks. Good genes or good self care, it showed on Tim.
MARK WILLIAMS
Mark was our Marlboro man, enjoying his cigarette at almost any lengthy stop we made. I can relate to his pleasure easily for there was a time when I smoked, and my favourite cigarettes were Marlboros even though I lived in Canada. Mark was involved in security work and had worked in Afghanistan for a period of time. His time there impacted on his outlook and he seemed to have a more serious attitude about life than others. Still, he had his convivial side, laughing with all of us at our evening dinners, relating his stories of his riding experiences, and explaining in detail the pros and cons of many things, from riding gear to bike rides. He too chose a lighter Beemer for his European tour and was very pleased in how well his bike handled.
KEN KING
The King of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Ken and his riding wife, Karn, were superb bikers. They rode within their limits all the time, but even in doing that, Ken experienced a problem in one mountainous, traffic clogged ascent, and turning a tight corner, went down. Talk about reflexes, Ken’s bike went down but Ken hopped off as fast and effectively as might a man half his age. Ken also was a raconteur with great recall of the many rides he and his wife had done. Ken remembered every ride, every region and could tell you about all his experiences in incredible detail. A great lover of travel, he and Karn were the only members of the group to have ridden with a previous RoadRunner magazine tour, having done so in South America the year before. As Ken said, “RoadRunner gives great value for the dollar on the rides which they organize, everywhere,” and likely he will ride with them again, as will many of us.
KARN KING
The Queen of Fenelon Falls, queen in the sense that she is a ‘royalty’ among bike riders there who acknowledge and recognize her superior bike riding skills. Karn was the only rider of the entire group to not experience a mishap of any sort, nothing. No downed bike, no parking lot incident, no personal injury, nothing! It is something which would assume she credits to more than just experience, but also to a “heads-up-all-the time” attitude. I found it a delight and a learning experience to follow Karn up or down the Alpine mountain roads. She cut her curves properly all the time, leaned in at the apexes just right, shoulder checked ceaselessly, viewed the roadways far ahead of the front of her bike…all proper bike riding skills practiced successfully and without a break (pun intended).
A final word, when I first met with this group, I think each was surprised at my request to sign a photographic waiver and one chose to refuse me permission to use photos. I respect every single rider in this group and I ask that each understand that for whatever reason we do what we do, we ought to respect what others do or wish as need be. I am reminded of something I saw the other day as I was riding my bike. I saw a woman riding her electric wheel chair in the bike lane of a busy roadway near home. She was smoking a cigarette. Mentally, I started to criticize her for the health hazard, and then I caught myself and put myself into her shoes. I could hear her saying, “Do you think if I quit smoking, I will regain the use of my legs? Leave me to my own choices.” Additionally, as I get older, I see that every person has a story behind them that no one else may know or be privy to.
RICHARD SZPIN
One of my bike riding friends, seeing this foto, said, "Time to back away from the dinner table, szpinner!" But then, I have recognized that for years folks and she and Jenny Craig are dead on right. I try, and try! But I cook too damn well.
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