The rain broke yesterday so I took a short 130 KM ride. Here are some photos. The little guy in the photo is WilleG (Wille the Gnome) and he is the mascot for the XL Forum. Yeah, I know...it is not a Sportster...I rode my wifes Honda down to Sonthofen since she has the windshield and I did a lot of autobahn driving getting here. That and the fact the Bavarian Polizei are not kind to bikers with loud pipes.

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm01.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm02.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm03.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm04.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm05.JPG

The castle in the photo below is Neu Schwanstein which is the castle that Walt Disney designed the Disneyland Castle after. Crazy King Ludwig II build this castle and practically bankrupted Deutschland in the process.

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm06.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm07.JPG

The castle in the background in the photo below is Neu Schwangau and is located directly below Neu Schwanstein. This is the castle from King Ludwig II's parents. Schnuki and I have tour both castles and are both of the opinion that even though it is smaller, Neu Schawgau is much nicer on the inside and the gardens are better.

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm08.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm09.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm10.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm11.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm12.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm13.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm14.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm15.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm16.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm17.JPG

The photos below are for Billy and Gary. I know how fond both of them are of cows. These cows are in Austria and they were very interested in WilleG. Check out the cow bells!!

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm18.JPG

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/Sonthofen-Fussen-Germany-Austria-sm19.JPG

WooHoo Bert! Willi is looking good. :clap No doubt he's slightly disappointed at being on a Honda for his first big trip but we all have to start somewhere. ;) And damn fine country for a first outing!!!

BTW, I never saw in the other thread, what is the "new" Willi made out of? Ceramic or plastic or???

The new WillG is made of a plastic resin so we will be able to handle a few trips around the world.

The new WillG is made of a plastic resin so we will be able to handle a few trips around the world.

Outstanding! I have a couple places I would love to take WilliG to. We need a sign-up roster or something.

And your Sportster is were?????

(Beside crying her self to sleep stuck in a Garage)

SharkDoctor (Jeff) will be getting WilleG next, from there it will be of to him where he goes. I am sure you can get him next.

I will be creating a special forum topic area for the WilleG travel posts and will move this post there one the area is set up.

Dang, Bert! Those are some quality pictures...I think you ought to work out a deal with Honda Inc so they use those pictures in an ad! Maybe it'll net you a Rune to put in the fleet! Really, tho, those are some of the finest pics I've seen in a while! Thanks for sharin'!

Thanks, Planb. The originals are 7.2 MegaPixel and are four or five times as big!!

Here is the route that I took.

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/200507sonthofen-fussen-austria-trip.jpg

The map below shows a blue square around the area that I rode.

http://linson.us/CMS/images/zoom/200507sonthofen/200507sonthofen-fussen-austria-trip-cutout.jpg

those are some great pictures!! I love seeing the castles!
I would like to see them in real life someday!

Got to say Gnomes just kind of freak me out, gives me the willies :))
My wife has one in our house and I stay far away from that thing!!
Oh by the way I do not like clowns either hahahahahaha

Great pictures. Please put my name on Willi's list.

I like that you don't just throw him in your saddlebags but allow him the pleasure to feel the wind in his face. Beautiful country, here in So Cal we don't need that much leather in July though.

Outstanding! I have a couple places I would love to take WilliG to. We need a sign-up roster or something.
yeah we will definately need a sign-up roster! I think that I need to take that gnome on a few adventures myself!! :D

I would like Willi to accompany me to Chattanooga for the national HOG rally, Aug. 26, 27th.

Great shots Bert! if you take out the castles they could have been taken right here in Washington,looks just like home :D
Y2K :smoke

Damn!

Nothin' like a little pressure for some quality pictures to chronicle the rides!!! Nice job Bert!!!

When might I expect to see WilliG, and is Gotwa next (our next Forum ride is Aug).

Hey Jeff,

Considering mail time and what not I would think Schmidt would be next up. Taking Willi to the Nat'l HOG rally is a pretty unique opportunity.

I just want to go to some nice spots that I can go to any ole time so no rush for me.

I'm afraid to venture a guess as to what kind of pictures we'll see coming off that MI/OH/IN/PA/NY ride in August...Bert may have to have two places to post WilliG's pictures, 'cause you know there's going to be some with WilliG in compromising positions...er...places...er...situations... :D

I'm afraid to venture a guess as to what kind of pictures we'll see coming off that MI/OH/IN/PA/NY ride in August...Bert may have to have two places to post WilliG's pictures, 'cause you know there's going to be some with WilliG in compromising positions...er...places...er...situations... :D
Geez if gary and cantolina ride, WiiliG will do well to even SURVIVE the ride!!!

If we go to Niagara Falls, I'm gonna try and get him fixed up at one of those quickie wedding chapels... find him a gnomette of sorts... Then we'll take him to Canada, eh?

Damn good thing I didn't take him to FL... would have gotten him shark bitten and then a blow job by Dennis! What a summer that would have been! I want to take him next summer though. See if I can get him his own pet shark...

:laugh

Wow Bert, that was cool!:tour :wonderlan


Really good photos. too. I don't mean mega pixels, either, I mean good angles, compositions, a little humour, a little history, these kinda journals make good reading.

THANKS!

p.s. I know I might be low on the totem pole, but I could show Willie a good time here in Chicago.:flag_illi :tour ride free

Hey now Jeff you might be on to something...With the way the Discovery Channel thrives on custom bikes and Shark Week maybe you can take ole Willi down with a Discovery crew. Yeah, yeah, just ride your bike out into the surf, toss out some chum, wrap Willi in chain mail...

It should be a contest.

Shark doctor thinks up a Sportster trivia question and the winner gets WillieG next and then that person does the same thing. And so on until it gets back to Bert.

Bert those are some great Pic's!!!! :clap :clap :clap :clap

They sure make me go back to Germany real BAD!!!! :D

How about putting me on the Willy List!!!!! ;)

Why even ship him once hes in the US? Just hand him off from one member to another, could map out were everyone is thats willing to take him for a joy ride. We could probally get in the guinness world records book. :)

Nice pics......I've been to that castle in the winter and I thought it would be a great area for riding in the summer. But I think future pics shoul be on a Sporty, after all, this is the Sportster forum.

Man, I miss Germany. Always regretted not extending my tour in 1983.

You're welcome Bert! ;)


Great pictures. I need to get to Europe someday.

Why even ship him once hes in the US? Just hand him off from one member to another, could map out were everyone is thats willing to take him for a joy ride. We could probally get in the guinness world records book. :)

I like that idea! There has to be at least a few of us in each state to pass him around. Hawaii might be tough...

That friggin great. He looks alot like my Willie the Gnome. Smokin Willie I calls 'um.

I never woulda guessed that Willie was into bondage. But pictures dont lie.

Freaky little germans. Anyways I can wait till he gets down to Texas.

Adios

I like this idea as well as passing WilliG off to another rider, but I could see that causing a bit of a problem, especially if WilliG is scheduled to make an appearance elsewhere if he is "booked" in advance.

Part of the chronicles should be a list of all XL Forum members he rides with... The August run should introduce him to somewhere between 10 and 20 Forum members if we are as successful as the May ride.

The Chronicle:

"The Roaming Gnome"
"Romancing the Gnome"
"On the Road Again" (apologies to WillieN)

Why even ship him once hes in the US? Just hand him off from one member to another, could map out were everyone is thats willing to take him for a joy ride. We could probally get in the guinness world records book. :)


I'm with JetEngineMech,that's a Great Idea!!!! :clap :clap :clap

...The little guy in the photo is WilleG (Wille the Gnome) and he is the mascot for the XL Forum. ...

I'm confused Bert, which one is the gnome...the little guy in red and yellow or the doofey looking one in black leather ??? :laugh

I kind of like that "hand off" idea myself...it would be like the Pony Express! Plus it would allow almost all the members here to meet at least one other XL member! Great concept! Comaradie doesn't get much better than right here! Next year we could try to see how fast we can get WilliG from PEI to San Diego! Not quite an Ironbutt, but it sure sounds like fun! Keep the ideas coming! It'd be fun to get Willi around the world without any postage...what a punishment it would be to have to take him to Aussie Land and hand off to Stevo or others! We've got members from Denmark to Italy for a Europe run, too! :D

I would like Willi to accompany me to Chattanooga for the National HOG rally, Aug. 26, 27th.
I just chatted with Bert and WilliG is headed to MI... should arrive next week. I'll be taking him to the Canadian BBQ Aug 14th.

I think we agreed that Schmidtrock would be next for the National Hog Rally in TENN (Aug 26) and then to GOTWA for some Pacific NW trips. Let's verify, and Schmidtrock, PM me your address for UPS/FedEx and I'll send WilliG packing after the Canadians show him some northern hospitality.

I intend to introduce him to some midwest farmers' daughters (to "really make him feel alright") and then take him through northern MI to Canada to meet our Great Lakes Forum riders and some new Canadian friends... I'm trying to get tickets to a Detroit Tigers game to introduce him to American baseball (with a round bat, not a flat breadboard).

Does he have a passport? Are his shots current? Does he get seasick?

Will advise when he arrives.

J

:banarasta

Hahaha brilliant ! Doing the pm after posting this !

All shots are current and I shipped him via USPS so no passport was required...just a customs form.

He may be a little hungry when he gets to you but I packed him in a bunch of foam popcorn so he had enough to eat.

All shots are current and I shipped him via USPS so no passport was required...just a customs form.

He may be a little hungry when he gets to you but I packed him in a bunch of foam popcorn so he had enough to eat.

HAHAHA!!!! Now watch SD get the gnome, and all the foam popcorns be gone!!! Nothing left but little gnome poo-poo pellets all around the bottom of the box! Hahaha! :laugh :laugh :laugh

All shots are current and I shipped him via USPS so no passport was required...just a customs form.

He may be a little hungry when he gets to you but I packed him in a bunch of foam popcorn so he had enough to eat.
I hope you sent his helmet... we have LAWS in Michigan!!! Same in Canada! Otherwise I might have to cut a ping pong ball in half or something!?

WilleG is a rebel. We have helmet laws in Germany also but he refused to wear one. His actual words to me were, "Helmet? I don't need no stinkin' helmet"

So Willi (BTW Bert, you need to decide on a spelling for his name damnit! ;) ) is coming to me after Schmidt????

No sweat with me but if someone else has an event or something special by all means step in line. I'll just be riding him around to some favorite spots, no events, well maybe, depending on arrival time.

I'm sure Scarlett will keep him good company though. Although I haven't warned her of Klown's actions. :D

You are right GOTWA. His name is spelled WilliG

so ...have we got a calender with time line on it????? so we can see where and when...


Was just thinking we're doin a 5 day poker run for The Southern Cross Assosciation ....it's a kids charity group....

here's a link..http://southern-cross-association.org.au/Index2.htm



I'll be leavin on Sunday the 4th of September...unfortunately I don't think I'll be on the sporty..but I'll be headin down past Greyfeathers place...or if one of the NSW or Vic boys did a run up to Brissy on the 10th or so I could hand him over and then he could go down south thru Gronk and Jack and over to Crackers in Tassie










It's rainin here at the mo', so no drag racin tonight .......so I went out and got some pizza and beer ...who said ya need a car.. :tour

So I'm thinkin...if you could airmail the little fella over here in time...... I'd get the sporty back together for it..... was gonna take the gixxer but we can't have the little fella ridin Jap bikes now can we ;) ..... if I don't worry about the carbon fibre parts and use my old heads and the baby 0.536's I can do it in that time frame.......... :banadanc :banana ..it's one of those projects that will NEVER be finished anyway...I'll always find something else to do to it...

Get the little bugger over to OZ.........[I need to have a word with him].........

If he does come over I can pick him up south side of Sydny and take him to Gronk country...........Us Victorians will show him a good time........[I hope he can handle his grog].........

There's a few women down here that want to meet him too...................

Good crimeny, someone air mail Willi to Stevo! If ti will light a fire under his ass to get that Sporty back on the road I'll pitch in for the fee!!!!

:tour

If WillieG wants to check Souther California out, I would be happy to let him ride with me and crash at my crib for a few days! :banawala

If WillieG wants to check Souther California out, I would be happy to let him ride with me and crash at my crib for a few days! :banawala

I don't know Grizzly , do you think he would want to leave here
after he see's all the girl gnomes at the beach in there bikinis .
:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Please ask Willi if he wants to meet some Señoritas. Maybe I could organise a ride up to the border for the change over.