Weserbergland Boxer Forum Meeting & Toyrun (lots of pics)

Some of you will remember my thread about the meeting, organised by the german Boxer Forum in the south of Germany: Thread . Last weekend they organised another one in the “Weserbergland” (Weser mountain country) near the city of Bielefeld. (The “Weser” is a river that runs through that area.)

It was a three-day event organised at “Günther’s Kurve” (http://www.guenters-kurve.de/index.html , only in german), a bikers café (something like the Ace Café in London).
- Friday: arrival and concert by the Rock a Teers (http://www.rockateers.de/index2.html )
- Saturday: ride through the Weserbergland (approx. 300 Km)
- Sunday: the Toyrun for Kids (http://www.toyrun4kids.de/ )

Again, the organisation was as good as perfect !

On Friday some 140 bikers (almost all on BMW boxers) arrived and got installed, either on the campsite or in one of the several hotels in the area:





Upon arrival, some got their license plate number noted together with the mileage (Km’s in our case) of the bike … :



… some three months ago one could send in the mileage of his bike at that time. At the event the difference was made and you would have to donate one cent for every Km you rode. I did some 5700 Km (3500 miles) and had to “donate” 57 Euros. The first place was for someone who did more than 14000 Km (9000 miles) in three months.

In the evening there was an open air party with concert, donated by Günther & Hanna, the owners of the café:





The crowd grew as the evening went on and the beertaps kept running. It weren’t only BMW boxers that came to the party:





… but most of them were:

Saturday started with Hanna’s legendary breakfast buffet (which, by the way, is repeated every sunday morning). One had to stand in line to get some food. Luckily everything went reasonably fast so you didn’t have to wait long.



After breakfast it was waiting for the start of the 300 Km ride through the “Weserbergland”.





Departure was somewhat chaotic, but everyone got on the way:



Unfortunately, after about 5 Km an accident happened: one of the riders slipped on some oil on the road. Damage to the bike was not too bad and the driver was also OK, but his passenger hit something with her leg which fractured on several places. The fracture is very complicated and she will have to be operated somewhere later this week or even next week. Recovery will take at least 12 weeks. I hope she will get well soon and that there will be no complications.
After the emergency services were called, a few riders stayed at the scene while the rest continued the tour. After about 65 Km we arrived at the first ferry across the Weser river:





The ferry had to go back four times before the whole group was across the river.

The second ferry (we crossed the river twice) was a lot smaller and had to come back eight times to get the whole group across the river:





A few Km’s from the ferry we had lunch. Since everything was ordered in advance and because we arrived in small groups from the ferry, no one had to stand in line to get some food. Again good points for the organisers of the event. The parking lot of the restaurant was somewhat crowded:



After a while it got even more crowded:



Halfway the lunch and the end of the tour we had another break:

When we arrived back at “Günther’s Kurve”, it was time to take some more pics of bikes:

… very nice …



… The ultimate topcase …



They had a busy programm in the evening:

First there was the official presentation of the “Schaukelboxer” (rocking boxer – I hope this is the correct name)



The one on the picture is the prototype. It will go into production soon and will be available to buy :



After the presentation, it was time for the draw of the lottery and to start the auction. All earnings from the lottery and auction went to the Toyrun. There was all kinds of stuff to be auctioned:

- A BOxer FOrum licence plate:



- Motorcycle gear … yikes … What the hell is that ??? (even this got sold)



- and even beer was sold at a twice the normal price:

After another of “Hanna’s legendary breakfasts”, it was time to prepare for the Toyrun. Some of the bikers brought their own toys for the kids:





Again there were some nice bikes:





This one is for Chopperman:



It took us about an hour through the german countryside to do the trip of about 50 Km to a Childrens hospital in Bielefeld. This hospital is specialized in epilepsy. A lot of children remain there permanently and a lot are there for special treatment. The welcome was great. Children, parents and hospital staff waited at the entrance and welcomed the large group of bikers.



After the first welcome it was time to unload the presents …



… and arrange them …

Some of the bikers couldn’t resist the toys and had to try them out:



Only after they were approved and certified by the biker’s “quality control and safety department”, the children were allowed to try them out:



After the speeches and the traditional group pictures …



… with some of the “small” kids …



… and some of the “tall” kids …



… it was time for the “small” kids to go for a ride:





I think the smile on their faces says enough:

Even the “polizei” took some of the kids for a ride. They enjoyed it:



The first group returning:





The next group preparing to leave:





One of the bikers playing with the brand new computer that was also one of the donations to the hospital :



Later in the afternoon it was time to head for home. After a trip of some 350 Km I got home sunday evening with a feeling that once again it had been a great weekend. Not only for the great rides on saturday and sunday morning, but also to have seen so many happy faces at the children’s hospital. Not only the kids and the parents had a lot of fun, but I’m sure all of the bikers did too. At least, I smiled all the way home.

Alle the pics (a lot of them) are here: https://gspep.smugmug.com/gallery/23983

Great post Peter!

I can't believe you haven't gotten any responses yet. Perhaps you need to add some drunk fat guys, T&A, or even a machavilian dick-tater to you next one to liven it up a little. :):

Great photos, great report, and and even greater cause! Nothing is better than seeing the smiles on kids faces.

Kudos!

Heel goed gedaan.
Zeg als je nog eens de weg naar Germany kiest laat me iets weten .
GS DOC

Toy runs are absolutely the best. I was a board member with ABATE of Alaska for a number of years, and they sponsor a toy run each year calle Christmas in July. Our legislative affairs officer dressed as Santa, dying his beard white. We would start in the morning on a Sunday, and hit 7 to 9 area hospitals and hospices to deliver the toys. With about 100 motorcycles pulling up at each stop, the kids that could would be looking down from the windows. At each stop, Santa and a few of his female "elves" would go up, taking a few members each time. You would see patchholders literally on the verge of tears when they came back out of the hospital, after seeing the kids.

Good on ya. Glad you had a good time, looked well organized. Great pics, thanks very much. Thanks for giving to the kids.

Some of the bikers, almost twice as tall as me (I'm 185 cm) and in full "battle dress" with patches and everything, had tears in their eyes when they saw the children's faces as they received the toys.

And it's always great if you can combine a great weekend of motorcycle riding with a good cause.

And ... ADVRIDER was there too:

Onya, GSPeP

A great cause, a great turnout, and some outstanding photos as always. Thanks! :):

Great report and beautiful pics.

Outstanding pics, GSPep! I'm perusing all the treffen pictures on your smugmug account ... simply an amazing event. Truly heartwarming.
Thanks for sharing with us.

Great report. Congrats to you and all the riders for doing such a great event!

Thanks you all,

Next sunday the hospital they visited last year has open house and the "toyrunners" are invited. If the weather is OK, I'll have a trip over there (it's only 200 miles one way)

Pics like this make it all worth while: