Over The Pond VIII 2009

27.05.09 - 20.06.09

The beginning:

My activity on the Internet started in 1998. All people said: ”Internet and computer make lonely”.
Four years later the opposite shows up.

Together with Bernd Neumann we started the first German GTR-Rally “Ritt auf dem Vulkan”.
We met and found many friends and it was continued even with the help of GTR CLUB EUROPE in the following years.
My Website http://gtr-1000-online.de becomes a meeting-point for all German speaking people.

2007 I got a message from Hans Ove Görtz: ”Over the pond- You're nominated”.
The dream began...
I got a second message: “OTP- CONGRATIOLATION -runner-up”.
In the next weeks Patrick (the traveler) and I tried to go together Over The Pond. It was not possible for many reasons.
So I stayed at home, just dreaming.

2009 again a message from Hans Ove Görtz: ”Over the pond- You're nominated”.
And later “The winner candidate to go Over the Pond is Wolfram Tege from Germany!!!!!!”.
Yahoooo a dream became true, I never leaft Europe before.

Now three month of planing the trip. Sometimes it seems I'm already in US! Nice time, many new people many suggestions, many help.

May 27th 2009 the dream became real. I flow to Los Angeles!

The report:

It was a very long way from coast to coast.
I could smell and feel the climate:
Hot and dry in the west. Cold and stormy in the Rocky Mountains. Nice and moderate in the middle. Hot and clammy in the east.

I could feel the big distances in this country.
Two days around a lake, three days straight on without changing the landscape, a whole day through a wood without any town or road junction.

I met many different people, most like friends from the first day. I was welcome in many houses and I got a wonderful support everywhere. The people filled their refrigerator with things I like and bought a coffeemaker because they know I like a coffee in the morning. They drove hundred of miles to pick me up and bring me safe to the next station. They gave money for the flight and gas, free motel rooms or a bed in their house for me and my guides. Payed the food, ferry, toll, attractions…
All did the very best to make me comfortable.

THANK YOU ALL! It was the trip of my life.
You can't buy it!
Only COG and GCE can make it possible. Only you can make it possible.
Many thanks to all supporters.

No words left.

Wolfram Tege

http://gtr-1000-online.de
AAD-Germany, GCE# 37
GCE (GTR Club Europa)
GTR-Freunde-Europa
Over The Pond VIII Traveler 2009

All pictures from Wolfram: http://rides.webshots.com/album/573271198TLunnS
The Map from Wolfram (slow loading!): http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=292506
Pictures from Paul (Los Angeles): http://community.webshots.com/user/2001concours
Pictures from Jim (Los Angeles to Las Vegas): http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikestalker/sets/72157619059770518/show/
Pictures from James (Grand Canyon to Frisco): http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user......
Pictures from Harry (Los Angeles to Ft. Morgan): http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=IU8ARJ43
Pictures from Guy (Fontana to Washington DC): http://www.gbyoung2.smugmug.com/gallery/8469888_8Mrpj
Pictures from John ('Shiftin n Grinnin' 2009 National Rally) : http://community.webshots.com/user/joh2car
Pictures from Frank (Washington DC):http://s639.photobucket.com/albums/uu115/RFHVA/Wolfram%20in%20DC/
Pictures from Mike (New York): http://rides.webshots.com/album/573160774LACUlm

Concours Owners Group home page: http://www.concours.org/
Concours Owners Group (COG) - Home Page: http://www.cog-online.org/
GTR Club Europe: http://eu.concours.org/
Over The Pond through the time: http://eu.concours.org/over_the_pond/overthepond.html
GTR-Freunde-Europa: http://www.gtr-1000-online.de/gtr-freunde-europa/

Wolfram Tege, ()