Handewitt Hohnstein Day 1 Rally Update Live

Day 1 – Handewitt – Hohnstein (Dresden)

With beautiful weather this morning, we set off right on time at 8:00 a.m. from Handewitt. After a warm goodbye from our kids, we joined our “home motorway,” the A7, heading toward Hamburg.

We’ve also added an official mascot to the journey. Meet Mr. B‑Bear, who will be joining us for the entire rally. Naturally, he has secured the best seat in the car, giving him a perfect view of everything that happens along the way. From navigation decisions to unexpected moments on the road, Mr. B‑Bear is right there with us — observing, supervising, and officially representing Team Insanire.

Team Insanire scene: person in pink hoodie and black beanie climbs onto a car roof with a spare tire, under an overcast sky.

Person in a red hoodie climbs onto the roof of a maroon SUV with a spare tire mounted on a roof rack under a cloudy sky, urban setting in the background

Originally, we thought we’d be going via Berlin, but instead we passed through the Elbtunnel, continued almost to Hanover, then switched to the A2 toward Magdeburg and finally the A4 in the direction of Dresden — ending the day in Hohnstein.

Red Land Rover SUV with a roof rack and spare tire on top, parked in a lot with forest trees in the background; adventure decals and stickers on the hood and side panels

Side-view mirror captures a sunny street with pastel houses and a police SUV approaching in the distance, reflecting a moment on a roadside in a residential area.

The drive was surprisingly relaxed, with sunshine all the way and smooth traffic throughout. We covered around 700 km today and arrived safely at the market square in Hohnstein, where the first rally teams are already gathering.

Lineup of white and colored vans with roof racks parked on a cobblestone square in Germany, part of a Team Insanire road trip event, capturing a sunny day.

IMG_7219-scaled.jpg depicts a European town square with a prominent yellow church tower, timber-framed houses, and white vans parked on a cobblestone street against a clear blue sky.

Now we’re waiting for the shuttle to the Brand‑Baude, where the official welcome event takes place tonight. The Brand‑Baude is beautifully located in Saxon Switzerland, offering a stunning valley view — and we were lucky enough to enjoy the sunset from there.

Group of people in the back of a pickup truck parked on a cobblestone square, yellow gable houses and a half-timbered building in the background on a sunny day.

We’ve already had some great conversations with fellow participants and finished the day with a very nice dinner. Everything feels just right — and tomorrow, the rally officially begins.