Just home. Very windy north of Edinburgh and showery. Got down to 11C (Cochem was 33C)!
Showered and now coffee.
Showered and now coffee.
Doc does Cochem 2025 with special (needs) ukgser guests
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Nice one Iain. That's a long old trip.
I'll add my bit to the trip tomorrow evening. We have a punter coming to view the house on Thursday 
so the wife wants it spick and span.
Left Bitche at 07:30 in 19c. Arrived home at 19:00 in 33c. I think the word is fecked, or close to it.
so the wife wants it spick and span.Left Bitche at 07:30 in 19c. Arrived home at 19:00 in 33c. I think the word is fecked, or close to it.
Glad that you got hone safely guys. Great trip report, I’ve enjoyed reading that, and sone of the pictures stirred memories of dear old Giles .
We are staying just up the road then from where you were about 5 km south of Hagenau at a small place called the AuI'll add my bit to the trip tomorrow evening. We have a punter coming to view the house on Thursday
Left Bitche at 07:30 in 19c. Arrived home at 19:00 in 33c. I think the word is fecked, or close to it.
Boeuf Rouge
Lovely hotel with an adjoining restaurant. Bonkers prices here even though it had the highest Logis category for food. Nice but not again
Set menu was €110
We went for a la carte which was a lot cheaper. On now across the border to the B 500 and then curving back round to west of Colmar where Sneldog I think was….
I paid €7 euros when I went to visit Pauly wines. Few years ago though.Wow that is quite a bit even by Mosel standards but I guess if it’s at the festival it’s OK. I stock up once a year close to Cochem with our favourite whites and pay around €10 a bottle direct from the producer. Quite like a drop of the German stuff of a summers evening
Belatedly, here is my addition to the trip report.
I set off at 07:00 on the Tuesday, taking the roads less travelled. I still think northwest France is a bit boring. Lots of straight, flat roads with endless views of the corn/wheat/cereal fields. I had planned to stay at the Auberge Champenoise in MOUSSY. Alas it was full. I think it also under new management. The staff were all oriental.
Onwards to Reims and stayed in the Enzo Hotel (in Tinqueux). €75 the night and the receptionist insisted I park the bike in the breakfast room
Dodgy area maybe.
Set off for Cochem at 7:30 and a little way north of Reims the roads improved in their curviness. Into the Ardennes and they were terrific and put a smile back on my face. Too many times of late it's been blast here and blast there.
At one point I passed a stone memorial block comminating the The Lost Battalion of WW1. Nine Companies. About 554 men
En route, I stopped for a bite at an Aldi.
Into Luxembourg and I missed a turn. Kurviger did not recalculate. Odd. Stopped and tried to re-do it but I had lost phone data and had not downloaded the map for offline use
. Dug out the XT from my bag and did the rest the Garmin way.
Then on to Cochem where I arrived at about 1:30, ready for the fun to start.
It was getting hot. Some beers and then to bed.
Thursday was quiet as it was a public holiday. That meant breakfast in town as Penny Markt was closed. Iain and I paid the princely sum of nearly €20 each for the privilege of eating on the "front". There was a boiled egg included...
Off to the fest in the evening. Iain had his accident that involved a bench and concrete floor, oh and wine. The fest was rammed! Much later there followed the long march 
back to the digs.
Friday boat trip was the best yet. Full boat (500 capacity) and most people up for a good time. The boring barstewards were all a the back of the boat. Why go if its not your thing? Anyway, I think a good time was had by all the "needy" of UKGSER.
On Sunday the crowds had evaporated. Pleasant enough to wander around without the dodgems.
We stopped at a terrace bar while waiting for the resto to open, for the most expensive beers of the trip. €7.50 for a 0.4 litre of Weissbier!
We had steak with a white pepper sauce, without the BJ, and I had my first ever Aperol Spritz. Not gay at all.
Iain had to sample the Schwarzbier ( Not to be confused with a dunkel weisse bier). A mass no less.
The restaurant was opposite "Kelsey's Eck" (corner), it is/was allegedly owned by the drummer from The Sweet.
TBC...... (max 14 pictures)
I set off at 07:00 on the Tuesday, taking the roads less travelled. I still think northwest France is a bit boring. Lots of straight, flat roads with endless views of the corn/wheat/cereal fields. I had planned to stay at the Auberge Champenoise in MOUSSY. Alas it was full. I think it also under new management. The staff were all oriental.
Onwards to Reims and stayed in the Enzo Hotel (in Tinqueux). €75 the night and the receptionist insisted I park the bike in the breakfast room
Dodgy area maybe.Set off for Cochem at 7:30 and a little way north of Reims the roads improved in their curviness. Into the Ardennes and they were terrific and put a smile back on my face. Too many times of late it's been blast here and blast there.
At one point I passed a stone memorial block comminating the The Lost Battalion of WW1. Nine Companies. About 554 men
En route, I stopped for a bite at an Aldi.
Into Luxembourg and I missed a turn. Kurviger did not recalculate. Odd. Stopped and tried to re-do it but I had lost phone data and had not downloaded the map for offline use
. Dug out the XT from my bag and did the rest the Garmin way.Then on to Cochem where I arrived at about 1:30, ready for the fun to start.
It was getting hot. Some beers and then to bed.
Thursday was quiet as it was a public holiday. That meant breakfast in town as Penny Markt was closed. Iain and I paid the princely sum of nearly €20 each for the privilege of eating on the "front". There was a boiled egg included...
Off to the fest in the evening. Iain had his accident that involved a bench and concrete floor, oh and wine
. The fest was rammed! Much later there followed the long march back to the digs.Friday boat trip was the best yet. Full boat (500 capacity) and most people up for a good time. The boring barstewards were all a the back of the boat. Why go if its not your thing? Anyway, I think a good time was had by all the "needy" of UKGSER.
On Sunday the crowds had evaporated. Pleasant enough to wander around without the dodgems.
We stopped at a terrace bar while waiting for the resto to open, for the most expensive beers of the trip. €7.50 for a 0.4 litre of Weissbier!
We had steak with a white pepper sauce, without the BJ, and I had my first ever Aperol Spritz. Not gay at all.
Iain had to sample the Schwarzbier ( Not to be confused with a dunkel weisse bier). A mass no less.
The restaurant was opposite "Kelsey's Eck" (corner), it is/was allegedly owned by the drummer from The Sweet.
TBC...... (max 14 pictures)
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I headed off on Monday to go to Big Emmas. It was closed and not open for another hour... Next time
Then to Pirmasens to see my mate that had a stroke. I don't think he realises his life will change in many ways. The stroke happened in Nimes at a roundabout. Fell off the bike, while stopped. Ambulance took him to Nimes and then helicoptered to another hospital. 3 weeks he was there and then an Austrian (?!) meat wagon took him back to Germany. Today he has gone to a rehab centre and will be released from they when they are happy with his recovery.
Nice Tee
I stayed in Bitche. No secure parking, but the owner said they had never had a bike stolen from there. I wasn't bothered.
The view from the room was AOK.
The room was standard fare.
The room, 2 beers, meal and desert was €115. OK for me.
Spätzle Gratinee and a Caffe Gourmand to finish.
There was an interesting manikin on the stairs. Yes, I did lift the apron
The trip home on Tuesday was loooong. Headwind all the way and hot. Did it all in one day. 900kms.
This is just the odd bits of phone video I took, cobbled together. Nearly 10 minutes of your life can be lost by watching it.
(Video not available until 12:00 
)
Then to Pirmasens to see my mate that had a stroke. I don't think he realises his life will change in many ways. The stroke happened in Nimes at a roundabout. Fell off the bike, while stopped. Ambulance took him to Nimes and then helicoptered to another hospital. 3 weeks he was there and then an Austrian (?!) meat wagon took him back to Germany. Today he has gone to a rehab centre and will be released from they when they are happy with his recovery.
Nice Tee
I stayed in Bitche. No secure parking, but the owner said they had never had a bike stolen from there. I wasn't bothered.
The view from the room was AOK.
The room was standard fare.
The room, 2 beers, meal and desert was €115. OK for me.
Spätzle Gratinee and a Caffe Gourmand to finish.
There was an interesting manikin on the stairs. Yes, I did lift the apron
The trip home on Tuesday was loooong. Headwind all the way and hot. Did it all in one day. 900kms.
This is just the odd bits of phone video I took, cobbled together. Nearly 10 minutes of your life can be lost by watching it.
)
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for which the trip was all about.
I quite like the northwest of France. It’s the northeast I find boring, just massive almost endless fields of crops. It does get a little more interesting as we head south around Reims, Troyes area.Belatedly, here is my addition to the trip report.
I set off at 07:00 on the Tuesday, taking the roads less travelled. I still think northwest France is a bit boring. Lots of straight, flat roads with endless views of the corn/wheat/cereal fields. I had planned to stay at the Auberge Champenoise in MOUSSY. Alas it was full. I think it also under new management. The staff were all oriental.
Onwards to Reims and stayed in the Enzo Hotel (in Tinqueux). €75 the night and the receptionist insisted I park the bike in the breakfast room
Set off for Cochem at 7:30 and a little way north of Reims the roads improved in their curviness. Into the Ardennes and they were terrific and put a smile back on my face. Too many times of late it's been blast here and blast there.
View attachment 422565
View attachment 422566
At one point I passed a stone memorial block comminating the The Lost Battalion of WW1. Nine Companies. About 554 men
View attachment 422567
View attachment 422569
En route, I stopped for a bite at an Aldi.
Into Luxembourg and I missed a turn. Kurviger did not recalculate. Odd. Stopped and tried to re-do it but I had lost phone data and had not downloaded the map for offline use
Then on to Cochem where I arrived at about 1:30, ready for the fun to start.
It was getting hot. Some beers and then to bed.
Thursday was quiet as it was a public holiday. That meant breakfast in town as Penny Markt was closed. Iain and I paid the princely sum of nearly €20 each for the privilege of eating on the "front". There was a boiled egg included...
Off to the fest in the evening. Iain had his accident that involved a bench and concrete floor, oh and wine
Friday boat trip was the best yet. Full boat (500 capacity) and most people up for a good time. The boring barstewards were all a the back of the boat. Why go if its not your thing? Anyway, I think a good time was had by all the "needy" of UKGSER.
View attachment 422573
On Sunday the crowds had evaporated. Pleasant enough to wander around without the dodgems.
We stopped at a terrace bar while waiting for the resto to open, for the most expensive beers of the trip. €7.50 for a 0.4 litre of Weissbier!
View attachment 422575
We had steak with a white pepper sauce, without the BJ, and I had my first ever Aperol Spritz. Not gay at all.
View attachment 422574
Iain had to sample the Schwarzbier ( Not to be confused with a dunkel weisse bier). A mass no less.
View attachment 422598
The restaurant was opposite "Kelsey's Eck" (corner), it is/was allegedly owned by the drummer from The Sweet.
View attachment 422577
TBC...... (max 14 pictures)
Good pictures by the way.
That was a long ride John!I headed off on Monday to go to Big Emmas. It was closed and not open for another hour... Next time
View attachment 422602
Then to Pirmasens to see my mate that had a stroke. I don't think he realises his life will change in many ways. The stroke happened in Nimes at a roundabout. Fell off the bike, while stopped. Ambulance took him to Nimes and then helicoptered to another hospital. 3 weeks he was there and then an Austrian (?!) meat wagon took him back to Germany. Today he has gone to a rehab centre and will be released from they when they are happy with his recovery.
Nice Tee
View attachment 422603
I stayed in Bitche. No secure parking, but the owner said they had never had a bike stolen from there. I wasn't bothered.
The view from the room was AOK.
View attachment 422604
The room was standard fare.
View attachment 422600
The room, 2 beers, meal and desert was €115. OK for me.
Spätzle Gratinee and a Caffe Gourmand to finish.
View attachment 422606 View attachment 422605
There was an interesting manikin on the stairs. Yes, I did lift the apron
View attachment 422599
The trip home on Tuesday was loooong. Headwind all the way and hot. Did it all in one day. 900kms.
This is just the odd bits of phone video I took, cobbled together. Nearly 10 minutes of your life can be lost by watching it.
(Video not available until 12:00
Nice video compilation - very cleverly done for a seriously old bugger!
Wapping's "Macarina" was a classic!
Great video. Nice to see some footage instead of photos for a change.
Khulu does (almost) Northern Soul dance to YMCA and Wapping does the (near enough) Time Warp to The Macarina.
By the looks of it an excellent boat trip was had by all.
Khulu does (almost) Northern Soul dance to YMCA and Wapping does the (near enough) Time Warp to The Macarina.
By the looks of it an excellent boat trip was had by all.
It was a great laugh!Great video. Nice to see some footage instead of photos for a change.
Khulu does (almost) Northern Soul dance to YMCA and Wapping does the (near enough) Time Warp to The Macarina.
By the looks of it an excellent boat trip was had by all.
New avatar I see - which one resembles you?
I love that film .
I see you covered some miles Iain. A hell of a slog home for you.
It c
It certainly was.
I see you covered some miles Iain. A hell of a slog home for
Borrocks. I meant northeast!
I also skelped across a very breezy Netherlands and found myself on the core team ferry boat out of Rotterdam.
Paused at Oosterbeek for lunch. A wee cemetery.
Final pit stop in a nice wee town called Brielle.
UK was very windy and dull, but got home almost 300 miles with only a few short showers.
Then threw my panniers off and next day loaded my bike into a van with my older lad’s S1000 to go all the way south again. 330 miles. To enjoy a track day at Cadwell Park courtesy of BMW Club.
What a stunning track. Sun shone. Didn’t crash. Very enjoyable, but I ain’t doing any more.
Up early yesterday and 330 miles later tucking the bike up for a while.
Now recovering from it all and catching up with the chores. Good lady has a long list.
ps - my trusty R1200RS (RS12BMW) turned 10 years old yesterday. Going as strong as ever on 54,000 mobiles (for all the warranty worriers among us)
Paused at Oosterbeek for lunch. A wee cemetery.
Final pit stop in a nice wee town called Brielle.
UK was very windy and dull, but got home almost 300 miles with only a few short showers.
Then threw my panniers off and next day loaded my bike into a van with my older lad’s S1000 to go all the way south again. 330 miles. To enjoy a track day at Cadwell Park courtesy of BMW Club.
What a stunning track. Sun shone. Didn’t crash. Very enjoyable, but I ain’t doing any more.
Up early yesterday and 330 miles later tucking the bike up for a while.
Now recovering from it all and catching up with the chores. Good lady has a long list.
ps - my trusty R1200RS (RS12BMW) turned 10 years old yesterday. Going as strong as ever on 54,000 mobiles (for all the warranty worriers among us)
