Finaly done it!!

[tarry]

Ever since i started riding motorbikes i have wanted to go abroad touring and joining this web site has made the urge even worse, but with one thing or another we just never got around to it, so when my son came home last year and said he was going on a school field trip for five days monday- friday that was all the insentive i needed, so i asked the misses where she wanted to go and got the reply not bothered but would like to visit a typical dutch village but no camping! i thought great that will do me. so with a few questions and some pearls of wisdom from ukgser members a plan came together,the ww1 memorials and reports i have read on here have interested me. After dropping our son at the school gates at 9am it was a straight run down to dover to catch the 4pm ferry and arrive at 7pm local time dunkirk just giving us enough time to reach the menin gate for 8pm. We made it with 5mins to spare soaked through, the rain had followed us from getting on the bike at 9-30 in the morning till 7-55 at night, but we both agreed it was worth it, like every other picture you see from the menin gate at 8pm the memorial was full with people from around the world paying their respects.We got back on the bike found our b+b www.denachtwacht-ieper.be which had just opened and had 3 very contempary rooms and mike the owner even let us leave our bike in his hall, with a quick change it was out into ieper for a pint and something to eat and wot a very nice town it is with a stunning town hall and square.

 

[tarry]

finaly done it!! day 2

After leaving ieper we headed for vancouver corner which again is a thought provoking memorial to the canadians who suffered the first gas attack of the war and then onto tyne cot cemetery as we arrived there were 2 coach loads of young army cadets on a tour of the region and it was interesting listning to what they thought and what there tour guide said on the terrible events from 1914-1918,the pictures and words get repeated over and over but still harrowing accounts of what those poor men on both sides suffered during that time makes the hair on the back off your neck stand up and your eyes fill

 

[tarry]

finalt done it!! end of day2

After leaving tyne cot the weather looked iffy? so i set the sat nav to quickest and we headed for germany on the motorway around brussels and towards aachen where we arrived at our hotel late afternoon, we changed and nipped down the local for a pint.aachen has a very old cathedral in which the city is based around.

 

[peejay]

Hoping to do this trip later this year, so thanks, nice pics-so far, keep it coming.

 

[tarry]

finaly done it!! day 3

We awoke to a good looking day and set off for the nurburgring along the 258 a road that earthmover had mentioned in a previous report and what a belter it is winding its way through the eifel national park, the one thing that did catch me out was how low the speed limit was 70kph to 80kph on smooth empty roads it was hard to resist winding it on a bit every now and then.When we arrived at the ring and it was closed to the public and had been booked for a private track day so no chance off getting the iron horse on the track(but am sure i will return one day) we then drove back up the 258 but then turned onto the 266 another belting road smooth and quite with biker friendly inns and cafes.

 

[tarry]

finaly done it!! day3

some more pics

 

[tarry]

Finaly done it!! day 4+5

After opening the curtains and looking out off the window to clear blue skys, we packed and loaded the bike, then headed for holland and schoonhoven (cheers robroy) a small town typically dutch which is what the misses wanted to see, as i looked down on the sat nav, the road became a dotted line and signs for a ferry appeared on the river bank, we crossed over to the other side where there was a pub, resturant, and coffee shop with places just to chill and enjoy the atmosphere which we did, we left schoonhoven following some back roads and lanes towards rotterdam then onto the hook of holland for the overnight stenaline ferry back to harwich, in total we covered 1150miles in 5 days(1150gs?) and really enjoyed it. to those who are living on the south coast how lucky are you to be a stones throw from such quite and smooth roads. Thanks to all who gave advice and tips earthmover,mick, invicta moto, robroy and the other nwgsers.
Now when his is next school trip?

 

[Stevie73]

Great stuff.... Looks like one to remember.

 

[Mr K]

That's what it's about.

 

[Bem]

Excellent report, and fine pictures too!

 

[Gundog]

Nice one Steve......

 

[robroy]

Sounds like a great trip, and glad the missus enjoyed Schoonhoven So did mine.

I'm off with my son on a 17-day trip in just under 7 weeks - also my first trip
'overseas' on the bike. Can't wait.

 

[Lord of the Manor]

Excellent report and pics, enjoyed it! Thanks

 

[Dave56]

Enjoyed that.................

 

[Aidan1150]

That's what it's about.

As Chris rightly says, that's what it's all about Tarry. Now that you've done it all you will be thinking about will be getting away again soon.

 

[Ash]

As Chris rightly says, that's what it's all about Tarry. Now that you've done it all you will be thinking about will be getting away again soon.

+1
Excellent report and pics

 

[blobbs]

Great report - keep at it