Being a Pumpernickel exiled to this remote island of Great Britain, I am occasionally allowed some furlough (usually for good behaviour... 
) for touring the continent and visiting friends and family. And so a trip was scheduled for the end of July this year...
Everything packed and ready to go - Friday after work
I know that the grass needs cutting - but honestly, have you ever heard of anybody looking back on his life: "Oh, I should have travelled less and mowed the lawn more often"? Well then.
Arriving in Dover after a rather uneventful motorway journey
Possu's parents live conveniently close to the ferry port and so I stayed with them overnight. Thus I could catch an early morning ferry and still be well rested and properly fed...
An ideal day should start with a some trail riding - and Possu's parents have just a nice little green lane leading to and out of their back garden...
On the ferry, passengers gathered for the crossing
I don't know a lot about cars (2 wheels too many...) but those looked quite interesting
Men at work
Saturday morning seems a pretty busy time in Dover
Whenever friends come over to England for the first time I recommend that they take the boat rather than travelling by plane or tunnel - the White Cliffs are a sight to behold and approaching this beautiful coast from the sea gets you into the right mood for the country and its history...
Btw, I sailed with Norfolk Line from Dover to Dunkerque this time - if you are heading east on the continent they are often the cheapest and always provide good facilities for motorcyclists (first on the ferry, secure location, help with strapping the bike down, etc.)
The crossing takes an hour longer than the usual Dover - Calais route but you are already a bit closer to Benelux therefor
Arriving on the other side
It's a small continent and you can't really avoid meeting people you have seen before every now and then.
I only made it to the first service station before I bumped into Blackbert of the Adventure Rider parish, serial crasher of Honda Blackbirds - hence on his Transalp...
I had previously conveyed the disrespectful English saying to him: "Belgium will be a nice country when it's finished" - so Bert was determined to prove it wrong and show me the exciting parts of his homeland.
En-route we passed through Cassel, a picturesque little French town that stands on quite a steep hill - and thus offering some serious bends leading up and down.
Shortly afterwards we crossed the border into Blackbert Land - Flanders, to be precise
Another one of these impressive Belgian hills - the Kemmelberg, famous among war veterans and cyclists
The towns didn't look bad either - here we were in Avelgem
We rode loads of lovely little country roads and arrived quite late at our destination: Geraardsbergen
The town hall
Little details that make you feel welcome...
And last but not least: the main reason for coming here - the local pastry speciality
A "Mattentaart" can only be called "Mattentaart" when it's actually made in Geraardsbergen - bit like Champagne, you know?
By the time we had finished our cake it was already 4 pm - and I still had over 200 miles to go to reach my sister's place. So rather hastily I had to say goodbye to Bert...
Dank je wel for your time, mate, I really enjoyed your route and your country.
And rest assured: I'll be back! 
Here's the scenic route through the Belgian Choc-countryside - just follow the yellow line:
I don't want to bore you with the description of hundreds of miles on the motorway, the two massive thunderstorms I had to ride through and the torrential rain on the way until I arrived in Germany 2 1/2 hours later than expected...
Fortunately my little sister was not too cross with me and had even waited with dinner - phew...
Fact is that we don't see each other very often and are always very happy when we're together
But after such a long day it was soon time for bed.
And looking at the time here and now, I should also rather finish for now - my lunch break is over.
To be continued...
) for touring the continent and visiting friends and family. And so a trip was scheduled for the end of July this year...Everything packed and ready to go - Friday after work
I know that the grass needs cutting - but honestly, have you ever heard of anybody looking back on his life: "Oh, I should have travelled less and mowed the lawn more often"? Well then.
Arriving in Dover after a rather uneventful motorway journey
Possu's parents live conveniently close to the ferry port and so I stayed with them overnight. Thus I could catch an early morning ferry and still be well rested and properly fed...
An ideal day should start with a some trail riding - and Possu's parents have just a nice little green lane leading to and out of their back garden...
On the ferry, passengers gathered for the crossing
I don't know a lot about cars (2 wheels too many...
) but those looked quite interesting
Men at work
Saturday morning seems a pretty busy time in Dover
Whenever friends come over to England for the first time I recommend that they take the boat rather than travelling by plane or tunnel - the White Cliffs are a sight to behold and approaching this beautiful coast from the sea gets you into the right mood for the country and its history...
Btw, I sailed with Norfolk Line from Dover to Dunkerque this time - if you are heading east on the continent they are often the cheapest and always provide good facilities for motorcyclists (first on the ferry, secure location, help with strapping the bike down, etc.)
The crossing takes an hour longer than the usual Dover - Calais route but you are already a bit closer to Benelux therefor
Arriving on the other side
It's a small continent and you can't really avoid meeting people you have seen before every now and then.
I only made it to the first service station before I bumped into Blackbert of the Adventure Rider parish, serial crasher of Honda Blackbirds - hence on his Transalp...
I had previously conveyed the disrespectful English saying to him: "Belgium will be a nice country when it's finished" - so Bert was determined to prove it wrong and show me the exciting parts of his homeland.
En-route we passed through Cassel, a picturesque little French town that stands on quite a steep hill - and thus offering some serious bends leading up and down.
Shortly afterwards we crossed the border into Blackbert Land - Flanders, to be precise
Another one of these impressive Belgian hills - the Kemmelberg, famous among war veterans and cyclists
The towns didn't look bad either - here we were in Avelgem
We rode loads of lovely little country roads and arrived quite late at our destination: Geraardsbergen
The town hall
Little details that make you feel welcome...
And last but not least: the main reason for coming here - the local pastry speciality
A "Mattentaart" can only be called "Mattentaart" when it's actually made in Geraardsbergen - bit like Champagne, you know?
By the time we had finished our cake it was already 4 pm - and I still had over 200 miles to go to reach my sister's place. So rather hastily I had to say goodbye to Bert...
Dank je wel for your time, mate, I really enjoyed your route and your country.
And rest assured: I'll be back! Here's the scenic route through the Belgian Choc-countryside - just follow the yellow line:
I don't want to bore you with the description of hundreds of miles on the motorway, the two massive thunderstorms I had to ride through and the torrential rain on the way until I arrived in Germany 2 1/2 hours later than expected...
Fortunately my little sister was not too cross with me and had even waited with dinner - phew...
Fact is that we don't see each other very often and are always very happy when we're together
But after such a long day it was soon time for bed.
And looking at the time here and now, I should also rather finish for now - my lunch break is over.
To be continued...
Thank you 
