GPX - A Draft Plan - and trip report - Northern Vosges, Southern Vosges and Black Forest

[Sneldog]

looks good Sneldog!
If you're looking for a place to stay closer to Calais have a look at this place. Again I have used it many times before and have recommended it to others on here who are also pretty happy with it.

LA COUR DE REMI - HOTEL RESTAURANT DANS LE PAS-DE-CALAIS

Bienvenue à La cour de Rémi, Hôtel restaurant dans le Pas-de-Calais qui vous propose une expérience poétique dans un cadre rural, accueillant et gourmand.

lacourderemi.com

Small hotel set in the old stables of a much larger Chateau which belongs to the owners. Absolutely massive rooms and great food. A bit of history as well as the Chateau used to be HQ for the 1915 newly formed tank regiment during WWI

I go there at least a few times a year with biker mates or Missus.

thier website doesnt rteally do it justice.
Here are a few pics of it

View attachment 373272View attachment 373273View attachment 373274

Looks absolutely fantastic.

 

[johnnyboy]

Hi All,

I am starting this thread to get the benefit of everyones wisdom and ensure my biker mates and I have an excellent trip in June. There are 7 riders and we like to stay in towns where there is a bit of a buzz and a decent restaurant or two.

My draft plan is taking shape as follows:

Day 1 - Motorway from Calais to Cambrai then a nice ride through the Ardennes to overnight in Sedan or thereabouts.
Day 2 - Sedan to the Northern Vosges, currently aiming for Bitche.
Day 3 - Bitche to Wasselonne or Obernai via a looping tour around the Northern Vosges.
Day 4 - Meander through the central Vosges area down to Colmar.
Day 5 - An excellent Black Forest loop that I did last year and back to the same digs in Colmar.
Day 6 - Southern Vosges loop with Route des Crêtes and back again to Colmar
Day 7 - Colmar to Epernay
Day 8 - Epernay to Calais and onwards to home.

I have some things I am undecided on:

1. Day 2 - Are we taking an interesting route or can it be improved? Where to stay? Bitche seems nice but perhaps a bit dull.
2. Day 3 - Wasselonne or Obernai or maybe somewhere else that is nice in that neck of the woods?
3. Where to stay in Colmar?
4. Should we get nearer Calais than Epernay on day 7?

Any help, advice or input appreciated. No hotels booked yet so accommodation recommendations would be great. Same for restaurants/bars - I can research but a personal recommendation is more valuable - we always try and find the best we can that serves regional food.

I will share my draft routes below.

Would you have a copy of your Black Forest route? Just being lazy to be honest

 

[Ectopic]

We're doing a similar but shorter version in June. We've decided to blast to and from Wissembourg in one day to maximise time in the Vosges and Black Forest (and we've ridden in the Ardennes quite a lot over the years) and probably stay in one location for three or four nights and ride circular routes. It's easy to get caught up in "we must ride road X" and over plan when the reality is that all the roads in the Vosges and Black Forest will be fantastic by UK standards. In fact staying away from the roads everyone recommends will probably mean a more secluded ride on quieter roads. Main roads are likely to be peppered with speed limits through every little village, quite often 30 kmh limits as well, whereas less busy roads tend to have fewer limits (as far as I can recall).

Wherever you end up, have a great trip!

 

[Sneldog]

Would you have a copy of your Black Forest route? Just being lazy to be honest

No problem. I will upload a GPX file tomorrow. The best bit about it is the lunch stop and I will include some info on that as well.

 

[Sneldog]

Hotel Florence in St Quentin is one I have used, once in both directions of a trip to/from Avignon. Close to the centre. 120km further north than Epernay. Also used the Ibis Budget near the train station and big war memorial when we had a very large group and could not get in elsewhere. Plenty of bars nearby as it is in a self contained suburb.

St Omer is also popular. The Ibis Budget has secure parking and a short walk to the main square. Fine for an overnight.

Thanks for this. I have booked the Florence for the gang. Much appreciated.

 

[wessie]

Thanks for this. I have booked the Florence for the gang. Much appreciated.

just check the routing to the car park entrance. It is in the side street adjacent to the hotel but this street is one way and no entry from the main road at the front of the hotel. Easiest thing is to set the side street as the waypoint in the satnav which will then guide you through the one way system at the rear of the hotel. Rue Renan streetview

 

[wessie]

Le Golden Pub in St Quentin was pretty good. I have used it a few times for lunch or dinner as it works for a group. For daytime there are marked bike spaces in the public car park next door. For the evening, it has a range of decent Belgian and other beers. Anywhere with Cuvée des Trolls on draught is a bonus. Food is pretty standard brasserie style so everything from burgers, frites and pizza for the unadventurous to proper French stuff. Even veggies catered for.

 

[Sneldog]

No problem. I will upload a GPX file tomorrow. The best bit about it is the lunch stop and I will include some info on that as well.

I haven’t forgotten this. Will sort..

 

[Sneldog]

@johnnyboy - let me know if this works.

Black Forest Loop attached.

 

[Sneldog]

And this is the lunch stop on that ride. A lovely setting and decent enough grub:




The second picture is the view from our table on the terrace by the river. Stunning place. Eagles soaring above us too...

 

[johnnyboy]

@johnnyboy - let me know if this works.

Black Forest Loop attached.

All works thanks . I have saved to my MRA account. Much appreciated

 

[Sneldog]

As I have made GPX files for my mates on this trip, I thought it might be useful to share them here.

Day 1 and 2. Calais to Sedan through the Ardennes from Cambrai then Sedan to Haguenau avoiding motorways.

 

[Sneldog]

Day 3 and 4. Haguenau to Colmar through the Northern and Central Vosges then our first route around the southern Vosges including the Route des Cretes.

 

[Sneldog]

Day 5 and 6. The Black Forest then a second, alternative loop around the southern Vosges.

 

[Sneldog]

A non-motorway, cross-country route from Colmar to Saint-Quentin.

 

[Sneldog]

If anyone wants the trip routes, they are at this location:

Voyage des Vosges 2025

Routes by Snelly55

www.myrouteapp.com

 

[Sneldog]

I’m copying this across from the early morning club thread as this trip to the Black Forest and Vosges begins next Wednesday!

As you can see above, this has been in the planning for months and it was for our usual seven riders. It’s now whittled down to 3 and I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up going on my own. If that’s the case, I’m fine with it. I’ve ridden all over the USA without anyone for company and I’m quite happy when it’s just me. Not least as I generally ride that bit faster which frees up time for excursions.

It’s the first time in a dozen tours that anyone has pulled out. Feels like it might be the end of an era.
Reasons are myriad, one guys wife just got diagnosed with heart failure, another has a rush buyer for his £3.5m flat, another just exchanged on a house, a chaps son announced a shotgun wedding and the remaining two are thinking we could postpone until everyone is available. The best laid plans of mice and men etc.

Anyway, I will post a trip report in this thread as I go. It will give me something to do in the evenings!

 

[Tinytim]

I’m copying this across from the early morning club thread as this trip to the Black Forest and Vosges begins next Wednesday!

As you can see above, this has been in the planning for months and it was for our usual seven riders. It’s now whittled down to 3 and I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up going on my own. If that’s the case, I’m fine with it. I’ve ridden all over the USA without anyone for company and I’m quite happy when it’s just me. Not least as I generally ride that bit faster which frees up time for excursions.

It’s the first time in a dozen tours that anyone has pulled out. Feels like it might be the end of an era.
Reasons are myriad, one guys wife just got diagnosed with heart failure, another has a rush buyer for his £3.5m flat, another just exchanged on a house, a chaps son announced a shotgun wedding and the remaining two are thinking we could postpone until everyone is available. The best laid plans of mice and men etc.

Anyway, I will post a trip report in this thread as I go. It will give me something to do in the evenings!

I'd forgotten about this thread @Sneldog . Cheers moosh

 

[wessie]

I've gone from 12 in my regular group to 5 in September. Only 2 of us are under 63 and the other chap has remarried and has grandkids in Canada that uses his leave. Others are older and have lost interest, have older relatives to care for or their own health matters.

 

[Tinytim]

I've gone from 12 in my regular group to 5 in September. Only 2 of us are under 63 and the other chap has remarried and has grandkids in Canada that uses his leave. Others are older and have lost interest, have older relatives to care for or their own health matters.

That's life as we know it Jim