La boucle française de 6 jours

[JonnyBravo]

Day 1 and off to a very fresh and foggy slow start from Staffordshire at 08:30.

The sun soon starts to appear though and by the time we hit the M25 via the A14 and a coffee and sausage roll stop at BP Duxford, it’s 26 degrees !

Arrive 45 mins early at Le Shuttle and straight into a train.
No delays with passports and no fingerprints and shit taken.

We board the train.
Then we wait - some twat in an electric car cannot get his handbrake off.
1 hour later and the BMW has been removed and dumped in the platform and off we go.

Destination for night number 1 - hotel Le cour de Remi
Love this place.
Just booked a regular room but we have been given Room 2 - which is ‘The room’ in my view.
Place is quiet. Just the K and a Porsche in the car park.

Time for dinner now - cannot wait !




Off to Verdun tomorrow - weather is looking fantastic

 

[MikeS]

Following this, a photo or two of the bike would be good.

 

[grantmac]

Very nice. Le Cour de Remi. One of my favourite places as well.
And you were in room 2 which is our favourite and according to the owner is the best room in the house. Give them my best would you.
Where are you staying in Verdun?
Enjoy.

 

[JonnyBravo]

You just might know the place Grant
Near Verdun -
Logis Hôtel le Relais de la Voie Sacrée !



All the accommodation has been booked via the Logis app on this trip.

 

[JonnyBravo]

There were no ‘biker mates’ for company on Le Shuttle …….

The wife didn’t speak much either !

 

[JonnyBravo]

After a fine breakfast of French bread, brioche, strawberry and apricot jams all made right there in the kitchen with a few eggs off we go in the sunshine


The D roads can be a little straight today initially at least around this area but I don’t mind them - and no sooner had we set off, we passed the small village of Siracourt which has a V1 launch site.



Bunker

I also saw a sign point north with Hazebrouck on it - flash backs to army basic training a lifetime ago as it was the name of our Barracks in Arborfield.


Onwards past Louverval - with signs for the 7 Victoria crosses awarded near there, the missing 7000+ soldiers never found and the Cambrai memorial.



The lack of cafes in rural France is quite prevalent and sad but the Arches seem to be everywhere.

At least the coffee is passable and proof in the car park that Clive Sinclair was well ahead of the game.



Quick shot of the bike - almost 2 years to the day since I was in the exact same spot on my GSA in route to Slovenia.





It’s baking (again!!) high of 28 today and glorious sunshine.

I am absolutely not complaining !!

Next stop the National Monument - Verdun
missus has never been around here and the scale always makes an impression.







Then into the hotel - small and tucked out of the way. Hostess is very friendly and speaks great English.

Must be the time of the year but this place is also very quiet.



Basic rooms but the food is fantastic. Or it was last time I was here !

Looking forward to another terrific meal tonight.

Time for a succulent dusty or two - as my 18yr old lad would say !

 

[leadfarmer]

L'ossuaire de Douaumont, it’s quite a sobering place with the bones of 130,000 unidentified soldiers on view

 

[grantmac]

Nice pics JB. Will be at the Relais next week. Food is still great as is the breakfast
Enjoy

 

[JonnyBravo]

Nice pics JB. Will be at the Relais next week. Food is still great as is the breakfast
Enjoy

Just finished the greatest smoked salmon starter I have ever seen or tasted, real smoke under the cloche, roasted duck main and an absolutely epic rum baba for dessert, drowned in Don Papa rum - my all time favourite.

Cheese next !!!

 

[JonnyBravo]

Another sunny day on the cards

Wife’s birthday today and she has declared this morning over breakfast she would like to have e wander around old town Colmar if possible after she was looking on google maps - so I must oblige !

So I will head that way and park up in the town for an hour or two before backtracking a bit to the next hotel

Logis Rochette

 

[JonnyBravo]

Arrived Colmar and thanks to a previous post on this very forum about bike parking - snaffled the same spot !




Currently enjoying a cold one in the indoor market - well worth a visit if you make it into the old town Colmar

Full of fabulous cheeses and wines

Market

 

[JonnyBravo]

Just an absolutely fantastic ride this morning over to Colmar.
4 hours of empty, beautiful cross country sweeping roads in the sunshine all topped off with the D415 again, which, even with the missus on the back, fully loaded up, is just sublime on K.
A must do road.
So I’ve done it twice this year!

There is also a good friendly Logi hotel in the village of Lapoutroie just off it, I used earlier this year where we had a cracking meal.



Arrived at tonight’s hotel and spa, La Rochette and thanks to Grantmac for the recommendations - it’s perfect for the wife’s birthday dinner

 

[bazman]

Nice one JB, so jealous !!

 

[leadfarmer]

Happy birthday Mrs. JB

 

[JonnyBravo]

Chaos in the breakfast area this morning ……..



The Hotel Hound !

 

[JonnyBravo]

After every good breakfast, what everyone needs on a clear blue sky bright sunny morning is some proper peg scraping bike action !

Voila !!

The D417 duly obliges.



Even came across another UK K1600 at the top of the Col de la Schlucht




He followed me for a bit down the mountains and he was right behind me just as we were entering La Croix Ferry village when the biggest Stag and antlers I have ever seen lept out from some bushes right in front of me.
Full on emergency stop !

Not sure who shit themselves the most.
Me.
The wife on the back.
The bike following right behind me.

I am damn sure it wasn’t the stag !!


Just at a McD having a coffee and changing underpants now ………

 

[DrFarkoff]

I noticed Mulhouse in the map

The Car museum there was pretty amazing !

Schlumpf Collection

Musée National de l'Automobile à Mulhouse - Collection Schlumpf

Le Musée National de l’Automobile situé à Mulhouse détient la plus importante collection automobile du monde réunissant plus de 450 voitures d’exception.

www.musee-automobile.fr

 

[Treb]

Go to Lac Blanc and eat local specialities ar the Mille Metres

 

[JonnyBravo]

Arrived hotel just outside Chablis.

Chablis Chablis as far as the eye can see




Logis Hotel Le Soleil

Clean basic rooms - good shower and the all important fridge !

Highly rated for food - so we shall see this evening.

Very secure parking !!



Wife straight into the wine but I asked for a large beer !
Came in a bucket





And just look at that sky - it’s 29 degrees sat here now.
Baking and beautiful

 

[JonnyBravo]

I will put up all the MRA routes on here I have used this week when I get home.
They may be of use to someone.

Today’s ride was again just fabulous.
Twisties to start and rolling countryside this afternoon - and almost completely deserted.
340k
No traffic.
Sublime road surfaces.
Awesome views.
Wonderful country and people.