Group touring only really works if you are all great mates, including the other halves, you are all at the same riding ability and of similar thinking. I go away with a group of 8 of us, four couples, we have done loads of trips together and it works because there is never any angst or disagreements. We did a regular trip to a gite, owned by one of this forum, in the Charente region, last year one of the couples could not make it so one of the group had a couple of friends who had expressed an interest in joining us. It did not work.
Our first day in France required a 340 blast south from the ferry port, so a long day ahead with an ETA of at least 9pm at the gite. As we are about to head off the new couple "insisted" that we stop every 150-170 miles or after two hours maximum because she needed to get off the bike, not a great start, he didn't have a map or satnav and expected to be led everywhere. Due to traffic congestion on the autoroute around Nantes because we hit it at peak time I was unable to get us into a service station until after nearly 2 and a half hours - then it started! The whining, the moaning, the discontent, the accusations of being insensitive to her needs. Tongues were bit and we headed off again, as the evening set in we came off the autoroute for the last 30 - 40 miles on N and D roads and that's where the difference in riding abilities were exposed, 3 on GSAs and he is on a 1600GTL. It was getting dark and it started raining and we were getting on with it and he was falling behind all the time. Five miles from destination I found a place to stop for us to have dinner before before we got to the gite. Their faces were like thunder and the moaning and bitching increased in volume and sourness. The next day at breakfast we were all very pleasant and told them that they were not obliged to come out with us on the rides and if they wanted they were more than welcome to do their own thing at their own pace, it was their week away and they could do what they wanted. Sadly, they didn't want to do that because he was so ill prepared without a map or satnav and it was obvious he just wanted to rely on others. So every day, I planned a day out to suit their limitations, did the route planning and led the rides. We also tried to help him with his riding by giving his some tips and advice. Some form of peace settled down.
I nearly lost it on the last day though, we had to have a very early start as the ferry was brought forward, it was still dark when we left. I am in the kitchen kitting up and they come in and in a pretty aggressive and downright rude manner told me that I had to stop to suit them both. They could have asked me in a polite manner to plan the stops for their convenience but it was barked at me like an order. I bit my tongue again and calmly told them that sadly they French authorities had not placed a service station to exactly to suit their needs. I did give them the option of having my map of France and making their own way at their own pace and meeting us at the ferry port. This they declined. So off we headed. I walked outside and I was raging, I told my mate who had invited them and he was mortified and apologised for ever asking them. I maintained my cool for his sake and I was glad to see the back of them when we got back to the UK. Even though I organised the whole trip, did every route, organised every ride out and places to visit and led all the rides they never once said thank you.
Have never seen or been in touch with either of them since, thankfully.
