It’s been a week since we got back so I thought it was time to write a report, i've not done one of these before so please be patient if i mess it up!
Finally the day came, Hayles had passed her test in March and we had done a couple of practice runs up to the lakes and to Scotland (well prepared then!), We packed up the tent, sleeping bags, BBQ and probably everything except for the kitchen sink and headed off to Hull, Joe and I were on my R1200GS and Hayles on her F650GS.
The first challenge was to get the bikes on board in one piece, Hayley as nervous as you can imagine lots of ramps and wet metal and a bike that looked like a mule!
Once on board we were helped by a fellow tosser on (their way to the Italian lakes I think) to tie the bikes down (thank you) a lesson learned as on the way back as it was a bit rough!
Made it onto the ferry
Once aboard we calmed our nerves
And waved au revoir to England
1st stop was Gent to taste the local hot chocolate! Mmmmm……
No one prepared us for the cobbles, tram lines and trams on the wrong side of the road! A bit “in at the deep end” for Hayles!
Then on to our first camp at lac de vieilles forges
The tent was in the woods and they were great sized pitches
The lake was like a bath and we managed an early morning dip!
We headed south the next day and camped again by a lake (there’s a theme here!)
And after a good tea we wandered down to see the sun set
Next morning we packed up and headed south again
We dropped by a French war cemetery to educate joe on WW1
Then we headed on to our next camp
Glad we brought the tarp – it makes a great sun shade!
We took the day off to let joe play and for us to relax – we got thrashed by two teenage French lads at water polo and my unbreakable waterproof camera leaked!! Bummer!
So some of the photo’s from now on have a bit of a haze to them!
The next day we set off for Switzerland and headed to Neuchatel, a fantastic ride but as soon as we hit the swiss boarder the rain started!
Even though it was wet we had a great ride and opted to stay in a B&B for the night near a place called Grandson!
The B&B was great and the people lovely
We took a picture for Nanna!
I think we were all glad of a soft bed for the night!
Dinner was awesome even if it was twice the price of the B&B
The next day the rain stopped and we headed over to Lausanne
And then on up into the alps
We headed over to Chamonix to take a look at mont blanc and hit the bendy stuff… Fantastic!
We then spent a few days touring around
Stayed at a fab campsite
the view from our tent
We rode out for breakfast to a café, this was our view from our table, beats most cafés at home!
and then went to verbier then on up and over the Col-du-Grand-Saint-Bernard
and into italy for lunch.
Joe’s favorite country!
After a little lunch we went to see the matterhorn at cervinia and treated ourselves to an over night stop in a hotel, got to do some washing at sometime!
The underground parking was great
Joe got very excited when I told him there was a Lamborghini parked next to our bikes!
The next morning the matterhorn looked as awesome as ever!
This was our turning point on our journey as I checked the gps and it told me we were a 1000 miles from home!
We returned in much the same way we set out, camping at lakes and eating and drinking like kings
We decided to head towards anecy but made the mistake of going through the mont blanc tunnel, the tunnel was fine except for the Q before it. An hour before it in the sun at 35 oC was a bit warm to say the least!
We camped overnight at lake Annecy and headed north to Dijon for a 2 day stop over at yes another lake! It was near Chateaunef
Our second to last day was spent exploring Troyes and traveling to our final camp at Seraucourt-le-grand
So what did we learn?
We Packed too much – half the amount of clothes would have done
When traveling as a family it would probably be better to stop 2 nights at each stop, to allow time to explore and relax – putting in the extra miles isn’t a problem if you have a day off after.
Small boys are comfortable on a GS all day as long as they can talk to you non stop!
The ground is flipin hard in france!
Fellow tossers we met always had words of encouragement - Thanks
Buy a gps that is up to date and doesn’t send you down the autoroute in the wrong direction!
Maybe plan a little more and have some idea of where you are going to stay each day…
You don’t need 4 campsites books that weigh a ton – just chill if you don’t know where you are going and one will turn up.
My son can thrash me everytime at monopoly!
8 yr olds find burning buses more exciting than any mountain pass you go over (and will tell everyone you meet too!)
Your indestructible water proof camera isn’t either!
Hayles can ride on the other side of the road for 1800 miles and do hairpins like a pro...
Ferrys are no longer as scary!
The desination's not important, it’s the journey you remember!
Finally the day came, Hayles had passed her test in March and we had done a couple of practice runs up to the lakes and to Scotland (well prepared then!), We packed up the tent, sleeping bags, BBQ and probably everything except for the kitchen sink and headed off to Hull, Joe and I were on my R1200GS and Hayles on her F650GS.
The first challenge was to get the bikes on board in one piece, Hayley as nervous as you can imagine lots of ramps and wet metal and a bike that looked like a mule!
Once on board we were helped by a fellow tosser on (their way to the Italian lakes I think) to tie the bikes down (thank you) a lesson learned as on the way back as it was a bit rough!
Made it onto the ferry
Once aboard we calmed our nerves
And waved au revoir to England
1st stop was Gent to taste the local hot chocolate! Mmmmm……
No one prepared us for the cobbles, tram lines and trams on the wrong side of the road! A bit “in at the deep end” for Hayles!
Then on to our first camp at lac de vieilles forges
The tent was in the woods and they were great sized pitches
The lake was like a bath and we managed an early morning dip!
We headed south the next day and camped again by a lake (there’s a theme here!)
And after a good tea we wandered down to see the sun set
Next morning we packed up and headed south again
We dropped by a French war cemetery to educate joe on WW1
Then we headed on to our next camp
Glad we brought the tarp – it makes a great sun shade!
We took the day off to let joe play and for us to relax – we got thrashed by two teenage French lads at water polo and my unbreakable waterproof camera leaked!! Bummer!
So some of the photo’s from now on have a bit of a haze to them!
The next day we set off for Switzerland and headed to Neuchatel, a fantastic ride but as soon as we hit the swiss boarder the rain started!
Even though it was wet we had a great ride and opted to stay in a B&B for the night near a place called Grandson!
The B&B was great and the people lovely
We took a picture for Nanna!
I think we were all glad of a soft bed for the night!
Dinner was awesome even if it was twice the price of the B&B
The next day the rain stopped and we headed over to Lausanne
And then on up into the alps
We headed over to Chamonix to take a look at mont blanc and hit the bendy stuff… Fantastic!
We then spent a few days touring around
Stayed at a fab campsite
the view from our tent
We rode out for breakfast to a café, this was our view from our table, beats most cafés at home!
and then went to verbier then on up and over the Col-du-Grand-Saint-Bernard
and into italy for lunch.
Joe’s favorite country!
After a little lunch we went to see the matterhorn at cervinia and treated ourselves to an over night stop in a hotel, got to do some washing at sometime!
The underground parking was great
Joe got very excited when I told him there was a Lamborghini parked next to our bikes!
The next morning the matterhorn looked as awesome as ever!
This was our turning point on our journey as I checked the gps and it told me we were a 1000 miles from home!
We returned in much the same way we set out, camping at lakes and eating and drinking like kings
We decided to head towards anecy but made the mistake of going through the mont blanc tunnel, the tunnel was fine except for the Q before it. An hour before it in the sun at 35 oC was a bit warm to say the least!
We camped overnight at lake Annecy and headed north to Dijon for a 2 day stop over at yes another lake! It was near Chateaunef
Our second to last day was spent exploring Troyes and traveling to our final camp at Seraucourt-le-grand
So what did we learn?
We Packed too much – half the amount of clothes would have done
When traveling as a family it would probably be better to stop 2 nights at each stop, to allow time to explore and relax – putting in the extra miles isn’t a problem if you have a day off after.
Small boys are comfortable on a GS all day as long as they can talk to you non stop!
The ground is flipin hard in france!
Fellow tossers we met always had words of encouragement - Thanks
Buy a gps that is up to date and doesn’t send you down the autoroute in the wrong direction!
Maybe plan a little more and have some idea of where you are going to stay each day…
You don’t need 4 campsites books that weigh a ton – just chill if you don’t know where you are going and one will turn up.
My son can thrash me everytime at monopoly!
8 yr olds find burning buses more exciting than any mountain pass you go over (and will tell everyone you meet too!)
Your indestructible water proof camera isn’t either!
Hayles can ride on the other side of the road for 1800 miles and do hairpins like a pro...
Ferrys are no longer as scary!
The desination's not important, it’s the journey you remember!
- nice to have the family travel together - excellent
