NeilF
Registered user
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- Messages
- 1,355
- Reaction score
- 3
Planned for this all year - thanks to you guys, Michelin Guide, bestbikingroads.com, and Mapsource it was a fantastic tour.
Duration: 1st - 11th September.
Photos at http://neilf.smugmug.com
Bikes: 1150GS for me, and a Honda Blokebird for Adrian.
Both bikes exceeded their MPLW due to SWMBO pillions, and luggage!
Pre-tour preparations:
2610 route planning - check.
Clothing - check.
Close the panniers - eventually.
Bike-Bike radios - fiasco . .. . .
bought 2 3207 off eBay - one DOA - vendor says "send it back to China".
Post on here asking GS Club members if I can borrow / rent / buy a 3207: still waiting for a reply.
Go to Hire Shop - rent a HYT unit from http://www.maximon.co.uk/ (I do recommend these guys).
Get home - the other 3207 doesn't work.
Go back to Hire Shop - rent another HYT unit, and collect £60 parking ticket.
(it doesn't end here . . . . )
80 - 90 degree temperatures and blue sky - check.
Itinerary:
Day 1 Reading - Folkestone Eurotunnel. 120 miles.
Adrian (Welsh boy, from Llanon) given several lessons in using all 4 lanes of the M25. Around Caterham I lose contact with Adrian via the radios. We proceed through check-in and roll right on to the next outbound train. As we park-up in the train Adrian explains that his radio was beeping so much that he turned it off. Quick check makes me decide to call Ken at Maximon - as the train pulls out - last thing I heard from Ken as we entered the tunnel was "I think the radio is . . . . . . ". We didn't use them again, but carried them and their chargers along for ballast for the rest of the tour.
Calais - Epernay 200 miles.
Blast down the A26 beyond Reims for first night at Auberge Champenoise in Moussy.
Day 2 Moussy - Ougney-les-Champs (beyond Besancon). 220 miles.
Ride around the vineyards of Epernay; decide we'll definitely come back here for a full "Champagne tour" long weekend. Talk to 13 TVR owners who are there for a long weekend. Apparently 20 TVRs left England . . .
After 2 hours in the saddle stopped for a rest. See the BMW black plastic pannier has melted a hole in it you could get your fist through. Feck - this is the second pannier I've melted. WMB say it's because I've replaced the catalyser with a Y piece. Not just the pannier melted, but all my HH base layer, T-shirts, and tops inside it. Anything not actually (jeans, shoes, polo shirts, spare gloves) melted was scorched, and had molten plastic burned in to it. I took a big knife to the hole, rounded off the rough edges, cut up some Coca-Cola and beer cans, and patched up the hole, and the clam-shaped pannier, with gaffer tape. Decide to limit our speed to 4,000rpm (85 mph) to prevent the exhaust gasses from further melting the pannier.
Set off again - within 1Km get pulled over by the Gendarmes because Adrian doesn't have his headlight on. Speaking Welsh to the Gendarmerie has no effect, so he has to cough up a €22 fine. Arrive at Chez Soi in Ougney-les-Champs for a fantastic meal "in the Chef's kitchen".
Day 3 Ougney - Interlaken. 170 miles.
South out of the Jura mountains, around Lake Neuchatel, Dudigen, Zollhaus, Riggisburg, Thun and along the northerm shore of Lake Thunersee to Interlaken. The whole town is closed off to traffic because of the "Swiss National Song, Dance, and Gateaux wrestling show" attended by some 10,000 peole. Betty was adamant that she wanted us to go through the town so after 40 minutes of follow-my-arse we did, towards our hotel in Ringgenberg on the north shore of Brienzersee.
Day 4 Interlaken, and the Jungfraujoch mountain railways
Took the train from outside our hotel to Interlaken, walked across the tracks on to the train to Lauterbrunnen. Changed trains on to the cog railway up to Wengen; changed trains on to the cog railway which runs up 20 Km inside the Jungfrau to the top - some 4,200 meters asl. Awesome!
Back to Interlaken, and watched around 16 Parasailers descend down from the mountains on to the show field in the town centre.
Day 5 Interlaken - Andermatt. 140 miles.
Interlaken to Brienz, over Sustenpasse, to Hotel Aurora, Andermatt where we leave our panniers and set off for the high passes.
Travelling clockwise from Andermatt, we do the Furka, Grimsel, Nufenen, Novena, and (old) St Gothard passes. Laugh out loud at a Brit on a Harley who asked "Do all the passes go up hill?".
Doing the old St Gothard was a mistake - it's cobbled, tight, and steep. Would recommend you do the new St Gothard which is smoother and has better photo opportunities.
Day 6 Andermatt - Klontal. 100 miles.
Walk around Andermatt and admire the Post Stagecoach. The coach-and-five does the old St Gothard post route, and the horses have studs and bolts in their shoes to give them grip. Think: Ice Speedway? But the coach does have hydraulic disk brakes as a back-up.
Head out over the Oberalppasse, photo shot, then back to Andermatt and North. Over the Klausenpasse to Klontal; in parts this road is carved in to the mountain edge and has a breeze block every 20 metres to stop you going off in to the valley 900 metres below! Arrive Hotel on edge of Klontalersee.
Day 7 Klontal - Todtnau, Black Forest. 170 miles.
Leave via Pragelpasse (Think: like Wrynose Pass, but 20Km of it). (Also Think: stay off the brown stuff - it's slippery!), Schwyz, Wettingen, A4, A3, over the Rhine at Bad Sackingen in to Germany, north to Lake Titisee (Think: Ambleside) to hotel in Todtnau. See a ski lift and a 3Km toboggan run, and have 3 runs down this before dinner!
Day 8 Todtnau - Baden-Baden. 170 miles.
North to get on to the B500 Schwarzwald Hochstrasse to Baden-Baden. What a feckin' brilliant road, but scary to come steaming around a corner after 16Km at 100Kph to find traffic lights - on red! Also. I must have exceeded the 4,000rpm rule somewhere, as pannier has melted more. . . .
Betty has an absolute fit trying to navigate us through the old town, and the underpass tunnels, and we take 45 minutes to find our accomodation address. We don't like the look of it, and would have moved on if we hadn't been so tired. Anyway, the very nice lady says "Follow me to the apartments". Turns out we have a private 5 room penthouse suite apiece, with two balconies, and secure underground parking!
We walk the town, seeing the Romanische Baths, Casino, Trinkhalle, and the old town.
Day 9 B-B - Verdun. 185 miles.
300Km today, and only 10 Km of it on Motorway - Betty excelled herself with some beautiful roads and scenery the whole day. Ah, what a way to travel in France! Arrive Chateau LaBessiere, for a fantastic meal.
Day 10 Verdun - Arras. 185 miles.
Quick look around the World War 1 Citadele, then north past the Douaumont WWI memorial and cemetary on one of the ridges still showing the shell hole scars. A sobering memorial. Think: Screw the Boss, back home.
North past Cambrai - on country roads still - then to Les Volets Bleu outside Arras. Another beautiful 3 room guest house, and after dinner and breakfast to die for, we learn that Philippe has been invited to be in the Michelin guide for 2007! Also his son, Greg Rousseau, will be riding for Lige de Flanders in the Le Touquet beach race.
Day 11 Arras - Calais - Reading. 200 miles.
Peaceful chug up the A26 to the EuroTunnel; emerge at Folkestone to hear Ken say " . . not working". home in Reading by 2:00pm.
If you want a copy of the itinerary in Mapsource format, pm me.
Cheers,
Neil.
Duration: 1st - 11th September.
Photos at http://neilf.smugmug.com
Bikes: 1150GS for me, and a Honda Blokebird for Adrian.
Both bikes exceeded their MPLW due to SWMBO pillions, and luggage!
Pre-tour preparations:
2610 route planning - check.
Clothing - check.
Close the panniers - eventually.
Bike-Bike radios - fiasco . .. . .
bought 2 3207 off eBay - one DOA - vendor says "send it back to China".
Post on here asking GS Club members if I can borrow / rent / buy a 3207: still waiting for a reply.
Go to Hire Shop - rent a HYT unit from http://www.maximon.co.uk/ (I do recommend these guys).
Get home - the other 3207 doesn't work.
Go back to Hire Shop - rent another HYT unit, and collect £60 parking ticket.
(it doesn't end here . . . . )
80 - 90 degree temperatures and blue sky - check.
Itinerary:
Day 1 Reading - Folkestone Eurotunnel. 120 miles.
Adrian (Welsh boy, from Llanon) given several lessons in using all 4 lanes of the M25. Around Caterham I lose contact with Adrian via the radios. We proceed through check-in and roll right on to the next outbound train. As we park-up in the train Adrian explains that his radio was beeping so much that he turned it off. Quick check makes me decide to call Ken at Maximon - as the train pulls out - last thing I heard from Ken as we entered the tunnel was "I think the radio is . . . . . . ". We didn't use them again, but carried them and their chargers along for ballast for the rest of the tour.
Calais - Epernay 200 miles.
Blast down the A26 beyond Reims for first night at Auberge Champenoise in Moussy.
Day 2 Moussy - Ougney-les-Champs (beyond Besancon). 220 miles.
Ride around the vineyards of Epernay; decide we'll definitely come back here for a full "Champagne tour" long weekend. Talk to 13 TVR owners who are there for a long weekend. Apparently 20 TVRs left England . . .
After 2 hours in the saddle stopped for a rest. See the BMW black plastic pannier has melted a hole in it you could get your fist through. Feck - this is the second pannier I've melted. WMB say it's because I've replaced the catalyser with a Y piece. Not just the pannier melted, but all my HH base layer, T-shirts, and tops inside it. Anything not actually (jeans, shoes, polo shirts, spare gloves) melted was scorched, and had molten plastic burned in to it. I took a big knife to the hole, rounded off the rough edges, cut up some Coca-Cola and beer cans, and patched up the hole, and the clam-shaped pannier, with gaffer tape. Decide to limit our speed to 4,000rpm (85 mph) to prevent the exhaust gasses from further melting the pannier.
Set off again - within 1Km get pulled over by the Gendarmes because Adrian doesn't have his headlight on. Speaking Welsh to the Gendarmerie has no effect, so he has to cough up a €22 fine. Arrive at Chez Soi in Ougney-les-Champs for a fantastic meal "in the Chef's kitchen".
Day 3 Ougney - Interlaken. 170 miles.
South out of the Jura mountains, around Lake Neuchatel, Dudigen, Zollhaus, Riggisburg, Thun and along the northerm shore of Lake Thunersee to Interlaken. The whole town is closed off to traffic because of the "Swiss National Song, Dance, and Gateaux wrestling show" attended by some 10,000 peole. Betty was adamant that she wanted us to go through the town so after 40 minutes of follow-my-arse we did, towards our hotel in Ringgenberg on the north shore of Brienzersee.
Day 4 Interlaken, and the Jungfraujoch mountain railways
Took the train from outside our hotel to Interlaken, walked across the tracks on to the train to Lauterbrunnen. Changed trains on to the cog railway up to Wengen; changed trains on to the cog railway which runs up 20 Km inside the Jungfrau to the top - some 4,200 meters asl. Awesome!
Back to Interlaken, and watched around 16 Parasailers descend down from the mountains on to the show field in the town centre.
Day 5 Interlaken - Andermatt. 140 miles.
Interlaken to Brienz, over Sustenpasse, to Hotel Aurora, Andermatt where we leave our panniers and set off for the high passes.
Travelling clockwise from Andermatt, we do the Furka, Grimsel, Nufenen, Novena, and (old) St Gothard passes. Laugh out loud at a Brit on a Harley who asked "Do all the passes go up hill?".
Doing the old St Gothard was a mistake - it's cobbled, tight, and steep. Would recommend you do the new St Gothard which is smoother and has better photo opportunities.
Day 6 Andermatt - Klontal. 100 miles.
Walk around Andermatt and admire the Post Stagecoach. The coach-and-five does the old St Gothard post route, and the horses have studs and bolts in their shoes to give them grip. Think: Ice Speedway? But the coach does have hydraulic disk brakes as a back-up.
Head out over the Oberalppasse, photo shot, then back to Andermatt and North. Over the Klausenpasse to Klontal; in parts this road is carved in to the mountain edge and has a breeze block every 20 metres to stop you going off in to the valley 900 metres below! Arrive Hotel on edge of Klontalersee.
Day 7 Klontal - Todtnau, Black Forest. 170 miles.
Leave via Pragelpasse (Think: like Wrynose Pass, but 20Km of it). (Also Think: stay off the brown stuff - it's slippery!), Schwyz, Wettingen, A4, A3, over the Rhine at Bad Sackingen in to Germany, north to Lake Titisee (Think: Ambleside) to hotel in Todtnau. See a ski lift and a 3Km toboggan run, and have 3 runs down this before dinner!
Day 8 Todtnau - Baden-Baden. 170 miles.
North to get on to the B500 Schwarzwald Hochstrasse to Baden-Baden. What a feckin' brilliant road, but scary to come steaming around a corner after 16Km at 100Kph to find traffic lights - on red! Also. I must have exceeded the 4,000rpm rule somewhere, as pannier has melted more. . . .
Betty has an absolute fit trying to navigate us through the old town, and the underpass tunnels, and we take 45 minutes to find our accomodation address. We don't like the look of it, and would have moved on if we hadn't been so tired. Anyway, the very nice lady says "Follow me to the apartments". Turns out we have a private 5 room penthouse suite apiece, with two balconies, and secure underground parking!
We walk the town, seeing the Romanische Baths, Casino, Trinkhalle, and the old town.
Day 9 B-B - Verdun. 185 miles.
300Km today, and only 10 Km of it on Motorway - Betty excelled herself with some beautiful roads and scenery the whole day. Ah, what a way to travel in France! Arrive Chateau LaBessiere, for a fantastic meal.
Day 10 Verdun - Arras. 185 miles.
Quick look around the World War 1 Citadele, then north past the Douaumont WWI memorial and cemetary on one of the ridges still showing the shell hole scars. A sobering memorial. Think: Screw the Boss, back home.
North past Cambrai - on country roads still - then to Les Volets Bleu outside Arras. Another beautiful 3 room guest house, and after dinner and breakfast to die for, we learn that Philippe has been invited to be in the Michelin guide for 2007! Also his son, Greg Rousseau, will be riding for Lige de Flanders in the Le Touquet beach race.
Day 11 Arras - Calais - Reading. 200 miles.
Peaceful chug up the A26 to the EuroTunnel; emerge at Folkestone to hear Ken say " . . not working". home in Reading by 2:00pm.
If you want a copy of the itinerary in Mapsource format, pm me.
Cheers,
Neil.
