Unlike last year when it was remarkably early (and bloody cold) Easter 2014 is within one week of the latest date it can ever be, which is good news. On that basis, it’s time to think about what is becoming a traditional Easter Wander.
I have contacted the good folk at the Petry hotel in Vianden to see if they can accommodate us for again. In my mail, I have requested:
Four single rooms (one gone)
One double room
Bed and breakfast basis.
http://www.hotel-petry.com/english/
I am waiting for their response. If it’s a no, I will look at alternatives, for sure.
OUTLINE PLAN:
(a) It’s a reasonable schlep to Vianden from Calais, though by no means impossible with a decent start. Similarly, it’s decent journey back, via a different route.
(b) THURSDAY 17 April, take a train over to France at about 19:30, staying most probably at the Ibis in St Omer. Anyone wishing to go earlier is not a problem. This brings us late’ish into St Omer but we have generally found somewhere to eat. Failing that, find a sandwich.
(c) FRIDAY 18 April, ride from St Omer to Vianden down a reasonable mixture of roads. Over the past four or more years we have near enough found the ‘best’ way. It will need an early’ish start, wheels rolling at 09:00 (or maybe a bit earlier) if possible.
(d) SATURDAY 19 and SUNDAY 20 April, I have several alternative routes for a decent day’s ride on both days.
(e) MONDAY 21 April, again an early start (08:30 last time) for a train back at about 19:20. We can with luck make an earlier train, I have just pencilled in a train after seven PM to give us a bit of leeway.
NOTE:
(a) The weather may well be ‘mixed’. I will go if it is sunny, cold, raining, warm, windy and / or tropical. I will NOT go if there is a very real prospect of SERIOUS snow or a real risk of SERIOUS ice. On previous early or late season jaunts we have all been sensible and it’s turned out fine; the aim is to do the same in 2014.
(b) Given that we have a decent distance to go, we will need to keep an eye on the time (leaving early helps) and keep our progress up. That being said, it needn’t be a race. Nobody need fall behind or get lost.
(c) Suitable for? Anyone who can ride a motorcycle. We have had a big mixture of Wanderers in the past, ranging from hardy souls….. right through to my friend Paula on her ER6 (on just her second trip abroad) at -3C!
(d) I have reserved rooms based on previous take-up’s of the trip, anticipating much the same for 2014. It is Easter, so hotels do get booked. That being said, if I know there is a definite demand for places, I am happy to talk to the Petry to see if more rooms might be possible. I appreciate it’s some way off but the Dutch and Germans do pour into the Ardennes en-masse at Easter, so we need to get our claim in early.
(e) The anticipated booking is for four singles and one double, so that’s maybe six bikes and six bods. I am, subject to room availability, happy to take eight bikes and say a maximum of 10 bods. That way we can hopeful keep the journey time down.
Ping up definite reservations here, please.
Richard
PS Vianden is here: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=vi...=Vianden,+Diekirch,+Luxembourg&gl=uk&t=m&z=12
I have contacted the good folk at the Petry hotel in Vianden to see if they can accommodate us for again. In my mail, I have requested:
Four single rooms (one gone)
One double room
Bed and breakfast basis.
http://www.hotel-petry.com/english/
I am waiting for their response. If it’s a no, I will look at alternatives, for sure.
OUTLINE PLAN:
(a) It’s a reasonable schlep to Vianden from Calais, though by no means impossible with a decent start. Similarly, it’s decent journey back, via a different route.
(b) THURSDAY 17 April, take a train over to France at about 19:30, staying most probably at the Ibis in St Omer. Anyone wishing to go earlier is not a problem. This brings us late’ish into St Omer but we have generally found somewhere to eat. Failing that, find a sandwich.
(c) FRIDAY 18 April, ride from St Omer to Vianden down a reasonable mixture of roads. Over the past four or more years we have near enough found the ‘best’ way. It will need an early’ish start, wheels rolling at 09:00 (or maybe a bit earlier) if possible.
(d) SATURDAY 19 and SUNDAY 20 April, I have several alternative routes for a decent day’s ride on both days.
(e) MONDAY 21 April, again an early start (08:30 last time) for a train back at about 19:20. We can with luck make an earlier train, I have just pencilled in a train after seven PM to give us a bit of leeway.
NOTE:
(a) The weather may well be ‘mixed’. I will go if it is sunny, cold, raining, warm, windy and / or tropical. I will NOT go if there is a very real prospect of SERIOUS snow or a real risk of SERIOUS ice. On previous early or late season jaunts we have all been sensible and it’s turned out fine; the aim is to do the same in 2014.
(b) Given that we have a decent distance to go, we will need to keep an eye on the time (leaving early helps) and keep our progress up. That being said, it needn’t be a race. Nobody need fall behind or get lost.
(c) Suitable for? Anyone who can ride a motorcycle. We have had a big mixture of Wanderers in the past, ranging from hardy souls….. right through to my friend Paula on her ER6 (on just her second trip abroad) at -3C!
(d) I have reserved rooms based on previous take-up’s of the trip, anticipating much the same for 2014. It is Easter, so hotels do get booked. That being said, if I know there is a definite demand for places, I am happy to talk to the Petry to see if more rooms might be possible. I appreciate it’s some way off but the Dutch and Germans do pour into the Ardennes en-masse at Easter, so we need to get our claim in early.
(e) The anticipated booking is for four singles and one double, so that’s maybe six bikes and six bods. I am, subject to room availability, happy to take eight bikes and say a maximum of 10 bods. That way we can hopeful keep the journey time down.
Ping up definite reservations here, please.
Richard
PS Vianden is here: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=vi...=Vianden,+Diekirch,+Luxembourg&gl=uk&t=m&z=12