Wednesday 25 September 2019

Day 16 - Home again

Almost last of the feet and absolutely last through passport control (thanks to a broken down BMW - car).
A quick wee stroll through the N York Moors before heading for home (again in the drizzle)
Overall a great trip and the Tiger didn't miss a beat.
Final stats.....
Miles 3,696
Average speed 38.2 mph (thanks to French speed limits)
Consumption 63.8 mph
John's consumption +2 schnitzels/fortnight

Day 15 - 4 Countries

Our morning ride was a gentle bimble through wooded valleys of Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium before heading to the motorways and the ferry in the Netherlands.  This was where the weather turned from biking weather to ark building weather.  The journey was both wet and unpleasant (perhaps doing the Amsterdam and Rotterdam ring roads in the pissing rain at rush hour wasn't a good idea).
This culminated in us getting into a diversion in the Rotterdam docks and getting thoroughly lost.  We checked in much later (and wetter) than originally intended.
Note to self - Do not come home via Rotterdam again.

Monday 23 September 2019

Day 14 - Back to the Nurburgring

After a night of torrential rain (our first since leaving the UK, it was just cold and damp today (liners in for tomorrow!) Our pace was slowed until the roads started drying and by the time we got to our old stomping ground of the Nurburgring and Blankenheim, we are in a groove (a cold groove, granted but a groove none the less).
John also said farewell to his constant travelling companion over the past years and declared his bike more comfortable without his sheep skin.  Similarly Delores has been consigned to the polio seat.
We found our hotel in a very small village, up a dead end road in a housing estate.  We could tell it was ours by the way that it looked closed but was in fact open and being run by Red Riding Hood's grandmother (who only speaks local German).
As an example......
'Here is the menu, you will be having schnitzel!'
but at least they are offering food and beer.

Sunday 22 September 2019

Day 13 - Mad Sunday on the Black Forest Raceway

A sad farewell to the V-S crazy bunch and then on to the day in hand.
As my good friend Denis said (last night) it is difficult to pick a bad road in the Black Forest. (Except for todays 4 umleitungs - and to be fair all 4 gave us beautiful roads).
There are minimal pictures today because we were enjoying the fast sweeping bends of the Black Forest far too much to stop and take photos.  All in all a great day riding.
Tonight's hotel actually looks like a hotel and isn't on an industrial estate.  It also provided JB with his first schnitzel of the holiday !

Day 12 - Home again in Germany

A pleasant if undemanding ride through France.  Within 30 minutes of being in Germany we experienced a Stau (traffic jam), some superb gorge roads and our first 'umleitung' .  The latter producing some more excellent roads for future use.
The day ended with our good friends Daggi & Henri, accompanied by their friend Nikki and Laura/Denis.  Another entertaining night in V-S.
Quote of the day. -
"it's good to be back at the racetrack"
"What racetrack"
"GERMANY"

Friday 20 September 2019

Day 11 - Where it all started

A quick trip over the Col De la Colombiere then up to Les Gets to relive my grass skiing memories, and bore John stupid.  A scenic tour of some high roads avoiding Geneva (by which time it had started to warm up). Then onto some 'normal roads' to finish our day in another industrial estate.

Thursday 19 September 2019

Day 10 - Annecy/Albertville loop

A weather front has brought some clouds in over the mountains.  Thermals on, and departure for a loop round Annecy and Albertville. Departure temperature a chilly 13°  rising throughout the day but only 17° at the end.  Largely uninteresting roads with traffic interspersed with some great bits.
Highlights, Mont Blanc disguised as clouds over closer mountains.
Lowlights, being overtaken by a bicycle coming down a hairpin infested pass.  (We got him again on the uphill.)