The first tour of the year and what an eventful one!! A great group here at the Verdon Gorges, fabulous weather throughout the trip, brilliant roads & scenery and a winner at Monte Carlo – what’s not to like!
Meet Pierre on the ferry!!
Start with a pre-tour briefing
Picnic lunch stop
Our first hotel
A few visit Chenonceau Chateau
Beautiful flower arrangements
“On my 7th tour with John and Jen, it was no surprise that the organisation, routes, hotels, meals and fellow bikers were excellent. The welcome surprise was blue skies and sunshine on each day of the tour. What’s not to like? We had our moments but, as expected, they were dealt with in a professional manner with a minimum of fuss. Thanks again for an excellent tour. I am looking forward to the next one.”
John Savage, 7th tour, Honda VFR800, Peeblesshire
“Brilliant roads, sights and organized stops. All hotels were great for me – the hotel Le Versailles with the view across the Mediterranean was amazing & worth paying more for the trip! The last hotel La Tonnellerie was just lovely. The food was lovely & at times too much – but I managed!! Monte Carlo was fantastic!
Your marker system worked just fine. The views were magnificent and sometimes overwhelming. The roads were a challenge at times but were fun and soon learned to enjoy them but have respect for them.
The tour was blessed with perfect weather. The French people are very helpful and extremely considerate on the roads. The road surface puts UK roads to shame.
Such a great group of people, it really was a pleasure and I’d be happy to do this tour again.”
Paul Ambridge, 1st tour, MV Augusta Turismo Veloce, Dorset
Drinks before dinner
Dinner is included tonight
We’re “treated” to the “Penguin” joke!!
!!!!!
“Dear all, well I think Paul has said it all! All I will add is that having done a number of BN tours “on my own” I have always been made to feel welcome by the other riders and made to feel part of the “gang” very quickly. Once again a great group of riders (and pillions) who once again excelled themselves in their warmth and friendliness – thanks everyone.”
Reece Compton, 5th tour, Triumph Tiger 800, Essex
Getting ready to leave
Always a morning briefing
Jen’s in the lead today
Andy & Ros, Honda Blackbird
“The tour was magnificent. Great roads, nice hotels, superb food and fabulous company, all organised extremely well. Even the weather gods were good to us. The true test of any organisation is how well they cope when things go wrong. We had more than our fair share of trouble and John and Jen managed every event professionally and efficiently. Thank you. I hope everyone is well on their way to full recovery and will be riding again soon. The icing on the cake is that I haven’t had any speeding tickets in the post yet! “
Robin Dawson, 1st tour, Triumph Tiger 900
8th May is VE Day
Good job we didn’t park in the square!
“Hi everyone. We had a brilliant time. Great scenery and roads with no potholes!!!!!. Hotels were super and food superb. Lots of laughs and good company. Monte Carlo was brilliant and the casino well worth a visit. Ride safe”
Stuart (7th trip) & Val (6th trip) Heath, Kawasaki Versys 1000, Staffordshire
Ros & Andy
Lunch stop
After a great ride (hey Reece!!)
Drinks in hotel bar
Hotel lounge
Dinner is included tonight
In a local restaurant
“Firstly want to thank everyone for their company on this tour, it was a great group of friendly people who all worked together and supported each other. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all. Weather was perfect, roads & scenery amazing, some brilliant hotels & food. All in all a great tour. All stops planned and organised for us so we don’t need to worry about anything except riding our bike. Thanks John & Jen for another great tour and the professional way you handled everything. It highlighted to us just how important it is to tour with a well organised touring company who really do care about their customers. Already looking forward to our next tour – Spain & Portugal in September.”
Alan & Julie Grieves, 9th tour, Ducati Multistrada, Norfolk
Lovely scenery in the Lot Gorges
Jen’s in the lead
Approaching the Millau Bridge
Thanks Jane
Jackie & Jon
Most of us climb up for the view
“Thank you both for a wonderful tour through France to Monte Carlo. We had a great time meeting some new friends & reuniting with old ones too. Kind regards”
Jon & Jackie Watson, 5th tour, Yamaha Tracer 900GT, Berkshire
The Millau Bridge
Us!! (Thanks Jackie)
Robin, Jonathan & Mario
Mrs Compton – he’s not overdoing it!!!
Ride over the bridge
Roundabout in the Tarn
Fabulous Tarn Gorges
Afternoon coffee stop
Great scenery in the Tarn
Jon & Jackie ride as “backmarkers”
Some brilliant roads
Jen had fun with a Frenchman!!
Our hotel in Uzes
Drinks before heading into town
Uzes by night
It’s a free evening
Jackie, Andy & Jen
Explore the back streets
Thanks Jane
John’s leading today
Lovely tree-lined roads in Provence
Lunch stop
Afternoon coffee stop
Ride through Nice
View from our hotel
Wish you were here??
We’re here for two nights
We meet in a local bar
Thanks Stuart!!!
Stroll into town
Then explore the old town
14th century covered streets
Dine alongside the harbour
A lovely sunrise
Jen has an early swim
Al fresco breakfast
After a win at the casino perhaps Andy!!
Some of us catch the bus to Monaco
The famous Casino
Yes that’s us!
Purple Lamborghini…
Ford Thunderbird
Stroll down to the port
Us again (thanks Jackie)
Some fab boats
Jonathan & Mario
Paul with Stuart & Val
John, Andy & Jane, Jackie
Selfie time!
The classic cars have arrived
Jon Watson by John Watson’s car!!
Seating for the GP
Climb up to the Palace
For amazing views
Take the tourist train
Look out for gulls swooping on food!!!
Colourful back-streets
Time for a cocktail – cheers!
The public pool
Thanks Jackie!
Some of us enter the Casino
Don’t touch Mario!!!!
Andy & Jane visit Prince Albert’s
Private car collection
And the animal park
Thanks Jane
Not sure where this was!!
Another lovely morning
We ride the fab “Route Napoleon”
Morning coffee/lunch stop
Fantastic scenery
John’s leading today
Alan & Julie, Ducati Multistrada
Jon & Jackie, Yamaha Tracer 900GT
Robin, Tiger 900 GT Pro
Reece, Triumph Tiger 800
Mike & Tracey, Kawasaki Z1000SX
Andy & Jane, KTM 1290 Adv
Stuart & Val, Kawasaki Versys 1000
Darren, BMW R1200GS
Mario, Honda CB1000R
Jonathan, Honda CB1000R
Karen, Tiger Sport 660
Paul, MV Augusta Turismo Veloce
John S, Honda VFR800
We head into the Verdon Gorges
Stop for a photo shoot
A great group
Lake Sainte-Croix
Beautiful scenery
Afternoon coffee stop
En-route to next hotel
Hilltop villages
More great roads
Drinks before dinner
Dinner is included tonight
The original Arc de Triomphe is here
Jon & Mike
Alan & Julie (thanks Jackie)
Heading to the Ardeche Gorges
More fab scenery
Lets take up all the spaces!!!
Coffee stop
A fun place
With great music!!
Paul (thanks John S)
Reece (thanks John S)
Jen was leading…
(Thanks John S)
The Pont D’Arc
A free night – thanks Stuart
Thanks Stuart
Pool at our final hotel
Our super final hotel
Drinks before dinner
Dinner is included again
Mike is awarded a button…you had to be there!!
Karen picked number 30 & won 180 euros at the Casino!!
John’s jokes…
So how did Mike know the answer…!!
Lunch stop on last day
Back at the port the t-shirt shop is open !!
Well the first tour of 2022 was pretty eventful to say the least!! We hope that all the incidents didn’t detract too much from the amazing scenery, brilliant roads, great hotels & food. Not to mention the glorious weather throughout. We appreciate that the late arrivals at some hotels due to either accidents, roadworks or diversions made for some long days, we’d like to thank everyone for their patience, good humour & participation in making the best of the tour. We hope to see many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen.
Sign up for our Newsletter
