Testimonial 5×4 (5 nights/4 countries) for Oakley MC 22-27 May 2018
Oakley MC group in Luxembourg – the first to ride our new 5×4 tour & we think it was a huge success!
 Everyone stays the night before in Calais |
 Kirsty helps with the orders |
| “John & Jen … once again a fabulous tour. The roads and accommodation were perfect and the extra day in Cochem was a real treat. Thank you so much for all the hard work and effort you put into our tours and for our special T shirts … much appreciated. The Leffe museum and hotel is a special find and a great end to the tour. We have thoroughly enjoyed all our tours with you and will continue to do so for as long as the old man can ride his bike!” | |
| Steve & Kirsty Eaton, 10th trip, BMW XR1000, Cambridgeshire |
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 Lizzy & Smiley exchange tops! |
 Nice ! |
 It’s Ken’s birthday !! |
 What a firework! |
 We start the tour proper with a briefing |
 Morning coffee in the sun |
| “Had a fabulous trip with John and Jen on the inaugural 5X4 in May 2018 through France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. The roads, the riding, the hotels, the food and the company were excellent. The day break in Cochem made a real difference and we were refreshed for the remainder. The weather was also kind which helped a lot. John and Jen’s organisation is second to none and a big thank you to them for taking us on a great adventure.” [Paul’s 5***** Google review – thanks!] | |
| Paul Butler, 7th trip, & Tana Pytlova, 2nd tour, KTM 1290 Superduke GT, Bedfordshire | |
 Ken is the first to ride as “TEC” |
 Parking at coffee |
 Paul G on his Honda Fireblade |
 Nick – GSXR750 & Tom – BMW R1200 GSA |
| “John ‘n Jen, thank you for another FANTASTIC! tour…………..just incredible. Really well run, perfect hotels, perfect roads and great company. Just wish I was going again next week! I hope to see you again soon…Tom. xxx (The kisses are for Jen! Just in case you thought otherwise after the Spa moment!! LOL)” | |
| Tom Oliver, 2nd tour, BMW R1200 GSA, Bedfordshire | |
 Ready for the off! |
 Nick on his GSXR 750 |
 We always regroup for any motorway |
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 Lunch stop |
 Don’t all go in the same cafe ! |
 Afternoon coffee break |
 After some great roads |
 “Car-park” beers – drinks before a shower! |
 Drinks outside our first hotel in France |
| “Another great trip by John and Jen. Excellent roads, fabulous hotels and the inclusive food was delicious. 5×4 worked well and definitely worth the day off the bikes to rest and do a bit of touristing!” | |
| Lisa Boddy, 3rd tour, Suzuki GSXS 1000F, Cambridgeshire | |
 Dinner is included tonight |
 John starts off the bad jokes !! |
 It’s Steve & Kirsty’s 10th trip !! Thanks guys !! |
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 Parking in the hotel garage |
 Always a morning briefing |
 Jen’s in the lead again today |
 Tom – BMW R1200 GSA |
 Graham on his BMW R1200 GS |
 Clive on his KTM 1290 Superduke GT |
 Lizzy on her Suzuki GSXR 750 |
 Paul (but where’s Tana?) KTM 1290 SD GT |
 Mick on his KTM 1290 Superduke GT |
 Steve K on his Kawasaki ZZR 1400 |
| “What a great week – forever etched in the memory banks” | |
| Mick Grogan, 2nd tour, KTM 1290 Superduke GT, Buckinghamshire | |
 Smiley on his Suzuki GSXS 750 |
 Lisa on her Suzuki GSXS 1000F |
 It’s Ken – again ! |
 Jason on his Ducati Street Fighter |
 Mark & Rachel on their BMW R1200 GS |
 Nick encore une fois ! |
 Mark rides “TEC” on his Versys 650 |
 Paul G thinks it’s going to rain… |
| “Thanks for a good trip – I enjoyed it. Thought you both did a very professional job as usual. See you guys next year & maybe bring Joe and my son in law.” | |
| Mark Knight, 2nd tour, Kawasaki Versys 650, Bedfordshire | |
 The group in the Ardennes – minus Steve & Kirsty who needed a clutch cable |
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 Lovely view in the Belgian Ardennes |
 Quaint coffee stop |
 Yep, all in the same cafe!! |
 Watch out for wild boar – see later !! |
 Plenty of parking |
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 At lunch Graham & Ken enjoy a pic-nic |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 There’s a band in town so we park on the pavement |
 Super roads in Luxembourg |
 Twisty enough ? |
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 Bends coming up… |
 Great sweepers |
 The fab pool at our next hotel |
 Paul G, Clive & Nick take a dip |
 Paul B gets a dunking from Tana ! |
 A chat before we set off |
 Another lovely morning |
 So how did Paul G miss hitting these ??? |
 Coffee stop |
 Jason riding as “TEC” |
 Amazing bridge |
 Chill out at the back |
 Stunning views along the Mosel |
 A different lunch stop from the 4×4 |
 A great setting |
 Wander into town |
 Wow ! |
 Leaving lunch – Mark & Rachel |
 Paul – with Tana this time ! |
 Lisa followed by Steve K |
 Mick followed by Steve & Kirsty |
 Graham followed by Paul G as “TEC” |
 At afternoon coffee stop… |
 The heavens open !! |
 Kirsty left her jacket on a bike !! |
 “It’s only water” says the cafe owner !! |
 It doesn’t stop us having ice-creams! |
 No calories there Steve ! |
 Graham discusses BMW’s with the owner |
 Waterproofs on then… |
 But it’s dry when we arrive at our hotel in Germany |
 Dinner is included again tonight |
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 Just what are they listening to ?? |
 Something funny ! |
 You WILL have eggs for breakfast!! |
 The next day is a day off… |
 Some go for a ride-out |
 Some head back to the Nurburgring |
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 Some take the chair lift… |
 You have to walk to the adventure park |
 Steve doesn’t like heights !! |
 So he’s fuming…! |
 Great views from the top |
 Alternatively explore Cochem |
 Explain this ! |
 So pretty |
 Walk up through vineyards to the Castle |
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 Great views from the Castle |
 Stunning Reichsburg Castle |
 Take a river cruise – wouldn’t it be funny… |
 if we saw Paul & Tana !!! |
 Take a guided visit of the Castle |
 Super views |
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 Cross the bridge for great views of the town |
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 Simply stunning |
 John with chips – who’d believe it !! |
 Sample the local wines |
 Or go KTM Orange handbag shopping!! |
 Drinks on the hotel terrace |
 A free night to dine out |
 Breakfast area |
 Another lovely morning |
 Tom-foolery at petrol stop! |
 Jen’s always ready with a camera!! |
 Morning coffee in the prettiest setting |
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 More Tom-foolery !! |
 Lunch in Belgium & it’s really hot weather |
 Plenty of cafe’s to choose from |
 As well as a few beers! |
 Some did this in Cochem ! |
 The approach to our final hotel |
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 Reception area |
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 Time for a swim |
 or relax before dinner |
 A few enjoy the pool |
 John gets a battering !! |
 Then finds an even stronger jet |
 Paul B takes a turn |
There are also sauna & spa facilities which Tom & “Smiley” enjoyed (a lot of scrubbing was involved!!) – but best there were no photos as evidence!! |
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 Time to visit the factory |
 A brief introduction |
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 Before starting the interactive tour |
 Smell the ingredients |
 Pay attention – there’s a quiz !! |
 Learn how the beers are made |
 Several different beers |
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 Clive helps himself ! |
 Fab stained glass windows |
 With a sample at the end |
 Rachel |
 Mark |
 Drinks outside before dinner |
 Think I’d rather not have seen this !! |
 Dining area |
 Our tables |
 Dinner is included our last night |
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 No !! Not the green flip-flops !! |
 A Magnum of Champagne for the “top table” courtesy of Mick – thank you very much !! |
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 John kicks off the jokes… |
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 Kirsty takes a turn |
 Lisa tells us hers in one go! |
 Paul B’s up next |
 John shows Mark & Rachel how to waft a towel !! |
 Jen takes a turn |
 Then it’s the vegetable game… |
 So how did Paul know the answer??!! |
 Clive’s up next |
 “Ith it Dithco?” |
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 Then the Chinese Whispers start…Tom tells Lizzy… |
 Lizzy passes it on to Clive |
 Clive picks on Graham… |
 Graham chooses Rachel… |
 Who’s not impressed ! |
 Rachel targets Ken |
 Ken tells Lisa |
 Who passes it on to Paul G |
 We think Paul quite liked it !! |
 The jokes continue outside |
 Ken takes a turn |
 A fab breakfast the next morning |
 A final briefing |
 Ready for the off… |
 John’s in the lead today |
 A rainy start… |
 Tom, Steve & Kirsty have swapped bikes |
 Graham |
 Steve |
 Mick |
 Mark & Rachel |
 Lisa |
 Nick followed by Lizzy |
 Lizzy |
 Ken |
 Jason rides “TEC” |
 By fuel stop it’s dry & sunny again |
 Not only bikes re-fuelling… |
 Sunshine at coffee stop |
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 The final leg is motorway |
 We stop at services for lunch |
 And that’s it – everyone back to Calais |
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