Testimonial Black Forest 2019 - BN European Tours Ltd

Testimonial Black Forest & Vosges Mountains Tour 26 May – 1 June 2019

A great group with many regulars & some newbies too. Fab weather here in the Black Forest
We start with a pre-tour briefing	The “Oakley MC” gang at coffee
“Hi John and Jen, some kind words about my trip with BN European Tours, my second and as enjoyable as the first. Without hesitation I would have no doubt in recommending your trips. A very well rehearsed schedule with routes and hotels second to none. It’s obvious that this is not just a business to either of you but enjoyment where a common love for motorcycling lives. Your local knowledge is often invaluable and the hotels selected are faultless, along with the idyllic routes, giving time for all abilities to enjoy each day, with the added benefits of a luggage van and fantastic thought-out marker system. Another brilliant ride-out with another great group of people. Thank you to you both and the rest of the group for making my week. See you again soon.”
Peter Rainford-Read, 2nd tour, BMW R1200GS, Lancashire
Juila with CAKE – watch for more pics!	All the bikes at coffee stop
“Hi John and Jen, once again Sue and I must thank you for a wonderful tour. Great roads, wonderful places with spectacular views, great company and lots of smiles even when it rained. It was a fantastic week of riding and staying in lovely hotels. How you guys always find these places escapes me. Sue and I enjoyed back marking and look forward to doing it again next year. See you soon”
Gordon & Sue Bishop, 7th tour, Truimph Sprint 1050 GT, Dorset
We ALWAYS re-group before riding motorway
Jen’s in the lead today	Bikes at lunch stop
“I have to say one of your best ever, really good tour and great company throughout and flawless organisation.😎”
Paul Butler, 8th tour, KTM Superduke GT, Bedfordshire
“Hi J & J & The Black Forest Crew, a few words of thanks to John and Jen for a great tour – as we have come to expect – and you both delivered in all areas again. Thanks to Gordon and Sue for bring up the rear. Good to meet new and old faces again – a good bunch of people & a great week of riding with you all. All the best ’till the next time”
Steve King, 8th tour, Kawasaki ZZR1400, Northamptonshire
Afternoon coffee stop
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Shane & Julia enjoy ice creams	Gorgeous scenery this afternoon
“Thanks to John and Jen for a superbly well organised and thoroughly enjoyable week for what was our first tour with BN. The standard of the accommodation, the organisation of each days riding and the whole experience that was the Black Forest Tour were of the highest standard. Many thanks also to Gordon and Sue for keeping us company at the back…and thanks to all the group for making the week such an enjoyable time both on and off the bikes. We are certainly looking forward to our next trip with BN European Tours.”
Shane & Julia Hill, 1st tour, Triumph Sprint GT 1050, Northamptonshire
Four cygnets this year – beautiful
Lovely !	.
“Hi John & Jen, just to say how much Sara & I enjoyed the tour. Once again your organisation and attention to detail could not be faulted. The hotels, routes, coffee/lunch stops were all spot on and the scenery beautiful (even through mist and clouds). You both made sure that everyone was happy and this reflected on the way we all got on so well – a really happy group. Sara was so delighted she is already making plans for our next tour !! Best wishes”
Dick Hallsworth, 3rd tour, Triumph Sprint 1050, Northamptonshire
“Thank you both for an amazing week. It was brilliant!”
Sara Shepherd, 1st tour, pillion with Dick Hallsworth
The gardens at our next hotel	Drinks before dinner
.	Dick & Sara
Dinner is included tonight
John sets the bar low for jokes !

“Jen/John, thank you for a great tour once again, great hotels, superb roads and coffee/cake stops. Even a bit of rain couldn’t spoil a great time.”
John Hackney, 2nd tour, Triumph Street Triple, Northamptonshire
A drizzly morning	Morning chat
We re-group before motorway	How many men does it take…??
Paul’s KTM has a side-stand problem
“I’ve just returned from another fantastic trip, thoroughly organised by John & Jen. Having already read the comments posted by others on the trip I’m at a loss what I can add, other than that I echo every word! Great company, hotels, food and Roads!! What more can I ask for other than for John and Jen to influence the little rain we had – they sorted everything else!! I would and have recommended this trip to anyone who wants to go on a biking holiday without having to do all the work. Thanks again John and Jen for another professionally planned trip! Flawless! You make it look so easy.”
Ian Taylor, 2nd tour, BMW R1200GS, Lancashire
A welcome arrival in Baden Baden	Just what we need !
Cheers !!
The next morning the luggage van arrives	Briefing before we ride the famous B500
Paul’s first on his KTM Superduke GT	Mick follows on his KTM Superduke GT
“3rd trip now, what a blast, you know it’s good when you don’t care what time or day it is and don’t want it to end. Thanks to John for sorting tyres. Thanks also to the great company. Looking forward to the next one.”
Mick Grogan, 3rd tour, KTM Superduke GT, Buckinghamshire
Mick again	Mark & Rachel on their BMW S1000 XR
Steve K on his Kawasaki ZZR1400	Steve & Kirsty on their BMW R1200 GS

Steve & Sam on their Triumph Trophy	Peter on his BMW R1200 GS
“Hi guys. Just wanted to thank you for a great tour. The hotels were great and the scenery was amazing. Everyone got on so well. It was a great group. Your organization was spot on as always. See you for another tour soon.”
Steve & Sam Barnes, 4th tour, Triumph Trophy, Dorset
John H on his Triumph Street Triple 765	Stuart on his BMW R1200 GS
Ian on his BMW R1200 GS	Sandra on her Triumph Street Triple 765
Jen started at the back…	.
Reece on his Triumph Tiger 800	Reece again
John S on his Honda VFR 800	John S again
Shane & Julia – Triumph Sprint 1050 GT	Gordon & Sue as back-markers
The van goes as well !	“Power Rangers” Mick & Jen after their race !
The group at the end of the B500 (when it was still dry!)
More ice -cream at coffee stop!	Great roads
& lovely scenery	en-route to our next stop
We arrive at the largest cuckoo clock for two strikes!	Then take your partners for a waltz!

Unfortunately the rain starts
Pretty lunch stop	.
Dinner is included at our next hotel	.
.	Champage for Steve B’s 50th birthday
Happy Birthday for Sunday Steve !	Just what are Sue & Dick up to ?
Julia enjoys Black Forest Gateau !	More bad jokes !
The next day is a free day; take a boat ride around the lake, take the train to visit other towns, come for a ride-out to the High Rhine waterfalls in Switzerland, recover lost property (Kirsty!) or get new tyres !!
The lovely setting for our hotel for two nights
Such a pretty town	With lots of flower displays
Mark & Rachel’s BMW needs a new tyre !	Most come for a ride-out
Steve & Sam in the lead	Reece on his Tiger 800
Peter on his BMW R1200 GS	Great roads

Reece again	Scenery en-route
Dick & Sara – Sprint 1050 GT	John H on his Street Triple 765
Fab roads	John’s in the lead
Shane & Julia – Sprint 1050 GT	Dick & Sara again
Sandra on her Street Triple 765	Gordon & Sue – Sprint 1050 GT
John again	Steve & Sam with Reece
Hi Reece !	Peter again
Everyone at the waterfalls
Dick & Sara	Julia & Shane
Super view from the top

You can walk across the bridge	A Heron lands nearby
Sausage & chips for lunch	More great roads
Red Kite overhead	Amazing roads
Mick & Steve K bought Leiderhosen !!	Mark & Rachel have a barrow full of xxx !!
Sara & Dick	Kirsty
The next day, glorious sunshine	Setting off
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Gorgeous scenery	Ride under the ski runs
Fab views leaving the Black Forest	.

We re-group at a viewing area
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En-route to coffee stop	Another pretty town
.	Selection of cakes to choose from
We have cakes !	Raspberry & Walnut cakes
Steve & Kirsty have milkshakes	Sam & Sue
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Riding to lunch stop	.
A surprise in store at lunch stop	Don’t forget to raise the bar !!
1st down – Rachel & Mark	Then it’s Steve B vs Gordon

Steve E vs Paul	Steve K vs Kirsty
John vs Sandra	Dick vs Peter
Ian vs Stuart	Shane vs Julia
Rachel	Mark
Gordon & Steve B	Steve E
Paul	Kirsty
Steve K	Sandra
John H	Dick followed by Ian
Peter	Stuart
Julia	Shane

John E	And finally, Jen !
The brave ones !
Thanks to Sara for the photos of the arrivals !!
Next it’s the Vosges Mountains
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Triumphs: Sprint 1050, Street 765, Tiger 800, Sprint 1050, Street 675, Trophy, Street 765, Sprint 1050
Not forgetting the BMW’s; R1200 GS, S1000 XR, & three more R1200 GS
John & Sandra	Stuart, Ian & Peter
Next stop, afternoon coffee break
A free night in Epinal	Some of us end up in the same restaurant
Secure garage parking	Pretty cut through
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Morning coffee stop	The t-shirt shop is open !!
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Kirsty’s got a new t-shirt	Thanks Kirsty & all who bought t-shirts
Lunch stop	Mick’s tyre’s had it !!
Paul’s going to get a new front as well	En-route to fuel stop
Afternoon coffee stop	.
Fab view of the castle from our hotel
Gordon & Sue	.
Dinner is included on our last night & we dine outside
John thanks everyone for a really great tour

So just what is he up to with Rachel ??	!!
.	So he lost a euro !!
Sue tells a joke she’s practised all week !	Gordon’s next
Reece takes a turn	Paul B
John again	Jen
and finally, Dick (sorry missed Peter!)	Another lovely morning
Our final briefing	Beautiful !
An early lunch stop at Albert	With time to visit the 1916 museum
Final re-group on the way home
And that’s it – everyone back to Calais in good time
Thanks to everyone for great riding, great timekeeping (a first we think!), great company – we had a blast (literally – Jen!!) We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe – John & Jen.
P.S. And this has to be written in RED – the icing on the cake on the way home – WE WON !!
WE DID IT !!!!