Black Forest & Vosges Mountains 16 – 22 July 2017
 The group at the end of the B500 (minus Chris (broken-down BMW!!!) and Darryl (still playing on the B500!)). ANOTHER fab tour, good riding and a great mix of regular & new guests made for a really fun tour. |
|
 We start with a pre-tour briefing |
 First coffee stop |
| “Just returned from a fantastic Black Forest Tour, great weather, great roads, great hotels, great wine and food, and the best bit – brilliant hosts and brilliant people on tour. Thanks John and Jen, see you next year.” | |
| John Young, 7th trip, Suzuki V-Strom 1000, Norfolk | |
 We always re-group before & after any motorway. |
|
 A street market at lunch stop |
 Andy on a fairground ride! |
| “What a total whirlwind…1st ever bike tour and I’m hooked. A stress free 1200 miles, 4 countries with stunning scenery and roads. Hand picked hotels, brilliantly researched routes and a backup van helped make Jen and John simply awesome hosts and guides. My riding improved over the week and the wet weather we had on just one day was less frightening than before. I hope to see some of the friends I made on the next tour with Bike Normandy. Go on, book a tour, you know you want too :)” | |
| Pete Moore, 1st trip, Suzuki GSXS 750, Essex | |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 Jen leads on our Street Triple R |
 Lovely scenery in the afternoon |
 . |
 Swans with five cygnets |
 . |
| “We’ve just returned from another fantastic Bike Normandy tour – Black Forest & Vosges Mountains. Fantastically researched routes, twisty roads (including the B500), amazing scenery, luggage van, superb hotels and great fun! Highly recommended.” | |
| Simon & Helen Brown, 2nd tour, BMW R1200GS, Surrey | |
 Our first hotel in Belgium |
 The “Annexe” opposite |
 Time for drinks before dinner |
 . |
 Dinner is included tonight |
 Breakfast in the conservatory |
| “Myself and my Wife have recently returned from the Black Forest & Vosges Mountains tour…what an AMAZING time we had! Right from the booking stage back at the end of 2016 both John and Jen were extremely helpful, professional and ensured we had a good time. The organisation of the whole trip, hotels, routes and food could not be faulted. The roads and the scenery are second to none and your research shows this. From the moment we met at Calais, everyone was so friendly and this certainly made the experience that bit more enjoyable being able to have a laugh along the way. The odd spot of rain here and there but nothing that put us off. Would definitely recommend BN Tours & will use again in the future!” | |
| Darryl & Sarah Fletcher, 1st tour, Triumph Explorer, Coventry | |
 John Y has a pillion! |
 Chris’s BMW is playing up… |
| “Another excellent trip. How do you manage to do that EVERY time? Thoroughly enjoyed the Black Forest tour. Great companions and the final group dinner was brilliant – my sides were aching from laughter! Well done – if ever 5 stars were deserved, this is it!” | |
| Bob (6 trips) & Jozina (3 trips) Eve, BMW R1200RT, Skipton, Yorkshire | |
 Morning coffee stop |
 Chris’s BMW won’t start… |
 The lads give it a push… |
 But it won’t bump-start either |
 Breakdown truck is called |
 Bye bye Chris! |
| “Many thanks to John and Jen for a really enjoyable tour of the Black Forest and Vosges Mountains. Like many others, I intend to book another with them just as soon as I can. Enough said!” [since booked on Monte Carlo or Bust! 2018] | |
| John Savage, 1st tour, Triumph Sprint 1050 GT, Peeblesshire, Scotland | |
 Lunch stop |
 Darryl with Vanessa |
 Our next hotel in Germany |
 Beers on arrival! Nigel, Pete & Richard |
 Our “Biker Babe” Jozina |
 Andy, John S & David |
 Pete & Karen |
 John with the hotel waitresses |
 Manageress Patricia rides pillion to the bike parking |
 Some choose to dine in the hotel – John Y with a huge knuckle of pork! (Thanks John S for the photo) |
| “Hello you two, I’m slowly “coming down” after an amazing week – thanks so much. At 68 yrs I honestly thought my high mileage tour days were over – wrong!! I enjoyed every minute thanks to the great routes, superb hotels and meals, plenty of stops / tea / pee breaks 👍 Sure these trips can be done cheaper BUT BN offers so much more. And as with all quality holidays the experience is remembered long after the cost is forgotten. You guys offer your customers something very special … See ya again soon, kind regards” | |
| Richard Levings, 4th trip, Triumph Tiger 800, Gloucestershire | |
 Restaurants down by the riverside |
 Exclusive shopping area |
 Smart restaurants with live music |
 Breakfast is in the cafe opposite |
| The next day we ride the famous B500 – Jen finds a look-out post to photo all the bikes… | |
 Andy & Chris on their BMW S1000XR |
 Stuart on his Explorer & Vanessa on Honda CB500 |
 Nigel & Mandy on their Tiger 1050 |
 Darryl & Sarah on their Explorer |
 John on our Street Triple R |
 Karen on her Street Triple R |
 John S on his Sprint 1050 GT |
 Mark on his Ducati Multistrada 1200 |
 Richard on his Tiger 800 |
 Greg on his Kawasaki Z1000SX |
 John Y on his Suzuki V-Strom 1000 |
 Simon & Helen on their BMW R1200GS |
 David on his Honda Deauville |
 Pete on his Suzuki GSXS 750 |
| “John and Jen, thanks for a great tour and holiday. Once again another well researched, well organised and well run tour with a great bunch of people to boot.
See you in 5 weeks time for the Italian Lakes and Swiss Alps Tour (for the second time!).” |
|
| David Craxton, 4th trip, Honda Deauville, South Yorkshire | |
 Bob & Jozina on their BMW R1200RT |
 Stop for views of the Black Forest |
 Bob & Jozina ride as our “back-markers” during the tour |
|
 Anyone lost a bum-bag??? |
 Jozina had found it at the petrol station |
 Where John had left it!!! You total PLONKER!!!!! |
|
 . |
 We re-group before going for coffee |
 Pretty coffee stop |
 . |
 The kids are having great fun in the fountains in the square |
 Not content with leaving his bum-bag behind, John has lost his headset as well – what an IDIOT!!! |
 Coffee in the shade |
 . |
 . |
 Helen & John dancing at the Cuckoo Clock |
| So this is what he gets up to while Jen is driving back to Baden Baden to retrieve his headset – fortunately still on the ground in the hotel car park !!! |
|
 “What time does the cuckoo appear John?” asks Richard!! (So John isn’t the only daft one then – Jen!!!) |
|
 The group at the world’s largest cuckoo clock |
|
 Cuckoo clock shops at lunch stop |
 . |
 Our next hotel for two nights |
|
 Mandy |
 Darryl |
 Drinks before dinner |
 . |
 John thinks Andy & Christine need some help in the bedroom! |
 But it’s Andy himself who really knows how to waft a towel!!! |
 Dinner is included tonight |
 . |
 . |
 Mandy with a huge piece of Black Forest Gateau |
 The next day it’s Jozina’s birthday |
 “Happy Birthday” from all of us |
 Stroll round the pretty town |
 Fab setting near the lake |
 Gorgeous flower displays |
 . |
 Time to adjust a few chains… |
 Then the t-shirt shop opens! |
| Most go on the ride-out to the High Rhine Waterfalls in Switzerland – Jen goes pillion to take photos of the bikes… |
|
 Pete marks a junction on his GSXS 750 |
 Darryl & Sarah on their Explorer |
 We ride alongside the lake |
|
 John Y on his V-Strom 1000 |
 . |
 Greg leading on his Z1000SX |
 . |
 Andy & Christine on BMW S1000XR |
 . |
 Mark has Karen pillion on his Multistrada |
 David on his Deauville |
 Richard on his Tiger 800 |
 Darryl & Sarah on their Explorer |
 Nigel & Mandy on Tiger 1050 |
 Great scenery |
 Watch out for hairpins |
|
 . |
 . |
 Those who rode to the waterfalls |
|
 Take a boat ride to the falls |
 Andy & Christine, Mandy & Nigel |
 Stunning views at the top |
|
 A Heron at the top |
 Sarah & Darryl love their ice-creams! |
 A red kite soars overhead |
 Moulting it’s wing feathers… |
 . |
 John rides back pillion on John Y |
 The next day it’s a drizzly start |
 More lovely scenery |
 The group as we leave the Black Forest |
|
 . |
 Pretty coffee stop |
 Simon & Helen choosing cakes |
 Pete & Karen are spoilt for choice |
 . |
 . |
 . |
 . |
 . |
 At lunch we have a surprise in store… |
 The brave ones!! |
|
 We take the ski-lift up… |
 Raise the barrier!! |
 . |
 Then the luge down…John & Pete go first |
 Helen races Karen |
 Nigel vs Mandy |
 Andy vs Christine |
 Greg vs John Y |
| Thanks to Darryl for the following photos of the arrivals at the finishing line… |
|
 Pete |
 John |
 Karen |
 Helen |
 Mandy & Nigel |
 Christine went too fast!! |
 John Y |
 Greg |
 Jen |
 And finally – Bob |
 The group at a viewing area in the Vosges Mountains |
|
 A free night in Epinal |
 Live music in the square |
 Morning coffee stop |
 Lunch stop |
 Chris rejoins us with a new switch-gear |
 The group with ice-lollies at fuel stop |
 The fab setting of our final hotel |
|
 Drinks and dinner outside – photo courtesy of John Savage |
|
 John thanks everyone for a great tour |
 And Jozina & Bob – our fab “back-markers” |
 No! No more – please!! |
 John gets a “Penguin”!! |
 Pete takes a turn |
 . |
 Nigel – whom we understand better… |
 with a German accent!!!! |
 Jen – are you in the army?! |
 or the observer corps?! |
 Mandy goes next |
 . |
 Richard tells the tale of Albert & the Lion |
 . |
 The Bike Normandy Players … |
 …”Ith it Dithco!” |
 Mark takes a turn |
 Then gets a cake for his birthday! |
 John Y goes next… |
 Great pose John !! |
 Cecil & Frederick have fun… |
 . |
 So how did Christine know the answer?!!! |
 How embarrassing!! |
 Is this Helen…?? |
 Or a wide-mouthed frog?!! |
| Then the fun & games start with a “Mr & Mrs” competition – Mandy & Nigel are up first… | |
 No Match ! |
 It’s a Match ! |
 Another Match! |
 Helen & Simon go next – no match ! |
 No match ! |
 A Match !! |
 It’s Bob & Jozina’s turn – a Match! |
 Another Match ! |
 And another ! |
 Then buddies Mark & Richard…no match |
 A Match !! |
 New mates John Y & Greg – no Match! |
 A Match ! |
 Come on Greg – decide !! |
| There were joint winners – Nigel & Mandy and Mark & Richard until the tables were turned on us! Thanks to Andy, Bob & Jozina who had written eight questions for us – and after getting eight matches we were the winners !! (Hopefully photos to follow) | |
 Christine has a joke to tell |
 . |
 Mandy starts the “Cardboard Box” game |
 Pete |
 Nigel |
 Helen |
 Many fall as the box gets lower – Pete’s still in |
 Christine is still in |
 Mandy’s still in |
 Helen’s doing well |
 Pete – minus his shorts !! |
 Marjorie the waitress is still in |
 Helen nearly gets it… |
 The winner is – Pete ! |
 The view of our hotel across the lake |
 Our final morning briefing |
 Lunch at Albert with time to visit the 1916 museum |
 Back to Eurotunnel at 17.00 hrs |
| We keep saying this, but yet another great tour thanks to the participation of everyone making it such good fun. We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen. |
|