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Testimonial Black Forest & Vosges June 2017

Black Forest & Vosges Mountains 27 June – 3 July 2017

The group at the end of a misty B500 - another fab tour despite a few showers of rain!

The group at the end of a misty B500 – another fab tour despite a few showers of rain!

“I have recently returned from a BN European Guided Tour and I would like to thank – and recommend – the overall quality and professionalism of this company [that’s the formal bit done!] What a great laugh and enjoyable time. John and Jen are great people, caring and enthusiastic about what they do, weighing up punters and acting as catalists to ensure all would gel and we certainly did.
Good riding during the day, brilliant pre-ridden /researched quality roads allowing us to relax and enjoy the experience. Good social evenings, good food, good accommodation – we are now looking forward to choosing one of the other trips on the BN menu for next year.
For and on behalf of the Shib/Shibetts next trip will be our eighth & I can honestly say every trip has been first class”
Paul Rixon, 7th visit, Triumph Rocket 3 Tourer, Kent
On a biking holiday? Dave & Lorraine join us on a Trike!

On a biking holiday? Dave & Lorraine join us on a Trike!

We start with a pre-tour briefing at Eurotunnel

We start with a pre-tour briefing at Eurotunnel

First coffee stop

First coffee stop

We always re-group before & after any stretch of motorway

We always re-group before & after any stretch of motorway

It's Mr Rixon himself!

It’s Mr Rixon himself!

Tony & Di Shepherd on their BMW 1600GT

Tony & Di Shepherd on their BMW 1600 GT

“Hi all, fantastic trip, loved every minute of it (yes, even the rain had its moments). Great roads, great lodgings and great company, just like one of Jen’s home-cooked meals – a great recipe! Will definitely book another tour for next year so hopefully will see some/all (?) of you on one of them. 
Thanks John & Jen, you’re the best and we love you!! Kindest regards to all”
Tony (7th visit) & Di (1st tour) Shepherd, BMW 1600GT, Kent
Garry & Jo Griffin

Garry & Jo Griffin

Rather worrying! It's Mr Rixon again!

Rather worrying! It’s Mr Rixon again!

We tell you which junction to exit

We tell you which junction to exit

Gordon sets off on his Tiger 800

Gordon sets off on his Tiger 800

Lunch stop

Lunch stop

“Hi John and Jen, thank you both for an absolutely fabulous tour in the Black Forest and Vosges Mountains. Everything was first class, roads, hotels, food, but most of all your organisation and hosting which were second to none. No wonder you get so many ‘returnees’ – I’ll be one.”
Gordon Heggie, 2nd tour, Triumph Tiger 800, Essex
Afternoon coffee stop

Afternoon coffee stop

No rain as yet...

No rain as yet…

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Steve & Paul

Steve & Paul

Waterproofs required as the heavens open!

Waterproofs required as the heavens open!

“Hi John/Jen, just wanted to say many thanks for all your help/advice/guidance during our tour. Although the weather generally wasn’t on our side (plus Lorraine and I not being bikers!), we really did thoroughly enjoy all the fun, laughter and social side that goes with your bike tours. BN is really quite an eye opener and we appreciate you both in including us on all the week’s activities but most importantly always watching out for us and our rather large yellow trike!…You were also spot on with your predictions about all the other guys, what a lovely collection of genuine people, they all really made the week special and it is something we will never forget! Thanks again,take care and stay safe! Bike Normandy you are the best!”
Dave (2nd visit) & Lorraine (1st tour) Jacobs, Boom Yellow Trike, Kent
Our first hotel in Belgium

Our first hotel in Belgium

Jenny & Mark with Keith & Gordon

Jenny & Mark with Keith & Gordon

Lorraine & Di

Drinks before dinner – Lorraine & Di

Bex, Denise, Martin & Craig

Bex, Denise, Martin & Craig

“Hi John and Jen, same old e-mail…thanks again to you both for organising and leading a most enjoyable tour. Great roads, hotels, meals, and of course a great group of riders. Very many thanks and best wishes”
Keith Bowen, 6th visit, Honda NC750S, Wiltshire
Dinner is included tonight

Dinner is included tonight

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John starts off the joke telling

John starts off the joke telling

Paul takes over...

Paul takes over…

Fun after dinner on the wheelie chairs!

Fun after dinner on the wheelie chairs!

Jen (No 2) joins in!

Jen (No 2) joins in!

Paul & Tony too!

Paul & Tony too!

Breakfast area in our hotel

Breakfast area in our hotel

A drizzly start the next day

A rainy start the next day

The yellow trike!!

The yellow trike!!

Bex on her Yamaha MT-07

Bex on her Yamaha MT-07

Jo on her Suzuki GSXR 750

Jo on her Suzuki GSXR 750

Lunch stop - with blue sky!

Lunch stop – with blue sky!

Lynne helps Keith remove his waterproofs!

Lynne helps Keith remove his waterproofs!

“Hi all, I agree it was a very good trip – as always – many thanks to John and Jen. Hope to see some of you again soon.”
 Lynne Wareing, 5th visit, Triumph Street Twin, Manchester
Our next hotel in Baden Baden

Our next hotel in Baden Baden

Surprise - welcome beers on arrival!

Surprise – welcome beers on arrival!

Cheers!

Cheers!

Keith's after the ladies again!!!

Keith’s after the ladies again!!!

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Paul, Jen & Mel, Steve

Jenny & Mark

Jenny & Mark

“Thanks for making our first foray abroad a memorable one, very much appreciated it and enjoyed it. We’re definitely doing the Rhine in Flames (in the dry) next year so maybe see some of you there.  All the best”
Mark & Jenny Muller, 1st tour, Yamaha MT-09 Tracer, Rhondda Cynon Taf
Always a morning briefing

A morning briefing before we ride the B500

Mel & Jen on their Pan European

Mel & Jen on their Pan European

Rocket man !!

Rocket man Paul !!

Gordon on his Tiger 800

Gordon on his Tiger 800

Tony & Di on their BMW 1600 GT

Tony & Di on their BMW 1600 GT

Garry on his Thruxton R

Garry on his Thruxton R

Jo on her GSXR 750

Jo on her GSXR 750

Dave & Lorraine in the Trike!

Dave & Lorraine in the Trike!

Keith on his NC 750S

Keith on his NC 750S

Mark & Jenny on their MT-09 Tracer

Mark & Jenny on their MT-09 Tracer

Paul McGarry on his Tiger 1050

Paul McGarry on his Tiger 1050

Jim & Dorothy on their BMW 1600 GTL

Jim & Dorothy on their BMW 1600 GTL

Steve on his NC 750 S

Steve on his NC 750 S

Craig on his Tiger 800

Craig on his Tiger 800

Martin & Denise - XJR 1300

Martin & Denise – XJR 1300

Bex on her MT-07

Bex on her MT-07

Jen on our Street Triple

Jen on our Street Triple

We regroup at the end

We regroup at the end

Keith

Keith

Paul gives Jen S a ride on the Rocket

Paul gives Jen S a ride on the Rocket

Craig

Craig

Jim & Dorothy

Jim & Dorothy

Martin & Denise

Martin & Denise

Bex

Bex

Dave & Lorraine

Dave & Lorraine

Garry rides Jo's GSXR 750

Garry rides Jo’s GSXR 750

Gordon

Gordon

Mark & Jenny

Mark & Jenny

Paul M

Paul M

Stuart on his Honda CBF 600

Stuart on his Honda CBF 600

Lynne on her Street Twin

Lynne on her Street Twin

Steve

Steve

All visible this time!

All visible this time!

Pretty coffee stop

Pretty coffee stop

Blue shies again!

Blue skies again!

Waterproofs off again!

Waterproofs off again!

Mark & Jenny enjoy cream cakes

Mark & Jenny enjoy cream cakes

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What a whopper!

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We visit the largest cuckoo clock in the world

We visit the largest cuckoo clock in the world

See the cuckoo strike 2 o'clock

See the cuckoo strike 2 o’clock

We put money in the slot...

We put money in the slot…

to hear Eidelweiss

to hear Edelweiss

Stuart & Lynne dance a waltz

Stuart & Lynne dance a waltz

Lovely flower displays at lunch

Lovely flower displays at lunch

Loads of cuckoo clock shops

Loads of cuckoo clock shops

Heavy rain again during lunch stop

Heavy rain again during lunch stop

Drinks outside before dinner

At our next hotel drinks outside before dinner

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Dinner is included tonight

Dinner is included tonight

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Jim with the Black Forest Gateau

Jim with the Black Forest Gateau

Paul kicks off the jokes - again!

Paul kicks off the jokes…

Followed by John

Followed by John

Helped out by Martin!

Helped out by Martin!

John then starts the Chinese Whispers

John then starts the Chinese Whispers

Keith passes it on to Lynne

Keith passes it on to Lynne

Di tells Craig

Di tells Craig

Dorothy tells Garry

Dorothy tells Garry

Garry passes it on to Martin

Garry passes it on to Martin

Martin seeks out Jenny

Martin seeks out Jenny

Craig makes a bee-line for...

Craig makes a bee-line for…

Jen S

Jen S

John has to repeat the message

John has to repeat the message

Jen can't get far enough away!

Jen can’t get far enough away!

Gordon tells Denise

Gordon tells Denise

Steve tells Bex

Steve tells Bex

Bex tells Tony

Bex tells Tony

Tony & Paul get close!!

Tony & Paul get close!!

Lynne with a joke

Lynne with a joke

Then Paul - again!

Then Paul – again!

Gordon takes a turn

Gordon takes a turn

Paul - again...

Paul – again…

Then Jen

Then Jen

Guess who !!

Guess who !!

Is it John or a penguin?!!

Is it John or a penguin?!!

Our hotel for two nights in the Black Forest

Our hotel for two nights in the Black Forest

The lovely town square

The lovely town square- and a blue sky!

Flower displays everywhere

Flower displays everywhere

Fab setting on the lake

Fab setting on the lake

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 Most of the group join a ride-out to the High Rhine waterfalls in Switzerland…
Bex marks a junction..

Bex marks a junction..

Garry & Jo

Garry & Jo

Ride some fabulous roads - Jen riding pillion

Ride some fabulous roads – Jen riding pillion

Road closed !  We have to do a U-turn !

Road closed ! We have to do a U-turn !

Paul M

Paul M

Garry followed by Steve

Garry followed by Steve

Great views on the way

Great views on the way

Steve followed by Stuart

Steve followed by Stuart

mark & Jenny

Mark & Jenny

Mark & Jenny followed by Paul R

Mark & Jenny followed by Paul R

Paul R followed by Mel & Jen

Paul R followed by Mel & Jen

Stunning scenery

Stunning scenery

Mel & Jen

Mel & Jen

Garry

Garry

Watch out for hairpins

Watch out for hairpins

Garry again

Garry again

Paul R & Gordon

Paul R & Gordon

Ride through vineyards...

Ride through vineyards…

and fields of sunflowers

and fields of sunflowers

Bex followed by Jo

Bex followed by Jo

Tony & Di

Tony & Di

The group at the waterfalls

The group at the waterfalls

Some take a boat out to the falls

Some take a boat out to the falls

Yes, that's our lot!

Yes, that’s our lot!

A train passes above

A train passes above

Great view from the top

Great view from the top

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Stunning

Stunning

Enjoying ice-creams

Enjoying ice-creams

Jen rides back with John as pillion...

Jen rides back with John as pillion…brilliant roads

Bex followed by Lynne

Bex followed by Lynne

Tony & Di in the lead

Tony & Di in the lead

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Tony & Di followed by Martin & Denise

Tony & Di followed by Martin & Denise

John then rides pillion on the Rocket

John then rides pillion on the Rocket

Rocket in monochrome

Rocket in monochrome

Garry & Jo on their balcony

Garry & Jo on their balcony

Gordon

Gordon

Back at the hotel in good time, a few decide to have another short ride-out…
Tony, Steve & Mel

Tony, Steve & Mel

More hairpins - Tony needs some vaium!!

More hairpins – Tony needs some Valium!!

We stop for a drink

We stop for a drink

Heading back

Heading back

Brothers Mel & Tony

Brothers Mel & Tony

Steve in the lead

Steve in the lead

Denise & John share a wheelbarrow of food!

Denise & John share a wheelbarrow of food!

Tony demonstrates Jen taking photos

Tony demonstrates Jen taking photos

Jen S on her balcony

Hello flower! Jen S on her balcony

Morning briefing before we depart

Morning briefing before we depart

We stop at a viewing point as we leave the Black Forest

We stop at a viewing point as we leave the Black Forest

The SHIB boys (don't ask!)

The SHIB boys (don’t ask!)

The SHIB boys & girls

The SHIB boys & girls

Make a CIRCLE !!

Make a CIRCLE !!

At last !!

At last !!

The group as we leave the Black Forest

The group as we leave the Black Forest

Dave & Lorraine can't decide!

Dave & Lorraine can’t decide which cake!

Mark & Jenny order crepes

Mark & Jenny order crepes

Jen with a bowl of coffee!

Jen with a bowl of coffee!

Cakes all round

Cakes all round

Rain in the Vosges closes the surprise

Rain in the Vosges closes the surprise

No-one else is up on the Col

No-one else is up on the Col

Secure garage parking at Epinal

Secure garage parking at Epinal

A free night - some of us choose Tagine

A free night – some of us choose Tagine

Morning coffee stop

Morning coffee stop – another dry day!

Advanced notice required on a Sunday

Advanced notice required on a Sunday

At lunch locals are fans of the trike!!

At lunch locals are fans of the trike!!

Oops - forgot - seen at the cuckoo clock!

Oops – forgot – seen at the cuckoo clock!

Our final hotel

Our final hotel

Secure garage parking

Secure garage parking

The fab view from our hotel

The fab view from our hotel

Our last night...

Our last night…warm enough…

for drinks outside before dinner

for drinks outside before dinner

Merlin's castle

Merlin’s castle

Hot air balloon passes overhead

Hot air balloon passes overhead

Dinner is included again tonight

Dinner is included again tonight

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John thanks everyone for a great tour

John thanks everyone for a great tour

 And now the fun & games start with a few rounds of Mr & Mrs – Garry & Jo go first…
It's a match!

It’s a match!

No match!

No match!

Another no match!

Another no match!

Di & Tony go next - a match!

Di & Tony go next – a match!

And another match...

And another match…

And another!

And another!

Mark & Jenny have a match

Mark & Jenny have a match

It's a match

It’s a match

Another match!

Another match!

We impose on Keith & Gordon...

We impose on Keith & Gordon..come on Gordon!!!

A match!

A match!

No match!

No match!

With no need for a tie-break as, with 8/8 matches, Tony & Di are the winners!

No need for a tie-break,with 8/8 matches, Tony & Di are the winners!

John starts the joke telling again...

John starts the joke telling again…

Paul...

Paul…

Paul again...

Paul again…

Stuart goes next

Stuart goes next

Followed by Lynne

Followed by Lynne

Lynne again

Lynne again

Dave takes a turn

Dave takes a turn

Paul...

Paul…

Dave again...

Dave again…

Jen's up next

Jen’s up next

Jim has the alternative penguin joke!

Jim has the alternative penguin joke!

And another...

And another…

Tony takes a turn

Tony takes a turn

Then Keith - watch out Lynne!!

Then Keith – watch out Lynne!!

Martin & Denise need John's towel to waft!!!

Martin & Denise need John’s towel to waft!!!

Lynne & Stuart

Lynne & Stuart

At our final morning briefing...

At our final morning briefing…

John thanks Martin & Denise our back-markers

John thanks Martin & Denise our back-markers

Lunch at Albert with time to visit the 1916 museum

Lunch at Albert – time to visit the 1916 museum

T-shirt shop is open!!

T-shirt shop is open!!

Di has a go driving the Trike!

Final fuel stop – Di has a go driving the Trike!

Tony wants a go!

Tony wants a go!

Paul M goes next!!

Paul M goes next!!

At the peage Stuart's bike won't start

At the peage Stuart’s bike won’t start

John sorts it - Stuart's relieved!

John sorts it – Stuart’s relieved!

Tony's impressed!

Tony’s impressed!

And that's it - everyone back to Eurotunnel.

And that’s it – everyone back to Eurotunnel.

Another great tour – with – as shown by the blue skies – not as much rain as some seem to remember!! Thanks to everyone for riding well and for being good sports! We look forward to seeing many of you again in the future. Ride safe, John & Jen.