Cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest! Another great group & lots of sunshine made for a fab tour.
Decorations in Calais the night before
The square in Calais
A briefing before we start
Morning coffee stop
John’s leading – we regroup for motorway
Lunch stop
“A fantastic tour through the Black Forest and Vosges. John and Jen are extremely good hosts who strive to give everyone a great time. This is motorcycling at its best – miles of twisty roads and great scenery. Enjoyed the hotels we stayed at and the coffee stops were timed just right for a quick break then refreshed for some more fun. Really nice group to spend the week with many who have been on BN European tours several times which I think sums up how enjoyable and well organised their tours are” [Terry’s 5* Google review – thanks! – J&J]
Terry Meachim, 5th trip, Triumph Street Triple 765 RS, West Sussex
After a deviation…
For a street market
There are old-fashioned games…
Jen has a go
A pic-nic lunch
“Hi John and Jen, I really enjoyed the Black Forest tour and I was delighted to discover that even on the very first day leaving Calais you managed to craft a route with lots of very good roads and only a very small section of motorway. I never thought these existed so close to Calais. Throughout the entire tour the riding experience was fantastic, made all the more special by the fact that the riders and pillions were such a lovely group of people. I ride alone and from the very first moment I arrived I was made really welcome. It wasn’t long before firm friendships were being formed and I have to put this down to the fact that the two of you attract the loveliest people onto your tours. Look forward to seeing you both on the next trip.”
Sue Worthy, 3rd tour, KTM Duke 890R, Dorset
Afternoon coffee stop
Another fete!
Ride alongside the River Semois
Our first hotel
““My 11th tour with BNET and it did not disappoint. Helped very much by some warm weather, very little rain and for once me wearing the appropriate riding gear! The roads through the Black Forest and surrounding area are sublime, and if you’re lucky enough to be riding behind John or Jen you are in for a treat as you follow them through the sweeping bends. Hotels at each location are well thought out with each offering bike parking, a good breakfast and a choice of restaurants nearby. Sadly not all have air con though. Three included meals on this trip which I have always found to be excellent and provide a good opportunity to discuss the days riding with your fellow bikers and pillions – and a great bunch they were too!”
Reece Compton, 11th tour, Ducati Multistrada V4, Essex
Parking round the back
Drinks before dinner
Dick & Caimin – co-ordinated “Man at C&A”!
“Thank you John & Jen for another truly amazing week. As always your attention to detail goes above & beyond. Fantastic roads, beautiful scenery (that Sara gets to enjoy!), great accommodation with some delicious meals included (don’t know how you do it for the price John!!). This was our second Black Forest tour and it was lovely to ride the B500 in the dry! Met up with old friends and made some new ones, all in all a great bunch of people. Really looking forward to Monte Carlo next month”
Dick Hallsworth (9 trips) & Sara Sheppard (5 trips), Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro, Norfolk
Dinner is included tonight
Sue, Reece & Jen
“Hi John & Jen, just like to say a big thank you to both of you for a fantastic tour. From start to finish the roads, hotels and food were all top draw for me. In addition to that, your planning and knowledge was second to none even in the face of deviations which were encountered along the way. Another plus was your kindness and hospitality skills in making sure everybody got their food and all drinks without having to leave the table. One final thing is thank you to everyone on the tour, they were all great friendly people. Great to meet them. Kind regards”
Dean Sergeant, 2nd tour, Yamaha MT10, Derbyshire
John (of course) has to tell a joke!
It’s Bob’s 10th trip
“Hi J&J, very happy and a special thanks for making changes on the go to ensure everyone had the best possible experience taking into account the differences in confidence/capability. The hotels are clean and comfortable & they offer value for money. (I don’t know how you do it for the price!
)
No problem with the food which must be a challenge when trying to suit everyone. As for the routes chosen – this tour included some of the best in Europe. Overall very happy so no recommendations from me and certainly plan to go again. Sorry I didn’t look happy in the picture of me getting my 10 times T-shirt. I can assure you I was delighted 
“
Bob Eve, 10th trip, BMW F900XR, West Yorkshire
Our morning briefing
Great roads this morning
Fields of sunflowers everywhere
Morning coffee stop
John’s leading today
We ALWAYS regroup for motorway
Pavement parking at lunch stop
More great roads
“Hi John & Jen, would just like to thank you both for a really good tour, everything was great from all the hotels, food and all the good company, thanks for all the hard work you put in – looking forward to the next one”
Simon Hodgkinson, 2nd tour, BMW R1250GS, Derbyshire
Ice creams at afternoon stop
Honestly Mrs C – he’s not overdoing it!!
Haydn, Chris & Andy
A welcome beer on arrival…
“We really had a great tour and that is because you both make sure everyone is having the best time. Everyone in the group was great and looked out for each other which was lovely. Hope we cross paths with them on another trip. Thanks again.”
Julie Meachim, 5th trip, Suzuki SV650, West Sussex
The Group in Baden Baden – but where’s BOB?!
Now he’s smiling!!
Revised group photo July 2024!!
It’s a free night tonight
Nigel & Mandy
“Hi all, Mandy and I would just like to say what a great time we had on tour. As usual John and Jen were brilliant hosts and we really enjoyed the company of all our travel companions. We both thought the meals in the hotels were especially good this time and it’s always great to ride without the luggage on the bike. Best wishes”
Nigel (7 trips) & Mandy (5 trips) Ford, BMW R1250 RS, Londonderry [& 3rd time on this tour!]
It’s a lovely town
Sculptures by Erwin Wurm – “Big Disobedience”
“Big Suit”
“The German Couch”
“Giant Big, Me Ideal”
Chris has a huge beer!
Andy, Haydn & Chris
“Hi John and Jen, I had a great time on my first tour with all you fabulous people. Great roads, great hotels and great food. I think it’s good value for money and you try to cover all aspects of a holiday from sightseeing to trying the local food. I look forward to being able to go on another trip soon – keep it up”
Andy Donadio, 1st tour, BMW R1250 GS, Gloucestershire
Baden Baden by night
Thanks Sara
Many join us for a nightcap
Breakfast in the cafe opposite
Luggage van & morning briefing
Then ride the fab B500
Jen’s leading on our Street Triple 765
Followed by Reece – Ducati Multistrada V4
Then Caimin – BMW R850 GS
Andy – BMW R1250GS
Sue – KTM Duke 890R
Chris – BMW R1250 GS
Haydn – BMW R1300 GS
Dean – MT10, then Bob – BMW F900XR
Nigel & Mandy – BMW R1250 RS
Dick & Sara – Tiger 1200 GT Pro, then Simon – BMW R1250 GS
James – Triumph Tiger 1200
Julie – Suzuki SV650
Andrea – Triumph Tiger 800
Karen – Triumph Tiger 660 Sport
Stop for photos
Here’s Dick & Sara
Haydn
James
Terry – Triumph Street Triple 765 RS
With wife Julie – Suzuki SV 650
Andrea with Karen
Haydn’s pic
What a view!
A brilliant road
Then to Freudenstadt for coffee
Reece & Caimin enjoy Apple Strudels!
Kids having fun!
Such a pretty town
James enjoys a coffee & pastry
Next stop – a surprise…
Take your partners…
For a waltz!
We’re lucky – we get two strikes!!
The group at the largest cuckoo clock
Then to Triberg for lunch
So cute – (look top right)
Ready for more great roads???
Andy & Chris have a balcony…
Others too – our hotel for 2 nights
Drinks before dinner
Julie, Sue & Mandy
Nigel, Bob & Terry
We owe Marcel 40 centimes!!
Dinner is included again tonight
Delicious steak is one option
Well we are in the Black Forest!
Next day many go for a ride-out
Stop for cattle crossing
Dick & Sara then Caimin
Great roads
Jen’s view as pillion today
Caimin
Dick & Sara then Sue
Here’s Reece
Terry
Terry then Reece
Dean
Then Andy
Sue stops to take action shots…
Simon
Terry then Reece
Andy then Dean
Nigel & Mandy
James
Haydn
Karen’s riding as “back-marker”
Stop for a coffee break…
And more cakes!
Nigel & Mandy, Sue, Reece
Sue
Sue
(Andrea visited the brewery)
Reece is smiling in this pic!
Simon
Simon then Dean
Dean
Caimin then Sue
Brilliant roads
Sue stops again – Dick & Sara
Nigel & Mandy
Dean
Terry
Julie
Simon
Haydn
Karen
Chris – at last!
Chris then Andy
Ride through vineyards in Switzerland
James
James
Visit the High Rhine Waterfalls
Those on the ride-out
& with Jen
It’s stunning
Walk up for great views
Nigel & Mandy take a boat ride
Free bike parking & entry
More great roads
Nigel & Mandy
Julie & Terry
Julie
Terry
Karen did a great job as backmarker!
Back at Schluchsee
Time to explore
Flower displays in town
It’s a lovely town
A free night – Chris, Haydn…
& Andy dine at the hotel
Next day we move on
Stuck behind a lorry in twisties
Bob’s back at the back!
We regroup at a viewing area
It’s a gorgeous day
Haydn & Sue
Most of us – leaving the Black Forest
Morning coffee stop
All in the same cafe!
Where there are more cakes!!
So many to choose from!
Haydn
Nigel & Mandy
Reece & Caimin
Simon & Dean
Terry & Julie
Lovely scenery
Lunch stop – where there’s a surprise…
Ski lift up – luge down – Chris & Andy
Chris is determined to win!
Nigel & Mandy
Nigel gets a head start!
Simon vs Dean
Last to go is John
Andy’s down first
Followed by Chris
Nigel had a quick start
To beat Mandy!
So close! But Simon beat Dean!
And finally John
Jen’s leading today
More fab roads
We regroup in the Vosges Mountains
A lovely view
Dick & Sara
Five biker babes!! (Karen & Andrea rode direct)
The boys are chillin’
A dragonfly hitches a lift!
Afternoon stop
Before Julie’s best ride!!
A free night in Epinal
Everyone in the square
There’s a market round the Basilica
With live music
Morning briefing in the garage
Coffee stop
Lunch stop
Reece stops for a photo
We’re in the Champagne region
Afternoon coffee stop
John’s leading today
Reece overtaking…
Followed by Sue
Drinks at our final hotel
Dinner is included tonight
John has a word of thanks…
To Bob – our “Back-marker” on the tour
Then kicks off the joke telling
We have a World Renowned Expert on…
European Wasps & the Noises they make!!
Bob has written some limericks…
John is a true biker man
Who is free to make his own plan
Yes, despite what they say
He always gets his own way –
At least when alone in the van!!
There is a girl biker called Jen
Who likes to take control now and then
And if you miss a mark
She is likely to bark…
“DOWN ON THE FLOOR GIVE ME TEN!!”
Now let me tell you about Sue
She certainly know what to do
She may be one-eyed
But boy can she ride
And her tyres must be made out of glue!
And one he omitted…
Every tour has it’s own silly clown
This trip I’m wearing that crown
First I missed the group pic
And when I tried to be quick
I took the wrong road out of town!
Reece knew a little bird…
There is a moral to this tale…
But I’m not giving away the punchline!
It’s a drizzly start next morning
The chateau without scaffold!
Getting ready
Final briefing
We stop in sunny Albert
With time to visit the 1916 Somme Museum
Most go back to Eurotunnel…
Where the t-shirt shop is open!!
And if you thought this tour was all about riding BRILLIANT roads with fabulous scenery – think again – it’s all about the CAKES!! Just some of those enjoyed on the tour…
And that’s all folks! Thanks to everyone for making this another great tour, thanks too to those who sent photos especially Sue, Sara & Haydn for the cakes!! Thanks to Bob for a great job riding as “Back-marker” (part-time!!) on the tour. We look forward to seeing many of you again in the future. Ride safe – John & Jen.
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