Monte Carlo or Bust ! 1 – 9 October 2016
The Group at the Millau Bridge – a really great end to the road riding season with 9 days of good weather and a fab bunch of guests.
| “Dear John and Jen, just wanted to say a massive thank you for organising another fantastic trip! We had a great time. Meticulous planning on your part makes for a very relaxing holiday for us where we can just ride and enjoy. Great hotels, awesome roads, a brilliant crowd and lots of laughs !” | |
| “Huge thanks to John & Jen for another successful trip. Super hotels and awesome roads we couldn’t ask for more. We had a brilliant time and laughed a lot. It was great to see old friends and lovely to meet new ones. Hope to see you all again at some point in the future. | |
| Paul and Louise Saltwell, 2nd trip, Yamaha MT 09 Tracer |
 We start with breakfast & a briefing |
 Our first stop – a Tiger Tank ! |
 All the bikes |
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| “Hello Jen & John, Ian and I would like to say thank you so much again for a fab holiday, it was really great and such good fun the entire time. We didn’t want it to end at all. Your organisation during the whole trip was 100%, there is nothing else we could have asked for, and you both deserve credit for having patience, it must be like herding cats most days! We have seen the tour photos on the website, I still think the pink cake shop was the best! So thanks again, we hope to see you next year (and a big cuddle to Della too.)” |
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| Ian & Heather Phillips, 2nd tour, Kawasaki ZZR 1400 | |
 Lunch stop |
 Subways all round ! |
| “Having just completed our 7th tour with John and Jen we have to say once again a big thanks for yet another fantastic time. You never let us down, always great roads, great stops and GREAT FUN. The group was fabulous, we could not have wished for a better crowd. We are already counting the days down until our next trips in 2017. Take care ride SAFE“ | |
| Steve (The Godfather) and Kirsty (Koala) Eaton, 7th trip, BMW XR1000 | |
 Andy devours a cream cake ! |
 Dan & Gordon hiding the rubbish bin… |
| “Hi everyone…had a great tour – thanks John and Jen. Great company, hope to see you all in the future. Ride safe, Hugs” | |
| Andy & Ros Moseley, 2nd tour, Honda Blackbird | |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 Our hotel terrace & secure parking |
 Time to visit Chenonceau Chateau |
 The fab interior |
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 Meanwhile Jen braves the pool (19C) |
 Drinks in the hotel bar |
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 Vanessa didn’t expect such a huge glass ! |
 Dinner is included tonight |
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 John welcomes everyone |
 Ann gets a cake for her birthday ! |
 Next morning coffee stop |
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 Spotted en-route |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 .  The stunning view as we cross the Dam |
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 Dave with Paul & Louise |
 Dan & Gordon |
 Drinks in the hotel bar |
 John with Ann & Neil |
 Stuart & Vanessa |
 Jane & Allan |
 Our hotel by night |
 We dine in a local restaurant |
 Dinner is included again tonight |
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 Secure garage parking |
 Always a briefing before we set off |
 Lovely scenery |
 Stunning clouds high up on a deviation  . |
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 We regroup after a foggy section |
 Paul & Louise on their MT-09 Tracer |
 David on his BMW R1200GS |
 Gordon on his BMW 1200GS |
| “Great company, good food, sunny days (mostly) and some biking thrown in too. Can’t ask for more. Was my first tour but not the last!” | |
| David Roberts, 1st tour, BMW R1200GS | |
 Robert on his Moto Guzzi Norge |
 Dan on his Tiger 800 |
| “Thanks to John & Jen for organising a super tour. I had a great time. Many thanks to everyone.” | |
| Robert Seabridge, 2nd tour, Moto Guzzi Norge | |
 Stuart – Explorer XC, Vanessa – Z300 |
 Neil & Ann on their BMW R1150RT |
| “Thanks to everyone for making us newbies so welcome. It’s a trip we’ll always remember!” | |
| Neil & Ann Henderson, 1st tour, BMW R1150RT | |
 Ian & Heather on their Kawasaki ZZR1400 |
 Andy & Ros on their Honda Blackbird |
 Steve & Kirsty on their BMW XR1000 |
 Dave on his Street Triple RX |
| “What a fabulous trip and wonderful company. Trying to catch up now but will be in touch over the next few days…Take care everyone,” | |
| Steve & Kirsty Eaton, 7th trip, BMW XR1000 | |
 Backmarker Allan – but where’s Jane ? |
 An impromptu coffee stop |
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 No further comment required !! |
| “Big thank you to Dan for spotting it [frayed clutch cable – see later] and to John & Jen for not making a drama about it. Quick fix and back with the tour for pm coffee as if nothing had happened – Fantastic – as were the roads, weather and company. It’s always a pleasure with BN tours. Best Regards” | |
| Dave Cockburn, 6th trip, Triumph Street Triple RX | |
 Our next stop – the Millau Bridge |
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 Sue, Paul & Louise take a selfie |
 Us with Jane & Allan |
 We have lunch at the viewing area |
 Kirsty & Steve |
 A Common Kestrel flies above us |
 Even higher up – a Griffon Vulture (we think!) |
 Heading into the Gorges of the Tarn |
 Fantastic scenery |
 Allan & Jane stop to take photos |
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 Coffee stop |
 Vanessa on her Kawasaki Z300 |
 Sue on her Bonneville leads the rest |
 Mark on his Honda VFR 800 VTEC |
 Steve & Kirsty |
 The pool at our next hotel |
 Most dine out in Uzes |
 Dave has some huge prawns |
 The town centre |
 Another lovely morning |
 Louise in the big chair ! |
 Paul has a new friend ! |
 Morning coffee at the Pink Patisserie |
 Andy & Ros |
 Ian & Heather |
 Dave & Gordon on the”Love Seat”!! |
 Coffee & cakes all round |
 Mark finds someone to share the “Love Seat” ! |
 Dan with a PINK cake ! |
 Gordon |
 Sue with a huge cake |
 Kirsty |
 We’re invited into the kitchen… |
 Taste the high grade chocolate… |
 Ours !! |
 We ride through tree-lined roads |
 Lunch in the shade |
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 Afternoon coffee stop |
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 The view from our hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer |
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 A beautiful sunrise on our day off |
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 The breakfast area |
 Jen has an early swim |
 Breakfast on the terrace |
 The fab view from our hotel |
 This is it – Monte Carlo or Bust !! Most of the group take the train to Monaco |
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 Tickets please !! |
 Fabulous yachts in Monte Carlo |
 We enjoy (several!) cocktails in the sun |
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 Ian & Heather alongside “Sweet Doll” – Heather’s top matches the boat ! |
 Bought in Sept 2016 for 9.4 million euros – but who are they ?? |
 Kirsty tries to get an invite on board !! |
 David, Ann & Neil arrive by Bateau Bus |
 More cocktails !! |
 Ian & Heather take the Bateau Bus |
 Us – obviously after a few drinks !! |
 What a great afternoon |
 Kirsty posing… |
 We stay for lunch… |
 David is escorted to the toilets !! |
 We walk up to the casino . view of Lionheart |
 The Casino at Monte Carlo |
 Ros admires her next car !! |
 Some of the group meet to go inside |
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 Inside – but no more photos ! |
 Vanessa wins 100 euros on the Roulette table |
 Train back to Villefranche |
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 Dinner in Villefranche |
 Another gorgeous sunrise |
 Watch out for the thief at breakfast! |
 Cruise liner arrives as we leave |
 We ride through Nice |
 Ride the twisty “Route Napoleon” |
 Lunch at Castellane |
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 We ride the Gorges of the Verdon |
 Fab scenery |
 John gets a puncture – caused by a huge fixing ! |
 How many blokes does it take… |
 Our backmarkers in the twisties |
 The fab lake at the end of the Gorges |
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 The Group at the end of the Verdon Gorges |
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 Afternoon coffee stop |
 Robert enjoys a cream cake |
 Drinks in the hotel bar |
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 Ian enjoys a beer |
 Dinner is included tonight |
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 Our hotel is next to the original Arc de Triomphe |
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 We next ride the Gorges of the Ardeche |
 Watch out for the locals! |
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 The Pont D’Arc at the end of the Gorges  The Group at the end of the Gorges |
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 Baguettes at lunch stop |
 Backmarkers Allan & Jane |
 Funny roundabouts ! |
 Our next hotel |
 We all hit the same bar |
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 Some dine together |
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 The 1050 Restaurant just for Allan ! |
 Next morning Kirsty struggles with layers! |
 Everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to John |
 He promises not to tell any more jokes !! |
 We always regroup before any motorway |
 Bikes at coffee stop |
 At lunch Dan spots the frayed clutch cable on Dave’s Street Triple RX |
 We get him to a garage & it’s fixed in time for coffee – he beats the van by seconds !! |
 Secure parking at our hotel |
 We all head to the nearest bar |
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 John thanks Allan & Jane |
 Then starts the jokes !! |
 Andy thinks his luck’s in !! |
 Back to the hotel for dinner |
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 John gets a Diploma for his Birthday  And some Madeira Cake !!!! |
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 More jokes… |
 Steve takes a turn |
 Kirsty goes next |
 Lots of laughs |
 Neil & Ann |
 Andy takes a turn |
 Then Allan |
 And Jane |
 Jen’s next |
 Then Paul |
 Dave eventually gets it right !! |
 An early morning walk to the Loire |
 Another lovely sunrise |
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 The T-shirt shop is open ! |
 A few raindrops as we head to Le Havre |