Monte Carlo or Bust ! 30 September – 8 October 2017
A great end to the season – the group in the Gorges de l’Ardeche – fab weather, fab scenery, brilliant roads & a fun group made for a super final tour
 Before the tour -some stay in an alternative Ibis! |
 We start with an outdoor briefing |
 We stop to see a Tiger Tank |
 Parking in front of the Church at lunch stop |
| “Monte Carlo or Bust! What a superb tour…we cannot say enough about the organisation that Jen & John put into the trip – the hotels were fantastic & the riding was awesome – great roads, gorges, mountain plains and the Millau Bridge to boot. The crowd of bikers we were with – whether fast, slow or 2-up there was no pressure to keep up as their marker system works so well. It takes away the stress so you can enjoy the roads and countryside. Excellent breaks for coffee and CAKES lol. We would like to thank everyone involved on the trip it was awesome (even Mike & John the S1000XR fast guys) but most of all our hosts – and I think I speak for all on the trip. Thanks Jen & John” | |
| Chris & Debs Marland, 1st tour, BMW R1200GS Adventurer, Staffordshire |
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 Our first hotel |
 Hot air balloons pass overhead |
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 Some visit Chenonceau Chateau |
| “Dear John and Jen, | |
| Alison and I both want to say how much we enjoyed the Monte Carlo or Bust tour. It was our third trip with you and probably the best. The roads were awesome and though we were a little tired on some days (age is creeping up I fear), we were always ensured of a lovely hotel at the end of the day. Your organisation as usual was superb and the back up van that also takes your luggage is invaluable for reassurance. Thanks again and hoping to see you on another one soon. Best wishes” | |
| Gordon & Alison Barr, 3rd tour, Honda Crosstourer, Saffron Walden |
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 Although not our Chateaux Tour this is well worth a visit! |
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 The entrance hall |
 Gorgeous flower displays |
| “Hello John and Jen,
Now the dust has settled and we’re back into the daily grind of work, we’ve had time to reflect on our tour with you both. |
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| Being our first organised tour we did not know what to expect, however the conclusion is we will ride with you again. The organisation was superb – the routes, the hotels, everything had been considered and even with unplanned occurrences the days always ended well. The hotels and food were great, with the standard of some far exceeding our expectations. | |
| We will hopefully see you the NEC and look to book something for next year… Best regards & thank you again for a super holiday, riding home was a solemn affair!” | |
| “David & Lin Lake, 1st tour, BMW R1200GS, Norfolk | |
 The grand interior |
 Diane & Nigel |
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| “John & Jen were the perfect hosts on our Monte Carlo or Bust tour in September this year. We had a fantastic trip with great roads and some brilliant evenings as well. The attention to detail was very good and routes well planned. Hotels were really nice and I was very impressed when John popped over to the hotel I was staying in to make sure all was OK and the rooms were satisfactory (there was 3 of us in a different hotel). Having the van was a bonus and well received – it’s nice not having to lug all of your luggage on a trip. I will be back in the future. Thanks for the great memories” | |
| John Archenoul, 1st tour, BMW S1000XR, Kent | |
 Others enjoy a drink on the terrace |
 Josie & Gavin with David C |
 Sam & Stuart with Chris & Debs |
 Nigel & Diane with Lin |
| “Our second time away with Jen and John. Fantastic tour, actually one of our best to date. Well run, very professional and the routes were amazing and at a good pace. Will definitely be booking with Bike Normandy again, well recommended” | |
| Matt & Shirley Ilott, 2nd tour, KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Eltham |
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 Paul, Jen & Doug |
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 Dinner is included tonight |
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 John tells the Cornish Pirate news story |
| “What can we say that has not already been said. Apart from it being our 2nd tour and brilliant brilliant brilliant, we would like to say thank you to everyone on the tour for making it such a great week. Big thank you to John and Jen for another great tour – looking forward to meeting again on the Italian Lakes tour 10 months and counting! | |
| Kevin & Jane Colmar, 2nd tour, Honda VFR 1200, Somerset |
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 Pavement parking at coffee stop |
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 Another bike run at fuel stop |
 Don’t all go in the same cafe !!! (Unavoidable!) |
| “Thank you John and Jen, great trip, great roads and great company” | |
| Stuart & Sam Goodwin (back-markers), 5th tour, BMW R1200GSA, Norfolk | |
 Sorry – it had to be done!! |
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 Bikes (& van) at afternoon coffee stop |
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 Lounge area in our next hotel |
 Drinks in the hotel bar |
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 Dinner is included in a local restaurant |
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 Our condom ladies (their words!!) |
 The hotel has secure garage parking |
 The next day we stop at the Millau Bridge |
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 Lovely scenery in the Tarn Gorges |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 The boys taking a selfie!! |
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 Time for ice-creams |
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 Our next hotel |
 We call them “car-park” they call them “dirty” beers! |
 i.e. beers before a shower! |
 Some head into the town centre |
 Our waitress takes our photo |
 Always a morning briefing |
 Our favourite coffee stop! |
 Shirley & Matt in the big chair! |
 So many cakes to choose from… |
 Chris is all heart! |
 Ooh David! |
 Jane, Josie, Gavin & Kevin |
 Brian, Lin & John |
 Pretty in pink John !! |
 Josie has a makeshift “she-wee”!! |
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 Jen stops to buy some wine |
 Then we ride lovely tree lined roads |
 How many men does it take to find a dropped key? |
 Lunch stop in Provence |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
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 Spot the imposter! |
 Shirley makes a fab mannequin! |
 Stuart & Sam behind Gavin & Josie |
 Fuel before we hit the motorway |
 Villefranche by night |
 Explore the back streets |
 Great restaurants tucked away |
 View over our hotel pool |
 Gorgeous sunrise the next morning – the view from our hotel rooms |
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 Enjoy an early morning swim |
 Breakfast on the terrace |
 We walk to the train station |
 Passing the beach |
 This is it – a day off – so it’s Monte Carlo or Bust! |
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 First things first – cocktails!! |
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 Then we take the Bateau Bus |
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 More selfies! |
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 The view of Monte Carlo from the Palace |
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 Catch a glimpse of Prince Albert |
 Quaint back streets |
 What a view |
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 We head back to the Casino |
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 Flash cars outside |
 Stunning interior |
 Back at Villefranche – walk around the Citadel |
 Down to the fishing harbour |
 Another glorious sunrise |
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 A cruise liner arrives |
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 Unfortunately we have to leave! |
 Our morning briefing first |
 We head out through Nice |
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 The van follows the back-markers |
 The famous Negresco Hotel |
 We ride the twisty “Route Napoleon” |
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 Back-markers Stuart & Sam |
 Brian disappears!! |
 Stunning lunch stop |
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 Lunch stop |
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 Nigel & Diane on their Crosstourer |
 David on his Honda Deauville |
 John on his BMW S1000XR |
 Wow! |
 Amazing view at the end of the Gorges |
 The group at the end of the Gorges |
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 Really?! A two hour climb up! |
 Awesome! |
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 Ian disappears too! |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
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 At our next hotel drinks before dinner |
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 Dinner is included tonight |
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 The next day we pass the original Arc de Triomphe |
 Wayne on his Kawasaki Versys |
 More gorgeous scenery |
 Kevin & Jane on their VFR 1200 |
 Gordon & Alison on their Crosstourer |
 Matt & Shirley on their KTM 1290 Super Adv |
 Ian on his Street Triple 765 RS |
 Doug on his T-Max 560 |
 Paul on his KTM 690 Duke |
 Chris & Debs on their BMW R1200GS Adv |
 David & Lin on their BMW R1200GS |
 Brian on his Honda Blackbird |
 Back-markers Stuart & Sam on BMW R1200GSA |
 Morning coffee stop |
 Lunch stop |
 Baguettes pre-ordered for lunch |
 Shirley goes pillion on Doug’s scooter! |
 Drinks in a local bar |
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 Shirley has Fondu for dinner |
 Chris & Debs have Raclette |
 Somehow nearly all of us… |
 …end up in the same restaurant |
 Another lovely morning… |
 Mike on his BMW S1000XR |
 Lovely – but cold… |
 ..and guess who’s riding today?!! |
 Coffee stop |
 Lunch stop |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
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 Arriving at our final hotel |
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 The lovely setting of our hotel |
 Drinks before dinner |
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 Dinner is included our last night |
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 John thanks everyone for a great tour… |
 especially Stuart & Sam our back-markers |
 Kevin raises a glass in thanks to us! |
 John shows Matt… |
 …how to waft a towel !!! |
 Jane – yes, Jane – tells a joke!! |
 Jen’s next |
 A Mr & Mrs competition… |
 Sam & Stuart are up first |
 No match… |
 No match! |
 Next up – Matt & Shirley |
 A match! |
 Come on Shirley – decide!! |
 No – you can’t have it both ways!! |
 Gavin & Josie are plotting… |
 So many laughs… |
 Josie cracks up!! |
 Josie – you must choose!! |
 And the winners are – Stuart & Sam! |
 “Cederick” & “Frecil”! are playing games… |
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 Seems like Ian has played as well!!!! |
 Chris tells a joke… |
 Drinks after dinner |
And that’s all folks! Thanks to everyone for making this such a fun tour. Thanks also to those who supplied photos we’ve used in this review. We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Regards, John & Jen. |
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