Testimonial Rhine in Flames Tour 7 – 12 August 2019
 The group ready to embark for the Rhine in Flames – another fantastic tour with a great bunch of people. |
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 We always start with a briefing |
 Peter on his Yamaha FJR 1300 |
 Phil & Veronica – Yamaha Tracer 900 |
 We meet more at Eurotunnel |
 Ready for the off |
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| “Hi John & Jen, this was a superb tour and with the best bunch of riders I’ve come across to date. Even the dancing bit on the boat (which I was not looking forward to) was OK, thanks in the main to a few sympathetic wives! The research you both have put into these tours rewards the customer with some exciting roads, delightful towns and comfortable hotels. What more could you ask for? Looking forward to the next one.” | |
| Reece Compton, 4th tour, Triumph Tiger 800, Essex |
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 Morning coffee stop |
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 We ALWAYS regroup before & after any stretch of motorway |
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| “Hi Jen & John, thank you for another great tour, loved the roads, food, wine and company! Hopefully see you soon” | |
| Gavin & Josie Allen, 4th tour, Triumph Tiger Explorer, Cornwall | |
 Colin needed fuel from the van! |
 Lunch stop |
 Good roads |
 Ride the starting grid |
 Afternoon coffee stop |
 Kevin & Sue – Moto Guzzi Norge |
 Sally on her Yamaha Fazer 600 |
 Paul & Gill ride as back-markers |
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“Hi both, firstly thanks for a great tour, both Sally and I thoroughly enjoyed it and the company; it was a great group. We’re having dinner with Clare and Adrian tomorrow to report back on our experience so watch this space for potential future bookings :-)” |
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| Peter Wright, 10th trip, FJR 1300 and Sally Hurman, 9th trip, Fazer 600, Leicestershire | |
 Really ?! |
 Lovely scenery |
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 Our first hotel |
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 Drinks before dinner |
| “Hi both, Tracey & I absolutely loved the Rhine trip. It’s my second outing with you, & Tracey’s first. It’s the first tour on the KTM 1190 and we’re both so glad we went. A great trip, a great atmosphere, a really lovely crowd, superb roads, scenery and great little towns you picked for lunch stops. We will do another sometime. | |
| Your complete organisation and route planning make the days go so smoothly and takes away all the stress. You put me in lemming mode! That’s exactly what I need to relax…Thanks to you both, and thanks to the rest of the tourers that made it a really good experience. (apart from the 150 Euro fine…. & dropping my driving glasses whilst riding….) See you both in 2020. 😊 | |
| Mark (2nd tour) & Tracey (1st tour) Hornett, KTM 1190 Adventure, Warwickshire | |
 Dinner is included tonight |
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 It’s Peter’s 10th trip ! |
 The start of the bad jokes ! |
 John spotted the next day |
| “Hi guys, thanks for a fab trip, I will definitely be back” | |
| Ali Beresford, 1st tour, Triumph Street Triple 765R, Somerset | |
 Lunch stop |
 Local attractions |
 More good roads |
 Beers at Boppard while we wait… |
 For the van to arrive… |
 Having rounded up Ian & Karin !! |
| “We look back on a great experience, with Karin’s virgin bike tour being a great success. Amazing group of people to share the experience with, brilliant roads/riding days and rest days. Big thanks to John and Jen for their great organisation and research of this tour. The Rhine in Flames experience particularly was amazing. | |
| We fondly remember the big welcome you all gave us, after our extra diversion and John’s conscientiousness in bringing us back to the fold. We look forward to seeing the pictures of the “German traffic police Christmas party”, which Sheldon and Ian and others are funding!! Hope we might meet up with some of you again on another trip, thank you one and all. | |
| Ian (2nd tour) & Karin (1st tour) Heap, BMW R1200 RT, Norfolk | |
 Our view across the Rhine – we take the ferry on a ride-out tomorrow |
 “Where are you?” Use your eyes – don’t phone each other !!! Honestly, this happened! |
 A day off – we all take the train to Rudesheim |
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| “So, our review arrives last in the best back-marker tradition. Being back-markers didn’t detract from the tour one bit, but it really helped to settle Gill into group riding which she wasn’t convinced she would enjoy. Getting to know so many new faces / friends was great fun and the Rhine in Flames tour was an absolute joy from start to finish. The Rhine cruise and fireworks really lived up to all our expectations. Big thanks have to go to John and Jen for their organisation and attention to detail be it choice of roads, hotels, activities or the excellent marking system throughout and for the bonus of having a support van following the tour. John even managed to find a group of laughing German Police, remarkable! Will recommend BN European Tours whenever I get the opportunity and hope to sign up to another tour in the future.” | |
| Chris (2nd tour) & Gill (1st tour) Wild, BMW R1200RT, Gloucestershire | |
 Then the passenger ferry across the Rhine |
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 Approaching Rudesheim |
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 Time to explore the town |
 Many of us sample a Rudesheimer Caffee |
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 Ian’s having ice cream |
 While Gavin & Josie… |
 Elaine & Sheldon… |
 have huge fruit waffles! |
 Wander into the back streets |
 Take the cable car for fab views |
 We spot Paul & Sue coming down |
 And Veronica & Phil |
 Great views at the top |
 The Neiderwalddenkmal |
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 Yeah, right !! |
 Jane & Kevin going down |
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 Quaint streets |
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 Hear the bells ringing |
 We take the paddlesteamer back |
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 See the castles en-route |
 Nothing to do but relax with a drink |
 Gavin |
 What has Jane spotted? |
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 More castles |
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 We approach the Loreley Rock |
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 The famous mermaid |
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 That evening the heavens open |
 Elaine & Sheldon take cover |
 Nigel is loving it !! |
 It absolutely chucks it down!! |
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 The next day, glorious sunshine |
 Boppard centre |
 We all have rooms with balconies |
 Bike parking on the pavement |
 We meet for a ride-out |
 So what size tyres Mark ? (from day before) |
 John’s in the lead |
 Kevin (& Jane) on Honda VFR1200 |
 All aboard |
 Paul (& Sue) on BMW R1200GS |
 Ali on her Street Triple 765 R |
 Pretty villages |
 Ian & Karin on BMW R1200 RT |
 Impressive buildings |
 It’s Reece – Tiger 800 |
 But did you spot the other tigers??? |
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 Here come the boys – and girls! |
 Nigel followed by Ali |
 A mixture of sweepers… |
 Nigel on his BMW S1000RR |
 Followed by twisties |
 Ian & Jen – Moto Guzzi California |
 Ian & Jen again |
 More twisties |
 A pillion’s view |
 Mark & Tracey – KTM 1190 Adv |
 Gavin & Josie mark the junction |
 Sheldon & Elaine – Kawasaki GTR1400 |
 You won’t run out of fuel! |
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 Ian & Karin, Reece then Nigel |
 Reece again |
 Reece followed by Ali |
 Nigel followed by Ali |
 Ali then Kevin & Jane |
 Mark & Tracey lead the pack |
 At the Drachenfells |
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 We take the rack-railway |
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 For views of the volcanoes |
 And fab views of the Rhine |
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 Nigel & Ali |
 Time for lunch at the top |
 The super six |
 Gavin & Josie – Tiger Explorer |
 Sheldon & Elaine |
 the brothers riding together |
 Mark & Tracey, then Ali |
 Colin on his Kawasaki Z750 |
 Ian & Karin |
 Kevin & Jane |
 Colin again |
 and again! |
 Waiting for the ferry back |
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 Josie’s bum needs a massage!! |
 Jane was happy to oblige! |
 Back to Boppard |
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 Phil (& Veronica) – Tracer 900 |
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 Drinks before the main event |
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All aboard for a great night of dinner, fireworks & dancing! |
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 Fortunately John has our tickets! |
 We start with dinner |
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 The boats start circulating |
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 Jen teaches the girls the Slosh |
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 Kevin & Sue are up |
 And Phil & Veronica |
 Jane’s got it !! |
 No – that way !! |
 Karin’s got it now ! |
 While the rest are just amused! |
 The paddle steamer |
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 All start heading to Koblenz |
 Paul & Sue |
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 Cheers !! |
 We’re all up on deck |
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 Each vilage sets off its fireworks |
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 Riverbanks lit up in red |
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 Koblenz Castle |
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 The boats all congregate in front of the castle |
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 We’re ideally placed for the main display |
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 Lights out & the show starts |
 Wow ! |
 Fab |
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 Many different themes |
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 The end ! |
And that was just a selection! A fantastic display that never disappoints, we look forward to this every year! Then it’s everyone back inside for more dancing (with apologies for some poor quality pics)…
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 Nigel & Ali |
 Mark & Tracey |
 Jen & Peter had a dance |
 Then all up again |
 Paul & Gill are up |
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 All link arms |
 On your feet! |
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 Jane – how cute! |
 Kevin (but not Jane’s Kev) |
 Gill |
 Paul |
 Phil |
 Veronica |
 Sally |
 Peter |
 Colin |
 Jen (the other one!) |
 Reece is in trouble! |
 Paul & Sue – cool man! |
 Ian & Karin |
 Mark & Tracey |
 Josie & Gavin (never!) |
 Ian |
 Final few dances |
 And it’s all over |
 The entertainment! |
 What a good night! |
 Another gorgeous morning |
 Our morning chat |
 Jane rides pillion on our Street! |
 To fuel where Phil has a puncture |
 Quickly mended (thanks Mark) |
 Phil has the evidence |
 Lunch stop at Cochem |
 Time to explore the old town |
 Oh no! Everyone pulled in by the police for speeding |
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 Not everyone was fined though |
 John wants a photo… |
 A group photo we didn’t want to take…the guilty ones – even Sally – to her absolute dismay! |
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 Sheldon sees a cop taking pics as well!! |
 What a cheek! |
 At our final hotel |
 John, Karin (& Jen) enjoy a swim |
 Drinks in a local bar |
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 We stroll into town |
 So picturesque |
 The group in Monschau |
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 This way! |
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 Dinner in a traditional restaurant |
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 Just what is Josie up to? |
 And John for that matter!! |
 A few words of thanks… |
 To Paul & Gill as backmarkers |
 We need some volunteers… |
 Paul & Gill go first |
 For a game of Mr & Mrs |
 Need a decision… |
 A match! |
 Mark & Tracey go next |
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 No match |
 A match! |
 Then it’s Ian & Karin |
 A match |
 Another match |
 and another ! |
 The winners – Ian & Karin! |
 Sue sets a few quiz questions |
 Which she didn’t know the answers to!! |
 And then a little ditty… |
| Monday’s Biker likes to set the Pace | |
| Tuesday’s Biker just likes to Race | |
| Wednesday’s Biker really likes to Go | |
| Thursday’s Biker is far too SLOW! | |
| Friday’s Biker sits as a Pillion | |
| Saturday’s Biker is one in a Million | |
| But the Biker that speeds on the Sabbath Day is the Biker that certainly has to Pay !! | |
 Coffee stop the next day |
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 With a lunch stop followed by motorway we end the tour back at Eurotunnel |
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 Bye Bye Bike Normandy Van – hello new Trafic |
Thanks to everyone for making this such a fun tour; great riding, great people, great participation (special thanks to Sue for her poem!) we look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen. |