Rhine in Flames Tour 9 – 14 August 2017
The fabulous Rhine in Flames – a highlight every year. The group on our last night in Germany.
 We start with a pre-tour briefing |
 Chris & Reece ride as “back-markers” |
 Ready for the off! |
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| “Dear John and Jen, | |
| Amazing, loved it! | |
| Thank you for another great tour – the Rhine in Flames was spectacular. It was nice to meet such a great bunch of people, great company as always. Special thanks to you both for your patience, friendliness and organisation.” | |
| Mike Sanders (6th trip) & Tracey Reading (4th trip), Kawasaki Z1000SX, Somerset | |
 Morning coffee stop |
 Paul “Parker” with Chris M |
| “Hi John, Jen, what fantastic photos on the website, created great memories, thank you. Both of us would like to say that the tour was excellent as usual, it was great to meet new and old friends. Great hotels and a fab view of the Rhine in our 3 balcony bedroom!!! (Mike & Tracey didn’t believe us). Really looking forward to our other 2 booked tours for next year. Thank you for making everything so special, you spoil us all!” | |
| Carole & Wayne Williams, 2nd tour, BMW K1300GT, Pontypridd |
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 We always regroup before & after any stretch of motorway |
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| “Dear Jen and John, once again you have organised a wonderful tour! We really enjoyed our time on the bike… as well as a day off the bike to explore Rüdesheim which we probably would never have visited if it wasn’t for your tour. Everything was exceptional, the roads, the hotels, the food, the boat trip and fireworks, the company, and of course you – our tour leaders. We are already looking forward to tour number 3 with Bike Normandy, we just need to decide which one it will be!” (What a great reminder of a great holiday the review is!) | |
| Audrey & Rees Hewson, 2nd tour, Triumph Explorer, Cambridge |
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 John leading on our Street Triple R |
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| “Hi John and Jen, thanks for another great tour which we both thoroughly enjoyed. Saturday night was amazing. Memories are made of this! Best wishes” | |
| Stuart (6th trip) & Val (5th trip) Heath, Kawasaki Versys 1000, Staffs | |
 Lunch stop |
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 Our hotel in Belgium |
 Lovely gardens |
| “Guten Tag Jen and John, | |
| Thanks very much, once again a fantastic tour! As ever, superbly organised, travelling on some fantastic roads, seeing beautiful scenery and staying in excellent hotels. It’s interesting that there is much less emphasis on riding than on your other tours but it’s none the worse for that – it was great to be able to spend more time in one place, as Boppard and the surrounding areas are very picturesque. | |
| Tschuss!” | |
| Steve Henrys – Triumph Street Triple & Wendy Henrys – Triumph Bonneville, (6th trips), Herts | |
 Time for drinks before dinner |
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 John welcomes everyone to the tour |
 and sets the bar (low!) for jokes |
| “Had a great time away again with John and Jen – can’t wait till next year. If you have tried the rest – now try the best – Bike Normandy! Thanks again” | |
| Chris (4th visit) & Reece (1st trip) Nash, BMW R1200GS, West Sussex | |
 “Parker” & Chris have “Rhine in Flames” t-shirts |
 Always a morning talk |
Photo sent by Chris – taken at lunch stop |
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 Spotted on Wendy’s crash helmet! |
 Fuel in a rainy afternoon! |
| “Me and Harvey (Chris) are still on a high from the amazing trip! We have told everyone that will listen all about it and have even recommended you guys to some friends that are looking at touring! We were both a bit apprehensive about our trip but from the minute we met you guys that went away! | |
| What a fab trip, great hotels, great food, good company, amazing scenery and some fantastic roads!! You have it planned out perfectly and took all the stress out of the holiday. Thank you so much and we will definitely be booking again!” | |
| Amy Moseley & Chris Harvey, 1st tour, Honda VFR, Leicestershire | |
 Our hotel in Boppard for three nights – all rooms have balconies |
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 Drinks in the hotel bar |
 “Parker” & John having a laugh! |
| “‘Yet another well organised tour, some great roads, brilliant hotels and we both enjoyed the fireworks. We love not having to worry about where the next coffee break will be, next fuel stop, lunch break or finding our hotel, thank you for taking out the stress of touring. “ | |
| Andy & Ros Moseley, 3rd tour, Honda Blackbird, Warwickshire | |
 Old cars on the walk to the station |
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 A free day – most join us on a day out to Rudesheim |
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| “Just a quick line to say how much I enjoyed the Rhine in Flames tour. Once again your route planning and hotel selection has been 1st class. I cannot sing your praises often enough. Several riders in my local are already thinking of joining me/ you next year.” | |
| Chris Martin, 9th trip, Triumph Tiger 800, West Yorkshire | |
 Take the train to Bingen |
 We then walk to the ferry |
 The boat arrives… |
 All on board – NO! It’s the wrong boat! |
 We get on the right ferry! |
 Explore the cobbled streets of Rudesheim |
 Enjoy a RudesheimerKaffee |
 Vernon wears a cream moustache! |
 Carvings in the old town |
 See the bell tower |
 Pretty back streets |
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 Hidden restaurants |
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 Costumes provided! |
 Karen’s happy! |
 We take the paddle steamer back to Boppard |
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 Mike wants to use the stairlift! |
 Vince takes the wheel! |
 See the castles along the Rhine |
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 Drummer boy greets disembarking passengers |
 BN Sweatshirt shop is open! |
 The next day some go for a ride- out.. |
 We take the car-ferry |
 Vince followed by “Nasher” |
 Stuart followed by Reece |
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 View of our hotel |
 Rees & Audrey on their Explorer |
 Vince & Tracey mark a junction |
 Pretty towns en-route |
 Vernon & Karen on BMW 1600GTL |
 We ride to the Drachenfels |
 Reece & Chris Nash |
 Audrey & Rees |
 Vince & Tracey |
 Those who came on the ride-out |
 Fab views of the Rhine |
 Bonn in the distance |
 Radom Wachtberg (Space Observatory) |
This evening is the main event – the Rhine in Flames! We board our boat for dinner, dancing & the firework spectacle! |
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 The group on board (minus Chris Nash who discovered he suffered from motion sickness!) |
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 Tracey thinks she’s found Bruno Mars! |
 He’s not complaining! |
 Other boats come alongside |
 We pass Boppard heading for koblenz |
 The girls & Brian hit the dance floor |
 Jen teaches the “Wigan Slosh”! |
 Quick learners! |
 Some Germans try to upstage us!! |
 Tracey R with Audrey |
 Noel & Ann think they’re on the Titanic! |
 Vince & Tracey with Stuart & Val |
 The boats all head to Koblenz |
 Night falls |
 Each town lets off fireworks along the way |
 A castle lit up en-route |
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 The towns are lit up along the Rhine |
 Stunning castles & fireworks |
 Amazing – but we’re not at Koblenz yet! |
 Andy expects rain! |
 We arrive at Koblenz – a spectacular display! |
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And that’s it! After the fireworks we all head back downstairs for more dancing… |
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 There’s no stopping Andy! |
 A bit of jive…Val & Stuart |
 Wayne & Carole |
 the Y.M.C.A! |
 Jen & “Parker” |
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 The entertainment! |
 All join in! |
 Even the BMW crew! |
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 German “um pah pah” music! |
 Andy picks up a local!! |
 As does Ros!! |
 Wendy with “Parker” |
 The next day – sunshine! |
 View of the Rhine from our hotel |
 A quick talk before we leave Boppard |
 Lunch stop at Cochem |
 Time to explore the old town |
 So pretty |
 Explain this ! |
 Our last night in Germany |
 Time to explore |
 And take a swim in the hotel pool |
 Jen |
 Drinks in the hotel bar |
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 John points to where he had a starring role in the TV series “The Missing” |
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 Our final dinner is in a local restaurant |
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We have a bit of fun with a game of “Mr & Mrs”…first up are Andy & Ros… |
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 It’s a match! |
 No match |
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 Brian & Lillian go next |
 it’s a match! |
 And another match! |
 Carole & Wayne take a turn |
 It’s a match! |
 No Wayne – that’s not an option!!! |
 And just for fun…Chris & “Parker”!! |
 Come on “Parker” – make a decision!! |
 Amazing – it’s a match!! |
 And the winners are… Lillian & Brian |
 “Happy Birthday Parker” for next week |
 Thanks Chris & Reece for riding as “back-markers” |
 Back to the hotel for skittles…Jen goes first |
 “Parker” |
 Chris M |
 Chris “Nasher” |
 Vince |
 John |
 Val’s too quick! |
 Stuart |
 Reece |
 The photo of Rees is as bad as his shots!!!!! |
 Audrey (sorry it’s blurred!) |
The 2017 cast list are… |
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 Next morning Noel & Ann leave early |
 Our final morning briefing |
 Wendy on her Bonneville |
 Vince & Tracey on their Crosstourer |
 Rees & Audrey on their Explorer |
 Brian & Lillian on their BMW R1200GS |
 Tim & Jillian on their BMW R1200GS |
 Stuart & Val on their Versys 1000 |
 Steve on his Street Triple |
 Wayne & Carole on their BMW K1300GT |
 Andy & Ros on their Blackbird |
 “Parker” on his Tiger 800 |
 Chris M on his Tiger 800 |
 Amy & Chris on their Honda VFR |
 Vernon & Karen on a BMW 1600GTL |
 Chris & Reece on BMW R1200GS |
 Jen leads on our Street Triple R |
 All back to Eurotunnel in good time |
 We’re missing a photo of Mike & Tracey on their Kawasaki Z1000SX (blame John!!) but thanks to Tracey we do have a photo of a happy Mike promoting Bike Normandy! |
| Great to have so many repeat customers who together with some new faces made for yet another fab tour. We look forward to seeing many of you again in the future. Ride safe, John & Jen |