The group ready to embark for the Rhine in Flames – another fantastic tour with a great bunch of people.
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
“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
Morning coffee stop
We ALWAYS regroup before & after any stretch of motorway
“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
“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 :-)”
Peter Wright, 10th trip, FJR 1300 and Sally Hurman, 9th trip, Fazer 600, Leicestershire
Really ?!
Lovely scenery
Our first hotel
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
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
“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
Approaching Rudesheim
Time to explore the town
Many of us sample a Rudesheimer Caffee
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
Yeah, right !!
Jane & Kevin going down
Quaint streets
Hear the bells ringing
We take the paddlesteamer back
Gavin
What has Jane spotted?
See the castles en-route
Nothing to do but relax with a drink
More castles
We approach the Loreley Rock
The famous mermaid
That evening the heavens open
Elaine & Sheldon take cover
Nigel is loving it !!
It absolutely chucks it down!!
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???
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!
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
We take the rack-railway
For views of the volcanoes
And fab views of the Rhine
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
and again!
Waiting for the ferry back
Josie’s bum needs a massage!!
Jane was happy to oblige!
Back to Boppard
Phil (& Veronica) – Tracer 900
Drinks before the main event
All aboard for a great night of dinner, fireworks & dancing!
John has our tickets
We start with dinner
The boats start circulating
Jen teaches the girls the Slosh
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
All start heading to Koblenz
Paul & Sue – Cheers!
We’re all up on deck
Each village sets off its fireworks
Riverbanks lit up in red
Koblenz Castle
The boats all congregate in front of the castle
We’re ideally placed for the main display
Lights out & the show starts
Wow!
Fab
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)…
Nigel & Ali
Mark & Tracey
Jen & Peter had a dance
Then all up again
Paul & Gill are up
All link arms
On your feet!
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!
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
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!
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
We stroll into town
The group in Monschau
This way!
Dinner in a traditional restaurant
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
We need a decision…
It’s a match!!
Mark & Tracey go next
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
With a lunch stop followed by motorway we end the tour back at Eurotunnel
Bye Bye Bike Normandy Van – hello new Trafic
With new signwriting
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.
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