A great group on our Spanish Cities Tour – fantastic hotels, amazing cities to explore, brilliant roads and glorious sunshine throughout made for a fabulous tour!
Rich’s bike goes in the van!
We finally board – Heidi as a foot passenger
We start with a pre-tour briefing on board
Arriving at Santander
Luggage in the van & a briefing
Mark’s ready to go!
Rich & Heidi are leading the tour
Lovely scenery straight away
“Our fifth trip with BN European Tours was again a fantastic trip. We had the opportunity to meet with the couple Rich & Heidi who are taking over the company. We had a great time getting to know them and riding with them. We have no doubt that John and Jen have chosen well and wish them both every success in the future.
The trip included a real mix of roads from long straight roads with sweeping corners to twisty roads and hairpin bends. A trip with something for everyone.
Each day included staying in picturesque and less well known cities in a variety of hotels. The trip also included two days off the bike which allowed plenty of time to explore Toledo and Salamanca. The group was slightly smaller than our previous trips with 9 bikes plus the lead bike but as always the group all got along which really enhances the trip.
We’ve already started thinking about next years trip and are looking forward to see you all again in the future.“
Bryan & Jackie Huish, 5th trip, BMW R1300 GS, Bristol
After just 40km of motorway we’re on good roads
Through quaint villages
With an afternoon coffee stop
In a really pretty town
The suits of armour have gone!
Rich & Heidi – KTM 1290 Super Adv
“Hi All. Once again we’ve had a great tour. We are both tired, but boy was it worth it! The fantastic mix of different roads each day was brilliant plus the Mini Stelvio and Picos section certainly provided a challenge. Could not fault any of the hotels…Have to say the group was a great mix and it was lovely to spend time with everyone. We do not think we’ll forget Mark’s disintegrating underwear or his wet-wipes!!
Was hard to say goodbye, particularly to John and Jen as they wind down and face a different future, but we are positive Rich and Heidi are going to carry the baton high going forward and we will be back!!“
Kevin Lee & Linda Bell, 3rd tour, Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro, Devon
Mark – Suzuki GSX 1000 GX
Andy & Ros – Ducati Multistrada PIKES PEAK V4!
Kevin & Linda – Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro
Bryan & Jackie – BMW R1300 GS
Tony & Penny – Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
“Back-markers” Terry & Fran – BMW R1250 RS
“The Spanish Cities Tour was something else! Hot, hot weather, completely out of your control, but we were so thankful for lovely hotels with air conditioning and the opportunity for two days in the pool in Toledo. The breakfasts were appreciated hugely, especially by Terry on his `a doughnut a day` challenge.
The roads were challenging, but wonderful, and scenic beyond our expectations. The storks, bouganvillia, orange trees lining the road side at Sellas Buenos de Gata, and sunflowers in the gardens, at Miranda de la Douro, after crossing the river into Portugal, were pure delight. Terry focused on the roads missed so much and I really feel the privilege of being a pillion!
The group were fun and good company. It is always lovely to meet up again with old friends but also so good to meet new folks. Eating together, whether in house or by finding our own places, gave us plenty of opportunity to sample Spanish fayre with friends, and it was all fab! Particuar highlights for us were our evening meal in Segovia (of the famous white bean stew, followed by the suckling pig) and the succulent steak on Andy`s birthday (sadly Terry got bumped down to the entrecote!!)
A big thanks to John and Jen for reseaching this tour and for providing all the benefits, of riding together safely and well supported, as ever. A transition is tricky – whether letting go or taking over – but with so much experience between the four of you, and encouragement from `frequent flyers`, we can surely all be optimistic about the continuing evolution of this exceptional tour company.
I think Terry would rather like to reach his twenty on the leader board, and fifteen would be a credible score for me, so watch this space. Love to all”
Terry (18 trips) & Fran (13 trips) Stanfield, BMW R1250 RS, Wiltshire
Our first 4* hotel
It’s amazing!
The Cathedral
Boys will be boys!!
John needs a bunk up!
Terry !!!!
The group in Vitoria Gasteiz
Drinks before dinner – Terry & Andy
It’s a vibrant city
Rehearsing for an aerial ballet display
Wow!
Dinner is included tonight
Rich has done 10 trips!
The city by night
A briefing in the hotel garage
It’s Rich’s 50th – and Alec’s 70+ – birthday!
A lovely start today
Great roads
“Big” hairpins!
Ride through vineyards
Coffee stop
More fab roads
Ride round a huge lake
It’s a bit bumpy!
So pretty
Watch out for the locals
Lunch stop
Is it “Dithco”?!
Rich & Heidi in the lead
Mark – Suzuki GSX 1000 GX
Chrys – Triumph Street Triple RS
Andy & Ros – Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak V4
“Well what a tour! The Spanish Cities didn’t disappoint, wide range of roads, some more challenging than others, tight twisties, lovely long sweepers (my favourites), hairpins and great long roads, all made for excellent riding. It was fabulous to reacquaint with past riders and meet new ones, the tours are a great opportunity to meet like minded people and make new friends. It was exciting to get to the hotels after a day of being on the bike, the hotels didn’t disappoint, all of a great standard with a brilliant breakfast to start the day. Highlights (too many to list) were viewing the Aquaduct at Segovia followed by traditional bean soup, suckling pig, shared with great company. The cathedral at Toledo and a swim in the hotel pool to cool off was most appreciated. We found a small bistro in Salamanca which served an amazing paella. It was great to share evening meals with the whole group too and of course the last dinner with the best jokes coming from John and Jen, we thank you both. We look forward to seeing you all again on another trip soon.”
Andy (15 trips) & Ros (11 trips) Moseley, Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak V4, Warwickshire
Shaun – KTM 890 SMT
Tony & Penny – Yamaha Tracer 900 GT
Alec – BMW F750 GS
Bryan & Jackie – BMW R1300 GS
Kevin & Linda – Tiger 1200 GT Pro
Terry & Fran – BMW R1250 RS
En route to coffee stop
Fab murals
“Another fantastic tour with the BN European Tours family. Great hotels & faatastic roads along with a great bunch of people can only result in a superb holiday that will be remembered for a long time – along with Mark’s wet wipes!! Hope to catch up with folks again on future tours”
Shaun – KTM 890 SMT & Chrys – Street Tripe RS – Hogarty, 5th tour, France
Castles everywhere
Approaching Segovia
Wow! The Aqueduct at Segovia
Our next hotel
Drinks in the plaza
Stroll into town
To see the amazing Roman Aqueduct
Built around the 1st century AD it’s 17kms long!
We stop for drinks & tapas
Rich is having pizza for his 50th!!
Then we enjoy raciones
The Cathedral by night
Fran & others enjoyed suckling pig
Fran & Mark
Fabulous!
Another lovely day
Our GPS is going haywire!!
We pass the Aqueduct again
Lots of twisties
John spotted en-route
At coffee stop
Walk up into town
There’s a dance class!
Pavement parking at lunch stop
At lunch stop
Our next hotel – for two nights
Has a great swimming pool
Many of us enjoy a swim
We enjoy drinks on the terrace
Walk into town – it’s a free night
There’s a wedding
Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
The original manacles from Christian slaves in Granada freed in 1492 by King Ferdinand 11 of Aragon & Queen Isabella 1 of Castille
Explore the back streets
Linda, Kevin & Mark end up in the same restaurant as us
Cut through quaint passage-ways
To the Cathedral
There’s a procession for Saint Anthony
The Jewish quarter
It’s stunning by night
The next day is a day off
Head back into town to explore
We stop for sangrias!
Wander the back streets
Toledo’s the home of El Greco
Andy & Ros
There are lots of buskers
A Witchcraft museum
Spot the skeleton!
Busy shopping streets
Miguel de Cervantes
Ros & Andy visited the Cathedral
There’s another procession
A section of original Roman road
Open – exhibition of instruments of torture!!
Us!
We’re back in the pool
Drinks on the terrace
Dinner is included tonight
It’s paella
Next day, Ros & Andy are colour co-ordinated!
There’s always a morning briefing
It’s Andy’s birthday!
More great roads
Watch out for Lynx!!
Morning coffee stop
There are lots of swallows
Ride through olive groves
On fab sweepers
At lunch stop
You MUST go inside the Basilica
It’s amazing!
Rich’s bike has a puncture
Everyone’s in the shade
It’s hot so we stop for a break
Andy!
Mark
Jackie’s taking photos
There are lots of storks
Jen & Linda enjoy strong sangrias!
Drinks before heading into town
It’s a free night tonight
Tony avoids the fountains!
Some of us dine together
Then get ice-creams
You can walk round the city walls
It’s lovely by night
Next day, Rich has had his tyre repaired
Morning briefing in the hotel
How many stork nests?!
Morning coffee stop
Pass a Roman bridge
Fab roads again
Fuel & a briefing for tight hairpins…
There are some real twisties
With a great view
You MUST be happy with hairpins!
Pretty lunch stop
So many hams!
Explore – don’t just stop in the first cafe!
Our next 4* hotel for two nights
Is an old Palace
Drinks on the terrace
Storks on the church opposite
The fledgelings are testing their wings
Lovely architecture
The Bell Tower
The Cathedral
John has a doppelganger!
You must go to the Plaza Mayor
Some of us dine together
Mark wants a G&T…
How much gin?!!!
The Plaza lit up at night
More ice-creams
Our hotel by night
John with Ros
It’s another day off
Some visit the car museum
Ferrari SF 21 Show Car V6 Turbo
Delahaye 87 from 1922
De Soto Six SC from 1932
Rolls Royce Silver Ghost 1922
Buick 30-69 Serie 60 from 1930
Cadillac 62 from 1950 (Black), Muntz Jet 1952 (Red)
Vespa 125cc with Faysan Sidecar 1964
Soriano Lince 1955 – 108cc will do 65km/h
Cadillac 75/1970 – 7729cc will do 204km/h
Chevrolet Corvette 1979 – 5733cc/200 km/h
Hispano Suiza HS-21 / 2000 / 5000cc
Just a small selection of the cars on show
Visit the Bell Tower
How many steps Jackie? Over 300!
There are several exhibits
There’s a selfie post – us!!
You can see into the Cathedral
There’s Fran & Terry !
We surprise two storks!
Those who climbed up
Up in the Bell Tower
Yes, we climbed up there!
There are lots of statues
There’s an indoor market
The public library building
Then the heavens opened!!
The van had a great parking space
Our morning briefing
We ride across a huge dam
Stop for a group photo
At coffee, a warning about a dodgy turn
We dip into Portugal
Crossing over the Duoro river
Lunch stop
Terry & Fran at the back
Twisties even in villages!
Afternoon fuel & coffee stop
Ride through Astorga
Then real mountain twisties
With fab views
Ride through tiny, cobbled villages
Billy no-mates in our next hotel!
Bar & breakfast area in our 4* hotel
Drinks in the hotel
Before strolling into town
All the group by the castle
Us!
Chrys & Shaun
Head back into town – Mark!
Dinner is included tonight
Jackie has a huge salad
Rich
Outside our hotel
Coffee stop
Andy
Heading into the Picos Mountains
Stop for photos
It’s stunning!
Our sticker’s still there!
Shaun & Chrys
Andy’s let loose!
Rich & Heidi
Tony & Penny
Shaun
Chrys
Alec
Mark
Kevin & Linda
Bryan & Jackie
Terry & Fran
It get’s really twisty
Afternoon coffee stop
Our final 4* hotel
Drinks in the hotel bar
Time to explore the town
It’s started raining!!
Final group photo
Dinner’s included tonight
Rich says a few words of thanks – to us..
And to our great backmarkers…
Terry & Fran!
Then finishes with a joke!
Fran’s up next…
She’s penned some poems
John’s next – Andy & Ros can’t bear it!!
It’s the “Penguin” joke!!
Penny can’t look!!
Fran’s second poem
John’s up again…
So who knows the vegetable???
Fran has a third poem (see all below)
Brilliant! Thanks Fran xx
Jen’s up next – “Are you in the army?”
“Or the Air Force?”!
Next morning Fran has a new t-shirt…
Very apt!!!
Final morning briefing
We say goodbye to Shaun, Alec & Chrys
At fuel, Mark gets more bum-wipes!!!
All back to the ferry
Arriving at Portsmouth
Bye everyone!
Tony & Penny
Bryan & Jackie
Andy & Ros
Terry & Fran
And that’s all folks! Thanks to everyone for making this a super tour – we’re really pleased you all enjoyed it so much. Thanks to Terry & Fran for riding as “back-markers” and to all those who sent in photos. We look forward to seeing many of you again next year. Ride safe & keep well, John & Jen, Rich & Heidi.
Here are Fran’s poems…
Broom on green hillsides, poppies amongst corn,
Cliffs, hills, mountains & villages warm.
Plates of tasty morsels, then duck, squid or cod –
Always with Bike Normandy food is a God!
Segovia beans & suckling pig – others lots more beer,
Whatever our favourite is consumed with good cheer.
In hot Toledo – Sangria – easy to get seated,
It’s a day off from riding & from Jen we were treated!
Paella for our final meal before departure for next ride,
In very warm weather so with water we were plied.
En route to Caceres – World Heritage Site,
A puncture for Rich, so not all’s going right.
Fixed to continue – a garage obliged,
No breakfast for Rich & a rather late ride.
On to Salamanca, straight roads then steep twisties,
Mountain views – but no pictures – by evening stiff whiskies!
Another adventure – off to Ponferrada,
Along heather banked Camino,
Scenery amazing – rain on the mountains,
But we’re not complaining.
An evening of laughter, of food, drink & noise,
Then hotel for a good sleep – enough of those boys!
Promise of Picos did not disappoint, lunch at the lake,
Now well into tapas so no need for cake.
Ice creams with John have been something of a staple,
But greater is the joy when we are together round a table.
Our last meal tonight – oh what a shame,
If we meet again it will not be the same.
But we will have memories of many times & places,
But mostly we will remember the delight on the faces –
Of Bike Normandy veterans, or newbies – all of one mind,
To care for each other and continue to be kind.
Through hardship or sorrow, and now considerable sadness,
We thank John & Jen for so much everlasting deep gladness.
That we met them, we rode with them – we enjoyed all the banter,
So now we wish for them some gifts in return, for all they have given,
And good wishes for the future in whatever life may bring,
For Jen & John, travel on, be like storks on the wing.
Birthdays to celebrate – three men in our crowd,
No fuss or special treats but Happy Birthday sung out loud!
Rich at 50, biker nifty with a smile for all occasions,
Alec 79, hanging in there, especiallly on roundabouts,
Fellow riders beware!
Andy hasn’t shared his age – but here is some reflection…
Fran is an “F” word and to Andy’s delight,
She uses a few others when he is in sight.
Fun, Fit & Fast is all I can say –
He hangs around at the back then rides off to play.
F*ck me, we’re left standing, to mark at the back,
Thanks to all the rest of you for giving us some slack!
A nervous Rich & Heidi brave,
Will soon learn to ride the turbulent wave,
Of leading, loving and spreading the joy
Of John & Jen’s legacy – don’t be coy –
Full of fun & laughter and sadly some tears,
Which we’ve had a share in over the years.
To take on Bike Normandy & make it their own
But never to rival John & Jen on the throne.
As we say our thank-yous for memories & rides,
Wishing Rich & Heidi all the best in now holding the prize!
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