Gerontious

A soaked cloth. I wonder how many I might need? Maybe I could do it one at a time and take a week to do it. Or use multiple cloths and cover the bikes front like a patchwork. Hard work. Though possibly quite decorative. Easier to let the rain do the soaking while I sat inside doing other rather less tedious things. (Drugs and porn plus a little light Mister Sheening) I like your solution but it don’t half sound like hard work. 1 cloth or 30+ or let the rain take the strain. It’s not really a tough decision. anyway it’s done now and took the time it takes to soap it up and rinse it down front to back and top to bottom. I even cleared the rear wheels. Thrilling. I was genuinely thrilled. (They came up lovely) I did cheat somewhat and popped the headlight lenses and hand guards into the sudsy bucket of death and leave them to soak. But they were particularly bad. I’m quite glad @Snod Blatter is no longer active as I’m sure his level of sarcasm at the very idea of cleaning off the mortal remains of multiple species of insect would have been a joy to behold. (Or not) maybe. The bike even got rinsed twice. Once by me then again by even more rain. Life is good.

Today I did that rare thing and left the bike uncovered in the rain and did it rain. Hour after hour followed by drizzle. Marvellous. It finally stopped for a time and with the bike dripping wet. I washed it. Remarkable how a good soaking makes removal of a weeks worth of dead insects dead and previously baked on, just wash away with almost no effort at all. it’s like it never happened.

We passed the Daytona (i assume you’re staying there) a few times as it’s en route to the Dasburg pont Q8. we usually use the motorway past Lille. Tournai. Mons and Charleroi. Then after a few miles of the 411 south onto the old N4 and turn off just after Marche. Heading for La Roche and the Northampton - from there any route to the Dasburg Pont is a good one. best services for food is at SPY. Always our lunch stop now. With about an hours dawdle before everything gets so much better. And once into Luxembourg - Glorious.

We don't tend to use the roads that run along the river side. this year only very briefly for about 6 miles split into two parts. the 49. was so glad to get away from it. especially Cochem which was far too busy for my taste. main tourist centre and all that. Always comes as a nasty surprise after the emptiness (by comparison) of the interior. Ideally I would just go to a point above the river and then immediately turn around. We only went to Piesport one day as, as one of the guys said "That view never gets old" and its a quieter crossing of the river and was perfect to pick up the route down to the Pfalz. We don't really go for the B roads (German B roads) except as a means to an end. Much preferring the L and especially the K roads. K roads ideally. the more the merrier. These are generally the very best. (for us, anyway)

If I were to be asked - what place would I recommend. it would be this viewing spot. Go here and you will understand exactly why we go to this region year after year. 40 miles from the Schloss and the route there (avoiding motorways( is pretty fantastic in its own right. but once you arrive.. prepare to have your mind blown. There is nothing even close to matching what you see here in the UK.

We have been going for 11 years now, only last year that I was forced to give it a miss, and there is never enough time. Never. and every time we go we find something entirely new. It never gets stale. Of course, we just go for the riding. not for the tourism side. though there have been many over the years who have taken a day off from my rides and done their own thing. And that's absolutely fine by me. What we do isn't for everyone. We just go to ride our bikes. long days. 200 miles or more on average. random stops for a breather. (in odd places - usually involving shade) I took so few photos this year - mostly because the place is so photogenic you could be stopping every 5 minutes!! And thats not really why we go. its all about the ride.

This was probably my favourite of the week. Another Dutch route, though this one starts and ends in Cochem, so same thing... you get to its end and start again. This one is mostly about the VulkanEifel. its clockwise and once again, I reversed it. it was really nice. 138 miles but you will need to navigate to join it. what we did was head north and join the B410.. and then followed that, fast - but very nice road to pick up the route at Gerolstein. There is a petrol station on the right as you enter the town. super convenient. Vulkaneifel.GPX

You might enjoy this 1. its name is 1000 Bochten. which translates as 1000 Bends. we managed a fair amount of it before time ran out. oddly most of the routes we use we seem to run out of time with. it begins and ends in Luxembourg. but passes just south of the Hotel along the B50. through Sinspelt. I chose to reverse it so we went anticlockwise. its mostly L and K roads. Its a Dutch designed route so has a LOT of what they don't have in the Netherlands. Hills and Bends. If you leave it untouched then it will appear quite short as it begins and ends in Northern Lux. so reach the end and navigate to the start and you are off again. but reversing it worked well. its 221 miles in length. so a full day. I'll add a few more over the next day or so. 1000 bochten Eifel.GPX

It was OK. 5 days of pretty intense riding. we made it down to the Pfalz = which is the German part of the Northern Vosges. and an area that I need to return to. soon. A shedload of tightly packed low mountains with a spaghetti of winding roads and very few people. a few small villages, but not much else. its almost all woodland so no farming to speak of. A proper bikers paradise and very popular. we saw more bikes there than anywhere aside from the area around the Nurburg ring. Not a region for views unless, you get off your bike and climb one of the hills to the usual observation tower. The other highlight for me was a full days spent in the Vulkan Eifel. so different and nothing to compare it with here in the UK. Eroded crater lakes and cone shaped mountains truly wonderful. All extinct now.. and very tranquil. but this place must have been close to hell at one time. As with every trip to this region, there's always something new. its never dull. never a place that you become tired of. obviously a major part of that is its size, the Eifel alone is about 3,000 square miles, and then there is also Luxembourg. and the Hunsruck south of the river Mosel. and the Oldenwald on the east side of the Rhine. we didn't go that far this time. just spent the week continuing to scratch the surface of this wonderful region. Of course it goes without saying we will be back there again next year. Our hotel didn't disappoint. it never has. so friendly. so cheap. the week spent there cost me £257.76 half board. Sunday night to Saturday morning, the food was great and there was far too much of it. far too much. Eating out is very affordable. the huge breakfast with the prospect of an even bigger evening meal meant that most days lunch was very 'light'. on the stomach and on the pocket. of course the bill also included a lot of beer. though I like to mix it up with spirits. The owner plying me with schnapps at every opportunity - challenge accepted!! Was funny watching the looks from the German locals in the hotel bar clapping approvingly as I knocked them back in one. Was forced tp smuggle back some local specialities. 2 bottles of Asbach brandy. €9.99 there. £30 here. and a litre of Hazelnut schnapps for €12. which I'm going to enjoy in the winter. much. Weather was of course perfect. hot, with frequent relief from the heat on the tree lined roads or deep forests. Blue sky days and warm nights. comfortable enough in the large airy rooms in the guesthouse block. I adore the place.

They behave exactly as I would expect a tyre at this price point would. No surprises. And I’m not surprised, as they are a real favourite amongst Africa Twin owners. I really can’t say I’ve found anything “shocking” about them. I’ve had Conti Trail attacks on the bike from almost new and these are about the same. But then the road and weather conditions here are perfect. One thing I have noticed is the my haven’t developed a flat spot after 400 miles of vigorous motorway riding. That’s by far the worst thing about the Conti. They are no good for motorway use. Only have to se the word and they get a flat spot.

So excited to be back at the hotel. Bonio forgot to employ his side stand. Some damage to left indicator housing and a snapped off tip of his clutch lever. It could have been worserer. It’s not a show stopper. Everything still works, and he took it with his usual good humour. Today off to Luxembourg.

A traditional morning faff - seat off (obviously) and to everyone’s surprise he now has a KTM - so might possibly break the habit of a lifetime and not break down. Time will tell. But… KTM. So all bets are off. today a 200 mile trundle round the Vulcan Eifel - which is kinda the central region midway between our base and the Rhine. Lots of circular lakes that are the remnants of ancient volcanoes. A beautiful blue sky day.

Heading for the Pfalz and these people with egg cup sized fuel tanks decided crisis was about to happen. Which left me with a perfect photo opportunity.

All here. Safe and sound.

Thats a relief. Im not sure I could have coped with 7 days of you fretting about being a criminal. And watching you wobble every time we see a polizei heading in the opposite direction. They have mirrors dontchaknow.

Continentals Trail Attacks. I wasn’t particularly impressed by them, for touring. Which is mostly what I do. You only had to show them a motorway and they grew a flat spot (as if by magic) see how they go and if they turn out the same I’ll go back to using the original Tourances. So long as they’re alright for two tours I’ll be happy. 3 and I’ll be very happy. Down to Folkestone tomorrow and then the Eifel on Sunday. That should be a good test. These are the first Pirelli’s I’ve had since 1997. And those were OEM.

The forum hasn’t been the same since he wandered off…

For a change.

Goes without saying. Nights (like Lucille) have messed my mind up and I got my days wrong. At the dealership waiting to get tyres fitted and I’ve now been awake for over 20 hours. Which is quite stunning even by my bizarre standards. I even managed to arrive 10 minutes early. fortunately… they have half decent coffee. Black with an extra double espresso. to make matters worserer I’ve got to try and stay awake so I can swing back into day mode and sleep tonight. So I can sleep tomorrow night so dealership has a secret bike, shrouded in black cloth, that (apparently) nobody is allowed to see. It’s on the showroom floor with all the 23 models. I’m ever so curious. Just had a wander round and looked at the demonstrators lined up. Oddly every single one if them (where it’s an option) is DCT. No manuals at all!! Weird.

New tyres tomorrow and oil the chain when I get back from that. do some packing and complete that on Saturday morning once the doggie has disappeared on his hols. I usually leave home about 2pm. first stop being Watford Gap for a leg stretch. then South Mimms. same again. Over the Dartford and on to Ashford. Call in at the Sainsbury to brim the tank - ready for Sunday. Then back over to the Hotel. Get set up. changed into normal clothes and wander round to the Beefeater and see who's there. Ive not bothered to book a table this time. with there just being the 4 of us - it won't be a problem and we can always go somewhere else. (for a change) Alarm set for 6am. pack the bike and ride it round to the Mcdonalds for coffee and a bite to eat. And we need to be on our way to tunnel check-in at 8. so long as it all goes smoothly we should be riding off the train at 10:55 local lime. Then the usual relaxed ride. two 40 mile legs. which will have us just inside Belgium. then 65 miles to our lunch stop at SPY. after that its just 18 miles and we are off the motorway and onto the N4 dual carriageway south. 22 miles on the Dual carriageway and then.. at last onto normal roads. First stop the Northampton at La Roche-en-Ardennes. The N888. a lovely stretch of road. leading to the Tank. After which it's all good. across Luxembourg and on to the Hotel. Weather says sunshine and warm all the way. hoorah!!

I feel so lucky to be using the tunnel. gladly they do not sell Heineken on the train. snoddy is likely to fall to the floor and start foaming at the mouth due to the horror.

If I wanted a bike in a specific colour. I would track one down and travel for it, especially if I wanted it quick. I wouldn’t be bothered where it was. There are trains and taxis (if it’s too far to walk from the station) for example. If I, for example wanted a brand new 2023 hornet in grey. I would track on down. Phone them up. Put down a deposit. Sort out when it’s ready to collect. Then book the train ticket. as it happens that would mean a train to London St Pancras then another train just south of London to Surrey. Then a two minute walk to the dealership. https://www.bikesinstock.co.uk/new-bikes-for-sale/honda/cb750-hornet/145617.htm or talk to them about delivery. Or talk to Honda uk and ask them where I can source one. I would be determined and laugh at the nay sayers. but that’s the way I am. Not the type to take no for an answer or look at obstacles as obstacles.

I prefer it like that. True adventure… kangaroos bouncing in the background - imagine!!

You do realise that nobody is going to talk to you. FOR THE WHOLE WEEK!! In other rather more important news. Got my euros today. probably more than I need but booze. BOOZE. coffee cake and more BOOZE. Im down to just one unopened bottle of Asbach so I need to stock up as a matter of urgency. And its normal for the duty free at the tunnel to have hard to find single malts on sale irresistible. (obviously) Weather looks largely positive this far ahead. risk of showers on two of the days, so not a deal breaker. Though this might change. The Luxembourg background is wet because its raining today. which is fine by me as Im not there (today) Just one more shift. Thursday night.