Motorbiking in Europe: August 2010

Photos, stories and trips on a bike

Windy ride to Ferry

Not much of a Blog today. Everything went to plan - good breakfast at the F1 and then out onto sunshine through the town of Charleville. I took a mix of Route National and D roads with a first stop at Cambrai.

The whole town square and parking was set up got a fair so I parked up on the pavement as you do on France and got a coffee in the same bar as last year - the Pelican Bar

Cambrai must have been a fine town some time ago but is showing signs of decay and neglect now.

Interesting display outside a boulangerie.

It rained later in the afternoon but I saw this handy bike shelter so put the bike in while the rain passed - oh yes buses stop here as well!

F1 again for tonight on the outskirts of Calais - right in the middle of a shopping zone wahay Supermarches here we come!
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Buffalo Grill

A good meal at the Buffalo Grill tonight - I can recommend the Buffalo Burger although I did order the healthy option - that has baked potato with a cream sauce but I was brought French fries - this was quickly attended to and I had the Pomme de Terre as well as the French Fries !!! Oh dear but hey it's a long ride tomorrow.

I had to get a coffee photo in - so here it is.

And here is home for the night.

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Location:Charleville

All sas and no quiche

Today is the second day of the ride home - from Strasbourg to Charleville - I could do this ride a lot quicker if I took the Peage or the Route National but I choose to explore the D roads and so is slower but I see more.

Great weather today - sunny all day and a good riding temperature - not too hot.

As I decided not to eat breakfast as a protest over the poor meal the night before I made a mid morning stop at Saverne. An attractive town with the added bonus of a canal that has a lock in the town centre and the Rohan Museum - I did not have time for the latter today.

I just had to have a coffee at the interestingly named Cave de Profonde - no doubt the haunt of the profound - French cafe society on the banks of the canal.

The coffee was great but the waitress on being asked by me if I could have something to eat said I could get something from the Boulanger up the road and bring it back - don't you just love stuff like that.

The profound - world affairs discussed and solved by those with experience and have opinions not agendas!

It's the French way - kids, pigeons, water fountains in the town square and of course the sun.

If you were wondering about the title of today's blog - I rode through the Alsace region and then in the Parc de Lorraine.

I also went into the Ardennes but am not clever enough to work that one into the title - but hey if you can, leave it in the comments.

The sky, the landscape, the roads make for some great riding - very different to the Alps - not nearly as spectacular but very worthy of exploring.

Lunch was really a brunch earlier in Saverne but I was peckish around 3pm so out came my emergency baguette and jar of the food of the Gods - Nutella. It is said that Nutella is actually the only food we would ever need and it must be true the Nutella saleman told me.

Touring with film kit is getting a bit too complicated - this trip was a bit of research by me to see what can be done and how effective it is. The film I have captured runs into hours but I will edit down to perhaps 10 minutes and post here in the future.

My trusty Honda Africa Twin, enjoying the rest as much as me.

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Location:Charleville

Problems uploading

Sorry but the free wifi at Campanile has a file size restriction so only a couple of pics uploaded - I will sort this out tonight as I will be in an F1

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Homeward bound

All packed up just after breakfast - I seem to be quite organised now with the new panniers and inner bags.

There are no photos of most of the journey as I took the toll road to crack on a bit do there are both no opportunities to stop nor sights to see as most are outside while I was in the tunnels.

Hopefully I will be able to post some images from the GoPro camera - I set it to take a photo every 30 seconds and let it run. There will be some video when I get back.

It had to be done - and yes it did - I don't know what they put in those German burgers but they powerful thing.

Bond just call me James Bond - ok how about Angelo then!

I am a bit disappointed with this overnighter - I thought I would try one of the Campanile Hotels - costs a bit more than the F1 but not been in one for years - this one is not very good - bit dowdy and the meal I had was quite expensive for what turned out to be one of the smallest and toughest steaks I have ever had in my life. I won't stay with this chain in a hurry again - I don't thing I will have one of their overpriced breakfasts either.

Bike all tucked up for the night - the only saving grace being it is almost outside of my ground floor room.

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Location:Strasbourg

There ain't no mint on this Glacier

New arrivals at the hotel today bringing some interesting old BMWs especially a first model GS - parked next to the very latest one does show the progress, or not, that has been made.

Today started off slightly wet and overcast so I delayed riding until about 10.30am - this was a wise move as the sun came out not long after and as you will see by the later photographs helped to turn this into a superb run.

The tide out of Landeck is interesting enough, especially when you turn onto the road up to the Glacier.

Yes that really is the dun shining out of my head! Ok its not not but hey the forward facing camera on the iPhone works well.

In the distance you can see the snow covered glacier - this is the first time I have been here with snow and in August as well.

The roads up to the cafe on the to offer some of the best riding in the area - don't be put off by the entrance fee to the park and the up and back nature of the ride - it is about 60 miles round trip from Landeck.

The restaurant at the top is large, interesting and serves good food - well today sounded a bit odd to say the least - I decided not to have that one!

But I did have a huge Bratwurst and chips - yes I know overpriced sausage and chips but I am not going to tell them.

I had to try one of these before coming back - I am glad it was on my last day - Sweet dumplings filled with a liquor cream and chocolate covered in vanilla sauce with a chocolate and cinnamon sprinkle absolutely yummy !!!

The snow made this a quite magical place but I cannot get used to seeing snow and being baked by the heat of the sun at the same time.

Friendly cows in these places - they leave what are called Tirolian Pizza all around the place !!!

That's me that is - and what've happy chappie I am here - I think this was after descending the 25 hairpins.

I was flagged down by a couple of Dutch riders - they needed a tool and what better than to stop a touring bike (me) - fuel pump had gone and I didn't have the tool they wanted - had a good natter though as one of the guys buys mini diggers in the UK to import into the Netherlands - how do people get into these types of job?