Post by Phil on Nov 12, 2009 0:41:58 GMT
SCOTLAND
A break at Arrochar on the shores of loch Long
And the Bandit needs some TLC
Arriving at the hostel in Fortwilliam
The road from Fortwilliam to Mallaig
On the Mallaig to Skye ferry
Marty with his underpants on his head
Now he's thinking of hijacking the ferry
Some lovely views on Skye
Having a wee snooze
Almost wiped out here by a car driver deciding to overtake when I was turning right
Going for another wee rideout
A lovely view whilst having an ice cream
And so we wait for the AA man
A great weekend was had in Scotland, lovely sunny weather, the roads were almost empty, beautiful road surfaces and scenery and some smashing company.
Although it was a pity that Marty had to get a big hole in his rear tyre and a £120 hole in his beer tokens
Although it was a fast and hectic ride to Newcastle to catch the ferry to Amsterdam in time ;D
So we made the Newcastle - Amsterdam ferry with 30 minutes to spare, got to our cabin, showered, changed and went in search of some food, ( my cunning plan was to have a meal before we got onto the ferry, but we didn't have enough spare time
)
We found a restaurant on board and had a starter and main course, nice steak, and a beer each, got the bill and it was €90
So to console ourselves we went to the ships nightclub which had a good group and excellent magic / dance floor show ;D
After imbibing in a few beers went to bed at oh my god o'clock and arrived in Amsterdam at around 10am.
Set Emily (the SAT NAG) to shortest route, so that it would take us off motorways and in through towns and villages and made our way through Holland and into Belgium and stopped for the night at the Kompascamping site in Oudenaarde.
A nice modern clean campsite with lots of amenities, which were not open because there wasn't many people staying on the site.
Pitched the tent and went for a walk into town to buy some food and beer. ;D
The first time we have put up the tent. took about 30 minutes
Some of the local wildlife
Having a cup of tea after a dinner of boiled spuds, mixed veg and ham
Next day it off on a scenic route to France
Riding some lovely quiet roads in Northern France and we came upon the first of many military cemeteries from both world wars, all beautifully maintained and respected.
A first world war cemetery
British and Commonwealth Graves
A cemetery with over 20,000 Germans
The Serre Road cemeteries, the largest British and Commonwealth war graves
We then moved on a few miles to the Ulster Tower
Inside the Tower
The Thiepval Memorial
Thiepval Church
We then check the satnav to find a campsite for the night, and find a lovely little site beside a chateau in Bertangles.
The tent was put up much quicker this time.
After something to eat we explore this small village and find a newsagent / sweet shop / cafe and bar in one shop so we went in for a few beers and mime act with the madame ;D and increased her weekly takings considerably ;D
Dinner was pasta and bolonese sauce, with baguette, washed down with some local plonk and a few beers
And so along some scenic roads to Normandy
Got to Normandy in time for the D Day Commemoration Ceremonies and stayed at a campsite beside the canal at Ouistreham for 3 days.
It was great to see people dressed in WW2 battle dress and there was more military hardware driving around the roads than was here on D Day itself
Marty holding up the invasion
Then it was off to Omaha Beach
The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach
The headstones of the two brothers that inspired the movie of "Saving Private Ryan" although in reality there was no rescue party to find the third brother, they knew exactly where he was and he was sent home.
The parade at Pegasus Bridge
A replica of the gliders used on the daring raid
A Dakota plane that was used during the war
We now head to Le Mont San Michele, a lovely old walled city that the French have cunningly over commercialised with tacky gift shops.
And this is where it started to rain and didn't relent for 2 days
And so we get into our waterproofs
We leave Mont San Michele in the pissing rain and travel east and stop in the town of Alencon at the Ibis hotel in the town centre. Would you believe it, the rain stopped as we booked into the hotel.
As it was Sunday evening we went in search of a restaurant only to find one open in the whole town centre and an excellent meal was had.
A nice old church in the centre of Alencon
Having a nightcap (or 2) in the hotel lounge
The next morning as we were about to set off again the bloody rain started again
We traveled along some lovely roads and decided to stop in a small village called Montmort-Lucy. Found the Le Cheval Blanc Hotel, a lovely old hotel with an excellent restaurant and bar, with a very friendly owner who speaks good English.
And the village also has a very nice chateau
Having a drink with the owner we found out that we were the only guests staying in the hotel
Next morning we awoke to bright sunshine ;D ;D so we continued east towards Luxembourg and Germany, again traveling along some lovely traffic free roads.
Marty decided to water the crops
Traveling along a road we happened to see an old fortification on a hill so we had a look.
Citadel De Montmedy was built between 1225 and 1239 and changed hands many times over the centuries.
Marty with a rather large weapon
We continued our journey towards Germany and the Rhine, as we get onto the autobahn ominous black clouds are gathering ahead, then a torrential downpour which turned the motorway into a river, so we turn off in search of a hotel to dry out and came across the Landhaus Berghof near Thalfang.
A new hotel with large bright well appointed rooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant serving lovely meals
for €70 per night including breakfast.
Next morning was nice and sunny, so it was off on some twisty roads towards the Rhine and the Mosel.
The Rhine
The Mosel
We find a campsite on the banks of the Mosel, with a nice bar and swimming pool, although there is some wildlife around the site that make use of the swimming pool ;D
CAMPING TIP
Drinking beer when camping will always result in a trip to the toilet in the middle of the night.
To save you from having to leave the tent get a wide neck bottle big enough to take a belly full of piss ;D
And then recycle the contents ;D ;D ;D
And then you can get a good nights sleep
Now on the final leg of the journey towards Aachen and then Amsterdam.
The day started sunny but very soon the rain appeared and turned into a torrential downpour on the outskirts of Aachen, checked the satnav for the nearest hotel and headed for the Etap hotel to dry out
Heading for Amsterdam, trying to stay off the motorway, but most of the villages in Holland are full of speed humps and chicanes, a total pain in the ass, as we were getting nowhere fast so it was onto the motorway to CAMPING ZEEBURG close to Amsterdam centre, a short tram ride away.
A busy campsite with very helpful staff, complete with restaurant and bar (bar stays open until 1am) which serves breakfast, snacks and dinner
Marty's feeling a bit peckish so he has a Desperate Dan Cow Pie and chips
And then finally it was time to go home, so it's back to the ferry terminal
And all the excitement was just too much for the wee lamb ;D ;D
Total mileage covered by me was 2850 enjoyable miles, the Transalp was comfy to ride and never missed a beat.
A break at Arrochar on the shores of loch Long
And the Bandit needs some TLC
Arriving at the hostel in Fortwilliam
The road from Fortwilliam to Mallaig
On the Mallaig to Skye ferry
Marty with his underpants on his head
Now he's thinking of hijacking the ferry
Some lovely views on Skye
Having a wee snooze
Almost wiped out here by a car driver deciding to overtake when I was turning right
Going for another wee rideout
A lovely view whilst having an ice cream
And so we wait for the AA man
A great weekend was had in Scotland, lovely sunny weather, the roads were almost empty, beautiful road surfaces and scenery and some smashing company.
Although it was a pity that Marty had to get a big hole in his rear tyre and a £120 hole in his beer tokens
Although it was a fast and hectic ride to Newcastle to catch the ferry to Amsterdam in time ;D
So we made the Newcastle - Amsterdam ferry with 30 minutes to spare, got to our cabin, showered, changed and went in search of some food, ( my cunning plan was to have a meal before we got onto the ferry, but we didn't have enough spare time
)We found a restaurant on board and had a starter and main course, nice steak, and a beer each, got the bill and it was €90
So to console ourselves we went to the ships nightclub which had a good group and excellent magic / dance floor show ;D
After imbibing in a few beers went to bed at oh my god o'clock and arrived in Amsterdam at around 10am.
Set Emily (the SAT NAG) to shortest route, so that it would take us off motorways and in through towns and villages and made our way through Holland and into Belgium and stopped for the night at the Kompascamping site in Oudenaarde.
A nice modern clean campsite with lots of amenities, which were not open because there wasn't many people staying on the site.
Pitched the tent and went for a walk into town to buy some food and beer. ;D
The first time we have put up the tent. took about 30 minutes
Some of the local wildlife
Having a cup of tea after a dinner of boiled spuds, mixed veg and ham
Next day it off on a scenic route to France
Riding some lovely quiet roads in Northern France and we came upon the first of many military cemeteries from both world wars, all beautifully maintained and respected.
A first world war cemetery
British and Commonwealth Graves
A cemetery with over 20,000 Germans
The Serre Road cemeteries, the largest British and Commonwealth war graves
We then moved on a few miles to the Ulster Tower
Inside the Tower
The Thiepval Memorial
Thiepval Church
We then check the satnav to find a campsite for the night, and find a lovely little site beside a chateau in Bertangles.
The tent was put up much quicker this time.
After something to eat we explore this small village and find a newsagent / sweet shop / cafe and bar in one shop so we went in for a few beers and mime act with the madame ;D and increased her weekly takings considerably ;D
Dinner was pasta and bolonese sauce, with baguette, washed down with some local plonk and a few beers
And so along some scenic roads to Normandy
Got to Normandy in time for the D Day Commemoration Ceremonies and stayed at a campsite beside the canal at Ouistreham for 3 days.
It was great to see people dressed in WW2 battle dress and there was more military hardware driving around the roads than was here on D Day itself
Marty holding up the invasion
Then it was off to Omaha Beach
The American Cemetery at Omaha Beach
The headstones of the two brothers that inspired the movie of "Saving Private Ryan" although in reality there was no rescue party to find the third brother, they knew exactly where he was and he was sent home.
The parade at Pegasus Bridge
A replica of the gliders used on the daring raid
A Dakota plane that was used during the war
We now head to Le Mont San Michele, a lovely old walled city that the French have cunningly over commercialised with tacky gift shops.
And this is where it started to rain and didn't relent for 2 days
And so we get into our waterproofs
We leave Mont San Michele in the pissing rain and travel east and stop in the town of Alencon at the Ibis hotel in the town centre. Would you believe it, the rain stopped as we booked into the hotel.
As it was Sunday evening we went in search of a restaurant only to find one open in the whole town centre and an excellent meal was had.
A nice old church in the centre of Alencon
Having a nightcap (or 2) in the hotel lounge
The next morning as we were about to set off again the bloody rain started again
We traveled along some lovely roads and decided to stop in a small village called Montmort-Lucy. Found the Le Cheval Blanc Hotel, a lovely old hotel with an excellent restaurant and bar, with a very friendly owner who speaks good English.
And the village also has a very nice chateau
Having a drink with the owner we found out that we were the only guests staying in the hotel
Next morning we awoke to bright sunshine ;D ;D so we continued east towards Luxembourg and Germany, again traveling along some lovely traffic free roads.
Marty decided to water the crops
Traveling along a road we happened to see an old fortification on a hill so we had a look.
Citadel De Montmedy was built between 1225 and 1239 and changed hands many times over the centuries.
Marty with a rather large weapon
We continued our journey towards Germany and the Rhine, as we get onto the autobahn ominous black clouds are gathering ahead, then a torrential downpour which turned the motorway into a river, so we turn off in search of a hotel to dry out and came across the Landhaus Berghof near Thalfang.
A new hotel with large bright well appointed rooms, swimming pool, bar & restaurant serving lovely meals
for €70 per night including breakfast.Next morning was nice and sunny, so it was off on some twisty roads towards the Rhine and the Mosel.
The Rhine
The Mosel
We find a campsite on the banks of the Mosel, with a nice bar and swimming pool, although there is some wildlife around the site that make use of the swimming pool ;D
CAMPING TIP
Drinking beer when camping will always result in a trip to the toilet in the middle of the night.
To save you from having to leave the tent get a wide neck bottle big enough to take a belly full of piss ;D
And then recycle the contents ;D ;D ;D
And then you can get a good nights sleep
Now on the final leg of the journey towards Aachen and then Amsterdam.
The day started sunny but very soon the rain appeared and turned into a torrential downpour on the outskirts of Aachen, checked the satnav for the nearest hotel and headed for the Etap hotel to dry out
Heading for Amsterdam, trying to stay off the motorway, but most of the villages in Holland are full of speed humps and chicanes, a total pain in the ass, as we were getting nowhere fast
so it was onto the motorway to CAMPING ZEEBURG close to Amsterdam centre, a short tram ride away.A busy campsite with very helpful staff, complete with restaurant and bar (bar stays open until 1am) which serves breakfast, snacks and dinner
Marty's feeling a bit peckish so he has a Desperate Dan Cow Pie and chips
And then finally it was time to go home, so it's back to the ferry terminal
And all the excitement was just too much for the wee lamb ;D ;D
Total mileage covered by me was 2850 enjoyable miles, the Transalp was comfy to ride and never missed a beat.
