I know its a bit late but I been away quite a bit recently so I'm only just catching up with posting some pictures.

 

As the title explains the Rally itself was over the w/e of the 11th - 14th May but you've got to get there so I left home on Tuesday 9th May for the short trip to Folkestone and then the shuttle to France ans an overnight stay in Coquelles. 

 

Ready for the off!

 

 

At the Channel Tunnel

 

 

Ibis Budget Coquelles

 

Interesting fact is that with a McDonalds "Menu" or Meal you can have a Heineken Beer as your drink also next to the Hotel is now a large BMW/Mini Dealership

 

 

After the usual Continental Breakfast at the Ibis Budget Coquelles we set off for the B&B Hotel in Beaune using the Autoroute and going via Rheims so as to avoid Paris we made our way from the Champagne Region to the area for full bodied Red wines to reach the town of Beaune and so far the weather was being kind to me :). Breakfast at the B&B Hotel had the added bonus of scrambled eggs and bacon as well as the usual fare so that was a result. Todays trip was from Beaune to La Croix Valmer where I would stay for 5-nights.

 

 

My home for 5-nights in La Croix Valmer

 

 

 

 

Interesting things near my accommodation.......

 

Warr's had arranged a welcome evening at Kelly's Irish Pub in the Harbour in St Tropez on the Friday Evening, I got there in the afternoon to see what was going on and to get parked up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Saturday morning Warr's had arranged a ride out, 80 bikes turned up for a ride in the hills behind Grimaud/Gassin 

 

 

Parking up 80-bikes ready for the pre-ride briefing

 

 

Filling up the Town Square of Collobrieres at the coffee stop

 

Following the ride out a superb meal was had at Hôtel l'Orangeraie, La Croix Valmer where Event Rockers and a Shot Glass were handed out

 

 

I stayed in the area until Tuesday 16th May where I retraced my outbound route arriving home on Thursday 18th May 

 

I thoroughly enjoyable trip, however loading and unloading the Harley was becoming a real chore by the time I got home

 

Next trip is to Germany and I'll be taking the Triumph which should make things a lot easier

Edited 29 May, 20179 yr by Prykey

Looks like you've had a good time. I've not been that far south on a bike, what route did you take or was it mainly motorways with the distances to cover?

 

Where in Germany are doing?

I used the A26 to take me down past Reims to Troyes them A5 and A31 to Beaune then A6 to Lyon and then A7 and A8 to Aix-en-Provence and then D Roads to La Croix Valmer the toll costs are quite steep especially if they stiff you for a car toll instead of a motorcycle toll (All the Toll Booths are automatic), I used the motorways as effectively I was traveling around 380 miles a day after I got to France 

 

We use a Hotel in Germany in a small town called Auderath, its motorcycle friendly and is conveniently located between "The Ring" and Cochem on the Mosel and the roads are brilliant for both bikes and cars  

Edited 29 May, 20179 yr by Prykey

Harz mountains area of Germany is well worth a visit if you get the chance but it's a good distance from where you're going. 

 

When I've travelled down to Spain I've usually just arrived around Limoge off the A20 around midday done the overnight then crossed the border the next day. 

I have had an itch to do the French coast down to the Pyranees and into Spain then back via Santander to the UK. 

One of my mates went to the Rally via Santander, Pyrenees and had a great ride

 

The Hartz mountains, isn't that Colditz country?

 

We've been staying at the Hotel in Auderath every year for a while now, I even had Xmas there last year, its small, family run, the food is superb and they really look after us  

Colditz is about 2 hours away to the east.

 

We have a freind who moved out to the lower Pyrenees a few years ago so would make a great base to explore from. 

 

It's good to have a good family run hotel that you can keep returning to. We have something like that in Calonge, Spain. Even if we are not staying with them it's great to call in and just catch up.