France, Belgium, Germany 2024

[Mad On Triumphs]

Day 1
Well I left Lincolnshire this morning for an uneventful ride down to catch the train to France.

As I was a bit early, the nice machine said, " would you like to get to France sooner rather than later ". Yes please. On the other side I was greeted with nice warm sunshine, something that has been sadly lacking in the UK this year. From the tunnel I made my way to the Orchard Dump Cemetery, to pay my respect to my Great Uncle William Henry Strows. Incidentally the only Stows killed in WW!1.

Off then towards my 1st B&B Chambre d'hôtes · Saulzoir · ★4,77 · 1 chambre · 1 lit · 1 salle de bain partagée I booked mine with Bookings.com. It was Ok, I wouldn't rave about it, but it wasn't expensive, so not too much to complain about really. The breakfast was sparse if I'm honest as well. The bike did 332 miles today.

Day 2
I made my way to the 2nd stop and I was here for 4 nights Hotel in Belgien I again booked this with Bookings.com
On the way here I passed quite a few tanks for the WW2 era including this beast of a Panzer. I spent about 30 mins here talking to a Dutch couple who were touring the area as well.

The weather today had been boiling, something I was more than happy about, I saw 32 degrees. At last summer's arrived, well it had in Belgium anyway.
Bike did 162 miles today.

Day 3
Well another cracking day, and the temperatures to match too. Today would be spent visiting the locations, made famous by the TV series, "Band of Brothers' .
I first visited the memorial to Pattern, which is right out of the way in a car park, you could easily miss it, if you weren't actually looking for it.

Then onto my next stop which is the Sherman Tank and a memorial to General McAuliffe.

Next stop the Memorial to the nurses of Bastogne.

Moving onto the next memorial, the Tomb for the defence of Bastogne.

The next stop on the list was the Mardasson Memorial. This is an impressive monument to say the least. I didn't go into the museum as if I'm honest I didn't have the time, plus I've been in it before.

I then made my way down a dirt track( and I'm not kidding too, a DR 350 would have been a better option than my Thunderbird, but it was too late to turn back now ) to another memorial, The Easy Company war cross.

I met 3 Australians here, and we were having a good old chin way, for about 30 mins or so, before

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

I moved on to what is a bone of contention for some. This is the site where the men lived, and died in horrific circumstances. " Bois Jacques Foxholes 101st easy company." You have to pay to walk around where hell was on earth for these guy's. Now I can understand that by fencing this off to protect what must be to some, a sacred site, but I think it's a bit much to ask for 20 Euros to walk around what is in real terms a forest, which is a shadow of what it was really like. A tough one really, one local guide is not impressed by the charging to go into see it. You can see the foxholes at the side of the road.

I then made my way to La Roche En Ardennes. This is a beautiful little town, and well worth a visit if you're in the area. Plus there were loads of bikes there to look at too, so what's not to like. I parked up and noticed a giant Ice Cream cone, as it was in the mid 30's, it seemed daft not to indulge oneself in a lovely ice cream, which I did just that.

Well after about an hour I decided to move to the next thing I wanted to see, which was the Cascade de Coo. Les Cascades de Coo | Cascade de Coo This is an impressive waterfall, OK it's no Niagara, but don't pass by it if you're in the area, free bike parking too.

Well onto my next stop which was the King Tiger Tank. Tiger 213
This thing was enormous. I couldn't get over just how big it was, no wonder the Sherman Tanks went up when this thing came round the corner.

From here to the next memorial, which was the site of the Malmedy massacre.
The Malmedy Massacre
It's here that more than 80 American Soldiers were murdered by the SS.

The field above, is where they believe that the massacre took place.
From here back to base, the Thunderbird had done 161 miles today, and as I wasn't going too fast, I was getting 66 miles to the gallon.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Day 4
Woke up to yet another stunning day, this time I'm off to the Café Hubraum, it's a café north east of Cologne, I'd been before, but it was closed, so why not try again. Well I went via Cologne, as I wanted to get a few pictures of the Cathedral

Having got my pictures off I went to the café.

It's a great place to stop and have something to eat. I asked if it was possible to buy a cup, the young lad said he didn't know, so anyway after I sat down to tuck into some traditional German food, the young lad came back and said that the owner was so impressed that I came over from England to visit his café, he just gave me a brand new cup.

I was gobsmacked, I was more than happy to buy one, but he wouldn't have. Bikers are the same all over the world, good honest down to earth people. I think I spent about 3 hours here, just enjoying the glorious weather, and the bikes coming and going. I then made my way home via Bonn and the German Autobahn. All good fun. The Thunderbird did 192 miles today.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Day 5
Well off today to another biker café,

this time the Biker Ranch in Eiffel Biker-Ranch-Eifel – Der BikerTreff der Eifel I'd been here a few times before, on my way back to the Hook of Holland, but had never really taken the time to have a ride around the area, so this time I thought I'd put the right. I got to the café at about 11.30 and had an ice cream. I'd already planned a 53 mile loop from the café, which should see me return just in time for din din's. The countryside around this area is just jaw droppingly beautiful, and if you're in the area, then don't miss it, you'll not be disappointed. Well 2 and a bit hours later I returned to the café to fill my stomach with German Schnitzel, and a sauce that I've forgotten the name of, along with the obligatory French Fries, and a weak beer, well 20% beer and 80% lemonade. It all went down a treat. I waited a while before making my way back to base, where a Banana Split was the order of the evening.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Day 6
Time to move west today I stayed at this hotel Hotel | De Hollemeersch

It had everything I needed. The ride here was uneventful and not many. In the evening I made my way to the Menin Gate for the 20.00hrs ceremony.
Now I'd challenge anybody not to fill up when the buglers get going, talk about an emotional ceremony. Don't miss this if you're in the area. Sadly the gate is completely covered, as there is ongoing restoration work. But this has to be done so future generations will hopefully pay the respects that this place, and all the names on it rightly deserves.

Then off to Black Watch Corner then home for the night.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Day 7
Today my 1st stop was to the site of the Wormhoudt massacre. Wormhoudt massacre - Wikipedia.

This is quite out of the way, and it's not very well signposted, but if you google it, you'll find the location easy enough. There were only 2 other people there, and it was a windy day. I couldn't help thinking that this was the last place that they were ever to see before they were just murdered.
I then made my way to Hill 62, better known as Sanctuary Wood
Hill 62 - Hill 62

This is a very interesting place to visit. You just can't imagine what it must have been like, and the death and destruction that went on here. It was with that in mind that 2 coach loads of English kids turned up and thought it would be a great way to show respect, by screaming at the tops of their heads and running around, as if it were a bloody playground. The teachers weren't much better, then they all had a group screaming video done by the teachers. I was a pratt I should have said something.
Fortunately the finishing school for morons moved on, and a sense of calm returned.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

I then made my way to the memorial, which is just a short ride up the road, I could have walked it if I'm honest.
Then onto the Sanctuary wood cemetery, WOI then onto Tyne cot cemetery, it's hard to imagine that they're over 11000 soldiers laid to rest here.
Tyne Cot Cemetery | Cemetery Details | CWGC

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Then onto Canada Gate. This was the final part of my trip, as tomorrow I'd be making my way home. Only did 77 miles today, but it was a long day taking the time to visit these sites.

Day 8
Home time. I left the hotel again, in glorious weather and made my way to the tunnel, I was booked in on the 13.10 train, but thought that I might be able to get an earlier train if I were lucky. Anyway about 1hr 45 mins later and I was at the Euro tunnel, brilliant. I began by entering all the details into the nice machine, who knew me personally ( Amazing ) Then the boarding card was printed out, and I was good to go, or so I thought. Now in over 40 years of going to Europe, I've never had a problem until now. The bike's battery had decided that it had had enough of life and went to visit the great battery heaven in the sky. Bollocks, what a time to die. That was it, nothing happened at all, so I pushed the bike through the open barrier, and looked around for some big guys to help me bump start the beast. Well long story short, and with the help of some great Dutch bikers, they helped me bump start the old girl, and off I went. I did stop before we got off the train completely to shake their hands and say a big thank you to them all. So all that was to do was to complete the 200 mile ride without stalling or turning the engine off to fill her up twice. Both of which were achieved without drama, about 4 hrs later.
The bike did 276 miles that day, with an overall distance covered of 1557 miles.
I had a great tip, and enjoyed every minute of it.
Here is a link to a few more pictures I took along the way.
France, Belgium Germany 2024

 

[Rocky]

Wow, what a stunning and epic adventure!! I am more than green with envy.
As you probably know I'm a bit of a WWII historian and knew a bit about the events and places you visited, but to see your amazing pictures was so satisfying.
Thank you for sharing them

I just had a similar battery experience with my Bonneville. Great that you were able to manage with a push.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

You're most welcome Rocky. I'm going to try and put a 20 min video in my drive on the same link. Hopefully it'll work. Fingers crossed.
there were more a than a few proud Canadians at the Menin gate, I was talking to two ladies from Toronto, they'd come over on a big tour, and was really enjoying the history.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Rocky the video's gone in with the same link as above.

 

[Rocky]

Rocky the video's gone in with the same link as above.

I watched the video. Great work

 

[Qship]

What a great trip and really enjoyed all the pics and details.
To pay tribute to all that perished in those wars is hard to do. All we can do is remember, and hope this history does not repeat.
Wish I was there with you.

 

[CarlS]

MoT, that is an awesome travelog and superb photography. I feel like I was on the trip. Thank you for showing me places I will never get to see.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

A simply stunning adventure
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thank you for an outstanding ride report and superb photos.

MoT, that is an awesome travelog and superb photography. I feel like I was on the trip. Thank you for showing me places I will never get to see.

Cheers Carl, funny enough you're not the 1st person who's said that since I've posted this on another form too. I do try and do a good write up, because I'm acutely aware that some people will never have the opportunity to see these places. So I feel it's up to me to show the places, especially when it has such historical significance, for so many.

 

[CarlS]

Cheers Carl, funny enough you're not the 1st person who's said that since I've posted this on another form too. I do try and do a good write up, because I'm acutely aware that some people will never have the opportunity to see these places. So I feel it's up to me to show the places, especially when it has such historical significance, for so many.

And you do it very well. I'm a history buff anyway. Thank you again.

 

[DaveM]

Once again an outstanding and interesting ride report, I always make sure I can spend some time reading your reports so I can also visit all the historic links you post up. I would love to be able to do a trip like this and it is really outstanding to see these war memorials kept in such good condition

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

Cheers Dave, I'm now doing a 9 day trip around. Northumberland and then dropping down to Yorkshire. Won't be as in depth as the last trip, but I hope the pictures will make up for it.
Glad you enjoyed it.