2015 08 11 Bruges, Belgium to Duisburg, Germany via NL (GPS map link)

11^th – 12^th  August 2015

Bruges, Belgium to Duisburg, Germany via the Netherlands.

These two days have been very forgettable.  We spent most of the time in the hotel room just feeling sorry for ourselves and trying to get rid of our horrible head colds. 

Really the only reason for this post is to put the map link on from the GPS.

The bike seems to be a bit heavy this morning.  Maybe our Russian mate with the Harley put some of his beers in our panniers as well as filling up his own.

Even our coffee stop over the motorway was forgettable, they didn't have any water (due to construction work) which meant no coffee. Not Happy!

Short cut through Holland.

2015 08 10 Dunkirk, France to Bruges, Belgium

10^th August 2015

Dunkirk, France to Bruges, Belgium

No need for any early starts today as our destination is just up the road a bit in Belgium.

Bruges is a beautiful city and we arrived early enough to have a decent look around.  Unfortunately by late afternoon neither of us were feeling very well and we spent the rest of the day and night either in or close to our room. 

On the way out of Dunkirk Maurice spotted this rare 1100 Honda 4 (it’s on his long list of bikes to buy when he wins lotto). 

First time in Belgium.

Just a couple of on the go’s.Our

 

Just through this gateway was our hostel.

In & around Bruges.

2015 08 09 Clapham, England to Dunkirk, France including the Channel tunnel

9^th  August 2015

Clapham, England to Dunkirk, France via the Channel Tunnel

Early start today to get to the Folkstone to catch the train back to Europe.  The tunnel has been in the news a lot lately and we weren't sure if we would hit some traffic but it was quite the opposite and we were able to get on an earlier train than we had booked.

Our destination, Dunkirk, wasn't that far from the French tunnel terminal either so we arrived with plenty of time to look around.

The Channel Tunnel Train.

Back in France.

Dunkirk beach during the war....

& now.

And just because it's in French.

 2015 08 07 Caldicot, Wales to Clapham, England

7^th – 8^th  August 2015

Caldicot, Wales to Clapham, England

It was a bit sad to say goodbye to Judith this morning but it was time to move on today.

With some trepidation we made our way onto the Motorway and headed to London!

It actually wasn't that bad and the traffic was moving quite well for most of the trip.  Our good run looked like it would come to a grinding halt when we  hit a traffic jam, however it is times like these that being on a motorcycle in a country where it is legal to lane split, comes into its own!

It was great to catch up with Lauren and we thoroughly enjoyed our day out in Chelsea and relaxing in the London sunshine (Yes there was sunshine!).

The view from our hotel.

We had a very yummy brunch at Toms Kitchen, thanks Lauren!

A great day out in the sunshine.

2^nd – 6^th  August 2015

Caldicot, Wales 

It has been a while since I have updated the blog (it is now  the16^th August) and my trouble is I have to remember everything we have done in that time, not so easy with a memory like mine, lucky I have thousands of photo’s to remind me.

As always the time in Wales went really quickly and there were still people we would have liked to catch up with, especially since the relatives seem to double in number every time we go with all the new arrivals (still waiting to hear about the arrival of Freddie, the latest great, great nephew).  There is more things we would have like to have seen as well.  The weather could have been a bit friendlier, but all in all it wasn't bad.

We spent a great day out at St Fagan’s, a fantastic outdoor Museum/Park that shows all the different Welsh houses throughout the years as well as the original Manor House (St Fagan’s Castle).  

A great day out with Judith, Tracy, Ed, Felix & Freda.

Some of the houses.

One of the out houses!

The Manor house & garden.

Hand stitched sofa in the music room.

Maurice was envious of the rotisserie set up in the kitchen.

Another great day out was spent with Judith and her friend Carol at Bourton-on-the Water, dub the Venice of the Cotswold's because of it’s cute little bridges over the stream. A very quaint English town that had something for everyone including a Motor Museum to keep Maurice happy, ice cream & fish and chips and a miniature Bourton-on-the-Water.

Well I did say it had some thing for everyone!

The main reason for us going to Wales is to catch up with family & relatives and that’s just what we did at Peter & Josie's while they waited patiently for the arrival of their latest Great-Grandson Freddie. We also got to check out Peter’s famous allotment!  

Some of Peter's art.

The next morning and another catch up with Alison, Michelle, Arianne & the girls.

A day in Bristol keeping an eye out for sheep of the Shaun type! 

Enjoying the exhibits in the M-shed on Bristol wharf.

Doesn't matter where we go Maurice always seems to find something about Motorcycles. This time the speedway article on display was about Aussie riders.

The river Avon.

 

Shaun and two of his disguises.