Euro tunnel and beyond.

[Dodgy69]

I bought a Big Agnes Rapide insulated sleeping mat. Rolls down very small, weighs next to nothing and very comfortable.

The tunnel is a piece of piss on the bike, it's just the hanging around. Way better than the ferry though.

This one's got foam inside I think and it's supposed to self inflate. I'd rather it deflated and rolled itself up.

I've gone through my luggage again and binned some stuff, I'm a bit lighter but not a lot.

[Dodgy69]

Currently sat in the Tiger Inn Stowting about 10 miles from tunnel. Walked down from camp but as usual further than they say, about 40 mins.

Great pub though, it'll be a slow walk back up hill. Journey down nearly all motorway, and showers but got tent up in the dry. Thinking about hotels already.

[ChrisW]

Have a good trip. Love a morning channel crossing

[Count Steer]

Currently sat in the Tiger Inn Stowting about 10 miles from tunnel. Walked down from camp but as usual further than they say, about 40 mins.

Great pub though, it'll be a slow walk back up hill. Journey down nearly all motorway, and showers but got tent up in the dry. Thinking about hotels already.

Well pickle my walnuts! Love the 'British inspired' menu. Chorizo. Kimchi mayo. Asian veg. Chilli salad. Popcorn cauliflower. Is it inspired by memories of empire and fighting with the Spanish?

[Skub]

Have a good and safe trip man.

[dern]

Have a great trip.

[Dodgy69]

Well...proper shite sleep, tent innit. But off to train and arrived early so I had option to go earlier which I did. Only to be on a carriage full of harleys

Tbf, they were a decent lot, 17 peeps 15 bikes on a organised trip, 3 days .

I've never ridden over here before so was a bit edgy about the disembarking, but all went OK ish. Problem was, my chosen satnavs weren't working, so started off on offline maps, trouble is there shit.

It got me to Lille but didn't direct me quick enough and got me lost and low on fuel. Text my lad and he said , is your roaming data on ?. I thought it does it auto, but it doesn't. Anyway, data on and lots of messages, but most importantly Waze.

Put in petrol station and in 0.3 miles was sorted, well, it wouldn't work coz its pay first which I didn’t notice, and with Waze workings found campsite lovely weather.

Tent up Google translate working well and off for a wander. Found a nice locals bar then over the road for a feed. Superb meatballs with chips and stella 19e.

Viroinval is a lovely little place in Belgium, sort of followed the border line. Nice broken chat with a few locals and back at tent it is.

Talking to a chap yesterday and he uses F1 hotels, cheap and cheerful so been looking and they're £30 a night, so might have a bit of that, Better than a poxy tent. The only issue is bike at tent is pretty safe, but outside some dodgy hotel with luggage left on it might keep me awake. We will see.









Oh, and saw one of these, vertical nice indeed.

[weeksy]

Great post, keep it up!

[Felix]

I have not been on a euro jolly since before Covid. What is worrying me now is the availability of Gluten free food. Beer not so much but if i was having to cook in the Camperbus it would king of take away part of the enjoyment of eating out trying different foods. Is the Gluten free Logo pretty much universal round Europe?

печать-gluten-fee-icon-healthy-food-wheat-grain-symbol-cereal-allergy-diet-logo-vector-illustration-211447134.jpg (100.14 KiB) Viewed 368 times

[Count Steer]

The Formule type places are usually fine but, as ever, depends where they are. I found hotel people really helpful wrt bikes. One place, not too far from Sangatte wanted me to put my bike in the hotel lobby! (Wife picked it because it was a regional prize winner in the Logis handbook. Got there after riding through a big industrial zone wondering and found this sort of lorry drivers place. Clean enough but basic. Turns out it was regional winner for food. The scran was epic!).

Pick up a Logis guide. Many are v reasonable, privately owned places and have some sort of yard/secure parking for bikes. The place we used a few times in Chinon was

[Dodgy69]

The F1s do look a bit cheap, but for 40e some decent one's. Was gonna treat myself tonight coz it pissed down all last night from about 1am til 11am today, but I slept better, first night camp syndrome .

Left site heading for Saarbrucken about 11.30, on and off rain, ended up in Bastoyne, leading to my all-time best tv series BofB. Took pics of the Easy company memorial, bit emotional here when you see the names you've heard before.

Mt mate Waze then took me through Luxembourg, very nice, please to do there i would imagine. Just following Waze and it brings me to Remich, crossing the river i spot campsite, that'll do. Tent up, shower, out.

Well, what a place. River cruises, bars, food everything, lovely. Sat outside bar now, few beers, foods and tent, tomorrow morning is forecast sunny, might get to pack a dry tent.

Always end with an anyway, anyway, heading for Baden-Baden tomorrow and through the black forest I've heard so much abouts, shouldn't be too far from Zurich tomorrow night, ish. Pic's









picture share

anonymous pictures website

[ChrisW]

I stopped in Bastogne for just the same reason a few years ago on the way back from Germany.

[Dodgy69]

Hows @dern getting on. No news is bad news.

[Count Steer]

Hows @dern getting on. No news is bad news.

He's been in the saddle for umpteen hours. He'll be sore but fine.

[Dodgy69]

He went yesterday..

[Count Steer]

He went yesterday..

Yeah, and he camped overnight and had 5hrs ride to do today.

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[Noggin]

I have not been on a euro jolly since before Covid. What is worrying me now is the availability of Gluten free food. Beer not so much but if i was having to cook in the Camperbus it would king of take away part of the enjoyment of eating out trying different foods. Is the Gluten free Logo pretty much universal round Europe?

Gluten free is difficult over here. I'm sure there are French coeliacs but in the area I'm in, its rare to find a restaurant that understands and can be sure they are giving you food that won't make you ill. You can buy Gluten free in most supermarkets, but I think you'd have to research a bit to find places to eat out.

We are in the back of beyond TBF - so it may well be different in other areas

[Felix]

Gluten free is difficult over here. I'm sure there are French coeliacs but in the area I'm in, its rare to find a restaurant that understands and can be sure they are giving you food that won't make you ill. You can buy Gluten free in most supermarkets, but I think you'd have to research a bit to find places to eat out.

We are in the back of beyond TBF - so it may well be different in other areas

Thanks for that Planning to head to south Italy and ferry over to Croatia visiting lager tourist areas for probably 50% of the three week trip. Probably just going to have to have a plan B with food in the camperbus. I see me living on steak for three weeks Saying that i do love a bit Fillet. I think Google Translate will be getting used a lot

[dern]

Hows @dern getting on. No news is bad news.

Got down here fine. Plenty of rain, some hail and, on reflection, too many motorway miles.

[Felix]

Remich Luxemburg. Who was the guy on TRC who stayed not far from there. Think he was on the French border.