51 replies to this topic

[Matt101]

Well Chris and Alex arrived very late, tired and separately. Got split up on the way in. Was good to see them and they were cheered on arrival and the locals thought somebody important had arrived. Was a good day out today down the Rhine Valley. 350km and boiling hot weather as everyday has been here.

[Matlock]

I've made it to Dover where I'm staying tonight, before my last leg to the opposite side of the country. An absolutely fantastic RTT, thanks to Matt for sorting it and the amazing ride outs. So many hairpins! Spoke to ChrisR earlier, he & Dazzer made it to Cobham Services (Surbiton) before I got to the pub!. On my 2nd pint now, then popping next door for a curry.

[chrisr]

Back home around 8 this evening, in spite of the psycho Belgian trying to kill me on the way! Thanks to Matt for managing the herd of cats! A fine tour. Pictures to follow. Hope everyone gets home safe and well.

[Limbo]

I arrived yesterday (Friday) at 4:30 PM after 500 km of home.
It was a wonderful meeting with many famous motorcycle riders.

The hotel was just outside an old house, the inside was all new and comfortable.
The hotel is a nice coffee shop with an even more beautiful cake buffet.  

In the evening we went to dinner at a cozy restaurant. There was a good selection of steaks, schnitzel and pizzas.

The beer there was in big glasses and it tasted wonderful.  

The wine drinkers have their favorite variety found and ordered the wine in liter bottles.

Thank you Matt, for the good planning and the beautiful trips on winding roads through a remarkable natural landscape.  

Thanks CrisR for compulsory delivery service.
Thanks Graham for the LED illumination.
Thanks Ali for the translation service.
Thanks Pröpper family, for the exellent hotel service.
Thank you to all who have had soooo much fun together with me.  
Thank you Father God for the glorious sunshine all day on all routes.    

Now I can look forward to the RTT2014.

Limbo

[oSheep]

Just a quick note before I'm off to Canada. It was really great meeting you guys and I'm glad I could go to Monschau and have some nice rides there. Thanks Matt for organising the whole thing! Hope you all had a safe journey back home.

[AliG]

Back safely today, having stopped off en route. Matt and I had a blast on Friday - some fast roads, some twisties, a muppet woman driver in a Subaru with a death wish, oh, and more twisties and more fast roads.

Yesterday we took the motorway back to Dunkirk in double quick time, without any confrontation with crazy Belgian motorists.

Great trip, great company, great food, great roads and did I mention the great beer?

Where to next year guys?

Ali

PS. Bike ran sweet as a nut, so special thanks, to Lee for all his help, Matt for sorting out my warning lights, Mark for his advice on fitting the Nonfango racks and anyone else I've forgotten.

[Matt101]

Well what can I say. It was a cracking time. Apparently we had 2 runs start on time at 10am on the dot! Never heard of. Must be the german efficiency rubbing off. 

 

Must admit the roads were absolutely brilliant. Anywhere you went it ended up great. Turn onto what you would think is a goat track then only a mile later it turns into one of the best roads ever. And there were more than one of those. It was a pleasure (of sorts) to be the official 'Herder of Cats' for RTT2013. Was a shock to get the 'Stormy' trophy but I will look after it and do some minor repairs too. Mates dad does trophies so I'll get him to redo the badge and give it a buff up ready for next years recipient!

 

The banter during the day and especially at night was a hoot. By the 2nd night in the pub the staff had got the measure of some people in the group but as I took the oath I can divulge no more. After all 'What happens on RTT, Stays on RTT!' 

 

 

Thanks to all the guys & girls that attended and made it a week to remember. Thanks especially to my wingman for the week Ali. There will be some pics to follow. I'm asking anybody who has 'THAT' group picture outside the fire station, could they e-mail it to me so I can include it.  

 

And as for that 'Subaru' Ali she was definately on a death wish. Especially as the car was actually a Suzuki Liana!!!!!  

 

Matt

Edited by Matt101, 21 July 2013 - 05:20 pm.

[AliG]

And as for that 'Subaru' Ali she was definately on a death wish. Especially as the car was actually a Suzuki Liana!!!!!  

 

Matt

 

Oops, sorry, you're right. Well I remembered it was Japanese and began with S. Close but not close enough.

Ali

[apw99]

Home and dry lads. Will post an update when i can wake up. Chris enroute to kerry so he should be getting home very soon. Thanks! Apw

[Lars]

Looks like all is said already, so let me just add my tour's little details. On Monday aftrenoon I arrived after a ~200mls ride via Cologne (visiting some family) at Monschau. RTT troops were still roaring through the surroundings, so I took an "easy" stroll of the old town (Those who know the elevation profile of the town and its valleys and hills can rate the "easiness" of this...)

Met with the crowd later and had a great time for the rest of the week, both on and off the bikes. Thanks for the organisation, the tour planning and just the good company.

 

On Thursday morning I left as I was expected back in office on Friday. Though my bike was not exactly in the perfect shape as I parked it in the evening, it still brought me safely home via Belgium, Luxembourg and the south-west of Germany (meanwhile I "fixed" it as good as I can. Barely any trace visible now).

 

I will certainly keep monitoring your RTT plans for next year. And if you feel like it: Our 2014 German meeting will most likely be close to the Harz mountains, some 450miles from Calais, on June 19th till 22nd. I will keep you updated.

 

Thanks again for the great tour!

[Rallyist]

Found some 'dirty water' then Lars?

[TeDeum]

Safe home last night. Thanks to Matt for the organisation and to everyone for the craic. Bring on next year. I'm told Sardinia is nice!

[Matt101]

Right then some pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Matt101, 23 July 2013 - 10:53 pm.

[dapleb]

[paddy900]

Great pictures.....

 

Lovely cake 

[Studley Ramrod]

There's even a few TDM's in there too ! 

 

Thanks fer postin' up the pics Matt ! 

[pete7]

Well done to all and especially for an absolutely brilliant set of pictures to capture the atmosphere and the area.

 

Pete

[dablik]

Looks great.... far to much cake 

[AliG]

Here is my contribution to the photo collection. As you can see, beer and cake was consumed in quantity, with beer edging it by a whisker!! A great time was had by all. Please note the special picture of the drum. As I was doing my photographer bit on the Bastille Day parade, Matt, who was sitting in the shade enjoying a coffee, shouted to make sure I got a pic of the drum. I couldn't understand what was so special about a drum until the drummer got level with me.

Ali

Attached Files

•  Monschau1.JPG   151.83KB   22 downloads
•  Monschau2.JPG   151.28KB   28 downloads
•  Monschau5.JPG   165.07KB   25 downloads
•  Monschau6.JPG   141.1KB   31 downloads
•  Monschau9.JPG   171.87KB   29 downloads
•  Monschau13.JPG   90.36KB   27 downloads
•  Monschau15.JPG   114.02KB   23 downloads
•  Monschau16.JPG   173.38KB   27 downloads
•  Monschau17.JPG   180.61KB   31 downloads
•  Monschau19.JPG   148.69KB   33 downloads
•  Monschau21.JPG   131.09KB   29 downloads
•  Monschau25.JPG   125.62KB   31 downloads
•  Monschau27.JPG   190.88KB   34 downloads
•  Monschau31.JPG   207.32KB   35 downloads
•  Monschau34.JPG   162.89KB   50 downloads
•  Monschau3.JPG   119.97KB   37 downloads

Edited by AliG, 23 July 2013 - 10:48 am.

[chrisr]

I can't understand how I've put on half a stone in a week!