TR: Easter Ardennes Trip.

[alpaholic]

We were lucky enough to enjoy all four days of Easter Hooliganism in blazing Sunshine! Dunno what the odds of that are!

Went over on the Thursday (5 hours early for the tunnel) and came back Monday evening. (Nearly 3 hours lat for the tunnel.)

Louise and I discovered the joys of the Eiffel region of Germany and this year Chris and I spent a day there and an excellent day in the Mullerthal region. I'd recommend a serious exploration of both to anyone! (In the past I've ridden through without exploring many of the roads.)

Highlights this time? Every second of it but the following spring to mind:
Barrage de la Gileppe, Beaufort, Esch-sur-Sure, Larochette and we ran into a couple of familiar faces in Han-s-Lesse.

Lowlights? Hangovers and frost!

The greatest find was Monchau. Cracking town and never been there before.

All the pics are here:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/5306429?c_album=5306429&page=all

Here are some of my faves:

The machines:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388662

Beaufort, a must see,
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388648

Barrage de la Gileppe:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388639

Sums it up!
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388689
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388748

Mark climbs the 66m Tower at Wesertalsperre (I won't say how far up I got!)
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388843

Esch-sur-Sure:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388718

Frosty nights:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388737

Larochette (higher than it looks!)
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388775

Larochette Chateau:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388776

Monshau:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388802

Huy:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388857

This took me by surprise in Rochefort (where we thought we were going to camp until getting turfed off!)
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388831
Explanation: www.orwelltoday.com/rwandabelgians3.shtml

...and, of course, all that hooning takes it's toll. Chris's bike:
www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=95388670
At this point the bike still had to do Folkestone->Portsmouth! We'd first noticed it 140km away from Calais!

[2old2boogie]

Great trip report Mark. I watched the photo's as a slide show. looked a terrific trip. The odds on you getting that weather at Easter must be 100 to 1!

I reckon you did'nt get any more than 3 feet up that climb!

[alpaholic]

"I reckon you did'nt get any more than 3 feet up that climb!"

If the camera had been tilted 0.0001 degrees further down you'd have seen grass!

[Fiasco]

Fantastic

Looking forward to an Ardennes 4 day weekend myself in 22 days (and counting)

Bet we don't get the same weather though.

Dave ;D

[alpaholic]

fiasco said:

Fantastic

Looking forward to an Ardennes 4 day weekend myself in 22 days (and counting)

Bet we don't get the same weather though.

Dave ;D

If there's one thing that would make me happier than having had great weather myself it's the thought of you and Ghoti getting rained on!

[knight]

Nice photos, nice places. Always willing to look at peoples touring piccies gives me ideas of places to go. It was you who put me on to Canyon du Verdon. Too many places to visit and too little time to do it in, not to mention cash. Keep buying those lottery tickets, well okay start buying them.