A view down to the Mosel River
So, would you like to take your GoldWing abroad to Germany in company – yet have freedom to do your own thing too? Here’s your opportunity to ride as part of a group of Wingers with the same intention. Newcomers to continental touring are especially welcome and you don’t need to know anyone else who is coming – we’ll all be good friends in no time at all.
All types of GoldWings are welcome too, including combinations and trikes. The Mosel is only one day’s ride from the Ferry, so it’s an ideal way to start touring abroad – although of course experienced tourers are welcome too.
The tour will be based on the Hotel Zur Post at Klotten, a first class Bikers’ Hotel where I stayed last year which offers extremely good value and excellent food – and it is very well placed, by the side of the Mosel River, to tour this beautiful area.
Ferry cabin (Outside Premier)
This is such a good biking area with so much to see and do, and such good biking roads, that I am happy to go back to it again next year.
The overall plan is to ride together from Ferry to Hotel and back (unless you wish to ride separately), after which all group riding will be entirely optional. There will be some group rideouts for those who want to come, on some of the days we are staying in Klotten – and the Hotel Owner, Klaus, who is a biker with enormous local knowledge, will probably agree to lead a ride for us too. There’s a deputy tour leader coming along as well.
Apart from that, you are free to do your own thing or ride with one or two other bikes, ride all day to explore the area or just nip up the road to do some people-watching at Cochem (a busy and very attractive tourist centre), or not ride at all and just sit on the Hotel terrace or the riverbank and sunbathe – entirely your choice.
You will get the chance to cross the Mosel and/or the Rhine by ferry, visit a fascinating local biker’s cafe, see some stunning views – and watch others riding the Nurburgring, the only racing circuit in the world which you can try out for yourself, simply by buying a ticket and riding round it. The Mosel produces some excellent wines and our Hotelier, Klaus, is a wine expert and an excellent cook as well as a biker.
The comfy dining area
So there will be lots of choices but no regimentation. Everyone will be free to do their own thing or join in with what’s on offer on any day they wish. There are lots and lots of places worth visiting in the area and an almost inexhaustible selection of good biking roads and scenic views.
There are limited places on this Tour and preference will be given to Members of FUKGWC Clubs providing they book before the end of December, but other Wingers will be most welcome too.
The Hotel rates for our 7-night stay (for dinner, bed and breakfast) are €49 per person per night in a double/twin room. All the rooms are ensuite. Twin rooms can be shared by solo riders at the €49 pp rate. The Hotel has two single rooms at €59 pp.
The Hotel Zur Post June 2009
I will be using the comfortable overnight P&O Hull to Rotterdam Ferry both ways (outbound Saturday 5th June, return June 13th) but you are welcome to make your own way across the Channel by any other route, to meet up at the Hotel, if you prefer. My ferry booking for a couple sharing a cabin would cost £351 including meals. The meals on the Ferry cost £44.90 per couple each way (for an extensive all-you-can-eat dinner and breakfast) but these meals are not compulsory and you can have one or both meals – and there is a snack and coffee bar – so the ferry will cost under £300 per couple if you don’t want meals. The Ferry boards from 5.30pm and so you can get settled, have a few drinks, eat a good meal and watch the entertainment too if you wish before retiring to your cabin. It’s a very comfortable way to get across the Channel refreshed and ready for the day’s ride of 225 miles, mostly motorway, to get to the Mosel and start the holiday properly.
Cochem Town , with free bike parking
The basic cost of the holiday will therefore be £350-£380 Ferry plus €686 for Hotel (accommodation and half board) per couple, plus fuel and lunch and beer money etc. We will probably do between 1,000 and 1,200 miles so you shouldn’t spend more than £150 on fuel, probably less.
The Hotel has a secure garage which is plenty big enough to accommodate all our bikes. There is also a Drying Room (hopefully it won’t be needed) and there are bike washing facilities. Be warned the Hotel is close to a railway track so rooms on the front of the Hotel are subject to train noise. So if you end up with a room at the front, which is otherwise a good place to be, and are a light sleeper you might need to use ear plugs for undisturbed sleep.
Berncastle with free parking
Please don’t try to book directly with the Hotel because it will only cause confusion. Likewise don’t book your Ferry Ticket until I have confirmed that you have accommodation. By the way – there is also an option to extend your stay at the Hotel if you wish to prolong your holiday, at the same daily rate.
If you would like to come your first step should be to contact me to express interest by email to me, the chairman, via the contacts page stating whether you are couple or solo or solos sharing, so I will know what sort of room you need. Please tell me if you ride a trike or sidecar combination. Trikes should be able to get into the alternative garage, as will combinations, but there is parking outside as an alternative and that will be secure too.
Safe and secure inside parking
Once I am able to confirm your Hotel Room, you will need to send me a deposit to reserve your accommodation. This will be put towards your Hotel bill without deductions; its just a way of securing the Room – so it will therefore be forfeit to the Hotel if you cancel unless someone else takes up the place.
You will be booking your own Ferry ticket – but don’t do it before I have confirmed that you have accommodation. You will also need to arrange your own travel insurance and European breakdown cover – which I will advise you how to do if necessary. I will also provide route information and recommend suitable maps and I can also email you Garmin routes too if needed – and I will do a checklist of what to do before you go (like check your passport has not expired) and what to take with you.
This is not a commercial tour and I will not be acting as a travel agent or anything like that; all I’m doing is organising and leading it. But it will be a way of touring abroad among friends and with some help and advice on hand if you need it. I expect the limited places to go quickly so please don’t delay expressing your interest.