Brass bands seem to be a bit of a thing here in this part of Germany, I came across the first brass band when in Winterberg, quite lovely, along with a small street market, where I had bratwurst
The place was full of Harleys, I think there must have been some event happening near by as there were lots on the roads, usually riding in big groups of 20 plus. A Belgium friend asked me if I asked any of them about their dog
(Belgium biker joke... every new Harley comes with a free dog, so the owner won't be alone when their bike breaks down).
German Brass Band in Winterberg...
The bratwurst was just a sausage, but here's a lovely German cake and coffee
The other brass band I was less sure about, though my German friends said it was quite normal in Germany, the local rifle hunting association holding an annual march through Hallenberg. I had seen a lot of shooting hides when riding, so maybe a major sport here.
Hallenberg Rifle Hunting Association March and Band...
Dinner this evening was very nice, well all the others had been too, but I'd forgotten to take photos. This was the last day (Saturday) of meeting up with Europrez friends, Sunday saw us all depart to different parts of Europe and beyond.
Sunday, a bit of a cooler, grey and light drizzly start to the day on my way west again via Koln, Aachen and Brussels to an overnight stop before the tunnel on Monday. The roads at the start were brilliant, more of the same, winding, rising and falling with countryside much like the Exe Valley, but going on for 90 miles or so. I wasn't sure where I was going to stop for the night and wanted to make some progress in the early part of the day, having 'tunnel anxiety!' So, stupidly I stayed on the motorways from Koln, though to Aachen, then came off in the Netherlands as I wanted to visit Heerlen, Geleen and Stein where I lived with parents many years ago.
The weather was getting warmer the further west I rode and by the time of nearing Brussels it was in the high 20's and getting too sweaty and hot to rode much further. I found somewhere using Booking.com, a bar/cafe/B&B in Brakel in the Flemish Ardenne in Belgium. This did make me laugh, the Flemish Ardenne is lovely, but really think slightly undulating hills rather than the eastern Belgium Ardenne, still very nice to ride through.
When I arrived at the B&B, it was a bit concerning, everything was shut up and looked like the bar had't been open in a while, but a phone call so sorted that, the key was around the back under a wooden beer crate and I was soon in and showered. I had a suite, two bedrooms, lounge and shower, but no coffee, but a nice place for a stop over. As it was Sunday evening I thought I might be on chocolate bars and peanuts for dinner, but a short ride (jeans, t-shirt and trainers
) into Brakel and all was good, there was a small festival happening in the town square and the whole place seemed to be there, I guess this is where the B&B owners were.
Vlaandereen Festival
My last day in Europe was hot, hot, hot. After breakfast, seemingly a lot of chocolate buns, well this is Belgium, plus yoghurt and ham and cheese I was off via Ypres, Poperinge, Cassel and finally Calais/Eurotunnel via small roads which were fun. This area, between Brussels and Calsi is often overlooked, but is much like the Flemish Ardenne, nice gently rolling countryside, apart from Cassel, which is definitely worth a detour, though it's directly on route, so not much of a detour needed. Hairpin cobbled streets to the top of the village though shady wooded roads, always unexpected, even though I've been here before, the views across northern France are far reaching.
Cassel
Views
I third stopping in Ypres for a coffee and needed a wee! However a combination of roadworks, one way streets and busyness in town prevented that, I bailed out and headed for Poperinge and was treated to a mini dessert with my coffee, so worth while.
Not the Menin Gate
I love the exhibitions/constructions/whatevers on many of the roundabouts here, here's one which made me stop in Ypres...
Coffee and dessert
Onwards to the tunnel, where I had a 3+ hours wait in heat, despite arriving early and being offered an earlier crossing there were delays, fortunately at the final wait after passport checks some horse transporters pulled in which enabled some shade, fortunate for the sweaty biker mates assembled there, almost all old bits like myself. However I did have to smile at one young couple who arrived on their fully camping loaded G650GS, dresses in knox body armour knee and elbow pads along with their safety shorts and t shirts
but at least they were both cool and kewl, oh to be young and invincible again
Arriving in Folkestone I had a meander across the coast to Newhaven to stay with daughter, a lovely run and a reminder of how nice riding in this country is, even if I could't find a fish and chip shop open which took cards, welcome back to Blighty