Motorbike Tours

North Holland and Groningen Tour June 2020

Saturday 30 May and 3 intrepid bikers set off from The Hague at 0930 heading east towards Utrecht and De Meeren. Weather was great with blue skies and sunshine and road still quite quiet. After an hours riding we arrived at the services at De Meeren and managed to get a coffee at Starbucks maintaining all the social distancing rules in the process. Bryan and Ray joined and at around 1100 we set off north East. Roads were great and especially the nearer we got to our destination north of Groningen more windy. We arrived at our overnight stop ''De Oude Smidse'' at around 1630. Quite windy but we managed to sit outside in their lovely garden for a few refreshments before moving indoors for dinner. The hotel was quiet still due to the lockdown not yet eased for bars but all was well. Great dinner and all were in their rooms by 1000.

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Day 2 of our tour and after a great breakfast at the hotel we set off around 1000. Again great weather with a stiff northern breeze. We headed north east to the port of Emmen at the German border and managed to get some great views over the port and North Sea. Thereafter we headed south around Groningen. Stopping for lunch at the MacDonald's with motorbikes was a fun experience. On the way we had coffee at the beautiful old harbour town of Termuinterzijl. On the return journey a stop at the KLM flying school for Joost to reminisce about his younger days. Way home was via the smaller winding roads back to the hotel.

Border Germany Holland near Eemshaven

Final day and an earlier start as we had about 330 km ahead of us. Traffic was light in the early part of the day but as the day wore on and the temperatures rose a lot of people were out and about. This was also the first day of the NL easing of the restrictions for the bars and restaurants.

The first part of the trip was beautiful winding roads. Myself and Bryan got a bit carried away and ended up losing part of our team. Last section was motorway back home. Great weekend for everyone.

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North Holland and Den Helder Tour May 2020

Despite the challenges with the current Coronovirus pandemic we are still fortunate enough here in Holland to be able to ride. Last weekend a small group of 4 hardy riders packed up their picnics and headed north past a rather quiet Schiphol airport and then in the villages of North Holland. Roads were thankfully quiet with the exceptions of farm traffic which caused a bit of slow riding.

Once along the coast the weather was great and roads long and winding. At Den Helder we had our lunch in the deserted Navy museum and after enjoying the afternoon sunshine we headed south again through the polders and farms towards Amsterdam. Ferry across the Ij was open and free. Then through the bulb fields of Lisse and back home.

A great run of 260km.

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North Zeeland and Overflakkee Tour April 2020

First real run of the Spring and a group of brave riders headed out for a trip towards Zeeland. We met at a now closed MacDonald's in Charlois, just south of Rotterdam and set off through Rhoon and towards Heinenoord. Through the tunnel and headed south towards Zeeland. Roads as expected quiet with little traffic and although sunny it was quite fresh. Zeeland roads are a bit long and less windy but nevertheless fine riding.

After passing through Zuidland we tried to ride out onto the Calandweg but regrettably this was closed to traffic because if health reasons. Instead we crossed on the Rozenburg ferry and headed through Maasland back to the carpool just by the A4. A good day out despite a slightly shorter detour.