Extensive route planning and way points had been created for those who had satnav to load into their devices. Maybe that should have kept us together? Nope! Not everyone could load them and they can give separate routes in any case.
It had been agreed that we wouldn't use our normal practice of 2nd man stopping, where the second in the group stops and directs at a junction/roundabout, until others have passed, then joins up ahead of Tail End Charlie. Primarily, this was because we had a diversity of riding experience in the group and using motorways for much of the day would preclude it. So, off we set and it wasn't long on the busy motorway we got stretched out. The last but one bike, behind us, had a puncture at 80mph, which was a bit hairy although we didn't know it at the time. At the earliest opportunity we regrouped off the motorway to contact him and discover what had happened and that HOG Assist was already on the way, so we set off, now down to 18 bikes as the last one waited with him. It wasn't long after that we got split up again into two groups. The alternative buddy system, keeping the bike in front and
behind in sight, wasn't possible with the road and traffic conditions, so it was inevitable.
We did have time to see the Lion and have a brief look in the shop area, but insufficient to climb the mound or look around the museum, so off we set again.
Road works and a closure got us next and the Deviation signs ran out after a while, splitting us once more into two groups of 9. In the second group, we got separated from those in front and behind by traffic lights in a large town, so now we're 6-1-2, and we're the 1! We stopped and waited for a while, saw no one, and decided to head straight for the hotel in Bullay, rather than detour via Bastogne, still 161km away, and Trier, which proved wise. It was 3pm, and we still had some 240km to go.
The rain came at times and after we had been on the motorway for a short spell, we stopped for a coffee and bite, to see the group of 2 pass us on the motorway, taking the direct route as well. The rain cleared a bit and we did enjoy a long stretch of picturesque countryside, plus a twisty detour to find petrol. We thought we would be last at the hotel, but the group of 2 were only minutes before us. The hotel owners greeted us with a beer each as we got off our bikes on arrival, which was very welcome. The hotel is run by a very friendly Dutch biking couple and it enjoys and lovely position near to the banks of the Mosel river, which we crossed for the first time just before our arrival.
The main group didn't arrive until 1015, to much barracking from the rest of us on the hotel balcony, by now showered, watered and dined. They hadn't had a great time!
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