GERMANY: BREATHTAKING BLACK FOREST – JULY 2023
Great roads and scenery across France and Germany in just one week. A riding rite of passage! Paul Paton & Phil Gardner report.
Germany: Breathtaking Black Forest Trip Report July 2023
Day 1
Black Forest day one gets off to a good start. After some motorway miles to get to lunch we got to the empty D roads of France to get into champagne country and followed the champagne tourist route down to Challon. Sunshine and a strong breeze all the way making a nice change from yesterday’s deluge. Lots to see on the way through.
Day 2
After a very good meal last night, and live music in the square, some were a little jaded this morning, but the gods were with us (both weather and Garmin) as we had sunshine and super D roads all the way to the Rhine. After brief stops in Bar-le-Duc and Pont a Mousson we got into the Parc Nacional Du Lorraine, with some super bikers’ roads and the Black Forest hills looming up on the horizon, before arriving at the ferry across the Rhine and a short ride to the hotel. Plenty to see along the way and a great day’s riding.
Day 3
First stop over day in Baden Baden. As always at the Gasthaus Auerhahn, good food and beer was enjoyed by all last night, and this morning having awoken to lovely sunshine we said goodbye to the Romania tour who had been with us for two days. As it’s a stop over day there are lots of options. Some took a walk into town, some took a tour around the B500 and surrounding roads and enjoyed a leisurely lunch in Freudstadt and some ventured a bit further out into the Black forest for a longer ride on the superb roads the Black Forest had on offer. Either way a good day was had by all.
Day 4
After another pleasant evening we left our duo to their intimate moment with their Apperol Spritz and headed off to be ready for a group ride to Trieberg and Tittesee. Then back across country and past the dams back to the hotel. There was some great riding along the way and some new friends made. Passing an Old Timers Fire engine rally and finding what seemed like market day in Tittisee. Weather sadly didn’t play ball but the heaviest of the rain came over lunch so most of it was missed. Heading off to the Vosges tomorrow for another day in the mountains on Thursday.
Day 5
The thunderstorms of last night cleared away and brilliant sunshine awaited us again. Leaving Germany for the Vosges mountains saw the group take on the entire B500 route before heading south on some of the best roads of the trip so far through wooded countryside on sweeping bends and a few hairpins. As we headed for the border the Vosges were looming into view. After a stop for lunch we were into the Vosges and getting a taster of the ride out to come tomorrow. Live music and food on the square rounded off the day.
Day 6
Fresher weather in the Vosges for our play around the various cols. The area is very busy preparing for the Tour de France coming through at the weekend, but the upside was lots of fresh new tarmac to enjoy. The weather brought out lots of bikes today so never short of company. Some exciting riding to be had and some mystery tours when roads had already been closed for Saturday. Mr Garmin tried his best to keep us on track and we had a good day’s riding, topped off by a fabulous meal in a Vietnamese restaurant to end the day.
Day 7
Penultimate day today and on our way north again towards home, but not before we visited the Vosges one more time. Having just got down one col to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines the road out was closed so we had to go back up again and find another way down instead. A little light traffic to negotiate early on and lots of Lang Lauffers get summer practice on their wheeled skis. Last group meal tonight then off to Verdun and the shuttle tomorrow.
Day 8
Well, last day today. Final meal last night and a few beers then we set off to visit Verdun before making our way back to Calais and the shuttle home. Only 8 days but a lot is packed into them. A super trip if you can’t get away for longer. Looking forward to the next one now.
We’re sure you will have been inspired by this trip report, so why not ask us about upcoming dates so that you can experience it first hand?