Summing up, and home

We suddenly realised that all of the planning and organisation had paid off , and we had seen most of the intended sites ( always plan more in case of changes or weather).

So it was with some regret that we rode South onto the Motorway and headed for the ferry, not before one last stop for fuel, and refreshments in a fantastic modern restaurant, so unlike UK services, , then a gentle canter to Dunkirk and our ferry home, myself to stop with my elderly parents and regale them with our heroic journey, himself to his parents round the corner ( my little brother) and then on the booze with his university pals before getting back to studying.

On reflection could we have planned it any better ?

Well upon questioning my brother I found that himself had set his google nav up for cycling, so we probably used far too many back roads and cobbles than strictly necessary, but on the upside we really saw Belgium, smelt it, rolled in it , went off road in it , I even found a bit of it trapped in my crash-bars, we missed the Atomium, but perhaps I will take my wife back for a weekend on the shuttle thing , but we resolved a problem with the bike and overcame it, and all of these things make you stronger, and perhaps in years to come when his mad uncle is just a distant memory he will take his own family and re trace the route and make them laugh with the tales of hardship and stupidity for these things bond a family together, all of it started by my Grandfather , who took the Shanks pony tour from Folkestone in 1914 and ended it in Koln in 1919, he even got a medal or two !

William Curtis 

Old Contemptible

Both Motorcycles survived the ordeal

Jonathan s developed a small oil leak, promptly fixed by the magic of Tony Botto, and mine lost a few nuts and bolts and needed a new clutch lever and the paint touched in, but for a 15 year old Guzzi thats slower and less powerful than a 69 Bonnie I reckon its just fine

I also learned not to carry so much crap on the back, I have now dispensed with the rack and will in future keep the weight down low, himself will probably refit the windscreen !!

and now I find that my Brother after being given a clean bill of health has secretly taken motorcycle lessons, passed his test, purchased a reliable Japanese motorcycle, and as I write is Touring France with his wife

So whats stopping you ??