With the extreme heat gone, the group of five Canadians, two Americans and one German (not counting the two tour guides...) is on the road to sample the backroads of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Perfect conditions: dry roads, sunshine and happy people.

A bit of rain in the night and the roads are wet in the morning. No trouble for us, we adjust our pace and move towards the Ahr valley. Roadworks make it necessary to adjust the route but in the end we reach Ahrweiler for a well deserved coffee brake in the center of town. After more sweepers and some switchbacks on now dry roads we are stunned by the size of the telescope at Effelsberg. Some rain caught up with the group on the way. But experience tells us that there is no way to escape rain on the way to Aachen...

Today we leave Germany and pay a short visit to the Netherlands before heading to the south of Belgium. The first challenge is to find the way out of Aachen, the city currently busy building new road infrastructure. Stop at the "Drielandenpunt", were one can be in three countries at the same time before cruising along backroads to the sights on Belgium: Barrage de la Gileppe, Spa-Francorchamps and the winding roads of the Semois valley.

Late breakfast today at 8:00. Unfortunately the castle at Sedan is closed for visitors today, so a change of plan: visit the northernmost fortification of the "Maginot-line" first, then head to the "Musee de la bière" and finally see the monastery of Orval, where the monks brew their famous beer.

The famous rest day. And the ever difficult question "how to sepend it?" The answer for Raymond and Jason was clear: find the local Harley-Davidson shop to get a souvenir. David, Carsten joined Axel on a morning trip to Esch-sur-Sure along some winding back roads, paying a vist to the castel at Vianden on the way. At Esch they caught up with Any and James who had decided to sleep in and take the short route. Back at the hotel just in time to beat the rain and after a quick change of clothes it was time to catch the bus and train into the town of Luxembourg. Because walking around town in the rain is not that much fun, it was decided by some to head back for dinner. Since public transport is free for everyone in Luxembourg, this was easily done.

James, Andy, David and Carsten marveling at the dam that holds the water of the river Sure close to Esch-sur-Sure. This time everybody kept their helmet on

It's raining in the morning, but the forecast is for dry conditions in the afternoon. The first miles on the highway out of Nancy and into the Vosges pass quickly. And as the twisty roads start, the rain stops.

Ooops, is it really the last riding day already? Heading north into the "Pfälzer Wald" there are a few roads to be ridden and a few sights to be seen before arriving at Bad Kreuznach. We start with some sweepers to "Chateau de Fleckenstein", but as it is early in the day we only look at it from the distance. Some kilometers away "Burg Gräfenstein" receives a visit. The view from the top is gorgeous.

Next stop coffee (and cake!) near "Johanniskreuz", a popular meeting place to motorcyclists. More sweepers on the way down to "Schloss Hambach" vor lunch with a view.(and tractors to be marvelled at...).

And then... yes, the final stretch to Bad Kreuznach where everyone arrived sooner or later in good health after an exciting week.