This is Germany...so it has to be schnitzel

..and a great one too, at the Zur Alten Abtel restaurant in Prum in the Eifel region. The miles just flashed by today, all 260 of 'em from Calais to here, mainly motorway. Was joined at motorway services lunch break by 4 BMW ditch pump riders from Norfolk. Then a Gold Wing turned up and the rider assured me that the Stelvio Pass was a great ride...even on a Gold Wing. Arriving in Prum, went past my hotel 4 times before I recognised it, disguised as it was behind a big sign saying "hotel".

I've decided to give motorways a miss for Saturday's leg to Rastatt at the northern entrance to the Black Forest, so I've set the sat nav to miss them. Same journey time, just 40 miles shorter at 160 miles. Might actually do some sightseeing!

Made it to Calais!

Foreign touring does not get any better than this! Thursday night in the Ibis Budget at Coquelles! At least the bike should be safe as part of the car park has been sectioned off as Gendarmes nest, for some reason. There's hundreds of them....or at least 40 or 50. 

No photos I'm afraid, as there are no fish and chip shops to report.

Off to the continent,

Just setting off on the Pan  on a tour to the famous Stelvio Pass. I hope to bring you news of the best fish and chip shops in Switzerland....so that won't take many words!

Watch this space!

Lincolnshire fish and chips festival planned for 2015

Yes, it's true. See below. Nirvana! And did the Countenance Divine, Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here, Among these fish and chip shops? 

Including of course Sutton-on-Sea's very own fine dining Sea Breeze Restaurant that serves proper freshly cooked fish and chips: http://www.seabreeze-restaurant.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-27584095

Lincolnshire fish and chips festival planned for 2015

There are plans to hold the UK's first festival dedicated to fish and chips along the Lincolnshire coast.

Organisers say it would boost the economy of Skegness, identified asone of England's most deprived seaside resorts.

Ideas for the festival, which would initially take place in 2015 and 2016, include a "battle of the batters".

A bid for money has been submitted to the Coastal Communities Fund.

There would be events and activities in areas including Skegness, Alford, Louth, Tattershall, Sutton and Mablethorpe.

David Lambert, one of the people behind the plans, said Lincolnshire was the ideal place to have a festival dedicated to fish and chips.

He said: "We grow the spuds, we grow the peas, the fish is coming off the North Sea and being processed up at Grimsby. Where better place to have it?

"There's one in Australia, there's one in Italy, there's one in France, but there isn't one in Great Britain."

David Lambert said fish and chips was a "democratic" dish for rich and poor

The mascot of Skegness is the Jolly Fisherman, symbolic of the town's connection with fish and the sea.

Mr Lambert added that fish and chips was a "democratic" dish that appeals to everyone - rich and poor, young and old.

The events would be centred around the "social, cultural, economic and historic importance of the UK's national food, fish and chips", he added.

Ideas include:

• Cook-offs to find which potatoes make the best chips.
• A sustainable fishing debate.
• An exhibition on the history of fish and chips.
• A film festival featuring movies set in seaside towns, including Quadrophenia and Jaws.

Events would culminate on 1 October, Lincolnshire Day, but would run over several months, extending the tourism season of Lincolnshire's coast.

YES!!!!!! RESULT!! FISH AND CHIPS FOR LUNCH!

Let me say straight away that a blustery and chilly day at the beginning of March is NOT the day for cakes...well, not if you are tough, hardy, all-season bikers like wot we is.

Real food is what is required and real food is what we got on Sunday 2nd March at The Big Fish at Ollerton on the edge of Sherwood Forest. 12 bikes set out from Sleaford and 12 bikes arrived at the Big Fish. 13 highly satisfied customers (one pillion!) We all met at Sleaford, though most of us had already ridden a good few miles to get there. A quick trip down the A17 and A616 ended at the chippie that is more or less right on the A616/A614/A6075 roundabout. I won't say any more than that as I don't want to deprive you of the fun of google maps.

And The Big Fish? Clean, modern, excellent friendly service and decent grub, excellent value, too. We'll be back!!        

http://www.bigfishrestaurant.co.uk/

BEFORE

AFTER

WE''RE BACK AND WE'RE BIKING!

Yes, I know I've not been posting for a while. No reason...just no chippies. Well, all that has now changed. 11 bikes from Boston Advanced Motorists converged on Dave's in Sheringham, Norfolk on Sunday 5th January. For a number of us it was a 220 mile round trip, starting at 9.30 a.m in dry sunny but frosty conditions. The temperature reached a sub-tropical 4 degrees Celsius by the time I made the starting point at Algarkirk and after a round about ride to Sheringham, we were basking in a temperature of 7 Celsius. No rain and no wind! A speedy ride back to the Anglia Motel on the A17 and we were still dry! All good things, it seems, must come to and end, though and for me the last 44 miles were in the dark, in the wind and in the rain. Washed most of the salt off the bike, though.

What was that? You want to improve your riding and driving skills, and reduce the risk of being involved in an accident? Yes, we cover cars as well as bikes so why not visit Boston Advanced Motorists at the Springfield Motorbike Show, Spalding, on Saturday/Sunday 25th and 26th January 

http://www.springfieldsbikeshow.co.uk

REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS BLOG!

Just spent the weekend on the western edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park....and shock horror - NO FISH AND CHIPS! Shortage of images, I'm afraid, as I left my camera behind.

A 380 mile ride on Friday from home to Llangadog via Little Chalfont in temperatures between 18 Celsius and 33 Celsius meant late arrival, intense thirst, no time to cook - and indeed , no food to cook as we were lightweight camping and relying on eating out.

No problem as there was always The Black Lion in Llgangadog. Arrived at 10 pm to find the only pub in town did not serve food. We ended up with a new taste sensation: a bag of plain crisps and two pickled eggs...and a pint of the local bitter. 

Seriously, if you are ever really really hungry and need something desperately to stop you eating your own arm...you'd be hard put to find anything worse!

The following day Saturday we took local advice and breakfasted at Miss Mollie's on the A40 at LLangdog. Used to be a Little Chef and shows what Little Chef could have been if only they'd tried. Thoroughly recommended..good choice, freshly cooked, well presented, decently priced... the complete antithesis of Little Chef.

https://www.facebook.com/MissMolliesDiner

Fed up , as it were, off to Aberystwyth ..to the bottom of the funicular railway on the sea front. We were followed through the town by two bikes who it later transpired followed us because we really looked as though we knew where we we going. Of course, we did know. It's just that we were not going to the bike show that they were looking for!

Then a pleasant if busy ride over to Aberaeron for ice cream etc. then a quiet cross country ride down the quiet and enjoyable A482 back to the camp site  Rest of afternoon was spent reducing the nation's stock of beer and cider and soaking up the rays.

Sunday morning dawned cold and grey. Was that it? Summer been and gone? In reality, conditions were ideal for a quiet  and progressive ride down the A40 to Monmouth. Great riding road, no traffic on Sunday morning...you should try it!