The excitement of exploring new places and experiencing different cultures is top of our priority list as we set off from Charleville-Mezieres in France, bound for Bühl in Germany. Little did we know that our first day on the road would present us with unexpected challenges and memorable experiences that would bond us together as a group.

The Journey Begins:

The journey commenced with picturesque roads winding through tiny French villages and towns. However, after covering just 50 miles, fate had a surprise in store for us. John’s GS1200 encountered a serious problem – a burst radiator. So our plans were temporarily halted in the small village of Mangiennes.

Troubleshooting in Mangiennes:

Determined not to let this obstacle define our day, we got to work on John’s GS1200 and tried to sort the radiator issue. Stripping down the many panels of the bike, we engaged in animated discussions, exchanging suggestions and ideas to get the GS back on the road.

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A Ray of Hope:

Despite the initial despair that the trip for the GS may have been over on day one, a glimmer of hope appeared as Andy and John worked their magic on the bike to find a solution to stop the leak, whilst Gaz and I ventured into the nearest larger town in search of some radiator sealant for extra piece of mind. We scoured through numerous auto part stores until we sourced the elusive radiator stop leak fluid.

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Resuming the Adventure:

After some significant efforts, John and Andy got the radiator fixed, and we hit the road again, albeit five hours behind schedule. While the delay posed a challenge, it also gifted us with extra time to bond and wind each other up. The weather would test us for the rest of the day with thunderstorms giving us a sufficient drenching.

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Conclusion:

We arrived at our hotel in Bühl, Germany, and a few well earned beers were on the cards.

So with beer in hand, I reflected on the first day of our European adventure, it began with a mix of excitement, challenges, and unexpected turns. Leaving Charleville-Mezieres, we encountered our first technical hiccup, well actually the radiator mishap in Mangiennes was the second hiccup. I had managed to break my rear indicator by tightening the Rokstrap over it (Schoolboy error). Still, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and it all made for a memorable day.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings!