Category: Tourism & Travel

1. Mid Summer Madness: £250 Off Flights For Route 66 

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 21st Apr 2017

   We've got our mind on Route 66 touring this summer! And we’ve a cracking offer on flights for our August 2017 Route 66 Original guided tour. We are offering a hefty £250 discount per person off your flight! You must book by 29th April 2017.
   
   And with Orange & Black you get to ride with Gary (Bear) Fleshman, almost a Route 66 icon himself! Gary has done this route more than 120 times and knows the best places to visit, the old hidden bits of the 'Mother Road' and introduces you to the people he knows along the way. And all on a 2017 Harley-Davidson.
   
   
   

   The Places we visit. Ride through places steeped in automotive history and culture - the first filling stations, diners and motels. Take in amazing landscapes such as the Petrified Forest, cross the Continental divide and wonder at the sheer scale of the Grand Canyon! Start with the excitement of Chicago and its bold architecture and museum culture. End in LA at iconic Santa Monica Pier. Enjoy the quirkiness of the small, bygone-era towns such as Oatman and Kingman, admire state capital Santa Fe's striking native american architecture, wonder at the bizarre oddity of a bottle tree ranch and so much more. We'll take you on a journey through the heartland of 'real America'. 

   
   

   And there's the 'Mother Road' herself. Let us guide you down the hidden bits we know.... There's a lot more left of the old road than you might think and the difficult part is finding it. Gary spends his spare time researching and finding old sections. Just ask any of Bear's previous tour participants!

   Route 66 is as much about the Amazing People and friends we know along the way as it is the Road itself and the Places we visit. And there are some real characters with great insights on the Mother Road. Meet Larry, Harley, Angel, Jerry and many others!

   

    

   Call David or Linda now on 01256 771770 to book your place on one of our Route 66 Original guided tours in 2017 on:
   
   June 8-22
   August 17-31 – Flight offer applies
   Sept 28 – Oct 12
   
   or any one of our many scenic guided and self-guided tours that are on our website: www.orange-and-black.co.uk
   
   Orange & Black is a Harley-Davidson authorised tour operator. We can also book your flights, organise specialist travel insurance and arrange a Harley "Try before you Fly" orientation ride!

   Ride Safe
   
   David Grist

   Orange & Black... for your ride of a lifetime, every time

2. ** THE BIKERS - tour of South West France and the Pyrenees.

   Posted on 9:00am Saturday 1st Apr 2017

   

    

   The itinerary below is subject to change (mainly the wine tasting during the day), however the hotel, breakfast, lunches and dinner are included. 

    

   Itinerary and Escorted Tours include:
   
   Saturday arrival: Ride your Motorcycle to arrive at the hotel in Barbotan Les Thermes -  www.hotelcantegrit.com
   6.30pm: Welcome reception followed by a 3 course dinner.
   
   Sunday: Breakfast 8.30 – 10.00 am. (Room service also available).
   
   10am - Depart for road trip to Chateau Viella, Madiran/Pacherenc wine region. A tasting of Pacherenc/Madiran wines accompanied by local h’ordeuvres.
   12.30pm lunch  at a local bistro in the Madiran region.
   3.30pm - Return to the hotel.
   Free evening.

   Monday: Continental breakfast 7.30 – 8.30am. 

   8.30am - Depart for the Pic du Midi one of the highest points in the Pyrenees. Ski lift to the observation tower. Lunch at 12.30pm, followed by a guided tour of the museum and the history behind the amazing construction feat at 10,000 ft. of elevation!
   3.30pm - Return to the hotel.
   7.45pm (Coach transport) Three course meal catered by a local Traitor at Le bistro Palombiere, in Monguilhem.
   
   Tuesday: Breakfast 8.30 – 10.00 am. 
   
   10.00am – Depart for a tasting at Tariquet - the largest private wine producer in France.
   12.30pm – Eauze – lunch at Café de France restaurant.
   2.30pm - Depart for Chateau Millet in Parleboscq, offering a wine tasting and a sampling of produits du terroir.
   5.00pm - Return to the hotel.
   7.45pm - Coach to Auberge de Manciet restaurant for a classical three course French meal.
   
   Wednesday: Breakfast 8.30 – 10.00 am. 
   
   A free leisurely morning in Barbotan; enjoying the colourful local market offering produits du terroir by local artisans, followed by a pre-lunch appetizer of Arcachon oysters on the half shell and a glass of sparling wine.
   12.30pm - Lunch at Estanquette restaurant, offering wonderfully prepared local food.
   Free afternoon. To enjoy the Spa in Barbotan. (Must be booked well in advance) or a a pre- booked spin around the famous Nogaro Motorsports circuit or a breath-taking aerial flight in a single engine plane, glider or ultra-lite at the Nogaro airport.
   Free evening.
   
   Thursday: Breakfast 8.30 – 9.30 am. 
   
   9.30am - Road trip to the beautiful city of Pau – home and birthplace of Henry IV. 
   A half- day, self-escorted sightseeing: Cathedral, Chateau and the boulevard des Pyrenees with plenty of chic shopping. 
   1.00pm - Lunch at a local restaurant, La Majestic.
   3.00pm - Journey to the Juracon wine area with a tasting of the famous Juranson sec et doux wines at Chateau Lafitte.  
   5.00pm – Return to the hotel.
   7.45pm – Coach to a local bistro/restaurant, Le Houga.

   Friday: Breakfast 8.30 – 9.30 am. 
   
   9.30am - Road trip to St. Pouy – A tour and overview of an authentic producer of foie gras (Terre Blanche), followed by lunch.
   2.00pm - A visit to Chateau Monluc. A tour of the cellers and an introduction to the colorful history of Gascony, Armagnac and the alambic distillation process. Followed by a tasting.
   3.30pm - Return to the hotel.
   7.30pm – Farewell and closing dinner at the hotel. 

   Saturday: Breakfast and departure by 10am. 

    

   Itinerary not currenty confirmed (22nd Feb 2017) 

3. Compass Expeditions and Jo Rust team up for a Peruvian Adventure

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 20th Feb 2017

   Compass Expeditions and Jo Rust Adventures are pleased to announce that Jo will be leading an incredible 16-day tour through the motorcycling paradise of Peru.

   The 2017 Jo Rust’s Peruvian Adventure is set to depart from the lakeside city of Puno on the 25^th of August and travels via a hit-list of breathtaking highlights through Peru before culminating in the capital, Lima, on the 9^th of September. Apart from the incredible roads through a landscape of snow-capped peaks and jungle lined valleys, the tour will visit the stunning lost city of Machu Picchu, the mysterious Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca and the floating reed islands of Uros as well as the historical Incan Capital of Cusco and will spend two nights in the Amazon Jungle at a luxury river lodge.

   Johannesburg-born Jo Rust is one of the world’s most prominent women in adventure travel. Jo is no stranger when it comes to traveling roads less travelled. She holds a number of records, including being the fastest female cyclist from Johannesburg to Cape Town, solo, the first person to cycle around South Africa, solo, and the first woman to ride around Africa on a motorcycle, solo. Last mentioned being a journey that saw her traversing 45 000 kilometres, through 28 countries over a year around the African continent.

   Jo is an avid adventurer, speaker, author, tour guide and a professional off-road motorcycle instructor.  She was the first ever female brand ambassador for BMW Motorrad South Africa and qualified as the 4th internationally accredited female off-road instructor in the world.

   “We’re really happy to be able to work with Jo and we are keen to encourage male and female riders of all skill levels to sign up for this tour with Jo as she will always be on hand to provide tips and techniques on improving your bike skills along the way,” says Jerry from Compass Expeditions, “Compass Expeditions have a great deal of experience in South America and Peru is one of our favourite destinations, the route we have planned is one of our finest ”.

   Compass Expeditions have a talented and experienced team based in South America and keep a fleet of adventure bikes, including late model BMW GS models and Triumph Tiger 800XCs, well maintained for the tours.

   To reserve your spot of for more information about the tour - Go click
   
   
   
   

    

4. How does the website you advertise with rank on the www? As easy way to check

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 15th Dec 2016

   We work very hard @ THE BIKER GUIDE to get a large and loyal visitor to our website, with most Bikers in the UK and Europe using us in the 1st instance to look for somewhere to stay - even before they use Google.
    
   The 'other' websites available to advertise that you are indeed Biker Friendly, are mainly directories - ie no news, articles, what's on, competitions and more, so have a very low visitor and when we asked - 89% said they only used us when looking for any Motorcycle related information.
    
   An easy way for you to check a websites worth is see how many people 'like' them on facebook, check their own guestbook and customer reviews and checking on SimilarWeb, which is a good way to check on a website - not always up-to date with some of the information, however gives you a good idea on worldwide stats and UK ranking.
    
   Amazingly some of the website have no UK ranking!
    
   SimilarWeb - www.similarweb.com/website/thebikerguide.co.uk#pro
    
   
   A customer said this to us - "After trying a few other websites that 'supposedly' advertise biker friendly places and getting virtually no response, I have recently signed up with THE BIKER GUIDE. I cannot believe it took me so long, as within 3 weeks the 12 months advert I placed has already been paid for (and more) with a booking for next June. I am going to be honest - the other websites I have tried were cheaper, but you know a waste of money, £25 quid here, £35 there - it all adds up!"

5. Have motorbike - will travel...

   Posted on 10:00am Sunday 20th Nov 2016

   I set off from Barnstaple at 1:00pm on Friday heading to Glasgow and arrived at 11:30pm.
   
   Set off from Glasgow at 8:20am on the Saturday morning and arrived at John O'Groats at 9:30pm Saturday.
   
   On the Sunday morning after a photo shoot at the John O'Groats sign I left at 9:30am and arrived home in Barnstaple at 2:30am on the Monday morning. That was 17 hours with only comfort breaks.
   
   Why?!?!
   
   Because it was there.
   
   Marc Kent