Report on the Spring Excursion – Border Triangle

After a long drive, we arrived at the starting point of the outing at Hotel Bacher in Neuenkirchen on Friday. A separate section of the parking lot had been cordoned off especially for the BMW i8 Club. We met on the hotel terrace in beautiful weather and happily watched as more and more i8s arrived in the parking lot. True to the theme of the outing, members from three different countries were present. After Babette and Johannes Lapré, as well as Lia and Armin Gehl, the organizers of this outing, joined us, the event began with a wonderful and culinarily stimulating dinner at the hotel. The food and the full-bodied Barolo allowed us to enjoy a pleasant evening in good company. Consequently, the night was short for most of us. Despite a great breakfast, I was still feeling the effects of the full-bodied Barolo, so I decided on the spur of the moment that it would be best to let my dear Anja drive. Our first destination was Bexbach, the hometown of Babette and Johannes. Here, the last of the participants joined our cheerful group. In total, we were 14 BMW i8s and two Porsches. At Babette’s boutique, we enjoyed a champagne breakfast, a combination that our ladies particularly appreciated. Refreshed, we continued on to Saarlouis. The weather improved steadily along the way, allowing us to fully appreciate the beautiful scenery from the comfort of our fantastic cars – pure driving pleasure and enjoyment.

We thank Michele Molinari for this great video!
In Saarlouis, we were served champagne on a sunny terrace, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, we continued on to the headquarters of Villeroy & Boch AG, Mettlach Castle. There, we were allowed to park our i8s in front of the castle. This scene was not only a photo opportunity for us BMW i8 enthusiasts, but also a spectacle for the many interested passersby. After a video presentation about the company’s history, narrated in his unforgettable style by Sir Peter Ustinov, we toured the castle. Following a visit to the outlet store, there was much discussion about the various storage options in the BMW i8, which we tested out in a practical way. The journey continued to the observation tower overlooking the breathtaking Saar Loop. From there, we drove to our evening destination, the Residenzhotel Schloss Berg. After checking in and a short break, we gathered in the lobby for a champagne reception and enjoyed the incredibly beautiful view over the Moselle Valley. After another enjoyable, convivial, and stimulating dinner at the hotel, the highlight of the evening awaited us: a surprise performance by Laurent Kremer and a song by Johannes. Some members completely lost track of time that evening, a fact they painfully realized when the bread rolls for breakfast arrived at 5:00 a.m. Nevertheless, everyone was there on time for breakfast. On Sunday, our drive to Luxembourg took us across the Schengen Bridge. There, we gathered for a group photo on the banks of the Moselle River. Everyone parked in a line with their doors open. Passing vehicles photographed this spectacle. “What a sight!” It was so beautiful that we completely forgot to drive on, thus throwing our carefully planned schedule into disarray. After a shortened stop in Luxembourg, we continued along the Moselle to our final destination, Monaise Castle in Trier. There, we enjoyed our last champagne reception of the trip and then went to our concluding lunch. The event then came to an end. Saying goodbye was difficult. ‘What a sight!’ ‘ …
 
On behalf of all members, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the organizers of the outing. We are already looking forward to the next one. Safe travels always.
 
Yours, Claus-Dieter