Always fascinated by other riders' luggage

Always fascinated with bikes that carry more luggage than I do.....

My XRV750 at the end of my ride across the USA 2017

Especially another XRV750 Africa Twin

I just don't know what to say about this one..

Elsbeth Beard - The first woman to ride around the world on a motorcycle..

Filtering with added caution....

... and this machine has just clocked up 200,000 miles

France Day 4 - 19 May 17

Dear Reader,

We had a real cracker of a thunder storm overnight and consequently an extremely poor nights sleep.   So it was up early, a single cup of tea and on the road by 8am.  We visited a few memorials and cemeteries in the Arras area and then hit the road to Calais.   I did stop at a McD near Arras for a cup of Earl Grey and a bun..  Then Gertie threw another hissy fit and put us on the A1 and then in the blink on an eye we missed the direct road to Calais and went via Lille in the North along the A26 to Dunkirk and back down to the Chunnel.   Ah well we did manage to avoid Belgium !! But rode through constant drizzly all the way...

I am now lounging in the Chunnel Terminal await my turn to be called forward to board.....   I am keeping myself amused by watching the amount of wine and beer being loaded into cars and vans.....  

France Day 3 - 18 May 17

Dear reader,

All good things come to an end and yesterday's hot weather turned into a storm during the night - lots of high winds and driving rain... on top of all that disappoint I found out that the bar and restaurant aren't open until June...... but at least the owner had the presence of mind to stock up his fridge with some local Le Blonde at 6.5% proof, and what a good night cap that was...... storm huh what storm....

We hit the road at about 8.30 this morning and took in the sights at the South African Memorial, the Tank Memorial, The Poziers Memorial, the Arras underground Museum, the New Zealand Memorial and the Lochnagar Crater..... most of it in the rain..

I did manage some real food at a McDonalds at Arras... don't sigh... it was good food, the room was warm and dry, I managed to charge my iPad, use the free WiFi and finally use the toilet facilities - all the cost of a Big Mac and chips.... can't be bad..

It's now 3pm and it has finally stopped raining and I am back at the campsite. Just checking the route back to Calais avoiding the Motorways. Then onto the metal rabbit and across to Folkestone....... I will take the scenic route home as I am in no hurry to get home and unpack. I will have the house to myself until Sunday, but I do have to visit my late Mum's Cottage as the grass will need cutting and thing need to be sorted before it goes onto the market..

So far a good trip and you just can't help but feel stunned by the scale of the dead and wounded in the 'Great War' of 1914 - 18. I was good to see so many bus-loads of school children at these locations - I hope they appreciate what was done by so many - they sacrificed their tomorrows for our today's...... Black Adder 4 - Over the Top had got the madness just right.....

Strange goings on.....

There I was just sitting at a bench/table by the shower block (the best place for WiFi) and reading Lois Pryce's latest book when I was approached - no other way to describe it really. He was wearing a pale blue pair of mini speedos or even micro ones... clutching a pair of raybans and a pink iPhone and proceeded to sit at the same bench. He said "good evening" and asked how I was, and where I am from etc and then openly dialled up 'Grinder' on his phone - muttering no, no, maybe and yes as I packed up my book and prepared to move on..... "Are you staying long" he said" with a Dutch accent.... What steps should I take? f******* big ones says I... I am now hiding in my tent.....LOL. I shall shower later .....

Vimy Ridge, Thiepval and Newfoundland Memorials

France Day 2 - 17 May 17

After a good night sleep, only woken by the pouring rain during the night, I was having my first cup on tea at 6am.   I have decided to stay and the same camp site for all three night as it is so peaceful here.   

We set off at 8.30 this morning ( I should explain that 'we' are Madiba and I) I know that my last bike was Madiba and that this one was Herman (coz it comes from Germany) but I just can't ride a bike called Herman-the-German.....

Out first destination was the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge, and very impressive it is to.  Then we moved on to the memorial to the Somme at Thiepval and lastly to the Newfoundland memorial at Beaumont-Hemel.   All were very impressive.  The numbers are just staggering 57,000 casualties including 19,000 killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme!!

Tomorrow we are going to the Somme Museum in Albert, the Lochnagar Crater of La Boisselle and the South African Memorial of Longueval.   Let his hope the weather stays fair.

I will a try to post some photos when I get a good WiFi signal.....

Nite

France Day 1 - 16 May 17

Dear reader,
Started out this morning at silly o'clock and made good progress to Folkestone. The train was delayed 25 minutes due to a technical hitch but I am in no hurry. Had a quiet read on the train whilst the other 3 bikers talked broken biscuits about bhp, torque and performance of their BMWs. I had a relaxing ride down to the first camp site just outside Arras, although a closed road did send Gertie Garmin into a spin for a moment. I stopped at a couple of British Cemetery's Ian the area of Vimy Ridge (which I will visit again tomorrow).

It was cool and overcast when I left home this morning, abut riding through Northern France the temperature started to rise and I wished I hadn't put on two layers this morning. Having said that there were some brisk side winds on the exposed hills - having opted to void all motorways this weekend.

This campsite is nice and quiet and only €10 for the night.

Nite nite

Let's get back on the road....

Right lets do it.... the weather is OK, my chest infection appears to be clearing up, I can't get to the OX 2017 in the USA this year, so I have decided to take a short 4 day trip the battlefields of The Somme in France. I need to get the tent aired and the packing list checked!

That's better....

Motorcycle Maintenance Course

I had a nice ride up from the New Forest to Haywards Heath to attend a 2 day course.  Had a good day - very informative.  Then a quick ride up to the Hotel !!

So much for planning - I booked the hotel in advance, arrived in good time only to find out they did not have a booking 💩💩bugger.  I went online to find another hotel nearby and finally managed to book a room - I get a confirmation email stating that I had booked two rooms - cancel one I thought - cancellation fee £50 - bugger again - finally got through on the phone (10 minutes on hold) and managed to cancel one free of charge - computers are bollocks...... 

Now staying at the pompously named Europa Gatwick Hotel near Crawley....  update to follow after food and a pint.....🥃🥃

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