NORMANDY BEACHES

 Start mileage 58677, Emd mileage 59445=768

Me, Rob, Darren

   Met Darren under the M25 bridge over the M20, he was a bit late due to last minute packing, then we went down to McD's at Aylesford for a double sausage and egg McMuffin and met Rob. We set off for the channel tunnel, I went to check in and was told I was the incorrect number of passengers, which caused a lot of piss taking about my weight!

  We eventually got on the train, and off to Calais. The toll sections are becoming more and more frequent in France, we seemed to be stopping every 20 miles. after about 5 hours riding, we came to a campsite very near Pegasus Bridge, so Darren and Rob went for a walk to have a look. The campsite was called Camping des Capucines, and we went out for some kebabs. 

   After a good nights sleep, we went to Cafe Gondree for breakfast, where the lady who runs the place has been there since the war when she was a small child, but it was way too busy with a lot of brits doing a charity cycle ride, so we bought some stickers and headed for Le Grand Bunker in Oustreham.

Darren looking through a rangeing scope

  It was good to see this bunker again, and I think Rob and Darren enjoyed it. Next on the agenda was breakfast at another McDonalds, where I had my first Mcflurry, then off to look at the beaches, when I spotted a sign for the British Normandy Memorial, so we went for a look.

   Rob downloaded the memorial app, and found the name of one of his relatives (Dalgarno H A) on one of the columns in the memorial. Sobering moment.

   A bit later, we went to Carrefour for some  odds and ends, then next to the D-Day Museum, where we parked the bikes on the pavement, and just as we were about to go in, another biker told Rob we would be better off going onto the beach first, to see the Mulberry Harbour before the tide came in so Rob thanked him, but as I noticed the "S" on his number plate, I said "Tack sa mycket", to which I got the bemused reply "Varsagod", he was surprised to be thanked in Swedish!

   We eventually went into the museum, and Rob headed to the seats at the back, as the heat was really getting to him. A bit later, we headed alongside more beaches, and found another campsite, Camping la Prarie, which was very nice apart from some noisy English wanker who woke everyone up when he came back from the pub.

   Next morning, rob set off early to visit a grave, and made sure to wake noisy wanker up on the way past.

   Next, after packing up the tents, we went to see Omaha beach, and had a look at Widerstandsnest 62, a large bunker above the beach, then Pont du Hoc, then Carentan (Band of Brothers) then we went to the D-Day Experience, which was amazing, we watched the 3D film of the invasion, then onto a simulator in an aircraft that crashed! Really good effects and had a look ar Dead mans corner

   Next was St Mere Eglise to see the parachute hanging from the church, then an ice cream (it was bloody hot), then off to Easy Company memorial, 

then Rob wanted to camp on Utah Beach, there is only one campsite we could find, and we were a bit dubious, as it was a bit Butlins-ish. We bumped into Anders from Gislaved (the same Swede, which was a coincidence) had a bit of a chat in Swedish and English, and decided to meet up in the campsite bar in the evening.

 At the bar, there was a lounge area, and some yoof was setting up a sound system, and it was dificult to have a conversation over the music ( I sound like an old fart). 

   It turned out the campsite staff put on a caberet show every Friday, next thing we knew, the young girl receptionist was dancing among us wearing a basque and fishnets. Most surreal! She eventually got a geezer up on stage, sat him on a chair, blindfolded him, started touching him, then went behind a curtain, and changed places with a young lad in a dress who took over the lap dance, when the blindfold came off, the geezer got a horrible surprise! He was very embarrassed.

   Next morning Darren and Rob visited Utah Beach Landing Memorial, Anders headed off to la Mont san Michell

 whilst I scuttled into the shade of a tree. (26 degrees c ). We then decided to set off in the direction of Calais using the coast road to avoid tolls, did 187 miles whick took 4 and a half hours as there are lots of 30kph speed limits, and found a munpcipal campsite in the grounds of Chateau d Eu

It was an excellent campsite, so the tents were soon up, then it was off to McDonalds for tea.Next morning was just a bimble up to Calais, then home. Great company and great trip, and it was good to meet Anders!

COLDITZ April 2022

 Start mileage 56,700, End mileage 58,157 =1457 miles      Charlie, Clive, Neil                                                  Tried to book the 4th July off, but no luck, so went for an early start. Got up at 00:15, Holly not impressed as she was in mid snore. Rode the bike to work, found the truck had been moved to Thurrock RDC to avoid fuel protesters. Navigator was closed, so I went to Esso West London.

   I pulled into the entrance to find the protestors had beat me to it, so I spun the artic round in the bus garage just before the entrance, one of the idiots jumped out in front of the truck, unfortunately missed him. Went to tesco superstore at Ashford to await developments, we ended up with about 8 tankers there.

   Eventually, after a few hours, we were told to return to the yard, Navigator was now open. so I just had time to pre-load the truck for the next driver, and dump it in the yard at about 12:30, and get on the bike. The M20 was being used to stack trucks due to ferry closures and chunnel problems, met up with Neil and Clive at the last services before the tunnel, then after a few diversions, managed to join the queue and worked our way to the train.

   After a bit of a damp ride, we arrived at our hotel Campanile in Gent, Belgium at 21:36, there was no food available, so we ate their supply of spicy pringles, and had some beers. Next morning, we set off at 07:32, as we had a 460 mile ride ahead of us. Clive and Neil had a couple of loo/coffee breaks, and eventually stopped for lunch at one of the motorway service areas, where I had a delicious Currywurst. We arrived at Colditz at 17:52. Neil was wet through, Clive's gloves had disintegrated, and my boots were damp.

Neil managed to get us sorted with a meal in the castle, chicken nuggetts and various meats, then after a good sleep in the bunk room. we had a tour planned for the next day with  Steffi.

                                                     looking down a vertical tunnel

                                                     The glider in the attic

During the tour, Neil's phone started playing "The Dambuster's" theme tune, much to the amusement of the british tourists, Steffi didn't see the significance!

   After the 2 hour tour, it was into the gift shop for bike stickers, etc, we wandered into town to look for food

    The only cafe we found had a choice of cakes or tomato soup, so soup it was, Back to the castle, then Clive and Neil had another go at finding food, and I went out on the bike to Lidl, The chaps found an Italian restaurant for the evening meal, which seemed to be the only place open in the whole of Colditz, so after a few beers, we were happy.

   Next morning in the rain we set off for Suhl car and bike museum, on the way there, we were all running short of fuel, with no sign of a petrol station, and I had Neil and Clive hovering near my back tyre incase they ran out and needed my emergency 6.6 litre fuel can. (If they had ran out, I was going to pretend not to notice, so I could use it myself!)

                                          They even had a wooden Harley

    Next we headed to our hotel in Fulda, the weather was absolutely horrible through the mountains, on the high bridges, the wind would try and blast you off the edge, at one point me and Neil went sideways then I looked in my mirror to see clive at a 45 degree angle leaning into the wind, but headed sideways to the bridge edge with a long drop below. Fortunately, after the wind had realised it had given Clive a "brown trouser" moment, it let him back onto the carriageway. A bit later on, my GS went onto one cylinder, either a faulty plug, or rain had got in, so about 4 minutes later and a plug change, it was all systems go again.

   The restaurant at the hotel was closed, so we went into town and found a good one. Next morning the wind had dropped a bit, but was still pissing down, so we headed to our hotel in Mons. The hotel was ok, but the food was microwaved frozen curry with lots of vegetables mixed in, it didn't stay down for long, I thought my innard's were going to be outard's. Anyway, next morning we headed to the channel Tunnel and home.

   Fantastic trip, great company, and thanks to Neil for organising the trip

      Charlie

North Wales March 2022

 Rob and Charlie

Start mileage 55923, end mileage 56628 = 705

I met Rob at Morrissons at Connahs Quay, Deeside, and then we had a short journey to Penisar Mynydd campsite

Next morning we headed to McDonalds for breakfast, then back to the campsite to pack up the tents, then headed west and found Rhaedr Dyserth Waterfall, so stopped for a look

 

 we also spotted a tunnel , but it was a bit low for crawling in motorcycle gear

Then we went to Llandudno beach

 

Next, we went to Great Orme Head mines, up a steep hill alongside the tramway

Then, it was off to have a look at Great Orme Head, from the shipping forecast. It turned out to be a really nice road, with a few zigzags

Next to Great Orme Head, was a nice cafe called "Rest and be Thankfull" where we had some cakes. 

And after the cakes, we went along the Llanberis pass

and stopped in the villiage for Sausage and chips for me, and a dubious looking fish cake for Rob.

Next we went looking for a campsite, found a naff one, so went a bit further and found a nice one called Bryn Gloch campsite.

There was a fire on the hillside near the campsite that made the news

Next morning, after a dissapointing breakfast in Morrissons, we went to Blaenau Ffestiniog, then had a look at the Mach Loop near Dolgellau, and saw a large plane flying through the gap in the hills, but can't remember the type. Next, we went to find another campsite, and ended up at Station Campsite, Carrog

 The next morning, after de-icing the tent, it was time for another McDonalds breakfast, then went through LLangollen, and headed home. Great trip, great company

   Charlie