Roads are twice as long in the rain……………….
Worked hard on the links, if you want to follow this trip click on highlighted words orange or blue and it will link to map, ifen they work that is. Enjoy.
Set off Wednesday to visit friends in Wales with the idea of riding down Thursday to Folkestone and the train for the long awaited VRCC ride to Mick’s, when I checked the map and realised how long it would take we decided to set off south the night before and stay in a Days Inn on the M1, I was owed a discounted stay anyway from a previous visit so called that in and got an upgrade to executive room at 50% off standard rate so bed and breakfast for the two of us for £30, I was happy with that.
We set off for Folkestone at about 10.am with no sign of rain and having checked the weather for France Dartford crossing our usual refreshment stop, as I was coming out of the toilets I heard the cry “meJulie” in that unmistakable accent that is Fiona’s, Harry’s wife and sure enough there they were Fiona and Lynnette (Jimis’ wife) John was also with them, so by fortune we had bumped into some of our fellow travellers, after a quick coffee we rode together down to Folkestone and the train.
Arriving at the station we met up with the rest of the group that would be riding with us down to Mick’s, Geoff and Jane, Russell, Dave and Nora, all fellow Dragon riders.
So we are now 7 bikes, 6 valks and a Kawasaki
The train ride was the ideal opportunity to get re acquainted and set the agenda for the trip, we left the train and headed around to the underground fuel station to fill our tanks, petrol is slightly cheaper in France
Reminded me a lot of the American motels, that’s why I chose it but it also had a restaurant on site and bar so really all a group of hairy bikers require, rooms were basic and dated but service was second to non, food excellent and beer cold, we retired for the night happy.
Saturday we woke to rain but I assured everyone that it was because we were so close to the coast and it would be clear by the time we turned south out of Rouen about 65 miles. I’d had a message that a French VRCC member would like to join us on the ride so had arranged to meet him at the Avia, filling station. Kickstands Up at 9.30 and away, 10.30 we arrived at the appointed rendezvous and met with Denis (normandybiker) he spoke no English and as our French is limited we had a very broken conversation but as is usual when discussing bikes and valks in particular the language difference diminish into insignificance as Dragon speak is Esperanto.
We set off again in the rain and had a steady ride for another 50 miles at which point Denis indicated he would be leaving us so we stopped to say farewell, till next time. We checked the sky and decided maybe the rain had stopped and I was right south of Rouen it would dry up, we removed our wet suits and got astride our bikes only another 5 miles then we refuel at Nonancourt
the next stint is 90 miles to our lunch stop at yep McDonalds Châteaudun, should have been a restaurant but it had closed for refurbishment a couple of weeks ago and I didn’t have time to locate an alternative.
We took the opportunity to refuel before we set off again on the last 110 or so miles at about the 60 mile mark I pulled over and found a tabac in Saint-Aignan where we had coffee and a rest. This is the nicest part of this ride once south of Blois Limoges
Again we set off for the last stretch to La Blanc and our final refuelling stop, this is about 10 miles from the house but I wanted to ensure we all had full tanks for the ride out tomorrow, while Julie and the ladies went into the supermarket to buy salads and have a looksee at a French supermarket, everybody satisfied we fired up the beasts and 20 minutes later turned into the drive at the cottage.
Now I knew the French crew would arrive early and had arranged for Paul from Archie’s http://www.archies-bethines.com/
the local B and B where some were staying, to open the house and get the steaks out of the freezer but no one was more surprised that me when we turned the corner to see the tables made, the BBQ smoking and long legged firepit burning, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I got off my bike and shook hands with Fifi and his wife Flo and Mau77 (apologies for not remembering names) French VRCC members and then there was Paul and Rose and not forgetting Neil who had volunteered to be our chef for the weekend in exchange for a ride on the back of one of the bikes. They had even managed to put up the sails to keep the rain off, yes it was raining but I don’t think anyone noticed, all we had to do was show everyone where there rooms were and get the beers out, yes I had finished, nearly, the end cottage it now has a living room with foldaway bed, bed room and working bathroom.
On the menu was rump steak, sausages and cowboy beans along with a selection of side salads, Paul from Archie’s did the honours and sorted out lifts for those staying there so they could have a drink knowing they didn’t have to ride back, not sure but I think me and meJulie finally went to bed just after 12, the mark of a good night.
Next morning Geoff told us he had received a message there was a problem at home and he needed to return to the UK UK
On the road to St Savin, we saw two bikes approaching with headlight aglow but unmistakably valks, more French crew, we waited for them to u turn and follow and continued on to St Savin
We now had 9 valks and a valk trike unfortunately Harry couldn’t come on the ride with his Kawasaki as he was suffering an old injury picked up in combat and was struggling to get his leg over the bike still 10 bikes was a good group to manage and to view in your mirror, what a sight.
I guide us round to St Savin, just in case there was anyone else to pick up then rode on to
Then via
To
Where we stopped for a coffee
We circled Chauvigny to allow everyone to see the old town the kept west of the river down to
and Route 66,
We then rode around for a final group photo
And said farewell to Fifi and Flo, they had to be back for work early Monday so couldn’t join us on the afternoon ride.
then refuel and return to the cottage for another evening by the BBQ same as last night with the addition of my smoked shredded pork and chicken wings and thighs, again prepared by Neil.
Sunday night finished earlier than Saturday but was considered just as successful all the same, with thanks and farewells to the rest of the French crew and Rose, Paul and master chief Neil, we retired for the night.
Woke Monday to a low mist but a sun that we all agreed might break thru, all is except Russell, he said the weather was forecasting rain, he wasn’t wrong.
We lock up the cottage and left everywhere as tidy as we could, (I’ll be back next week to clean) and again headed for the highway.
I took my preferred route north thru yesterdays first village
where we stopped this time for a coffee,
took the opportunity to put my waterproof pants on but still confident it wouldn’t rain much not my full wet suite.
took the opportunity to put my waterproof pants on but still confident it wouldn’t rain much not my full wet suite.
We stopped to refuel at
then rode round into town and again stopped at the tabac I was going to try and stop ever 50 or so miles to give Harry a break and allow him to stretch his legs as he said his knee still wasn’t right.
Suitably rested we set off again in the rain, next stop was the lunch stop, this was the same location as on the way down but all agreed we should try the Buffalo Grill over the road from McDonalds, we parked the bikes in the rain removed our soggy clothes and found a seat inside,
Food was as I expected, yes it was better than mcd’s but for the money not much better, we saddled up in the rain and continued our way north, as we were travelling north it was getting colder and our hearts were getting heavier, think we all wanted just one more day in Bethines at belonga Mick’s.
We pushed north to Abbeville and the hotel for the night, wet and weary we booked in and agreed to meet in the reception area in an hour to go and eat.
This being a cheep Ibis with no facilities on site other than basic breakfast and vending machine drinks.
We walked around to a very nice restaurant called, for the life of me I can’t remember, but it was good, fairly new place across the road from Buffalo Grill but a heck of a lot better, all agreed the best meal in a long time, good wine good food good company.
I knew we would not be disappointed having tried their fare some weeks before when I took a dry trip on the bike to Nice and the Mediterranean coast.
We ate, the beer and wine flowed and we all agreed we’d had a fantastic weekend and will do it again next year, but maybe earlier when the sun might be shining, but for longer than 3 days, that just isn’t enough time.
We walked back to the hotel found our way to our rooms and went to bed, all that is except John………………………………………
For some reason his pin code wouldn’t open his door and this hotel is unmanned after 11 pm with an automated check in service, now if I told you of the events that followed we’d be here all night as that’s how long it took John to sort his difficulties, he eventually used the auto service and booked another room, but then remembered he had left the heating on and all his clothes next to the heater drying, no you couldn’t make this up, so he went back down, phones along with others I believe the police before he retried his room pass code, yep it worked…………………for those that want more on this story, message John…………………………
We all slept oblivious of this and woke refreshed and ready for the final ride home, bikes loaded and ready for the off at 9 am.
All the bikes started except Jimi’s, battery dead, did a swap and nearly ran but cut out just as we switched batteries back, ran without battery but cut out when he connected his battery back on, strange. So we went around to a Yamaha dealer and purchased a new battery, finally on the road for 10 am .
We headed toward Calais
They had assured me at the museum they would be fully open today but unfortunately it seems only part was open and the guys didn’t get the full tour, I saw it on my recky ride and well worth 7 euro it was, while they were not getting the tour me and meJulie were enjoying a coffee in the local tabac.
We left there for a relatively dry ride up to Calais via Boulogne France
On the train we said our goodbyes to Dave and Nora and Russell as they were going their own way while Jimi, Harry, John and me were heading towards the M25 and a fry up, we stopped at…Maidstone J8 M20 for an all day breakfast then headed out as we approached the M25 exit, Jimi leading, I’m thinking does he know another way as he didn’t make any attempt to move left into the exit lane from the M20, I did just before the hatched lines Harry did, Jimi cut across, John sailed straight past, think he might be still circling London trying to get out as I type.
A few miles on and we go thru the Dartford tunnel and on the other side toot horns and wave farewells till next time, me and meJulie travel alone north onto the M1 then the M6, stopped for a coffee I don’t remember where, I do remember thinking “roads are twice as long in the rain” we arrived home at 8.30, ran a bath had a pizza and retired to sleep like babes.
Now next year I was thinking,,,,,,,,,,, ride to Belonga Mick’s we could………………………….
It could be that 60% of the riding was wet.. It was a fantastic ride Mick, my old war wound played up before we set off, otherwise would have been fine, no trikeing for me yet, this old soldier Will soldier on.. thanks to you both.. see you up north soon
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