France and Belgium This weekend

[Essex Boy]

Saturday morning 8.20am channel tunnel to start a weekend of Continental fun.
Taking 2 lads with me, they've never ridden abroad before, so they're looking forward to it.
Batterie Todt, Eperlecques Blochause, La Coupole, Hazebrouck V1 site, Mons memorial, Ypres.
Menin Gate and Dinner, staying in Old Tom, an old Belgian Hotel on the market place.
Bayernwald Trenches, Hill 60, Sanctuary Wood, Tyne Cot and Poperinge.
GTR is all polished, new tyres fitted (£295) and panniers being packed.

Photos to follow.

Eb

[Lonewolf]

Sounds good, report back upon your return! 

[O.C.]

Excellent. just got back two weeks ago from a very simular tour

Pictures and a report are required....of course....Enjoy 

Old Tom has a good reputation 

[BigAlan]

I am also doing the almost same thing on 6th October, 10 of us off to Calais, there at 10am and ride around to Belgium, back late sunday, one guy has never ridden abroad, in fact has never been abroad so had to get a passport, this should be fun.

Alan

[Essex Boy]

Just looking at the weather forecast. Saturday should be good but wet on Sunday 

At 51 years of age the 2 wars still have a great deal of meaning to me...I recall friends grandads who fought at Passchaendale, my nan talking about Zepplin raids on London, my Mum talking about her time in the Anderson Shelter at the bottom of the garden in Chadwell Heath, and my dad telling me about thinking call up papers would come at any time to his house in Barking...

But I wonder, What will the lads (all 24) think about the trenches, the Menin Gate, Tyne Cot etc...

A day out or more than that ? Let's see.
Essex Boy.

[stoketim]

Sounds like a great trip enjoy

[Rusty]

Fantastic stuff ... have a great time 

[jenros]

yes got to agree with you on this one,,went to an old customer of mine today,he was 90 last week,a retired engineer,who loved steam trains etc,he asked me to look at a birthday gift his grand daughter had bought him,it was a canvas of himself sat astride a "gleaming" steam train at the big pit blaenavon.
As he was telling me about it he said "have you seen this?"
whas tha bill i said?,,it was a photo of the bomb making department in R.O.F. Glascoed,,,rows of rows of women in a huge room filing away in the making of bomb parts,,,dont know if the photos will come out but we said we will never see anything like this again ,all hand made parts,,,,the comeradry of it all must have been amazing!!!,thinking over it now,thats what this country is lacking at the moment!!!,,,,still ,thanks bill for sharing with me,enjoyed it mate,,an happy birthday!

[Essex Boy]

Bahhh, After writing up a cracking report about this weekend and posting photos and everything my laptop crashed and lost everything so just a few highlights cos I can't go through that again.:-

Wonderful weather on Saturday
Cloudy weather, drizzle and then p*ssed down on Sunday
Great trip to see Batterie Todt, Blochaus, Hazebrouck VI site, Mons Vimy memorial on Day 1
Menin gate was great, as was Bayernwald trenches, sanctuary wood trenches (now improved), Tyne Cot, and Poperinge.
Markt 18 restaurant in Poperinge great, OLD TOM hotel on the market place in Ypres (2 star) has to be re-visited year after year.

And on the way home, exuberant riding through the countryside only to be stopped by Belgium's finest. Bit their arm off when they fined us Euro50 for being 15kph over the limit......some chance....lucky they didn't check the Sat Nav memory....!

Cheers,

Oh and nearly forgot 'Trappist Beer at 10% proof' is a laugh after 3 or 4 !


Essex Boy

[Cartman]

I was over in Ypres this weekend too, great trip, and the Belgian plod where everywhere! Both got stopped at the border for doc checks and breathalysed too, they seemed to be pulling almost every vehicle. Odd

[O.C.]

Glad you had a good trip EB, sorry the weather wasn't as good as it could have been.

The memorials are jawdropping and its a true reminder to everyone that the loss of life in the conflict was on a massive scale

Vimy is so impressive...did you visit the Trench/Tunnel tour just down the road whilst you were there ?

[Boomer]

It is an interesting area but not particularly good riding.

I've been to Ypres/Ieper many times as I lived in Belgium from '75 to '85.
My Great Grandfather is listed on the Menin Gate (Northants Regiment).
When we took my Granddad to see it I got to see him cry for the first time.
Granddad himself was evacuated from Dunkerque and fought in several Sherman tanks from Normandy to VE Day.

Now if you want to experience some fun riding AND some WW2 history go to the Ardennes.
The roads southeast of Bastogne into Luxembourg are a hoot, very scenic and the petrol is cheaper.
Battle of the Bulge country.

A visit to the Maginot Line at Hackenberg (east of Thionville in Northern France) is also well worth it.
Ride the Semois valley whilst yer down there.

[Essex Boy]

Didn't do the Vimy tunnels and trenches this time but have in the past. Theres far too much over there to do in one weekend.

A few years ago went to Tyne Cot with my father and my son. Dad was visibly moved, perhaps it was a generational thing, being there with his Grandson.

Next time its the Ardennes for me Boomer, I fancy some good roads to go with the sightseeing. Thanks for the tip.

Thank god they didn't breathalyse my colleagues when we were stopped for speeding, after all the 10% beer they were drinking the night before !

EB

[Boomer]

Ah yes, that Kasteel Beer and all the "Tripels" will get you in pokey if yer not careful.
Me I'm partial to Rochefort 8 but in moderation if I'm riding the next day.

The Ardennes are awesome in places and good for most of the rest.
Be aware that the road surfaces in the Belgian Ardennes can be  awful sometimes.
Those in Luxembourg are very good and the roads in the French Ardennes are also good.

Places worth a visit in the Belgian Ardennes;
Dinant (very scenic)
Huy (http://www.fortdehuy.be/)
Spa-Francorchamps (if they are not racing you can ride on some of the track)
Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge museums)

Luxembourg;
Luxembourg city (scenic city centre)
Esch-su-Sure (very pretty, good roads along the Sure river from Esch to Ettelbruck (Route 27))
Pretty much anywhere in Luxembourg away from the main roads the riding is good.

France;
Rocroi (medieval walled town)
Ride the Semois river from Montherme to Herbeumont in Belgium.

Ride anywhere in this area and you are unlikely to be disappointed, except maybe by the weather or the road surface. 

[Essex Boy]

Thanks for all that advice Boomer, next Spring's trip sorted Iwould say .

eb