Who would be up for this Belguim Event over Easter?

squid · Mar 25, 2008

Geordie Foote said:
I eagerly await the photo's/aftermath

Errr,

Well the water bottle tip of yours worked a trick

Used the water from the pan after heating up a wayfarer meal.

Anyway, we had a good ride but things didn't go quite to plan.

We had met up at J9 then set off at pace down the M6. Nr J2 we pulled into the services for fuel when I realized I'd left my keys in the topbox at J9 :blast

Of course they had dropped out somewhere on route. So a quick way-up of the situation meant either breaking all the locks on the panniers or going back in search of the keys which had a bright red penknife attached.

Knowing this would be a very slim chance I decided to make a run for the spares. I had only brought a spare ignition key with me - live and learn.

As I headed back the weather was turning a bit grim. bobble was going to wait at the next services for me but knowing I would be a good while I suggested we meet at the campsite nr Lydd in Kent.

I couldn't help but stare at the road all the way there and back. I'd now missed the window and caught the heavy traffic back up and all the way down again. This added 150miles to my journey and hours of traffic filtering. The roads were crawling top to bottom; still better than mashing the panniers I reckon.

So it was well after dark when I pulled onto the campsite. bobble had paid up and found the best part of the very boggy field.

It didn't take long to set up and get the stove going under the tarp bobble had brought.

It was very windy but the tent held up well and I had a good nights sleep. The morning even brought a spell of clear skies. The Wind was really blowing though.

squid · Mar 25, 2008

So other than the weather report things were looking good. We took a trip over to Dungeness (an old haunt of mine) and then headed off to the tunnel.

We were in by 11.00 and just had time for a burger and to change some cash before the call to go through customs and queue on the ramp.

And here we stayed and stayed and stayed :blast

A train was stuck in the tunnel. After 4hrs we were starting to get concerned about making the campsite in Belgium that night. Chatting to a customs man we got the clear picture of how long this was going to take. We were at least 3 trains down in the queue and it was looking like another hour before they would be running again.

At best we were going to be hitting the campsite after 9.00pm and possibly much later. Not ideal given crap weather heading in.

squid · Mar 25, 2008

In the end we decided it just wasn't going to be worth waiting any longer and to ask for the money back.

After much faffing we were escorted out of the mayhem. They had 4000 people due to travel through the tunnel that day

So with Belgium now a no go we decided to head up the coast.

We stopped off at Rye harbour after going through the town.

squid · Mar 25, 2008

We stayed one step ahead of the weather right until we pulled up at this place for the night.

Seemed a little better than a late, wet muddy pitch in the dark.

So much for Shackleton hey

:hide

squid · Mar 25, 2008

Next morning was wet but not too bad so we headed up to Brighton.

araspitfire · Mar 25, 2008

Funny you mention the pannier keys...

Two years ago I rode down from The Hague to the Dutch/Belgian meet... 3 and a half hours ish....

Got there and realised that my choice was the same as yours... break my locks or return home...

Which I did, but decided not to bother going back down...

I now have every key duplicated and stored in a secret place in my riding jacket...

Al...

squid · Mar 25, 2008

Now the weather started to feel cold so we headed north.

It was really blowing and we started to hit snow blizzards. It wasn't very warm either

We pulled in for our last fuel stop having blasted the last hundred odd miles. A bit of music and a heated waistcoat makes all the differnce between an enjoyable ride and hell

The snow had stopped and at least it wasn't sticking to the ground for long

squid · Mar 25, 2008

So in the end we didn't make Belgium but still did a camp, a b&b and three days out on the bikes

squid · Mar 25, 2008

araspitfire said:
Funny you mention the pannier keys...

Two years ago I rode down from The Hague to the Dutch/Belgian meet... 3 and a half hours ish....

Got there and realised that my choice was the same as yours... break my locks or return home...

Which I did, but decided not to bother going back down...

I now have every key duplicated and stored in a secret place in my riding jacket...

Al...

I nearly took the full set of spares but with two sets, passport, camera, phone etc etc I didn't want bulging pockets all weekend. In hindsight it would have been a small price

(RIP) Bobble · Mar 25, 2008

squid said:
I nearly took the full set of spares but with two sets, passport, camera, phone etc etc I didn't want bulging pockets all weekend. In hindsight it would have been a small price

Personally, I was up for buying a chisel and hammer... I love DIY :augie

I want to do the trip again now... minus the waiting at the shuttle

Geordie Foote · Mar 25, 2008

Wow...

Serves you right for having such good secure panniers :blast

Next time, its a binbag bungy'd to the back seat :augie

Still, look on the bright side, you still managed a good weekend away on the bike :thumb2

squid · Mar 25, 2008

bobble said:
Personally, I was up for buying a chisel and hammer... I love DIY

I want to do the trip again now... minus the waiting at the shuttle

Yeah, reckon it would have been good to get over there. Looking at the ride report I'd have liked to see the sights.

Have to sort out another trip - in slightly warmer weather. I want to see the fire thing in action you carted about

squid · Mar 25, 2008

Geordie Foote said:
Serves you right for having such good secure panniers

Next time, its a binbag bungy'd to the back seat

Still, look on the bright side, you still managed a good weekend away on the bike

I looked at the panniers and just knew they would take a beating to get open. Then I'd have no way of locking them when away from the bike.

It was just an excuse to do some extra miles really :augie

We will have to come up with another trip to do. Once you've been on the road a few days it feels wrong to stop. Getting home is nice but next morning you feel you should be getting back on the bike

Jacqueslemac · Mar 25, 2008

What a bummer. Presume you ruled out going to Dover and catching a ferry from there? I spent the weekend drinking too much real ale in Wales. We stayed at Plas-y-nant (pretty run-down, but cheap and the two guys who run it are both bikers). Glad you had slightly warmer weather than we did. We walked up Snowdon and it was bitterly cold, windy and snowy. In fact, we didn't see any snow once we left Snowdonia yesterday until we reached Norfolk. We had a nother inch of it last night, but it's melting fast now.

Money permitting, I'd be up for a weekend in Belgium. The famous biker hotel is there isn't it?

If you fancy riding west instead of east, there's still room for campers over D-Day (just one twin-bed room left in the house, though).

Geordie Foote · Mar 25, 2008

James...

When is your D-Day "gathering"? (and dont say D-Day!!)

Jacqueslemac · Mar 25, 2008

6th June is D-Day, but we're there for a few days either side. A rough itinerary is here, but it's very flexible.

Are you still on for Cape Wrath over the longest day weekend? It's in my diary...

squid · Mar 25, 2008

Jacqueslemac said:
6th June is D-Day, but we're there for a few days either side. A rough itinerary is here, but it's very flexible.

Are you still on for Cape Wrath over the longest day weekend? It's in my diary...

I've just looked at your link - looks a good few days. So good I have just been trying to work out my holidays.

Realized I don't have enough let alone any spare :blast

Looks like it will be weekends or possibly bank hols only for me this year now.

I had 50 days in total lined up in my old job. What have I done :tears

So my next trip (other than spain in may) will be a weekend camp in wales I think

Who would be up for this Belguim Event over Easter?

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Toss'ed about a bit

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