Well if you change your mind and want company down from Huntingdon on Sat morning let me know.
Ardennes 10 July - 13 July
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Well if you change your mind and want company down from Huntingdon on Sat morning let me know.
cheesysalesman
Registered user
hotels
Pretty sure I'll go from East London but thanks for the offer. Do you know if the hotels have been sorted? I guess everybody will meet up at the train terminal - rolled up Telegraph and red carnation in lapel sort of thing?
Pretty sure I'll go from East London but thanks for the offer. Do you know if the hotels have been sorted? I guess everybody will meet up at the train terminal - rolled up Telegraph and red carnation in lapel sort of thing?
I believe Richard (Wapping) was sorting hotels so I would suggest you drop him a PM if he isn't along soon with the news.
We usually meet at the terminal cafe before the off for a coffee etc, easy to spot the main entrance as its normally adorned with half a dozen GS's!
We usually meet at the terminal cafe before the off for a coffee etc, easy to spot the main entrance as its normally adorned with half a dozen GS's!
WorthingWelsh
Registered user
No need for a red carnation or a rolled up Telegraph..... I am easy to spot.
I have got that good looking,hard worn round the world traveller thing going on, with lots of people just gasping with awe around me!
................Ok,OK... I will be the fat bloke in a twat suit.
David.
cheesysalesman
Registered user
Twat Suited and Booted
Is it mandatory to be sporting copious facial hair, beer belly and twat suit? I can manage the latter, encourage the former but will struggle with the middle one unless I start a Glasgow diet at once!
Will I have to have all my chrome bits gleaming and have treated all my plastics with the shiny stuff prior to boarding?
Is it mandatory to be sporting copious facial hair, beer belly and twat suit? I can manage the latter, encourage the former but will struggle with the middle one unless I start a Glasgow diet at once!
Will I have to have all my chrome bits gleaming and have treated all my plastics with the shiny stuff prior to boarding?
No need for a red carnation or a rolled up Telegraph..... I am easy to spot.
I have got that good looking,hard worn round the world traveller thing going on, with lots of people just gasping with awe around me!
................Ok,OK... I will be the fat bloke in a twat suit.
David.
WorthingWelsh
Registered user
Is it mandatory to be sporting copious facial hair, beer belly and twat suit? I can manage the latter, encourage the former but will struggle with the middle one unless I start a Glasgow diet at once!
Will I have to have all my chrome bits gleaming and have treated all my plastics with the shiny stuff prior to boarding?
The beer belly is now perfected
As for gleaming chrome, only washed my bike twice since I bought it and I think the rain had more effect then my washing skills.
David.
OK, the extra room we needed is booked.
I will do the suggested routes up in the week and post them up here.
Anyone going to the Hog Raost? If so, see you there.... If not, see you all at the train
Richard
I will do the suggested routes up in the week and post them up here.
Anyone going to the Hog Raost? If so, see you there.... If not, see you all at the train
Richard
WorthingWelsh
Registered user
Was planning to attend said Hogroast, but I must drive to liverpool tonight to carry out inlaw duties over the weekend.
Enjoy yourselves.
David.
Enjoy yourselves.
David.
LBL
Registered user
Richard .. I might not be able to go .. V5 hasn't arrived, Tax expired.
If you paid money for the room you booked then let me know how much, I will pay you back.
Sorry!
Afternoon All,
back after a week drinking crazy frog in Majorca, i knew there would be a panic on
Tom,
Phone the dealer, he can sort out tax if there has been a problem with your V5 and i believe other forms of proof of purchase may be acceptable, a quick call to DVLA will sort you out, did you ever book the tunnel
where's your dunkirk spirit young man.....
good to have you along cheesy fella
cheesysalesman
Registered user
Duck in a row
I'm all systems go, may even check the oil and tyre pressures! My Zumo is loaded with the route to the Tunnel and I'm looking forward to getting the route details from Richard.
Apart from insurance, roadside cover, E11, ice dog tag, GB sticker, bulb kit, hi viz, oil bottle, warning triangle, light beam re directed emergency phone and Franglaise Phrase book, what else do I need?
Ed
I'm all systems go, may even check the oil and tyre pressures! My Zumo is loaded with the route to the Tunnel and I'm looking forward to getting the route details from Richard.
Apart from insurance, roadside cover, E11, ice dog tag, GB sticker, bulb kit, hi viz, oil bottle, warning triangle, light beam re directed emergency phone and Franglaise Phrase book, what else do I need?
Ed
Afternoon All,
back after a week drinking crazy frog in Majorca, i knew there would be a panic on
Tom,
Phone the dealer, he can sort out tax if there has been a problem with your V5 and i believe other forms of proof of purchase may be acceptable, a quick call to DVLA will sort you out, did you ever book the tunnel
where's your dunkirk spirit young man.....
good to have you along cheesy fella
The first trip that I went on with Richard (Wapping) he posted the following memo as a suggestion. I always use it as a reminder and I think it covers most bases. So thanks to Richard again and I trust he won't mind me reposting it.
A current passport
Original driving licence. I have a photocard version, so I take the green counter-party, too.
Original V5
Original insurance certificate
Original MOT certificate (if applicable) - I am never quite sure if it is really needed. But you never get fined for having too much paper, that's a certainty.
I have been asked for all of these, more than once, in spot checks and / or when hiring a car as a replacement for a motorbike.
It's a nuisance if you haven't got them and a big fine if you can't produce them to the French rozzers on demand.
===
I have an EU Health card. The thing that replaced the E111 paper. It allows you reciprocal health care in the EU without too much fuss. A hospital or doctor will very probably ask to see it. They always have with me, at least.
Easy to apply for: http://www.ehic-ie.org/apply.html
===
I have Motor breakdown cover for the motorbike. I buy an annual policy from the AA. There is lots of choice out there and policy periods of one day, a weekend, multiple days or annual. If you plan another trip (or trips), it may be cheaper to go for a 90 / 120 day or even a full blown annual.
===
I have an annual Travel policy from the AA. This runs in parallel to the EU card. It has been worth its weight in gold, more than once. Again, lots of choice out there and a real bonus should the worse happen, tripping over the curb, say.
Again, like breakdown cover, it is cheap and available in lots of different sizes. They are all pretty similar.... but do check it covers motorcycling, some definitely do not.
If you have to take regular medication, bring it, too. A good friend is diabetic and always brings her kit, with a bit to spare. My father - now 82 - has always been epileptic and does the same. Common sense, really, I guess even if you are never going to outer Mongolia.
===
Yellow vests, triangles, bulbs, first aid kits? If you want to but the average French 'motard' wears shorts and a t-shirt. A very small pack, lobbed under the seat or in a tankbag is not a bad idea, really. If I am truthful, a dripping finger is a bloody nuisance and messes up your expensive gloves, no matter where you are.......but forget the triangle.... and don't prepare for open heart surgery, unless you are very sure you can do it.
I make sure my mobile works abroad for voice, text and mailbox and that it's charged.
I take one half decent map, hopefully of where I am going.
I make sure my bank knows I am going, so they don't suddenly fly off in a blind panic when a bill for petrol in St Nowhere-sur-Pot turns up on their fraud computers. They have got used to it, slowly, but do still call, sometimes.
A credit and debit card and some Euro cash. ATM machines are on most French High Streets and many UK banks are now 'free' to use.
Basic tools I will bring, so don't worry. The truth is, if a problem is bad enough the bike will probably be making its own way back. Mine did once in a container with several others, all the way from the south of France. I didn't mind as I had a VW Golf diesel with aircon instead and it was v hot. That's what insurance is for, after all.
===
Any problems or questions PM me, please.
It's a part of the purpose of the trip, after all, to get a feel for what is handy. 99 times out of a 100 you will never need them, any more than you do at home. Having them for the one time you do and it's loshing with rain on the D597, is perfect.
Regards Brian
A current passport
Original driving licence. I have a photocard version, so I take the green counter-party, too.
Original V5
Original insurance certificate
Original MOT certificate (if applicable) - I am never quite sure if it is really needed. But you never get fined for having too much paper, that's a certainty.
I have been asked for all of these, more than once, in spot checks and / or when hiring a car as a replacement for a motorbike.
It's a nuisance if you haven't got them and a big fine if you can't produce them to the French rozzers on demand.
===
I have an EU Health card. The thing that replaced the E111 paper. It allows you reciprocal health care in the EU without too much fuss. A hospital or doctor will very probably ask to see it. They always have with me, at least.
Easy to apply for: http://www.ehic-ie.org/apply.html
===
I have Motor breakdown cover for the motorbike. I buy an annual policy from the AA. There is lots of choice out there and policy periods of one day, a weekend, multiple days or annual. If you plan another trip (or trips), it may be cheaper to go for a 90 / 120 day or even a full blown annual.
===
I have an annual Travel policy from the AA. This runs in parallel to the EU card. It has been worth its weight in gold, more than once. Again, lots of choice out there and a real bonus should the worse happen, tripping over the curb, say.
Again, like breakdown cover, it is cheap and available in lots of different sizes. They are all pretty similar.... but do check it covers motorcycling, some definitely do not.
If you have to take regular medication, bring it, too. A good friend is diabetic and always brings her kit, with a bit to spare. My father - now 82 - has always been epileptic and does the same. Common sense, really, I guess even if you are never going to outer Mongolia.
===
Yellow vests, triangles, bulbs, first aid kits? If you want to but the average French 'motard' wears shorts and a t-shirt. A very small pack, lobbed under the seat or in a tankbag is not a bad idea, really. If I am truthful, a dripping finger is a bloody nuisance and messes up your expensive gloves, no matter where you are.......but forget the triangle.... and don't prepare for open heart surgery, unless you are very sure you can do it.
I make sure my mobile works abroad for voice, text and mailbox and that it's charged.
I take one half decent map, hopefully of where I am going.
I make sure my bank knows I am going, so they don't suddenly fly off in a blind panic when a bill for petrol in St Nowhere-sur-Pot turns up on their fraud computers. They have got used to it, slowly, but do still call, sometimes.
A credit and debit card and some Euro cash. ATM machines are on most French High Streets and many UK banks are now 'free' to use.
Basic tools I will bring, so don't worry. The truth is, if a problem is bad enough the bike will probably be making its own way back. Mine did once in a container with several others, all the way from the south of France. I didn't mind as I had a VW Golf diesel with aircon instead and it was v hot. That's what insurance is for, after all.
===
Any problems or questions PM me, please.
It's a part of the purpose of the trip, after all, to get a feel for what is handy. 99 times out of a 100 you will never need them, any more than you do at home. Having them for the one time you do and it's loshing with rain on the D597, is perfect.
Regards Brian
cheesysalesman
Registered user
ooops
Passport would have been good. To be fair I travel in europe quite a bit and used to be a director of ARC Transistance (a joint venture between all the roadside clubs in europe AA, ADAC, ANWB, TCS, TCB ect) so know the ropes for getting recovered from europe. I've not done any trip that involves my bike with others so I'm looking forward to some banter.. Perhaps there may be a Germany v Holland final in the world cup and it would be good to join the near locals as they see the game - perhaps even take some beer with them.
Passport would have been good. To be fair I travel in europe quite a bit and used to be a director of ARC Transistance (a joint venture between all the roadside clubs in europe AA, ADAC, ANWB, TCS, TCB ect) so know the ropes for getting recovered from europe. I've not done any trip that involves my bike with others so I'm looking forward to some banter.. Perhaps there may be a Germany v Holland final in the world cup and it would be good to join the near locals as they see the game - perhaps even take some beer with them.
LBL
Registered user
LBL
Registered user
And from past experience normally some good natured piss taking
I'm upset that I can't come with you
enjoy ur canal boat trip
( the above can be called banter or piss taking )
LBL
Registered user
Big problem is that insurance is invalidated if no current tax
Still have a week though as long as it is not Friday it comes through the post ..
Tom,
As you purchased the bike second hand you should have got the little slip from the dealer which is Section 10 of the Registration Certificate, you can tax a bike with that, if you didnt get it your dealer or the original owner has been naughty, call them as they will need to sort it.
alternatively try this.
DVLA Customer Services
0904 1690074
Use the above number to obtain the Customer Service Department telephone number for the DVLA.
The given number will put you directly through to an advisor in their Customer Services Department.
The contact telephone number will be provided as a recorded message which continuously repeats.
For your convenience, please have a pen & paper to hand.
...................................................................................................................................................................
Big problem is that insurance is invalidated if no current tax
Still have a week though as long as it is not Friday it comes through the post ..
How did you work that out? Just try not to smash it up.
If you haven't got your V5, simply bring the green slip of paper and the proof of purchase recept or whatever the dealer gave you.
If you only lease the bike, get a simple letter from the lease company saying that you have authority to remove the bike from the UK.
You will be fine, just as you were on the day trip a week or so ago.
