Battlefields Trip April 2016

[Posh Pete]

Greetings all

In my former life, I used to lead visits to the WW1 Battlefields of Belgium and France. I am prepared to lead a similar trip for Tossers.

Dates – 18/04/16 – 23/04/16

Itinerary

18 April – Travel to Hull by cars x 2* for the Zeebrugge ferry.

19th April – Arrive Zeebrugge. Travel to various locations on the northern sector of the Ypres salient. Arrive at accommodation. (4 twin bedded rooms have been booked.) The accommodation is basic but comfortable and VERY special / VERY appropriate for the trip. No details, no pack drill for the moment, so please don’t ask.

20th April – Travel to the area around the Ancre and the Somme to visit various sites. Visit Vimy Ridge on return trip.

21st April – Travel to various locations on the southern sector of the Ypres salient. Attend Menin Gate Ceremony in Ypres at 2000hrs.

22nd April. Free time in Ypres or Brugge before catching the ferry at Zeebrugge for Hull.

23rd April. Arrive back in Blighty!

*2 cars because it’s much more convenient to visit the various sites and the roads in Belgium and Northern France are crap for bikes anyway! I’ll take my car and hopefully AN Other will volunteer theirs! Bear in mind that you may have to travel to Edinburgh or a place en route to Hull to be picked up.

Costs

My estimate (based on 8 persons going) for costs of ferry and accommodation is around £200. Ta to Micky for his help with the ferry!

That leaves only evening meals and beer and fuel chip in money.

I need to move quickly to send off a deposit for the accommodation and I need details of the party asap to make the booking. Therefore please study the above very carefully and if you wish to go, send me a PM and be prepared to send me a deposit of £100 within 72 hours, say Saturday 21st November. The deposit will be non returnable. Sorry to be all formal but I don’t want to be faffing about with refunds and hokey cokey participants!. If you volunteer to “take the King’s shilling” then you’re in for the duration!

Currently, 5 places of the 8 are available. If more than 5 apply then I will form a waiting list in order of application.

 

[Posh Pete]

Hmmm ... it's been suggested that the car thing might be putting people off. Reason for this is practicality in terms of bike gear, helmets on / off, alcohol issues after a session etc. Happy to go with bikes instead if people prefer ...

 

[Sleepy]

Also possibly.. the fact that it has to be a four seater, which would rule someone me like out (with only a two seater), and that I might also be expected to drive to Scotland first....

 

[Posh Pete]

Final call - 4 spaces left.

Just to point out ...

1. We're now taking our bikes.

2. Accomodation is in twin bedded rooms. Therefore if people want to go with partners, this would be possible. Naturally, this would impact on ferry cabins and possible costs but that can be discussed later.

3. For anyone who is put off by the thought of constant visits to war cemeteries and a consequent "miseryfest", be reassured. The itinerary includes only limited visit to the war cemeteries and always to make a particular point. The majority of site visits are to museums, battlefield sites and regimental memorials to look at the tactical and strategic position at the time of the various actions. As always with bikers, plenty of opporchancities in the evenings for banter, beer and stories.

Closing date is Monday 23rd November. I'll need deposits, full details of persons going and other stuff for the ferry booking asap after that.

 

[Posh Pete]

Also possibly.. the fact that it has to be a four seater, which would rule someone me like out (with only a two seater), and that I might also be expected to drive to Scotland first....

That could have been worked around but it's irrelevant now since we are taking bikes. See above.

 

[Posh Pete]

2 spaces left.

 

[gerarddwatts]

i'd love to take one of those Peter, but just can't commit at this stage due to work(?). Maybe later....

 

[Posh Pete]

Down to one space left gentlemen!