Sid’s and Gedinne

For anyone stopping in Gedinne (why would you really) or more likely being on their way to / from Bouillon, which is not that far away, there is the one bar, two restaurants and the obligatory hairdressers.

Neither restaurant necessarily open every day, but that is not unusual;

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The bar, which is adjacent to the restaurant above:

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The Greek place, which I have eaten in before, seems to have closed:

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The town / large village does though have a well stocked supermarket and a 24/7 petrol station:

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It’s a pleasant enough stroll from the campsite into Gedinne, which boasts the usual war memorial, along with a celebration of the local resistance group and a plaque to commemorate the parachute landing by a Belgian SAS squadron:

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And, of course, a bakery:

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One thing that I thought quite nice, was a simple marker imploring people not to through rubbish down the drain, which I assume drains straight into the little river close by.

Roughly translated, ‘The sea starts here’:

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The Wallonia region with its valleys has several rivers, fed by the often very wet local micro-climate. The little sign says that it’s a regional initiative to keep their rivers clean. Amen, to that.
 
It’s a short cycle ride from Gedinne to the circuit, taking the back road. They are busy getting it ready.

This is on the second half of the circuit, where the track (it’s all a public road) dips down the hill, before climbing up again to the hamlet of Patignies:

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Looking across the valley you can see the pit area and what will become the general camping area:

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An enterprising soul in Patignes, turns his front garden into a pop-up restaurant. It’s usually pretty good. You can watch the bikes and sidecars come by (you pound reach out to touch them) at a fair old lick, before taking the sharp right turn to start the run down to the pit straight:

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The run down to the start / finish line. There’s another house (out of shot) to the left, where you can buy a beer from the owner and sit on his bank to watch:

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Work is going on to get things ready:

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Along with the grandstand:

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They were busy marking out the camping area, the work all being done by a party of ‘Classic racing’ fans from England:

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They are all unpaid. They were telling me that the fire brigade will be coming to inspect it later, the fear of a fire (the area is still tinder dry, despite the showers) is real.

Some snap shots:

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The ACO / Le Mans should take note of the very good urinal / WC set up:

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Wednesday, and the weather is looking suitably Ardennes like:

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What a difference a week and 500 or so miles makes. Last Wednesday at Sud’s it was in the high 30’s.

Breakfast done, I’ll go for a pedal about.
There's a lot that looks familiar in those pictures Wapping; are you stopping on the campsite with the fishing lake and the supermarket just up the rd; and is the little cafe come restaurant next to the small swimming pool still open.
 
There's a lot that looks familiar in those pictures Wapping; are you stopping on the campsite with the fishing lake and the supermarket just up the rd; and is the little cafe come restaurant next to the small swimming pool still open.

That’s the place.
 
some friends were caught out recently in Sedan, where most bars have Belgian beers on tap. They didn't want the Jupiler piss and asked what I was drinking. I pointed to the Tripel and they started necking pints. The following night, they were on the Jupiler. Bloody lightweights.
The safe option jupiler or the Mae throat wetting stuff
 
Change of plan. I have come to camp at the circuit this evening, instead of the extra night at the campsite in Gedinne. No sinister reason, it’s only because I wanted to secure a spot at the top of the slope.

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Camping is included within the entry ticket, with a surcharge of EUR 5 for a vehicle, though motorcycles are free. Total cost of the event is therefore EUR 40 for entry plus EUR 5 if you camp with a vehicle.

It is currently blowing a modest gale, the red and white lane tape sounding like a sailing ship with its sails and rigging in some distress.
 
Here comes the rain:

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and the heating in the vehicle has just come on. It’s set at 15 C.
 
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I'll bet you're pleased you're not on a motorcycle and camping in one of those tiny little 1 man coffin tents.

I have been sitting in the vehicle, watching the antics of bods, fighting the elements and their tents / gazebos / awnings. I swear one fellow took off.

As they said in the old Eye Spy book on ‘Weather’…. Hats and wigs blow off.
 


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