the war to end all wars

[sss]

A rather early start in the morning, but at least day light had appeared for a quick hop to the services to meet the rest of the troop.

Then a dash down the M20 to find the channel tunnel, here we endured the eurotunnel staff who very kindly delayed us motorcyclists so that we were not allowed on the train! One good thing about eurotunnel is that trains do run on a regular basis, it is just a shame the staff seem to ruin a good setup. So a little wait in the car park as is usual

Once over the otherside of the channel to try and catch up a bit of time we used the autoroute to head straight down towards arras.

Here we aimed for vimy ridge and to have a look round the canadian memorial,

before heading towards the trenches in the area.

what surprised me the most was how close the allied and german lines were.

Then we jumped on the bikes for a run south. Just by chance we passed a german cemetary at Neuville-St Vaast .

time for lunch and the lunch stop was at 'tommys' in pozieres, well worth a visit to have a look at this cafe with its musuem.

Then it was time to head for auchonvillers where we were staying. Once booked in at avrils place, we went for a walk in the local area and found a few places of interest.

left over ammunition is still to this day laying around

the site of the hawthorn ridge mine

and then a stroll up to newfoundland park and the memorial there.

again here you can still see the old trench lines

time for dinner, then bed.

 

[sss]

the place that we were staying has a bit of history around it as well.

now owned and run by a british lady hidden in her cellers and back garden she was to discover

she has had it proffesionally dug up to see what lay in the gardens and cellar.

time to get kitted up and have a ride round the local area.

first was the ulster tower

then to thiepval

then off to the The Lochnagar mine crater south of the village of La Boisselle which contained 24 tonnes of explosive.

back on the bikes and off to fricourt german cemetery, where the red baron had been buried before he got relocated back to germany

off we go again

to mametz wood

lunch was soon had and then back on for a ride to longueval and deville woods for the south african memorial, which also has details about WW1 history but all the way up to WW2 and beyond in it.

back on the road back to auchonvillers, stopping off at courcelette to see a dig on some trenches by archelogists amazing to watch things being found for the first time in 95 years. No photos though due to a film crew wanting all the footage of the site.

but the ride home

 

[sss]

after a night with the archelogists in the bar, today we packed our bags and headed north so a ride through the countryside towards ypres.

with a quick stop at The Indian Memorial at Neuve Chapelle

before getting to ypres

with cloth hall

and the menin gate

oh and a very pretty lorry

ramparts cemetary

the last post ceremony held at 8pm every night at the menin gate is well worth a visit and can be quite emotional.

 

[sss]

today the weather had got a little damp so after a walk round ypres we jumped back on the bikes for a quick ride for lunch at hill 62, Sanctuary Wood, ypres and a look at the memorial and trenches here

before riding up to tyne cot and i believe the biggest british cemetary with 11000+ graves the majority of whom are unknown

before heading back to ypres for dinner and bed

 

[sss]

today was the day to head back to the UK

so en route where did we go, the first place was Poperinge

the building you see above contained the cells of the condemed soldiers.

then a quick walk round Toc H

before hitting the road again.

lunch in cassell

and a quick stop at the WW2 site of Eperlecques where the V2 was being assembled and fueled before being fired at the UK

then it was a short hop back the channel tunnel, to have the obligatory messing about by the staff there, one train missed and a wait for the next and back to good old blighty.

 

[sss]

This was only a short break for me, but it combined so much history, there is so much more over the other side of the channel to see and learn, this was just a tiny amount.

i have not included the history of the sites that i visited but with a quick search most sites should be found on the internet.

World War one was meant to be the war to end all wars, with over 20 million killed.

But yet it continues, i have great respect for those that sacrificed so much for what i have today.

It is important that the history of what happened there from 1914 is not forgotton nor are the people.

There are fantastic biking roads, so its a great thing to be able to ride freely, enjoy the scenery, hospitality, the roads and learn so much.

Lest we forget.

 

[Big Lee]

Good write up & great pics Thanks!

 

[Twotter]

Thanks for sharing

 

[jeffers]

great report and pics, nice to see beaumont hamel monument, my great uncle is buried there, lovely spot very quiet, always call in to pay respects when in france.

leaving tomorrow for a trip to thionville and the maginot line.

 

[Davy F]

Thanks for posting.
Seems there's plenty I've missed in the area which is a good excuse for a return visit.

 

[FatAl]

Great pics SSS, it's a sad and yet an amazing place, each time I visit I always have a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. It should be made compulsory for schools to visit these places. A good friend of mine is a battlefield tour guide and often escorts school parties, he says the kids come away stunned, some often in tears.

 

[peejay]

Great write up and pics. Thinking of going across for a few days in September, certainly gives me an idea of where to go. Also want to do the Normandy beaches as well.
Thanks

 

[Keith Mcclintock]

Thanks for that

 

[vernon]

Brave men, stupid leaders.

 

[philwood90]

Great trip. I love riding in europe. Is that a fire extinguisher under your beak or are you just pleased to see me

 

[garfield]

there's a real poignancy in those photos, thanks for sharing....

 

[sss]

Great trip. I love riding in europe. Is that a fire extinguisher under your beak or are you just pleased to see me

its a BDH container used as a tool kit.

 

[philwood90]

Cheers

Had to google BHD container, but what a great idea

 

[sss]

and i just use big industrial sized cable ties to secure it under the beak. should you wish to do something similar.

 

[JimmyC]

Nice ride report and brilliant pictures...................
visited the American Cemetery at Courseulles-sur-Mer a couple of years ago and visited all the beaches where the allies landed.............was great...after seeing your pictures I want to go back again.....................I loved it...
Thanks