wheeledwidewebb
Registered user
Nice one, look forward to seeing the route.
Wapping's Wanders Four - One (or two) day jaunt to France - Saturday 25 (26) June
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
I'm not usually one for stopping to press wild flowers but here are some snaps from yesterday's recce:
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="756" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/1292131201_qqnCkSg?width=425&height=756"></iframe>
I did stop at a small British cemetery, miles from anywhere. The giant cemeteries of the Great War and those in Normandy tend to dominate people's visits. This small graveyard was different. Most of the graves dated from June 1940, representing the last resting place of young blokes cut off in the retreat to Dunkirk. They were fighting their way towards the Northwest Normandy coast, in the hope of being evacuated from Caen or Cherbourg. Many did not make it. Alongside the soldiers (many from Scottish regiments)
there is a number of airforce graves from later in the war, often with the pilot and navigator burried alongside each other, just as they had flown together.
The cemetery is in a beautiful spot, with a lovely view across open fields to the far horizon. If one had to chose a place to be buried with your comrades I can think of worse.
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="756" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/1292156167_CdngFLP?width=425&height=756"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="756" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/1292131201_qqnCkSg?width=425&height=756"></iframe>
I did stop at a small British cemetery, miles from anywhere. The giant cemeteries of the Great War and those in Normandy tend to dominate people's visits. This small graveyard was different. Most of the graves dated from June 1940, representing the last resting place of young blokes cut off in the retreat to Dunkirk. They were fighting their way towards the Northwest Normandy coast, in the hope of being evacuated from Caen or Cherbourg. Many did not make it. Alongside the soldiers (many from Scottish regiments)
there is a number of airforce graves from later in the war, often with the pilot and navigator burried alongside each other, just as they had flown together.
The cemetery is in a beautiful spot, with a lovely view across open fields to the far horizon. If one had to chose a place to be buried with your comrades I can think of worse.
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="425" height="756" src="http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/1292156167_CdngFLP?width=425&height=756"></iframe>
Richard
Thanks for the pics, looks great and glad to hear the recce went well. Looking forward to seeing it all next month - lets hope the weather is as good.
Really appreciate the effort you've gone to
Peter
Thanks for the pics, looks great and glad to hear the recce went well. Looking forward to seeing it all next month - lets hope the weather is as good.
Really appreciate the effort you've gone to
Peter
Promenade, St Vallery sur Somme. Do I win a prize?
In one
Track of the day's jaunt, which includes a chunk of the foret d'Eu.
Ignore the short bit out to Parenty, I just went to have a look as I plan to have lunch there on the jaunt itself.
Richard
Track of the day's jaunt, which includes a chunk of the foret d'Eu.
Ignore the short bit out to Parenty, I just went to have a look as I plan to have lunch there on the jaunt itself.
Richard
No pics of the new bike then Richard?
Great Work!
Hi Richard,
You've gone to a lot of trouble (as usual) and we're looking forward to joining you on the day (both days!).
Are you out of pocket on this? i.e. are you looking for a deposit from us?
Will you have a full route available for the Garmin before departure?
Cheers,
Andy
Hi Richard,
You've gone to a lot of trouble (as usual) and we're looking forward to joining you on the day (both days!).
Are you out of pocket on this? i.e. are you looking for a deposit from us?
Will you have a full route available for the Garmin before departure?
Cheers,
Andy
wheeledwidewebb
Registered user
blimey, good point. Just say the word.
Just back from a week in the Vosges.
I didn't have to leave a deposit with the hotel.
Yup, I will tidy-up the routes and lob them onto a Garmin file.
I didn't have to leave a deposit with the hotel.
Yup, I will tidy-up the routes and lob them onto a Garmin file.
I rode the complete two day jaunt in one day, yesterday.
I think it works well. The only slight fly in the ointment is where to have lunch on the Sunday. Most of the cafes shut at noon, which rather scuppers us. I suggest we try to pack in a decent sized breakfast and bring a spare sandwich, drink etc. from Saturday.
As is inevitable, there are one or two road closures. I shan't bother editing them out of the route, not least as I am not sure they will still be closed later in the month and / or others may appear anyway. None of them are life threatening.
Will ping the route up when i have a minute.
Richard
I think it works well. The only slight fly in the ointment is where to have lunch on the Sunday. Most of the cafes shut at noon, which rather scuppers us. I suggest we try to pack in a decent sized breakfast and bring a spare sandwich, drink etc. from Saturday.
As is inevitable, there are one or two road closures. I shan't bother editing them out of the route, not least as I am not sure they will still be closed later in the month and / or others may appear anyway. None of them are life threatening.
Will ping the route up when i have a minute.
Richard
wheeledwidewebb
Registered user
Slight fly in mine and Jimbos ointment as well. I am working up t'north that week and it looks like I will now be travelling back Saturday morning so won't make the crossing.
We will change our crossing to a later one though and meet at the hotel in the afternoon.
Is that cool Wappers?
We will change our crossing to a later one though and meet at the hotel in the afternoon.
Is that cool Wappers?
richie
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I find that rather strange and contrary to all my experience.. I am sure you will find somewhere...
richie
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Hi Richard, I am pretty sure that I am up for this and could meet you in Bollezeele on the Saturday morning. Would that be possible for you lot?
Won't know for sure till the beginning of that week due to work. If the hotel is a problem I could find something else, or come back to Belgium after the Saturday ride. Which would mean missing the
Won't know for sure till the beginning of that week due to work. If the hotel is a problem I could find something else, or come back to Belgium after the Saturday ride. Which would mean missing the
wheeledwidewebb
Registered user
Are you still heading East to Bolezeele when you arrive in France, as per the original route description?
Just wondering incase us two try to be clever and find you lot en-route.
Just wondering incase us two try to be clever and find you lot en-route.
richie
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Was in Wimereux aujourdhui and had a choice of dozens of restaurants at lunchtime... That should not be an issue... the French and their food.....
Routes
Here are the two days' routes in Mpasource, held in a compressed zip folder.
Day one
Train, then to Bolezeele for coffee. Then around in a loop for picnic lunch at Parenty. This is a repeat of the one day rides I have made with Tossers before.
From Parenty, a run south to the Baie du Somme and Pointe Du Hourdel. Then a short run to our hotel.
I only separated the last leg to avoid having a circular route which confuses some GPS devices.
Total distance of the two combined legs: 184 miles.
Day two
A broad counter-clockwise circle, with Abbeville at its centre, going as far east as near enough, Amiens.
Then a leg up to Cap Griz Nez, followed by a run along the coast road to the train and home.
Total distance 170 miles or near enough.
==================================
I would guess that we will be arriving in Bolezeele about one hour after our train gets in.
===================================
HOUSEKEEPING
(a) Please come off the train in France with a full tank of fuel.
There is fuel en-route for anyone riding a bike with less than a 180 mile range. There is also fuel near our overnight hotel. If we can all start day two with a full tank that would be good, too.
(b) On leaving the train, let's gather up at the first fuel station on the left, about a mile or so after the train. This will ensure we have everyone together, at least at the start. If there are a lot of bikes on the train it is very easy to follow the wrong pack and / or for one of them to follow us, I have seen both happen. Similarly, it is a good rendezvous site if anyone has a problem getting on or off the train; again, I have seen both happen.
(c) Papers: A good idea are, passport, insurance certificate, V5, E111 card and (unless you are brave / rich) travel / breakdown insurance. A map or two may be handy, in case of disaster.
(d) We will run the marker 'drop-off' system. We can run through this at the fuel station.
(e) Don't forget your picnic. That being said, we do pass some supermarkets en-route.
(f) Lunch Sunday. It all hangs on what time we leave the hotel. Of course there are places open, not just many in the very small villages we will be going through. I quite like the flexibility of having a sandwich or something similar, which saves having to clock watch. If it is lashing down, we could cut across to Amiens.
(g) wheeledwidewebb / jimbogs. What are your plans? Are you both / one of you / neither of you going to be on the train when we depart the UK? I only ask as I want to do a headcount.
(h) richie. Look forward to meeting you in Bolezeele, I hope. Suggest you book yourself into the hotel when you know if you can make the overnight stop.
(i) I will PM everyone my mobile no. before we go.
Richard
Here are the two days' routes in Mpasource, held in a compressed zip folder.
Day one
Train, then to Bolezeele for coffee. Then around in a loop for picnic lunch at Parenty. This is a repeat of the one day rides I have made with Tossers before.
From Parenty, a run south to the Baie du Somme and Pointe Du Hourdel. Then a short run to our hotel.
I only separated the last leg to avoid having a circular route which confuses some GPS devices.
Total distance of the two combined legs: 184 miles.
Day two
A broad counter-clockwise circle, with Abbeville at its centre, going as far east as near enough, Amiens.
Then a leg up to Cap Griz Nez, followed by a run along the coast road to the train and home.
Total distance 170 miles or near enough.
==================================
I would guess that we will be arriving in Bolezeele about one hour after our train gets in.
===================================
HOUSEKEEPING
(a) Please come off the train in France with a full tank of fuel.
There is fuel en-route for anyone riding a bike with less than a 180 mile range. There is also fuel near our overnight hotel. If we can all start day two with a full tank that would be good, too.
(b) On leaving the train, let's gather up at the first fuel station on the left, about a mile or so after the train. This will ensure we have everyone together, at least at the start. If there are a lot of bikes on the train it is very easy to follow the wrong pack and / or for one of them to follow us, I have seen both happen. Similarly, it is a good rendezvous site if anyone has a problem getting on or off the train; again, I have seen both happen.
(c) Papers: A good idea are, passport, insurance certificate, V5, E111 card and (unless you are brave / rich) travel / breakdown insurance. A map or two may be handy, in case of disaster.
(d) We will run the marker 'drop-off' system. We can run through this at the fuel station.
(e) Don't forget your picnic. That being said, we do pass some supermarkets en-route.
(f) Lunch Sunday. It all hangs on what time we leave the hotel. Of course there are places open, not just many in the very small villages we will be going through. I quite like the flexibility of having a sandwich or something similar, which saves having to clock watch. If it is lashing down, we could cut across to Amiens.
(g) wheeledwidewebb / jimbogs. What are your plans? Are you both / one of you / neither of you going to be on the train when we depart the UK? I only ask as I want to do a headcount.
(h) richie. Look forward to meeting you in Bolezeele, I hope. Suggest you book yourself into the hotel when you know if you can make the overnight stop.
(i) I will PM everyone my mobile no. before we go.
Richard
richie
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Thanks for the update I sincerely hope to be there, wait and see, will know by this time next week
Excellent!
Richard, comprehensive arrangements as ever. Looking forward to it. See you all a week on Saturday!
Andy
Richard, comprehensive arrangements as ever. Looking forward to it. See you all a week on Saturday!
Andy
wheeledwidewebb
Registered user
Thanks Wapping.
We will not be on the same train as you guys so we will do one of the following,
1. If you have a rough time in mind to be at Pointe Du Hourdel then we will meet you there. Don't wait for us though, if we see you then fine otherwise,
2. We will meet you at the hotel.
Don't know what crossing we will be on yet to be honest, it revolves around how I manage up North.
Look forward to it either way.
We will not be on the same train as you guys so we will do one of the following,
1. If you have a rough time in mind to be at Pointe Du Hourdel then we will meet you there. Don't wait for us though, if we see you then fine otherwise,
2. We will meet you at the hotel.
Don't know what crossing we will be on yet to be honest, it revolves around how I manage up North.
Look forward to it either way.
