The Great Escape (and added attractions)

Deleted account 210901001

Registered user
Joined
Aug 20, 2016
Messages
3,250
Reaction score
4
Hi,

Following on from my Morocco trip where I'd started to feel a bit unwell and get tired..........

Recently found myself dossing about post operation but pre Chemo and got sick of watching Diagnosis Murder, (even though the Doctor is a hottie, not Dick Van Dyke the other one).

So, as is always the case in times of crisis, boredom, unexpected wealth etc decidied to hop on the bike and travel.

Id booked 4 weeks off work and was heading to Turkey and Iran (all part of a RTW prep), but that got shit canned courtesy of Mr Tumor so at least I could try and salvage something......................where to go ????

Spoke to Oncologist who is a top man, he said take it easy and make sure to rest up and protect the large scarring on my neck, other than that, you'll feel like shit soon, and for a long time so go make the most of it.

Fuck it then, I drove home, packed and left 2 hours later.

Night one at mates in Lincoln just giving update and fumbling for ideas............then a film came on............
 
Hmmmmmm,

Time to hit the internet and do some location scouting......

Book ferry from Hull to Rotterdam......

Wing it from there......
08da3b22067e0a52bf5eb40b44fddc51.jpg


Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
Next day was dossing and make way up to Hull, which I believe was the European City of Culture at one point.

I can only assume the list was short that year, Middlesborough, Sangatte and Hull.

Hull takes it on a "were a bit less shit than those other two" ticket.

Having de contaminated from going through Hull without an NBC suit or Respirator on, I got aboard, and a v nice boat it is too. Nice cabin and decent coffee.

Top Tip. If you book a return "cruise" option its cheaper than a one way by about 30 quid. I did this and just binned the return bit. No dramas when re booking on way back.

Tomorrow morning plan is to visit Arnhem and the associated museum. From what I can remember its a place that always appears genuinely forever grateful for our help in WW2.

Look forward to that no end as not been for years.

Then eastwards towards Harz mountains, not far from where i used to work and a brill area.

I'll cuff the accommodation as I go as I'm not sure if I'll get tired or whatever.

2 x coffee and no alcohol later I cannot take any more of the cabaret, which seems to sound like someone going at a cat with a blow torch, so retire early to read up on the landings and look at some routings via the 617 Sqn Dams............
 
Sounds like a good (almost a) plan!

For info, City of Culture isn't an award for the present state of a place, it's a title and cash injection to improve the cultural offering. Coventry just won the bid for 2021 (IIRC) and the selection comes with a grant of £5.1m.
 
I'm kidding I've nothing against Hull. I think the title at least encouraged and inspired people to empty the sink before going for a piss.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
Great stuff,
A bit of trivia, Steve is riding a Triumph and Triumph Engineering was started by: Siegfried Bettmann from Germany.
 
Another bit.....at one point he is riding as a German soldier, thus chasing himself :). In the film it's the bit where it's very obviously speeded up as he spin turns to chase ........

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
With that level of triv knowledge clearly I need to get myself a girlfriend.

Anyone got any spare ?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
Subscribed. The Mohne and Eder dams are definitely worth stopping at on your way to the Harz.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
 
Subscribed. The Mohne and Eder dams are definitely worth stopping at on your way to the Harz.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

You have to see all three. It's the law.

Have a great trip - sounds like a perfect way to wash away those tumour blues!
 
Hi guys. Thanks for kind comments. I may have misled. This trip was last September. I'll do more when home tomorrow but it was a belter. I spent most of Oct to Dec sleeping or puking hence late report:)

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 
Where was I.....

So after good sleep hopped off at Rotterdam, which actually makes Hull look like Montego Bay.

First stop was the museum at Oosterbeek.

The whole town is pretty much in love with us Brits and our Nazi culling skills so I've always had a warm welcome from Cafes, Hotels etc etc.

I'm sure to local ladies showed their gratitude too post the landings :)

The museum is very good. On a triv note it has good lockers for your kit too so being on a bike isn't a drama. The car park is a bit out of the way so I rode upto the entrance and they were v happy with that.

A good look round for 2 hours or so and there's a nice cafe too. On this visit there was a section devoted to the resistance which was v good.

Obviously plenty of airborne porn too. Lots of pics men with mexican porn taches and .303 bandaliers galore.
 
Lunch and then set off via the famous bridge to the Mohne Dam.

617 Squadron achieved 2 amazing feats on this raid.

1. Breaching Dams and achieving an important psychological victory. (The military success will be long debated).

2. Showing the army that occasionally the RAF worked beyond 1600 and at weekends :)

Anyway off I blast...........
 


Back
Top Bottom