Left on Sunday... we had to use 2 roll bags on the bike as still waiting for Givi to get their finger out and make the frames , so I can fit the Givi Trekker boxes 
The plan was to visit the D Day beaches in Normandy.
First stop was the Ace Cafe on London's North Circular... It was Triumph day and it was a little busy when we arrived around midday.
Spot the Explorer with the roll bags across the road
Anyway, by around 2pm we headed east on the North Circular , and made surprisingly good progress, jumping onto the M25 at the Dartford Crossing.... and that is when the rain started....
It continued on and off until we got to Dover. A night's accomodation was booked in a guest house we'd used before, and once we'd settled in we headed down into the town to get some food... I'd forgotten what a dump Dover actually was
... Wetherspoons was ok for food and drink, but the rest of the town seemed to be closed, and the pouring rain didn't help .
10am Monday, and onto the Ferry... got into France and it was raining... with 240 miles to get down to our acomodation in Normandy ( Orne- 10 clicks south of Flers)
Found out how useful the cruise control is on empty french motorways Only problem I found with it is the switch off is a bit abrupt, throwing the passenger forward if she wasn't prepared.
Had a route sent to me by Wapping
was going great until I got the message on the zumo. "Turn left and board ferry " Sure enough it was a free ferry over the Seine Not sure whether he'd planned that or it was accidental 
Not sure what the message board said, but only had a 5 minute wait for the ferry
Some fantastic roads and views... with virtually NO traffic... Makes you realise how congested the UK actually is
Came across a nice lake
Sign post opposite so I can remember where it was
We got to Maison Laudiere and were welcomed by Nige and Carole, at their B&B, and found ourselves in a converted barn with a view of the bike in the courtyard... there was some sort of harley thing that nearly obstructed the view
Next day ( Tuesday) we woke and it was drizzling... this quickly turned to 'bucketing it down'
Off we went to see the beaches... got as far as Carentan and headed for a Mc Donalds just to warm up a bit ( about 50 miles north of where we were staying)
It was still bucketing down... and we headed for Omaha beach.. Stopped in Grandcamp Maisy ( I think) and took a couple of pictures.
Then on to Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery... We couldn't believe how many white crosses were there... stretching off in all directions , all immaculately looked after....
( If you're unfamiliar its the cemetery in the opening shots in 'Saving Private Ryan') Very moving that so many gave their lives
Hopped on the bike again and found this just down the road
The large picture shows the scene back in 1944 when the church tower was in ruins
We then made our way back towards our B&B as we were cold and wet... but the bike performed without fault ....very pleased with it :002:
Stopped for a coffee in Villers Bocage
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=villers%20bocage&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CGEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBattle_of_Villers-Bocage&ei=JRbaT-i3EaeZ0QXBke2cBA&usg=AFQjCNF09phYx9GyVzKNL5Ujc2krA6Hefg
Then off we went again, still in the pouring rain.
We decided to cut the trip and get a ferry home, as the weather promised more of the same....so Wednesday ( Yesterday) we headed out to St.Malo and got a ferry to Portsmouth.
Nice place St. Malo, and the sun came out for us on the way..
Waiting at the docks to board.. The couple in the photo had ridden a tandem all over Normandy
Nice harbour there too
9 hours later Portsmouth, and 3 hours after that home... The Explorer handled it well, the roads were great , but would have been better if they were drier
If you're heading out to Normandy to visit the D Day beaches, or indeed heading south, Nige and Carole have a great place in Maison Laudiere... Well worth a visit
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189369
The plan was to visit the D Day beaches in Normandy.
First stop was the Ace Cafe on London's North Circular... It was Triumph day and it was a little busy when we arrived around midday.
Spot the Explorer with the roll bags across the road
Anyway, by around 2pm we headed east on the North Circular , and made surprisingly good progress, jumping onto the M25 at the Dartford Crossing.... and that is when the rain started....
It continued on and off until we got to Dover. A night's accomodation was booked in a guest house we'd used before, and once we'd settled in we headed down into the town to get some food... I'd forgotten what a dump Dover actually was
... Wetherspoons was ok for food and drink, but the rest of the town seemed to be closed, and the pouring rain didn't help .10am Monday, and onto the Ferry... got into France and it was raining... with 240 miles to get down to our acomodation in Normandy ( Orne- 10 clicks south of Flers)
Found out how useful the cruise control is on empty french motorways Only problem I found with it is the switch off is a bit abrupt, throwing the passenger forward if she wasn't prepared.
Had a route sent to me by Wapping
was going great until I got the message on the zumo. "Turn left and board ferry "
Sure enough it was a free ferry over the Seine Not sure whether he'd planned that or it was accidental
Not sure what the message board said, but only had a 5 minute wait for the ferry
Some fantastic roads and views... with virtually NO traffic... Makes you realise how congested the UK actually is
Came across a nice lake
Sign post opposite so I can remember where it was
We got to Maison Laudiere and were welcomed by Nige and Carole, at their B&B, and found ourselves in a converted barn with a view of the bike in the courtyard... there was some sort of harley thing that nearly obstructed the view
Next day ( Tuesday) we woke and it was drizzling... this quickly turned to 'bucketing it down'
Off we went to see the beaches... got as far as Carentan and headed for a Mc Donalds just to warm up a bit ( about 50 miles north of where we were staying)
It was still bucketing down... and we headed for Omaha beach.. Stopped in Grandcamp Maisy ( I think) and took a couple of pictures.
Then on to Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery... We couldn't believe how many white crosses were there... stretching off in all directions , all immaculately looked after....
( If you're unfamiliar its the cemetery in the opening shots in 'Saving Private Ryan') Very moving that so many gave their lives
Hopped on the bike again and found this just down the road
The large picture shows the scene back in 1944 when the church tower was in ruins
We then made our way back towards our B&B as we were cold and wet... but the bike performed without fault ....very pleased with it :002:
Stopped for a coffee in Villers Bocage
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=villers%20bocage&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CGEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBattle_of_Villers-Bocage&ei=JRbaT-i3EaeZ0QXBke2cBA&usg=AFQjCNF09phYx9GyVzKNL5Ujc2krA6Hefg
Then off we went again, still in the pouring rain.
We decided to cut the trip and get a ferry home, as the weather promised more of the same....so Wednesday ( Yesterday) we headed out to St.Malo and got a ferry to Portsmouth.
Nice place St. Malo, and the sun came out for us on the way..
Waiting at the docks to board.. The couple in the photo had ridden a tandem all over Normandy
Nice harbour there too
9 hours later Portsmouth, and 3 hours after that home... The Explorer handled it well, the roads were great , but would have been better if they were drier
If you're heading out to Normandy to visit the D Day beaches, or indeed heading south, Nige and Carole have a great place in Maison Laudiere... Well worth a visit
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189369
Empty roads 
