

Had to add this photo that I found whilst going through a box of stuff.
It's from 1991, the day before the Sinterklaastreffen and we were on the XJ900 heading for Ostend. By the time we had got towards Veurne my visor, glasses and eyebrows had frozen solid.
This pic was taken alongside the canal between Adinkerke and Veurne. The only main route as the motorway between France and Belgium was some years off being completed.
Map of roughly where we are going on Pag! Mandre
I was joined by fellow SOC Kent member Brian Squibb and we had a long chat with Bert over a bacon sandwich. Excellent tales of Africa and a free brekkie.
Can't wait to see the pix when it is handed over. The laptop was owned by my company CEA@Islington and I hope that when the pics come back to get them on the website and maybe get a mention of the "Mali Madness" in the CEA newsletter.
The ride up was pretty cold and after an hour or more sitting in the warm cafe, the ride home seemed even colder. I wore my Chilli electric vest and it seemed okay on the way up, on the way back the power lead was so cold and stiff it kept popping the connection with the jacket. I suppose for safety it has to come apart easily, but this is too easy. Perhaps I need a longer wire from the thermostat to the jacket?
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http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125011
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124155
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125011
Good luck Bert and best wishes from me and Claire.
So. Meet at the Blue and White Cafe on the A20 for a 1230 departure for possible scenic ride to Whitstable.
The WTRA organise one of the largest runs in the South East and every extra rider that turns up swells the numbers greatly and increases the coffers of local charities, plus of course the main aim of collecting toys for under privileged kids.
Go on. Get to the shops and come and join us.
The evidence of the last few days has to be a resounding YES!
Why get on a train with a thick waterproof coat and expect to sit next to some poor bugger that is already there, without taking your f*cking wet coat off!
Because you are a TWAT, that's why.
It became a case of get their bank to call us and we can authorise the payment. Not as easy as it sounds with the bank being in Germany!
In the end the booking was made through DB UK, whom I found on the DB website. An email and a fax of the train details got it sorted. A cheque for £380.16 went off today.
Yes it is a lot but a price to pay for getting 650 miles each way whilst mostly asleep.
Paying now means there is plenty of time for putting money aside for when we get there.
In the end it was good really that when I tried to book the motorail tickets that Capital One rejected the transaction as it was for a large amount and the website was based in Germany.
About 45 minutes later I got a text message asking me to call them at the bank.
Must remember to keep them in the loop when we go away! Especially as Bosnia might be a little unusual.
I bought the album 'off plan' before it was released and am glad I did!
I've listened to it almost every evening on the MP3 player and each time I hear something more than the time before.
Blimey. I actually own the number one album in the chart!
So I did a bit of research. In the off season the difference between train and riding is much smaller.
I used Michelin's route planner to work it out for me - Dusseldorf to Villach. A route I did back in 1986 bit from Cologne on that occasion.
The train comes out more expensive but does the trip overnight. To do that I'd have to tranquilise Claire "Mr T" style.
So motorail it is!