On the Road Again!

The day of the commemorations started early for three of the Ferry Crew. They had tickets to the Thiepval event and needed to be away about 5am for the park and ride by Albert Airport.   This made the decision to go to the Ulster Tower for the majority of us seem the best option. We could have breakfast in the hotel and then walk over to the station and get the train to Albert, where our shuttle buses would be waiting. No need for the park and ride. It would be less hassle for men but we had Claire and Elaine Constable in our team.  Ladies are less likely to be enamored changing in a field. As it was We got our tickets and the 0837 train to Albert.  Strangely there wasn't another train until 1137 and that was cutting it fine to get the shuttles as they finished at 1200. We had a few hours to kill before the first bus and there was plenty to do with displays etc. Plus the famous gilded tower that acted as a target for the German gunners and as a...

Even though we didn't have to be at the Shuttle terminal for our train to France until 1015 or so we still had to have an early start. I had to take Reggie off to his weekend away at Wyncot Kennels. Once again he was excited as I turned into the drive and he positively ran off with the kennel lady, again without a backward glance to his Dad standing in the reception area. Back at the house Claire was doing the last minute packing. The new Saddlemen FTB3600 bag was getting filled with our "duds" that we would need for the ceremony.  The waterproof bags that I bought last year would have other stuff for two days and two evenings in Amiens.  They fit snugly in the panniers as long as they aren't overfilled. With rain looking highly likely I fitted the Saddlemen with its supplied waterproof cover. It's bright yellow to help other road users see us in the spray and gloom! Saddlemen FTB We were away via a petrol stop to top off t...

Two days to go until we start the commemorations for the Battle of the Somme. The 1st July is in the history books as the worst day's casualties for the British Army. We are lucky to have tickets to attend the commemoration at the Ulster Tower. Even luckier that there is a train to the Shuttle buses from Amiens where we stay in the same hotel each year. This year Claire is coming.  I write this as I head home after work.  So far I have fitted the luggage on the bike, but it is all empty. Packing. We have to be smartly dressed and so jeans and bike gear won't do. So we have to pack stuff that means we won't stand out too much from the crowd.  Bikes are generally not good for this! So let's see how it goes?

An early start on Saturday. I had old friend Ken Fulton staying over. My plan was to be up about 5.30am, leave at 6am to arrive Dover at 6.30am. Except Ken was up earlier and we left and arrived  at Dover way before 6am. I messaged Cal to say we were going through immigration and check-in. We were first in the line. It took so long at Costa to get a coffee that the others had arrived and we were almost ready to load. Bugger. The crossing was pretty straightforward and after breakfast we were disgorged into dull weather Calais. The plan was to head down the A26 to Arras and then cut across to the first stop at the Accrington Pals Memorial.  First delay was that the autoroute ticket machine played up and some of us got tickets and others had to wait to get one. At the pay station near Arras, the lucky ones from the ticket collection found their tickets were not recognised!!! More holdups. Then we got split up twice! The eight bikes became four and then two. Luckily, of the eight...

Sunday dawned quite early as it was very warm and humid overnight. I had the windows open but had to tie them together with my belt to make sure they stayed open but not blowing about. I packed and then went down a little too early for breakfast so took my bag out and loaded the panniers.  It was still alternating between warm and sunny and drizzle. When I went back in, David was up. He'd had a ground floor room facing the street so was unable to open a window. Amiens Hotel Breakfast at the Central & Anzac Hotel is dubbed continental, but it is far better than that might suggest.  So much to eat! Once Lainy came down we were ready to get going. The first stop of the day was to be the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.  The run wasn't too far from Amiens and once again we were in waterproofs.  When we arrived there was a coach from Slovakia and a large group of tourists ahead of us. Tourists sounds a bit "sniffy" but no meant that ...