Well a long long time ago (well new years eve) my mate Jim said Fancy a ride out?
Yea why not Arnhem, which to us 2 ex para is a bit of a pilgrimage.
so let the planning commence, I told Bombdoctor and valleygixer also Rich joined in. Well here's the team
Madasmax aka Mosesdiesel
Jim aka The professor
Bombdoctor aka Memoryman
Valleygixer aka The Chemist
Rich aka Homer
also to keep us in check Mrs Bombdoctor and Marge Simpson
We set off fro Lizzy's burger van sat at 10.15 sharp
please not that Homer is missing, that's coz he was on a battery hunt as memory man refused to push start him every time we stopped (I'm sure he needed the exercise)
well we got away about 11ish after a trip to Mon and Border to get Homer a new battery-off we set M4 JUNC 11 off via Gibraltar Barracks
then M3 -M25-M20 to Ashord Kent all very boring motorway crap but pretty windy.
Got to Travel lodge and sorted rooms Me, Jim and Lee in one (Blue Oyster club sprung to mind but keeping cost down as you do)
we hit the bar 5 ish
to watch Man u get stuffed some were more gutted than others, and I trotted off to bed!!!!!!!! about 2.30 valleygixer seemed to forget the rules and cutched me in
like fook I pulled the floor up and crashed out again must stop wearing brut aftershave
Sunday and off to Dover for the ferry crossing
petty boring but rough seas, we decided that Jim would lead the other side as he had been over to Europe last year and he had sat nav as well.
Off he lead and went straight through a red light
French woman who nearly took him out was not happy
after we went round and round Calais before heading off back roads to Gent, and when I say back roads I mean back roads and off road
think his sat nav was programmed by Charlie Boreman
after a pee stop I took over and headed for Dunkirk
and a coffee stop
after a long long ride in hot sunshine we filled up just outside Gent, well I filled up with DEISEL
and also topped Jim's bike up
, we only just made it to the hotel well thanks to Valleygixer who stopped when my bike packed in the rest of the wasters shot off twats
The guys at the hotel were great and so was Bomdoctors sucking
all the diesel was recycled
another few pints later
next morning suns out and off we set for Brugge and Arnhem via back roads
after the rush hour in Gent we hit the very nice open roads with the odd stop for water and tea , must admit I did lock my breaks up when the light changed to red as I went through , shit me self as you do
we carried on into Arnhem where I missed the turn and vended up going up the Dike road which must have been the road to heaven for Valleygixer as it had turns every few yards , apart from having me in the lead that it on the slowest bike of all, sorry mate
we found the guest house and had more
all got changed and walked into town to see the sights
we found a nice bar with a barman/maid who Valleygixer asked for that special cafe she /he really liked him
nice Adam's apple
we went off for food and more
next morning a few woolly heads
and broken bikes
Homer needed anew back tyre and a3 hour coffee stop to get it changed. £200 lighter off we set for the sombre part of our trip
we wont forget the reason we came and what they gave .
we then set off for France 3.45 pm to go through Holland/Belgium and into France
This is were my TAG Moses comes from as we hit traffic off we set down the middle with me in front lights flashing and the cars parted like the Red sea, you would not believe how good the Flemish drivers are
Our last night saw us in Lille and another beer moment , but next morning Memory man akaBombdoctor could nt find his keysand after searching his bags 3 times (Plod man still couldnt find em
Rich said check your pockets) lo and behold
keys twat he is
after a short trip round Lille which was crap we headed off for Ypres and the Battle fields of 1st World War
another reminder of what some have given in the struggle for freedome
then we were off to Leper town for tea and a rest stop before the ferry
after getting split up at Dover by a lorry Bombdoctor and Valleygixer had their need for speed satisfied trying to catch us up which they did at Reading services about 9pm Wed night, we all arrived home safe tired later that night.
I must admit if we can do it so can you as we all were on different bikes all had different riding skills and experience fro me who only passed my test last Oct to Jim and Bombdoctor who ride their bikes every day also Valleygixer who rides his bike like he was born on it.
Very very enjoyable trip with great Friends and great memories
roll on next year and invasion 2
