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Post by McF on Jan 2, 2010 8:24:07 GMT 1
I have started the plan I began by adding a series of pins to our google map, hopefully this link works! linkthe relevant ones are called "Tour - " then a description of their location. I have used blue flags as the pins There are several locations which in effect create a hollow square with the Somme at the South West Ypres at the North Mons at the East Le Cateau and Etreux at the South East So a central campsite makes a lot of sense, or we will be spending time every day striking and making camp. Valenciennes looks good for planning purposes and there is forestry North East which may offer somewhere. I'm thinking of a long weekend, probably Friday RV in UK, say midday at Folkestone, cross channel and travel to a campsite. Miles = 110 miles from Calais Saturday ride to Mons, le Cateau and Etreux, return to campsite. Miles = 100 miles round trip Sunday visit the Somme and Vimy Ridge - those that need to can peel away to Calais for trip home. Miles = 140 miles to Calais Remainder can go on to visit Ypres and Menin Gate camping near Ypres. Miles = 120 Monday - Dunkirk then Calais. Miles = 60 miles to Calais For those of us resident in the UK, Eurotunnel should be less than £50 for a short stay return. There is quite a lot to consider, not just in group planning, but anyone thinking of going needs to start individual planning: Insurance Cover - for driving abroad Breakdown and recovery cover Service Bike, condition of tyres? Tents and camping equipment - purchase, trial erections etc (Jaz is the expert for advice here!) Packing list and how you're going to fasten it all to your aNTy And of course - when are we going to go? I suggest late May at the earliest. There is of course the Bank Holiday, but I'm likely to be Up North for that weekend, so perhaps early June?
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Post by De Graaf van Salland on Jan 2, 2010 9:34:25 GMT 1
Good idea ! I shall follow this post very closely, because it's practically next door for me. I have no exact plans for next june, so lets try & find suitable dates. GvS
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Post by Jaz66 on Jan 2, 2010 15:07:03 GMT 1
Excellent..the planning begins.. ;D Said last year i was really looking forward to this so will pay close attention. That said the dates...mmhh Late may..could do Might be off to Goa in middle of April, and early June i have planned something with the rf crowd, which i will say more about later. So late June works for me as well. Like all these things tying up the dates is a real bugger. But at least starting now we can all adjust and wiggle in some time for this. On a plus side be good to met with the Euro mob we haven't met (Tips hat to Buzzin ) Central location makes best sense. camping sound ideal. shall of course be bringing my tent wallah . Roger..... (getting into the indian culture in preparation for my trip ;D ) itinerary looks good, all very do-able... Await further up dates, eagerly..
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Post by McF on Jan 2, 2010 19:42:04 GMT 1
Excellent..the planning begins.. ;D That said the dates...mmhh etc etc OK - how about a poll? I have added to the top of this thread
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Post by McF on Jan 2, 2010 20:02:10 GMT 1
I have added a poll with 6 votes allowed per member (50% of the weekends) If only one weekend suits, then just tick that one If you can do all of them, tick the best 6 for you, but post a reply letting us know. I've also allowed voters to retract votes in case they change their minds, or something unexpected turns up. I've left the results visible before people vote as it may help influence later voters selecting their best weekends. Personally, I'd rather avoid the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May.
One big event to be aware of is 1st July, 2010 will be the 94th anniversary of the commencement of the Battle of the Somme. Not a significant anniversary, but the weekend 03/04 July is likely to be busier than normal.
For reference, other public holidays are France 13 May - Ascension. 08 May - 1945 Victory Day. 24 May - Whit Monday. 14 Jul - Bastille Day
Netherlands 13 May - Ascension. 24 May - Whit Monday.
Portugal 03 Jun - Corpus Christi. 10 Jun - Portugal Day.
Poland 13 May - Ascension. 03 Jun - Corpus Christi.
Belgium 13 May - Ascension Day. 24 May - Whit Monday. 11 Jul - Flemish Community Holiday. 21 Jul - Independence Day
Also for reference - 15 Aug is a public holiday in most of Continental Europe (Assumption)
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Post by Jaz66 on Jan 2, 2010 20:16:14 GMT 1
Posted in the poll.. Open to many other dates. As said, can't do early june, but others dates are good at the moment... ;D Jaz
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Post by skyhook on Jan 2, 2010 23:14:34 GMT 1
All date are good for me, Might have to delay me trip to Spain,But to ride this with you guys will be a blast.
So count me in Plus me Sister lives in Folkston so I am sorted for an over night stop...........lol
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Post by McF on Jan 3, 2010 7:32:48 GMT 1
I have been having a little play with the google map - what a fantastic tool. I've placed the flags at specific areas of interest and linked in relevant photos Then I've ordered the flags in the list to reflect the itinerary
Tour 1 etc = Day 1 (Saturday) then a letter for the order we would visit them (to tell the story). Basically this day reflects the outbreak in 1914 and first few months of World War 1, with the German Army pushing the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) back. During this period the fight was just beginning and no-one had any idea of the scale of loss that was to come. There are some interesting bits of detail to learn about - the first VC was awarded at Mons post humously; the recipient is buried nearby at a beautiful cemetery. We'll go on to visit Le Cateau, where the Royal Artillery held back the German Army until they were overrun. Then on to Etreaux where a Battalion of Munster Fusiliers held back an entire German Corps, fighting until they had literally run out of ammunition and every single surviving man was wounded. They enabled the BEF to withdraw to safety, but only because the message telling them to withdraw did not get through!
Tour 2 will focus on the Somme with a visit to Vimy Ridge. No particular structure to this day yet, just taking in the sheer scale of the mincing machine that had taken hold by 1916. For those able to remain, a visit to Ypres for the ceremony of "Last Post" at the Menin Gate will round off the day
Day 1 will be largely outdoors. Day 2 provides considerable opportunities for visitor centres with lots of information to read; artefacts and displays etc.
Wet Weather plan - if the weather gets totally grim, we can decide up to the day itself. I'd propose binning the day 1 tour and we take a "verbal tour" with a map and some photos and then spend more time in and around the Somme. There are still lots of interesting roads to explore but in this area they can be narrow, potholed and sometimes get busy. So in poor weather we can still get a good ride on both days, but without the pressure of needing to cover longer distances.
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Post by Jaz66 on Jan 3, 2010 8:19:06 GMT 1
Yeah, google maps do seem to have it all... have slightly amended the Menin Gate. I am sure as a military man most of this will be old hat but some for me and maybe others, is not so well known. I love a bit more info when my curiosity is aroused, but i then realised that this may be deliberate to keep the interest high by adding this information at a later date. Please let me know or delete it if not relevant just yet. Otherwise itinerary looks good, but does remind me of the old RAF Flying display joke... "Flying display on the heath 3pm sunday, if raining, in town hall" ;D ;D But any plan has to include the weather, i suppose...
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Post by De Graaf van Salland on Jan 3, 2010 11:13:01 GMT 1
I've voted for my suitable weekends. Nice map ! GvS PS: This link has been posted on this forum before, but perhaps it usefull to repeat it: www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/camping/
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Post by oddjob1 on Jan 3, 2010 13:31:28 GMT 1
i be up for it..late june/early july be best for me..be a good start for a euro tour lol
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Post by McF on Jan 3, 2010 14:06:57 GMT 1
My doctrine - plan for the worst and then hope for the best! If necessary, the wet weather plan will be welcome for a chance to ride between the various visitor centres and still learn a lot (probably more than just looking at some fields, ordered ranks of military headstones etc) without just being in the wet all day. Good point about the Menin Gate in particular. I know a lot about it, but have never managed to make it there. I am told it is a very humbling experience. That part of the trip is a personal pilgrimage if I'm honest ;D Thanks for the link to the Wiki Page I'm not witholding anything intentionally! OK - there is one little dramatic "reveal" I have planned for Mons - a small but very interesting "surprise piece of information" about the war. Rather than bombard the forum all at once, I'll try and build the story as we go, but if anyone has more info, or wants to know something, this is the place to do it. At various times, I have been everywhere on the itinerary (other than Ypres), including one 3 day tour with the great Professor Richard Holmes (TV Series War Walks - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Holmes_%28military_historian%29) who introduced some fascinating detail to the Somme. Yeah, google maps do seem to have it all... have slightly amended the Menin Gate. I am sure as a military man most of this will be old hat but some for me and maybe others, is not so well known. I love a bit more info when my curiosity is aroused, but i then realised that this may be deliberate to keep the interest high by adding this information at a later date. Please let me know or delete it if not relevant just yet. Otherwise itinerary looks good, but does remind me of the old RAF Flying display joke... "Flying display on the heath 3pm sunday, if raining, in town hall" ;D ;D But any plan has to include the weather, i suppose...
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Post by McF on Jan 3, 2010 14:10:12 GMT 1
I've voted for my suitable weekends. Nice map ! GvS PS: This link has been posted on this forum before, but perhaps it usefull to repeat it: www.lazymotorbike.eu/tips/camping/I haven't seen the camping on bikes page before - it's very good. I'd recommend everyone to take a look and note the advice they offer. Everyone will have at least one tip they can pick up. I should warn you and Buzzin, that Arnhem is next on my list for Forum Battlefield Tours (I got "A Bridge Too Far" DVD for Christmas). Perhaps I should have planned that one first! We will need local knowledge, hosts and guides ;D
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Post by The General on Jan 3, 2010 18:36:13 GMT 1
If planning for a Wet Weather option, camping in the area of the Somme is probably the best plan Two campsites found, but they look thin on the ground in this area! www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=6349Just south of Arras (70 miles from Calais and an easy hour on fast Toll Road (non toll available too - but in my opinion, this close to the coast, you just want to get the journey done, in or out)) This would make the day one miles 170 and day 2 would be say 50 around the Somme, plus 120 for ther Ypres and return journey www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=6347Not much information available for this site and its location doesn't really offer many advantages (although it is closer to Ypres for Sunday night by 28 miles) So the first one looks like the best option - any thoughts?
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Post by Jaz66 on Jan 3, 2010 19:22:22 GMT 1
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