Twisties 2007

The trip this year started with Steve Davies hosting a BBQ the week prior to departing for every one to get to meet and look up who they would be sleeping with. Most were able to attend. It was however noted that Nigel was not there apparently he was at a wedding or was it that Gerty Garmin had failed to find her way??!!

It was excellent start with a great venue, food and drink. (Including vegetables from Steve’s own allotment patch) Steve took on the leader’s role as Mark and Jackie were unfortunately unable to attend the trip.The draw was made for the Karting groups and the ribbons issued to the teams for their colours so that we could split into four groups for the trip down from Folkestone. Detailed instructions were issued to 22 bikes (24 people)

The Trip - Various groups set out the first led by Colin Hitchcock from Severn sisters. but all arriving by early evening. Everyone stayed overnight in Folkestone. Wendy and Lillian staying separately with the rest at the B&B. Secure parking was the lawn and the needed some off-roading through 3 inches of loose gravel to get the lawn.Following a successful briefing at an Italian Restaurant it was back to the hotel to be kept awake by the barking dog and the snoring of our new found room mates.

Day 1 - Up for a good English breakfast the next morning and away to the Chunnel. Everyone filled with petrol, (supposedly) together with some dubious advanced riding to get from the hotel to the Chunnel; turning sharp left in front of 38 tonne lorries etc. (You know who you are!!)

We all looked out for the infamous ribbons to guide us in our groups.

The first thing on arrival in Calais there was a need to fill with fuel for those who had forgotten.  The first few roundabouts were strewn with cheap diesel all over the road.  None the less some ventured across to Dunkirk via Lille where as others took the direct route south to Cambria and across the N43.

The white group had two or three laps of Dunkirk as Steve Davies’ garmin was re-calculating and doing a U-turns. The Group lunched in deepest Belgium’s Philippeville which was very relaxing. Pressing onto Bouillon the Garmin indicated 30 mins from destination. But 20 mins later we were 50 mins from the hotel. A lovely scenic route ridden twice over added to the mileage.

The left turning on to on coming traffic at a junction proved eventful for some but luckily no mishaps.   En route Nigel paid homage to the R1 log pile where John Pickering planted and wrote off his bike on the trip last year    Eventually all arrived at the Hotel de la Poste which would prove to be an excellent choice for the second year running. All settled in for the group evening meal and beers

Day 2 was the Mining Museum in Rumelange. The route a short blast of the twisties through the damp forest roads.  Groups set off but soon dispersed into different categories of ride depending on the pace required. The shortage of petrol stations was to prove to be a problem for some who chose not to fill up on every occasion – lessons to be learnt there.As normal Nigel was the last to arrive due to his belief that Gertie Garmin would be right most of the time.

Lunch was served and the Mexican wave was started and was copied by a group of local school children much to the amusement of their teachers!Steve then made use of a table umbrella to walk from the restaurant to the mining museum entrance whilst deflecting the heavy rain to sort out the tickets for the train in to the mine. Everyone rushed to the front the of the train to get the best seats only to find out that they were now facing the wrong way. Nigel was back first back via the fast motorway route as he was determined not to be the last home again. Others took longer due to the lack of fuel!!

Day 3 - Saturday was the rest day for many prior to the big four wheel karting event that afternoon. There was a tour of the castle, trailing through the tunnels, watching the birds of prey display or some preferred to watch the local bands attending the local music festival. Would the weather hold for the Karting?

An early afternoon inspection revealed deep puddles on the corners. None the less eventually it was agreed to hold the event with 17 drivers taking part. No usual health and safety briefing but straight in to the wet weather Karting on slicks!  The competitive element soon became evident for those who could keep it on the track.  The stars were the Tim ‘the Stig” and Wendy.

Back in the hotel there was local entertainment of guitar playing by Doug and Jon. In addition there was “whoops bunny” and “psychic spoon” events to entertain the coach party from Hampshire on a walking holiday. A few dubious chat lines to local Belgium girls proved unsuccessful. 

Day 4 - Sunday was the trip to Viaden in the Luxemburg Ardennes. In Viaden we were served lunch by a lovely blonde waitress. Most then embarked on Luxembourg’s only chairlift. The chairlift crosses the river and rises 450 meters were ice creams were consumed with a view over the town and nearby Germany. A quick blast over the border into Germany and then the return journey speeding through the bends and the common cry of watch the vanishing point.

That evening, Chez Betty was the venue for most. Nigel, still confused from a day out with Gertie Garmin manage to eat Maureen’s peppered steak by mistake. Hilary recounting her times as a Samaritans for any who wanted to get things off their chest and Colin took pictures of his anatomy!

Day 5 - Monday saw the group return to Blightly.  Steve however set off South to Grenoble, Marc’s group rode straight back to the Calais; Colin and Co went via Waterloo Museum; Lillian’s group set off via the motorway through the obligatory deserted villages and forest twisties;  and Nigel’s group headed off to find the war grave his Great Uncle form the 1914-18 War.  

All safely returned to Calais through the wind and rain, despite the detour on the road when an un-named rider turned off the motorway and headed towards Paris . Back in England we all made our way back to Hampshire. One group picked up Spanish off-shore worker on his Ducati just outside Hastings.  He was heading for Portsmouth Ferry on a Ducati but he didn’t have a  Garmin or even a map but he followed the group to the M27 and then took the wrong turning anyway!! 

The several of the group had a reunion BBQ at Steve's on 27 July . Again excellent food but the pouring rain returned to remind us of Belgium.  We were entertained by a slides show of all the photographs taken by the whole group during the trip. 

A big thank you to Mark and Jackie for organising the trip and for Steve for being group leader whilst on tour.       

Quotes:

 “Just quick thanks to everybody that made my first European trip EVER!!!

"A very pleasant and enjoyable trip”. 

 “I enjoyed the trip, the atmosphere was marvelous and as a newcomer to SAM I was made to feel part of the team even though my cornering is better with four wheels than two.”

 “The trip was brilliant and was as good as any I have been on.”