-Matt- World Chat Champion
Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 20:25 - 13 Sep 2016 Post subject: BCF France/Belgium Weekend 2016 [30MB DATA] |
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Trip report for a “long weekend” over to France and Belgium last week from Thursday to Sunday.
The first two and a half days were covering stuff I’d planned to do earlier this year but bailed out on at the last minute due to uncertainty about the French fuel strikes at the time.
Thursday – set off with Aff, Fladdem and Liam to the Eurotunnel, heading to Lille for the first night, via Kemmelberg in Belgium.
Friday – rode through Belgium to La Roche-en-Ardenne, then down to Bastogne to see the war museum and Bois Jacques woods near the village of Foy (both featured heavily in the Band of Brothers series about the 101st Airborne’s E company unit which fought in the area extensively).
Saturday – riding to Sedan to see Europe’s largest fortress, then back up to Lille to meet 11 others off BCF who came over on Saturday for karting near the hotel.
Sunday– rideout with everyone to another war museum then back to Calais to get the Eurotunnel late in the afternoon.
Ollie’s done a full thread of the weekend section here https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=315547
[size=0]Day 1 - Thursday
Got off the Eurotunnel and started heading towards the hotel in Lille.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%201_zpscdj4psb5.jpg
Cut into Belgium through some country roads and stopped at the top of Kemmelberg hill - one of the highest points in Belgium (which isn’t very high ).
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%202_zpsu4vnaepq.jpg
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French military monument.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%206_zpsifapppec.jpg
Carried on to the hotel in Lille after another stop at Kemmelberg war memorial. Due to being high ground the area suffered some of the worst battles in WW1 and after severe gas grenade bombardment and assaults over 5000 allied troops were slaughtered in the area before it was captured by the German’s.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%207_zpskjy6mfm7.jpg
Day 2 - Friday
Left the hotel in Lille and almost immediately hit a cluster fuck of traffic.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%208_zps1golbq3e.jpg
Which got worse.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%209_zpsb3ler3v5.jpg
And worse…
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2010_zpsxnfu9ohs.jpg
We briefly all got split up and joined up again at a service station. After debating what this weird structure in the distance was, we discovered it was the 2nd largest boat lift in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Str%C3%A9py-Thieu_boat_lift https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2011_zpswhfh5g3h.jpg
Carried on through Belgium.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2012_zpsnp2dzusz.jpg
Finally got off the motorway and into some more scenic roads and twisties.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2013_zpsvw0roso9.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2014_zps70am9hiu.jpg
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Arriving in La Roche-en-Ardenne.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2017_zpsstsggrtz.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2022_zpshyo0e77o.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2024_zps4uuo37r1.jpg
Carried on towards Bastogne.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2025_zps8ttgaaua.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2026_zpsgxo1v6aw.jpg
Got overtaken by a Chinook, twice.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2027_zpswohmp6wn.jpg
Then hit a road block – unfortunately on one of the nicer roads we had planned in the area, but the diversion was reasonable.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2028_zpsnpjdbbas.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2029_zpsfri9roya.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2031_zpsnox5g42z.jpg
Tour de Belgium . https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2032_zpsd8putjrs.jpg
Arrived at the Bois Jacques woods and saw the 101ST Airborne E company memorial.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2033_zpszfefjjb9.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2035_zpsprly9crn.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2036_zpsaysa6all.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2037_zpsjbapcejw.jpg
And went into the woods on the frontline near Foy further up the road.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2038_zpswgvf7p6p.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2039_zpsdpu83ekw.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2040_zpseye9sb91.jpg
Carried on to Bastogne war museum.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2041_zpsgtt9aowx.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2046_zps68haxmlo.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2047_zpszcr7mdkq.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2048_zpsyoxdibm2.jpg
The museum was really well done. I only got a picture of this “interactive” bit, which was a simulation of sitting inside a bar in Bastogne during various stages of the Battle of the Bulge.
There was another room with mock woods and smoke/sound/light special effects which simulated the shelling, battles and winter visibility at the time, which was particularly poignant having just walked through the foxholes further up the road.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2049_zps6gbvkhhj.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2050_zpsbxte9wdx.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2051_zpsdzuwymt3.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2055_zpsrfx1gsyx.jpg
Left the museum and carried on to Bastogne.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2056_zpsxgdqr5rx.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2058_zpsvwk84yf5.jpg
Arriving in Bouillon.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2059_zpsd3urss8u.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2062_zpsplm7nvn6.jpg
Riding under Bouillon castle.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2063_zpsarfqan1t.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2064_zpswpb1bqv1.jpg
Crossed back into France and entered the Ardennes national park – brilliant views and roads.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2065_zpse5y7i0fc.jpg
This was temporarily delayed due to us all getting flagged down by French police … They were fairly reasonable – checked our licenses, gave us wise words, told us tales of death and disaster on the roads, then waved us on our way again.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2066_zpsqklabmci.jpg
Cue another hour of fun on the way to the next hotel in Charleville-Mezieres.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2067_zpsaplfkjrb.jpg
Day 3 - Saturday
Headed south from the hotel briefly to visit Europe’s largest fortress - Chateau de Sedan.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2068_zpstlbwfvbm.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2069_zpsedyhtfql.jpg
The largest “rifles” I have ever seen .
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2070_zpskejwv5ti.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2071_zpsslwogibl.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2076_zpszwbvdcns.jpg
Left the fortress in the afternoon and rode back up to Lille to meet up with everyone else.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2077_zpsmksbw5wi.jpg
Arrived back in Lille and met up with the others.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2078_zpsaisaw343.jpg
Insert lots of beer and karting chaos.
https://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg630/haroman6661/WP_20160910_014_zpsmorte1yy.jpg
Day 4 - Sunday
Rode to La Coupole bunker museum – used as a V-rocket manufacturing site during WW2.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2079_zpsyyzvgcun.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2080_zpsclbcecat.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2081_zps6twhk56g.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2082_zpslxhuhpkn.jpg
Arriving at La Coupole.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2083_zpskl93qaog.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2084_zpsqcgjki4n.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2085_zpsbxjwlaeq.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2086_zps80gdrqwk.jpg
Heading back to Calais for the Eurotunnel home.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2087_zpsddgpsxvn.jpg
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2088_zpsvg2ut6u8.jpg
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https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2091_zps9wdojh4o.jpg
And got the Eurotunnel back home.
https://i1369.photobucket.com/albums/ag227/bcfeurojolly2014/Belgium/thread%2092_zpsbphj0f34.jpg
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Last edited by -Matt- on 22:30 - 25 May 2018; edited 1 time in total |
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Aff World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 May 2011 Karma :
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Saraya Spanner Monkey
Joined: 11 May 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 15:59 - 14 Sep 2016 Post subject: |
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Fab pics.
On the pic titled 'Arrived back in Lille and met up with the others. '
The white bike on the right - what bike is this please? |
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Aff World Chat Champion
Joined: 05 May 2011 Karma :
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Vifferguy Banned
Joined: 31 Aug 2016 Karma :
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Posted: 18:42 - 14 Sep 2016 Post subject: |
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Great photos & write up except............I did not see one glass of Stella anywhere in all the photos!?!?!?! |
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Rogue_Shadow World Chat Champion
Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 20:59 - 14 Sep 2016 Post subject: |
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Looks like a great trip
New Camera/GoPro Matt? These pictures are looking sharper than previous write/type ups |
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Pigeon World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :
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Posted: 22:38 - 14 Sep 2016 Post subject: |
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Great photos + writeup Matt
You had fantastic weather by the looks of it and some cracking roads too. One thing I wish I had was some road pics, must look into how.
Seeing those foxholes / shell craters was strange in the photos, must have been 10x as such in the flesh so to speak.
Trust you to attract the attentions of the police |
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Matt B World Chat Champion
Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :
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Pigeon World Chat Champion
Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :
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