The Dieppe Raiders Thursday May 22 to Sunday May 26th 2008
Three of us went to Arromanche des Bains, Normandy. The itinerary was to discover the D-Day Landing beaches.
Tony on a Honda Deauville 650, Rambo who was riding a Yamaha Diversion 900, and me on my Suzuki GSX750F. We are friends from work.
Both Tony and Rambo have had far more experience than me with bike touring. This was my first long trip on a motorbike, and the first time that I have been camping since I was a boy cub some 30 plus years ago.
So for the first time my bike was loaded with Oxford first time panniers, tent and clothes in waterproof bags strapped across the rear seat and my cheap but perfectly adequate tank bag. In the panniers I had compressed ‘Mummy’ sleeping bag, airbed, compact stove and camping cooking utensils, trainers, wash bag and towel. In my tank bag I had my documents, waterproofs, camera and some cereal bars and bottled water.
Rambo and I live in Worthing and Lancing respectively and Tony in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, so we arranged for 2am meet on a junction on the A27 north of Brighton. The deadline was a 5.18 booking in time at the Euro Tunnel, Folkestone. Because of operation stack on the M20, we decided to follow the A27 and A259 route to Folkestone.
By the way our name Dieppe raiders was given to us by our boss, so the name stuck.
I was surprised as to just how many bikers there were going over; so I got talking to couple on Pan Euro and FiresBlade going down to Bordeaux. I was a little anxious that the bikes would topple over due to the movement of the train.
Once on the other side the transition from riding on the opposite side of the road, proved to be no problem. The road signs can be misleading at times, they generally don’t have the road numbers on, and the direction arrows can be confusing.
We didn’t do anything rash or stupid to attract the local non-existent Gendarmerie.
The bikers on the continent are a lot friendlier with everyone holding out their left arms as we passed, the rudest and ignorant ones we found were surprise the British!
Down the A16 we went to get some miles under us and then we headed for Le Touquet and a well-earned breakfast, croissants and coffee. Then we followed the coast road towards Abbeville.
Here we stopped for a map check and leg stretch where we meet a couple from Newcastle on an Africa Twin, who asked us how to get to Barcelona! Not only that, they were aiming to be there in 10 hours.
We figured that perhaps map reading and travelling was not their strong point. All we could do was wish them luck!
From Abbeville it was onto Le Harve and a stop for a picnic at a viewing area under the Pont du Normandie road bridge. French fishermen were protesting at the price of fuel for their boats and trawlers. Claiming that this was the death of the fishing, they were burning tyres and giving away fish to motorist on the tollbooths at the bridge. Have you ever had a picnic accompanied with the sweet aroma of burning rubber? I thoroughly recommend it.
Onwards and around the Normandy coast we went. First stop Deauville, and a photo shoot with Tony on his bike and then to Cabourg, and a photo of Rambo with his Caberg helmet.
We started to started see for the first time monuments to Operation Overlord and the liberation of France and Europe. Preserved Sherman and Churchill tanks, artillery pieces, other militaria, and statues. You don’t get a true a scale of the operation until you have been along the length of the Normandy coast, truly awe inspiring.
Towards Quisteram and over the Ranville and Pegasus bridge which cross the Orne River and Caen canal. We went back to Pegasus Bridge the following day, a meal at the Café Gondrée. Madame Gondrée served us and was particularly interested in my sketchbook. (I always carry an A5 field sketchbook with me, and when the need arises I sketch the views etc).
So onto Arromanche we went, where were over awed by the huge scale of the remaining sections of the Mulberry harbour. Then to our campsite, which at only 3.50 euros a night is excellent value, the shower facilities are faultless also.
So for next two days we as I said earlier, went to Pegasus Bridge and the museum, which houses the original bridge. A very good guide gave us a very account of the first action of 5/6th June when Glider borne commandoes regained the bridge.
Followed by a visit to the gun batteries at Merville and an account to retake this installation at a huge cost of lives.
The following day a trip out the huge American cemetery at Coleville. Here is the last resting place of over 9000 United States Services who perished during the whole Normandy operation. The staff there were preparing for the following Memorial Day celebrations. Each grave was being marked with Stars and Stripes and French Tricolour flags.
It really was a moving experience, the grounds were immaculate. Apart from that is, on the hour, every hour. Mechanised bells would chime two random patriotic battle hymns. Unknown to us Brits, one of the hymns is to our National Anthem. The silence was far more deafening.
Coleville over looks Omaha beach, so down we went to picture in our minds the horrors of that day. For those of you who have seen the film Saving Private Ryan, and then I need so no more.
Next stop Point du Hoc; this was a vital and strategic point that had to taken at all costs by US Rangers. A gun battery overlooked all of the Omaha and Utah beaches. The Rangers had to climb a sheer cliff face to take out the gun emplacements. Today there are still many reminders of the results of heavy bombing by the allies prior to the assault, and the guns remained intact.
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Longue sur Mere gun batteries next where today the guns remain. All the sites visited have excellent museums, and here is a wealth of books and information available.
Sadly we ran out of time, so next time it’s the Utah beach head and St Mere Eglise, Bayeux and Caen,
Would I do it again? most definitely! But not on my current bike, I got a tremendous neck crush, which, along with aching legs that accompany the sports bike riding position. Getting too old now I fear, so a Transalp or Versys for me. We rarely went above 80, apart from a blat to take the pressure of the neck.
The infysis is on ‘Touring’ bikes. So planning the next mission abroad for next with Rambo, Tony and anyone else who may care to join us. |
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