BCF France/Belgium Weekend 2016 [30MB DATA]

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

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 Laughing

… 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 Thinking

Aff · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2011 Karma :

Nice one Matt. Thumbs Up

Top trip as usual, I will look through my photos in a bit and see if I have anything worthwhile to add.
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Saraya · Spanner Monkey Joined: 11 May 2016 Karma :

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?

Aff · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 May 2011 Karma :

Vifferguy · Banned Joined: 31 Aug 2016 Karma :

Great photos & write up except............I did not see one glass of Stella anywhere in all the photos!?!?!?! Wink

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

Looks like a great trip Thumbs Up

New Camera/GoPro Matt? These pictures are looking sharper than previous write/type ups Cool

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

Great photos + writeup Matt Thumbs Up

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 Laughing

Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :