| off to france tomoz | |
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+8Huddsman Dimond bikerboy Meldrew drewsieboy ebear695 Winger61 gooffy 12 posters |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 05, 2013 3:19 pm | |
| Off too france tomorrow for a two day trip on the swing ist time driving on wrong side of the road gl me |
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Winger61 Silver Wing Rider
Number of posts : 452 Age : 75 Location : Louth, Lincolnshire, UK Points : 5655 Registration date : 2010-10-15
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 05, 2013 4:15 pm | |
| - gooffy wrote:
- Off too france tomorrow for a two day trip on the swing
ist time driving on wrong side of the road gl me Enjoy - but be careful, they're all foreigners over there! |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:44 pm | |
| Have fun bud take it steady & stay safe |
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ebear695 Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 60 Location : Orange, Ca Points : 4243 Registration date : 2013-07-11
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 05, 2013 8:26 pm | |
| So is your Swing a left hand or right hand drive, just wondering. Have Fun!
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drewsieboy Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 22 Age : 77 Location : edinburgh Points : 4447 Registration date : 2012-11-01
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 06, 2013 8:48 am | |
| great roads to ride. Food is wonderful, i was in an upmarket french restaurant and asked the waiter if he had frogs legs? (oui msieu) he replied, good i said, hop into the kitchen and get me a cheese sandwich.
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Winger61 Silver Wing Rider
Number of posts : 452 Age : 75 Location : Louth, Lincolnshire, UK Points : 5655 Registration date : 2010-10-15
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 06, 2013 9:07 am | |
| - drewsieboy wrote:
- i was in an upmarket french restaurant and asked the waiter if he had frogs legs? (oui msieu) he replied, good i said, hop into the kitchen and get me a cheese sandwich.
The old ones are the best!! |
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Meldrew Visiting Curmudgeon
Number of posts : 4225 Location : York, North Yorkshire, England UK Points : 9474 Registration date : 2010-11-16
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 06, 2013 9:53 am | |
| - gooffy wrote:
- Off too france tomorrow for a two day trip on the swing
ist time driving on wrong side of the road Good luck mate, you've picked a real crappy day to ride the 400 miles from Berwick to Dover if that's the ferry route you're using. |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:06 am | |
| Meldrew crossed over at north sheilds, to Amsterdam, through Belguim into Dunkirk stayed the night and returned the scenic route Would of been great if i could of had another day, but really enjoyed the ride out on t wrong side of the road Friday, bad weather untill hit the ship, wettist day of the year me thinks, crossing was ok choppy at start, covered over 600 miles and the swing ran beauitifull, power when i needed it and a relaxing rie ride when i didnt. Lots of Burgmans on the road never seen another Swing |
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Meldrew Visiting Curmudgeon
Number of posts : 4225 Location : York, North Yorkshire, England UK Points : 9474 Registration date : 2010-11-16
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Mon Sep 09, 2013 9:04 am | |
| Nice one gooffy, Friday probably was the wettest day of the year up North. I used to treat myself to Commodore Class cabins both ways on that ferry route I until I met Mrs M and she put a stop to that particular indulgence. You'll have noticed on the motorway to Amsterdam from IJmuiden all the low flying Boeing 747's overhead on their way to Schipol airport. |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:30 am | |
| aye, when i wasn't watching the lane dodging m8, got lost cple times sat nav had me going in circles hee hee enjoyed it though cheers |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Wed Sep 11, 2013 4:37 pm | |
| One thing i meant to say was when boarding the boat , i looked up the ramp and thought WT*
up four decks of slippery uneven ramp and then a sharp left over another uneven ramp, then try to secure bike with the straps lol I thought the ship would of been a bit more user friendly ha |
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Meldrew Visiting Curmudgeon
Number of posts : 4225 Location : York, North Yorkshire, England UK Points : 9474 Registration date : 2010-11-16
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:44 pm | |
| Riding up and down steep steel ramps onto and off ferries is all part of the game, so is learning how to tie down and secure your bike or scooter. In my early years of touring there was only lengths of oily rope to tie down your bike and leave your hands filthy, or you left it to some swarthy deckhand hoping he wouldn't damage the paintwork. I soon learned to carry my own kit of tie down ratchet straps, carabiners, padding to protect vinyl and paint, and light work gloves to protect my hands. You don't always have a tensioned steel deck cable to secure straps to either, you might get slotted into an area where you have to use deck railings and eyelets as securing points. Last year when I used the Hull to Rotterdam ferry it was Dutch crewed, and I was directed to a special area for motorcycles where I used one of their straps to secure the scooter. On the return trip it was the British crewed ferry and all the bikes were in a central deck area and there was only ropes available. A crewman told me they stopped supplying straps after they kept getting stolen. I was OK as I used my own gear, but a lot of riders had to use ropes and knots vaguely remembered from their time in the Scouts! |
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bikerboy Silver Wing Rider
Number of posts : 405 Age : 81 Location : Leyland England Points : 5392 Registration date : 2011-05-12
| Subject: Off to France Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:17 am | |
| Hull to Zeebrugge always seems to have you up a steep ramp to a half deck, very worrying but survivable ! This year they gave each of us a tie-down as we rode up the ramp, it was a cam-lock strap with hooks, a vast improvement on the knotted string they used to hand out if you were lucky !! |
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Meldrew Visiting Curmudgeon
Number of posts : 4225 Location : York, North Yorkshire, England UK Points : 9474 Registration date : 2010-11-16
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:58 am | |
| On the very large Hull to Rotterdam 'super ferries' they're now using, they have a specially built berth for them and you have to ride up a corkscrew ramp that's about four stories high onto a large elevated parking area to board the ship. It's usually early evening when you board and riding up that corkscrew ramp you can be dazzled by the sun when you're half way up.
I'm taking my Smart car on the Hull to Zeebrugge route next month, I've been Euro touring on bikes and scooters for 30 years, but this will be the first time driving on European roads. Mrs M has organised a late holiday in France for us.
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bikerboy Silver Wing Rider
Number of posts : 405 Age : 81 Location : Leyland England Points : 5392 Registration date : 2011-05-12
| Subject: Off to Farance Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:44 am | |
| We enjoy France but we find that Germany is much better value. Fuel is not cheap anywhere and you have more choices (unleaded E5 E10 etc) which does not help ! |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 12, 2013 9:52 am | |
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Dimond Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 540 Age : 79 Location : San Francisco Bay Area Points : 5554 Registration date : 2011-08-07
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 13, 2013 1:25 pm | |
| - gooffy wrote:
- Off too france tomorrow for a two day trip on the swing
ist time driving on wrong side of the road gl me Have Fun! Looking forward to your trip report! |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 13, 2013 3:55 pm | |
| Diamond i travelled last week m8, not much to report really, Arrived holland travelled through to Belguim and into France, allways wanted to visit Dunkirk, travelled there by motorway as was a bit rushed but really enjoyed the ride. arrived Dunkirk around 6 pm found lodgings then tried to find a bar which was difficult on a saturday night, even harder to find one that served beer, Left Dunkirk following morning around nine to be at ship for a 5 pm departure i went the scenic route this time, as i got a bit lost in Belguim , this i enjoyed more passing through some nice towns, arriving at 4-15pm for another nightmare trip up a slippy ramp onto the 4th deck |
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Huddsman Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 7 Location : Huddersfield Points : 4184 Registration date : 2013-07-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:13 pm | |
| Hi Goffy, Some of the chaps from maxi muppets went over. Gerard, on his Burg 650, being one of them. |
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Dimond Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 540 Age : 79 Location : San Francisco Bay Area Points : 5554 Registration date : 2011-08-07
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:04 pm | |
| - gooffy wrote:
Left Dunkirk following morning around nine to be at ship for a 5 pm departure i went the scenic route this time, as i got a bit lost in Belguim , this i enjoyed more passing through some nice towns, arriving at 4-15pm for another nightmare trip up a slippy ramp onto the 4th deck
Sounds like another great time on the SWing! Except of course going up a slippery ramp - yikes! |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:40 pm | |
| aye really enjoyed it going to plan another for early next yr off to Austrailia on monday for two weeks no swing but have a week off when i return, weather permitting i might try lands end still never been |
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Dimond Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 540 Age : 79 Location : San Francisco Bay Area Points : 5554 Registration date : 2011-08-07
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:46 pm | |
| - gooffy wrote:
- ....might try lands end ...
Looked it up - seems like quite a trip - how many hours of actual riding to get there? |
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GHM-PM Site Admin
Number of posts : 2637 Age : 72 Location : Bullhead City, AZ Points : 7548 Registration date : 2012-05-17
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 20, 2013 9:04 am | |
| Did I miss the pictures? |
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Colin B Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 586 Age : 72 Location : Windsor, UK Points : 4933 Registration date : 2013-03-20
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:36 pm | |
| - Dimond wrote:
- how many hours of actual riding to get there?
More than the place deserves. It's a dump. |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Fri Sep 20, 2013 3:24 pm | |
| - Dimond wrote:
- how many hours of actual riding to get there?
- Colin B wrote:
- More than the place deserves. It's a dump.
I think "a dump" is actually an unkind description,while there is actually very little to see/do when you get there,remember that as with so many other things in life the destination is of minor consequence,the journey is the adventure |
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Colin B Silver Wing Expert
Number of posts : 586 Age : 72 Location : Windsor, UK Points : 4933 Registration date : 2013-03-20
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:15 am | |
| Both are right, the ride was an adventure, the place was erm a dump, but had historical appeal to me. The ride itself was over 600 miles total, mostly on motorway
Camera ended up in north sea, wouldnt switch on, got one or two on my phone but nothing special
derek |
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Meldrew Visiting Curmudgeon
Number of posts : 4225 Location : York, North Yorkshire, England UK Points : 9474 Registration date : 2010-11-16
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:20 am | |
| All credit to gooffy for doing John O' Groats and now wanting to ride to Lands End. My ride to John O'Groats was just a spur of the moment thing when I stopped for fuel in Inverness, and it was a disappointment when I got there, just a tourist trap with that signpost. I then had to ride another 92 miles west along the coast to Durness to my original destination and where I had accommodation booked for the night. I didn't think of it as an adventure, just a long tedious detour. So a ride down to Lands End doesn't interest me at all, it's a long way to go just to take a photo of a signpost.
Last edited by Meldrew on Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:32 am; edited 1 time in total |
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model28a Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts : 2085 Age : 71 Location : St.Pete.FL. Points : 7579 Registration date : 2010-02-03
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:29 am | |
| "Camera ended up in north sea, wouldnt switch on," Camera ended up in north sea, (because it) wouldn't switch on? Camera ended up in north sea, (then it) wouldn't switch on,? |
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Sun Sep 22, 2013 3:12 am | |
| Too true, its two parts too many places i have never visited in the british isles, one of them is lands end, hope to do others on the way there and back, The other is the ride, any chance i get im out on the swing, want to do as much as i can as long as i can, different from a car, on the swing im on my own, go where and stop when i want, just how i like it and probably why most of us have got a bike. derek |
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"Hi Yo" Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts : 2940 Age : 75 Location : Winnsboro, Texas, U.S.A. Points : 8579 Registration date : 2010-02-17
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Sun Sep 22, 2013 6:25 am | |
| And Derek, you can tell people you went there on your bike. Enjoy as much as you can as long as you can. |
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Meldrew Visiting Curmudgeon
Number of posts : 4225 Location : York, North Yorkshire, England UK Points : 9474 Registration date : 2010-11-16
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gooffy Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts : 181 Age : 63 Location : berwick upon tweed Points : 4697 Registration date : 2012-09-13
| Subject: Re: off to france tomoz Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:47 am | |
| Aye we passed a lot of cyclists both going there and returning, they were staying at the B&B just along the road from the sign, wonder how long that took them from lands end?. |
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| off to france tomoz | |
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