Le Carnage weekend to Normandy

[Littlepeahead]

I heard they just closed the Channel, and France as a whole. Something to do with an invasion of rabid hippos.

[F4LL3N]

Right leaving now ! Meet most of you at the services :D

[speedplay]

I heard they just closed the Channel, and France as a whole. Something to do with an invasion of rabid hippos.

I didn't go ???

[Littlepeahead]

Now now, don't be mean. We all know hippos are slow grumpy beasts with a notorious bad temper. Unless they are the pink cuddly one from Rainbow who shared a bed with zippy.

[speedplay]

Now now, don't be mean. We all know hippos are slow grumpy beasts with a notorious bad temper.

You were talking about me? But I look like the comedian off the direct line insurance ads.

[Quiff Wichard]

hope you all arrived safely and had a good crossing.. have fun, ride well and be safe..

[Mr Speirs]

Judging by Phils comment on Facebook I think the rain may have damped spirits slightly.
I'm sure after the weekend they will look back on it fondly.

[L3nny]

*quickly logs onto FB to "like" comment*

[Littlepeahead]

I really need to start riding my bike instead of just looking at it.

[MisterTommyH]

It had p1ssed it down the whole time!

Everyone's still having a good time though - now it just needs to stop tomorrow so we can pack away in the dry!

[Dave20046]

Leave Phil alone, he's just awesome, everybody knows he's not miserable and is always the first to help anyone out.

It's me who should be given abuse for being really slow at getting ready and making everyone else wait.

Damn it! :(
I blame innocenti sv's

[L3nny]

Normal service has resumed then

[robh539]

Mods are gods with the power to change lol.
Hope you had a good one phil

[-Ralph-]

My bike decided to copy the weather and have a **** itself, about a minute after boarding the ferry and being switched off. Coolant all over the floor. Have recovery waiting in Portsmouth to board the ferry and either fix it or recover it off the car deck. Barsteward!!

[robh539]

Col what a barstool, hope you get it sorted an home soon dude, on the brightside it didnt do it gettin off the ferry last week. Will catch up with you soon.

[Quiff Wichard]

Everyone home safe ???

[-Ralph-]

Rusty and I are in our second recovery van of the night being relayed home. Just about at Hemel Hempstead on the M1. Looks like a 3:30 am home for Rusty and an hour or so later for me as we are going to Loughborough first

[-Ralph-]

...and the driver of this van really should run for prime minister as he has a theory on everything. I've long since shut up as I thought maybe if I stopped replying he'd stop, but the consipacy theories and setting the world to rights continues to educate and enlighten Russ. Get me the f**k home and out of this van.

[-Ralph-]

Haha, sorry guys you are all idiots - wearing leathers is pointless! This guy rides in jeans and a hoodie. Just thought I'd set you straight on that one as I saw a lot of you wearing leathers this weekend! BTW, Rusty's bike is a write off after a fall like that!

[rusty76]

...and the driver of this van really should run for prime minister as he has a theory on everything. I've long since shut up as I thought maybe if I stopped replying he'd stop, but the consipacy theories and setting the world to rights continues to educate and enlighten Russ. Get me the f**k home and out of this van.

Stop moaning. Im having to talk to him. I think he's over done it on the red bull / coffee / cocaine

[rusty76]

BTW, Rusty's bike is a write off after a fall like that!

According to the van driver ..... But he does seem to know everything about everything

[Littlepeahead]

Hm, there was me regretting not booking up for this one. Suddenly that facial on Saturday, walk in the sunshine on Sunday and sofa to watch Silent Witness last night after a nice bowl of hot pasta seems like I made the right choice.

Glad you all made it back safe and in one piece, physically if not mechanically.

Now get yourselves to Essex for the AR, it won't rain, there are no ferries or van drivers and I'm making enough cake for everyone.

[ravingdavis]

According to the van driver ..... But he does seem to know everything about everything

Haha, seems like you guys had a good journey back then.

[Specialone]

Ive merged all the home safe posts into RD's thread so it dont get messy.

[metalhead19]

Haha, seems like you guys had a good journey back then.

It was probably drier and more comfortable than ours....but from the sound of things maybe abit noisier.

[missyburd]

Ha I've only just realised a rideout to France even existed! Sounds a blast...if a a very wet and eventful one. Glad you all seem to be back safe, shame about the weather but it's not been all good while you were away anyway :rolleyes:

Gonna be organising another next year then? :D

[-Ralph-]

It was probably drier and more comfortable than ours....but from the sound of things maybe abit noisier.

I'd have taken yours, at least I'd have been in bed long before 5am.

[-Ralph-]

It has certainly been quite an experience, learning what happened in Normandy in 1944 something everybody should do (especially all French people!), even if some of it is quite hard to take - yes, those little white dots in this photo are gravestones and this cemetery is just a drop in the ocean! Just immense and very sobering.

http://www.danzfamily.com/archives/blogphotos/09/258-normandy-american-cemetery.jpg

Can't control the weather or bikes breaking down, but hey, what doesn't kill you.... And compared to the conditions those soldiers went through we've had a very easy weekend, and we were there to learn about them, so doing that trip on a motorbike and with a tent, in that weather, with a few challenges thrown in, was actually quite appropriate.

[MisterTommyH]

No body seems to have mentioned an amazing fact about this trip - more than 50% of the bikes were SVs.

11 Bikes, 6 pointies (0 curvies - they wouldn't have lasted).

[Nick_69]

No body seems to have mentioned an amazing fact about this trip - more than 50% of the bikes were SVs.

11 Bikes, 6 pointies (0 curvies - they wouldn't have lasted).

Very true. Was good to see all the sv make it home in one piece

[MisterTommyH]

Thats a good way to look at it.

Pointies 6/6 Home
Triumphs 2/3 Home
GSXR 1/1 Home
Aprillia 0/1 Home

[ravingdavis]

Thats a good way to look at it.

Pointies 6/6 Home
Triumphs 2/3 Home
GSXR 1/1 Home
Aprillia 0/1 Home

Or...

Japanese bikes 7/7
European bikes 2/4

[Specialone]

I've just woke up, had to go back to sleep I was zombie-fied.

Regarding the SV's, I've been on loads of SV rides where there hasn't been this many lol, good turn out.

@col, good post, its upto every generation to make sure we never forget and learn the sacrifices those men and women made for our freedom.

Its very humbling to get in amongst the stuff there and try and imagine the conditions of the time.

It is a bit too touristee at times but just looking around the cemeteries brings some sort of scale to it.

I personally found it hard to absorb as much as I wanted due to limited time we had, but I'm going to read and find out a bit more.

[Owenski]

I personally found it hard to absorb as much as I wanted due to limited time we had, but I'm going to read and find out a bit more.

Doies that mean there will be a 2013 trip?

[Specialone]

Doies that mean there will be a 2013 trip?

Possibly, but would be a different format.

12 people made everything a chore and time consuming just doing the basics, eating and refuelling took so much time up and that ate into our time for sight seeing.

[Owenski]

I've told you before Phil Im not doing a cozy weekend for 2 no matter how you try to word it. ;)

[Specialone]

I've told you before Phil Im not doing a cozy weekend for 2 no matter how you try to word it. ;)

Damn, I really need to work on my 'grooming' techniques...

*scurries off to ask raving Davis for tips*

[metalhead19]

*scurries off to ask raving Davis for tips*

:winner: Careful though, you might get "tips" a little more literal than you might like

[ravingdavis]

:winner: Careful though, you might get "tips" a little more literal than you might like

I guess he will just have to ask and see what happens.

[Dave20046]

I guess he will just have to ask and see what happens.

lol, sinister!

[speedplay]

So without trawling through pages of stuff...
What's happened to russ's aprilia?!

[MisterTommyH]

It was on it's side when he got back to the bike deck.

[missyburd]

It was on it's side when he got back to the bike deck.
see that's what would make a ferry journey really uncomfortable for me, don't trust it down there or the beggars securing skills. Someone once told me they'd managed to ratchet a strap so tightly over the seat it bust, completely wrecking it :shock:

Bad luck to rusty, what was the damage?

[Dave20046]

see that's what would make a ferry journey really uncomfortable for me, don't trust it down there or the beggars securing skills. Someone once told me they'd managed to ratchet a strap so tightly over the seat it bust, completely wrecking it :shock:

Bad luck to rusty, what was the damage?

Doesn't concern me, if the buggers break something they'll replace it. It can't be common or they wouldn't charge 50 quid a crossing , they wouldn't be making any money! Russ's bike will have cost them at the very least 10 fares

And I'm not sure it was badluck? ;)

[ravingdavis]

And I'm not sure it was badluck? ;)

Of course it wasn't badluck, they are supposed to check the bikes to ensure they are safe. They clearly did not sadly :(

[Specialone]

That did spoil the end of the trip a bit, that along with cols daytona leaking coolant :(

I hope ld lines sort it with no bother .

[Dave20046]

Of course it wasn't badluck, they are supposed to check the bikes to ensure they are safe. They clearly did not sadly :(

Agree it is crappy regardless and utterly ****e if they mess around

[christian1000]

They were pretty useless. I had to ask 3 times for mine to be strapped down whilst I was being told to leave.

[christian1000]

Also in the news, putting my wallet through the scanning machine at the American cemetery has ballsed up my work access card, so I couldn't get into work this morning. Sacre bleu!

[Nick_69]

Also in the news, putting my wallet through the scanning machine at the American cemetery has ballsed up my work access card, so I couldn't get into work this morning. Sacre bleu!

There could b worse things to happen atleast u have a gd excuse for not been able to work lol

[F4LL3N]

I'm guessing that the pictures Col was taking on the ferry of Rusty's bike are going to be used to claim back against LD Ferries?

[christian1000]

There could b worse things to happen atleast u have a gd excuse for not been able to work lol

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :lol:

[Dave20046]

I'm guessing that the pictures Col was taking on the ferry of Rusty's bike are going to be used to claim back against LD Ferries?

Yeah, need to be thorough with these things

[F4LL3N]

Yeah, need to be thorough with these things

Yeah I agree mate, was hoping that was what it was about. Don't have much of a case without the camera usually.

[The Idle Biker]

I'm off to Normandy this weekend for 4 days on the Bike, group of 8. TBH it's a bit of lightweight biking and heavyweight boozing, but I do want to actually visit some of the places you all went to.

Of all the WW2 sites you went to what would you say was either the most interesting or the most poignant? If I go to only place where should I go?

Cheers

[Dave20046]

American cemetery pictured was particularly hard hitting

[MisterTommyH]

Personally I'd say the American Cemetary - just because of the pure size of it.

The setting with the viewing platform over the beach has quite an impact and the video you can watch is well done. You will spend longer there than you think you will.

[Dave20046]

Agree, make sure you see the video

[F4LL3N]

Agree, make sure you see the video

I also think it was probably the most influential visit of the whole trip, if pushed into one suggestion.

[ravingdavis]

I agree with the above, the American cemetery gives you some idea of the scale of what happened.

[The Idle Biker]

Thanks Guys, I'll make sure I go even if it means splitting up from the group.

[danf1234]

Thanks Guys, I'll make sure I go even if it means splitting up from the group.


That's what I was trying to get across to the gents on the Le Carange tour, if you see nothing else then see the American Cemetry at Omaha. It puts some perspective on the loss and slaughter that was endured!

[Specialone]

I personally think the british cemetery and point du hoc are 'must sees' too.

[Specialone]

Hey guys, can you believe it was a week ago when we was on our way down to portsmouth ?
Can believe how quick it's gone :(

[Dave20046]

no?! **** me, I need to return that lambretta bolt to it's owner!

[metalhead19]

Hey guys, can you believe it was a week ago when we was on our way down to portsmouth ?
Can believe how quick it's gone :(

:eek:It has gone too quick. I want to go back already.

[Dave20046]

And now you can be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTH0_3PL638&feature=relmfu

[Dave20046]

saddest man in the world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF7I5GmN9C4

[Specialone]

Here's best of my pics...

http://s758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/Le%20carnage%20Normandy%20April%202012/

[Dave20046]

could a mod move that post to the photos thread? :) *
http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx225/specialone0055/Le%20carnage%20Normandy%20April%202012/DSC_0129.jpg
"come visit my dungeon"
:razz:



*and this one

[Specialone]

saddest man in the world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF7I5GmN9C4


Is it wrong i actually thought this was cool? :)

[Dave20046]

Is it wrong i actually thought this was cool? :)

lol I'm undecided


Providing that's the last of the charges to come through it looks like I spent £250

[Specialone]

lol I'm undecided


Providing that's the last of the charges to come through it looks like I spent £250

Better than £500 :salut:

[Dave20046]

True dat, glad the £500 phone bill wasn't attributed to Phrance too! (in a way)

[Specialone]

Ok who's responsible? :D

We've just had a parcel delivered with ciders galore in and a note thanking us for the food and organising the weekend.

We are very moved peeps, was a genuinely nice thing to do whoever done this, very much appreciated :smt023

We genuinely dont mind doing this stuff, its a pleasure dudes, thanks again.

[rusty76]

I've not heard anything from the ferry company or their insurance so I gave them a ring today and found the dept I need is in France. I was given their number and guess what......they were on their lunchbreak

When I did get through I found the person I need is on holiday.

Don't think this is gonna be much fun. I might to hand it over to my insurance company

[rusty76]

That reminds me. I've got to dig out that Call of Duty game with Pointe du Hoc in it

[Specialone]

That reminds me. I've got to dig out that Call of Duty game with Pointe du Hoc in it


Im doing that over the weekend :)

[-Ralph-]

I've not heard anything from the ferry company or their insurance so I gave them a ring today and found the dept I need is in France. I was given their number and guess what......they were on their lunchbreak

When I did get through I found the person I need is on holiday.

Don't think this is gonna be much fun. I might to hand it over to my insurance company

Deja Vu! Same issues when my car was stuck over there. Let me know if you need a French speaker to call, I'll get Sandrine to do it, she'll get a much better response.

[Dave20046]

I've not heard anything from the ferry company or their insurance so I gave them a ring today and found the dept I need is in France. I was given their number and guess what......they were on their lunchbreak

When I did get through I found the person I need is on holiday.

Don't think this is gonna be much fun. I might to hand it over to my insurance company
Unbelievable! That's bollogs, if you're fully comp then as you say you can just claim off them and get them to recover the costs - but there's an element of risk there I guess. You could also try set their legals on them if you have legal cover.



We've just had a parcel delivered with ciders galore in and a note thanking us for the food and organising the weekend.
:rolleyes:

[rusty76]

Unbelievable! That's bollogs, if you're fully comp then as you say you can just claim off them and get them to recover the costs - but there's an element of risk there I guess. You could also try set their legals on them if you have legal cover.



:rolleyes:

yep, I've got the lot, so balls to em so I might speak to my lot and unleash the lawyers

the (almost) funny thing was, as Col and I were stood in the pi55ing rain in Portsmoth, I checked my emails to confirm my breakdown cover. In there was a customer satisfaction questionairre from LDLines.....

[The Idle Biker]

Well I might have been able to compare notes about Normandy with yers, but Brittany Ferries just cancelled tomorrows boat to Cherbourg. No other practical alternative but to cancel our trip. bahhhhhh! Bad Frenchies, bad bad!

[Dave20046]

Anyone interested in my bike for £250?

Bargain http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Suzuki-SV650SK3-/130682791802?pt=UK_Motorcycles#ht_1059wt_1110

[Specialone]

Anyone interested in my bike for £250?

Bargain http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Suzuki-SV650SK3-/130682791802?pt=UK_Motorcycles#ht_1059wt_1110

Seems a lot for a mix of lambretta bits.

[Dave20046]

and triumph!
Just spotted that similarly aged (but clean and standard) bike on ebay, if they can sell it for anywhere near that I have muchos respect for them. In fact I'd give them £500 to sell mine!
Also got me wondering what they might offer me trade in.

[ravingdavis]

Also got me wondering what they might offer me trade in.

A slap round the face and a kick in the balls?

[Dave20046]

I'll ask from beyond arm/legs reach. nice thinking!

[F4LL3N]

Showed my dad some pictures from the trip yesterday and looks like there was a lot of stuff we missed out on. But of course the numbers, weather and everything else made it difficult for us. I think at some point it would be good to go over and do some of the other sites. He is adamant as well that I must go to some place near Limoges.... but I can't remember what it is called. Just its very dark and eerie and that I would only visit once...

[ravingdavis]

I agree there are so many more things that we could have seen and I would love to go back. However, I reckon you could go there for a whole week and still not cover everything.

[Nick_69]

I agree there are so many more things that we could have seen and I would love to go back. However, I reckon you could go there for a whole week and still not cover everything.

Loads of things that we could of seen and I wld be up for staying there a whole week.

[aliwakeskate]

I spent 5 days there last summer at that campsite on my own with decent weather and still didn't cover everything. I'm glad I didn't as I'll definitely go back sometime knowing there is more to see.

A recommendation for Le Carnage II would be the Somme. I spent a few days there a couple of years back and it was amazing. Only 2hrs from Calais as well. There is so much to see for free and I found the WWI sites to be fairly quiet compared to Normandy and it felt less touristy. I'm actually thinking of going back in a month as I've a week off (either that or a scotland tour).

[-Ralph-]

Loads of things that we could of seen and I wld be up for staying there a whole week.

Not in that feckin' weather I wouldn't!

Well I would, but I'd be in a car and a hotel!

[MisterTommyH]

While I agree with you guys that it would be good to see more of the WWII sites and some of the WWI sites I wouldn't want the whole Le Carnage thing to become a lets go and see War sites tradition.

If I were to go to France again on the bike, say next year, I think I'd like it to be something different. And then something different the time after that.

[F4LL3N]

Could start two different trips? Le carnage can be carnage and then a history tour on the side?

[Specialone]

Take a look at the list I planned for the trip and see how much stuff we didn't do, that's just a condensed list I come up with.

If I do another, format will have to change, either smaller group(s) or earlier starts in the morning, lunch on the go, topbox filled with stuff and drinks, as 1.5-2 hours in a day for lunch just took way too much time up.


I had an area of loads of gun batteries with bunkers etc that I wanted to visit, we litterally would be in the middle of tons of them and be able to explore them all.

I defo wanna visit that at some point.

I also wanna do the alps again, I'm hopefully doing them in september with Clair but I won't be able to do them as quick as I'd like.

There are literally tons of places / countries I want to visit, just damn work and budget gets in the way :(

[Littlepeahead]

How about Carnage pood Thai mai dai? (that's I don't speak Thai, in case you didn't realise)

A little jaunt around Thailand in November.

A cruising route, very relaxed:

http://www.thaimotorcycletouring.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=108

Or a little more adventurous, just the 4000 bends to get around:

http://www.thaimotorcycletouring.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=44

I'm doing both of these. Already done the twisty one once, but that's when I broke my elbow halfway through - so this time I won't come off on anything slippery!

[robh539]

That looks awesome lph.

For the next trip do you have to have lunch? Sure stop for while. But it's not a true lunch stop, ie what ever you rammed in the topbox the night before is lunch will save time. Personal I wouldn't bother to get cracking again.

[Quiff Wichard]

Showed my dad some pictures from the trip yesterday and looks like there was a lot of stuff we missed out on. But of course the numbers, weather and everything else made it difficult for us. I think at some point it would be good to go over and do some of the other sites. He is adamant as well that I must go to some place near Limoges.... but I can't remember what it is called. Just its very dark and eerie and that I would only visit once...

that would be orador sur glane..

Most moving place ever... ! oh my oh my .. Matt SV and me and the ladies went there on our summer holiday to france couple years back .. it is really moving.. I have loads of pics.. it is a village that just got surrounded by the germans and taken over- split women and children from men .. and shot them all. put the baker in his own oven to kill him and threw 6 folk down the well..

then set fire to the whole village.. Now the village is a memorial itself- a museum.. a ghost town .. and you can walk around but in silence.. it is eery and creepy and eye opening and very very moving but you just cant believe it is true. And yet it happenned. and not so long ago in real terms.. I pop some pics up when have time.

[Quiff Wichard]

oh yea sad thing is as well.. they attacked the wrong village- this one is in the middle of nowhere - the one with a similar name was in a very strategic place and they made a mistake.. a barbaric mistake..

[ravingdavis]

That's utterly sick, I had no idea that happened.

I've just had a quick read up on it, this is a very good website for details on what happened.
http://www.oradour.info/