Westland Classic Motorcycle Club
The tunnel was a new experience for some of the party but they all thought it was a good way to cross the channel. Only 25mins quite quick to unload then we were on the A26 for St Omer. We all kept together pretty well and after a lengthy stop and the Peage and a double circuit around a new roundabout we in to the town only to enjoy my organized detour around the Carforre supermarket car park.
Just up the hill and another Oooops when I led a few into the hotel car park up the wrong way, I wish they’d write and tell me when they’re going to change road directions!!
Chris and the others were already consuming part of the hotel beer supplies, so it was a quick hello then up to our rooms for a scrub and change then into the town centre a few minutes walk away. We went to a place we’d been before in some cellars, after a few beers and a super meal we asked if we could book a table for 25 for the Saturday night, no problem they said. After a bit of a walk we arrived back at
Just up the hill and another Oooops when I led a few into the hotel car park up the wrong way, I wish they’d write and tell me when they’re going to change road directions!!
Chris and the others were already consuming part of the hotel beer supplies, so it was a quick hello then up to our rooms for a scrub and change then into the town centre a few minutes walk away. We went to a place we’d been before in some cellars, after a few beers and a super meal we asked if we could book a table for 25 for the Saturday night, no problem they said. After a bit of a walk we arrived back at
St Omer May 2010.
I thought it may a good idea to go to the Vi V2 Museum just outside St Omer one, we have often stopped in St Omer on our trips to and from Italy and seen the signs for La Coupole.
Originally I reckoned on maybe 3 or 4 couples going, but as it turned out a few more wanted to come and it ended up with 35 of us.
Chris Monaghan & Sarah, John & Jacqui Fawcett and Graham & Pat Sharps decided to leave the night before and sail across to Caen then ride up to St Omer. Henry & Paulette Pinney, Dick & Heather Dampier, Mark & Sarah Philips and Paul & Jan Burnett left Yeovil about 9am and arranged to meet up with us at Maidstone services on the M20. Simon & Jill Dean also said they would meet us there as they were coming from Kings Lynn in Norfolk.
So that left 18 of on 13 bikes to leave from the lay-by on the A303 just past Sparkford. We arranged to meet at 11.45am and leave at noon, Mr. Axe incurred 300 lines for being 3 minutes late, Alfie suggested he had to fill up on route from Yeovil.
First stop was fleet for fuel and a comfort stop, the it was on to Maidstone Services another 70 miles and meet up with the others. After a quick drink and relief it was fuel up again and off to the tunnel, what a palaver, we had to punch each of the 18 bikes details one at a time and as a result we missed the 16.50 train, we caught the next one half an hour later although if Christine & Alfie had their way it would have been a later one as they wanted to raid the duty free shop of Gin, but we were on our way to a most enjoyable, but not without incident weekend!!
Originally I reckoned on maybe 3 or 4 couples going, but as it turned out a few more wanted to come and it ended up with 35 of us.
Chris Monaghan & Sarah, John & Jacqui Fawcett and Graham & Pat Sharps decided to leave the night before and sail across to Caen then ride up to St Omer. Henry & Paulette Pinney, Dick & Heather Dampier, Mark & Sarah Philips and Paul & Jan Burnett left Yeovil about 9am and arranged to meet up with us at Maidstone services on the M20. Simon & Jill Dean also said they would meet us there as they were coming from Kings Lynn in Norfolk.
So that left 18 of on 13 bikes to leave from the lay-by on the A303 just past Sparkford. We arranged to meet at 11.45am and leave at noon, Mr. Axe incurred 300 lines for being 3 minutes late, Alfie suggested he had to fill up on route from Yeovil.
First stop was fleet for fuel and a comfort stop, the it was on to Maidstone Services another 70 miles and meet up with the others. After a quick drink and relief it was fuel up again and off to the tunnel, what a palaver, we had to punch each of the 18 bikes details one at a time and as a result we missed the 16.50 train, we caught the next one half an hour later although if Christine & Alfie had their way it would have been a later one as they wanted to raid the duty free shop of Gin, but we were on our way to a most enjoyable, but not without incident weekend!!
the hotel and met up with a few more who had stayed there for a meal so the bar was kept busy and even more so as others arrived, we discovered that they don’t do Limoncello or Zambooka but enjoyed a few glasses of this bright green liquid called Pisang, (Fairy Liquid....Ed) excellent, very smooth with a hint of banana, also a hint of a headache for the following morning!!.
Saturday dawned with a haze but looked promising for a hot time, breakfast was the usual mixture of eating and banter helped along when yours truly got up and almost destroyed a light fitting.
After breakfast, most of us were off to the museum, the ladies were staying in the town as there was a market in the centre.
On entering the car park, we found Kev & Sue’s bike had suffered some fatigue on the long journey and lain down, all right what really happened was the ground under his bike was only a skim of tarmac and his side stand had gone down the hole, no real damage after straightening the mirror and
Saturday dawned with a haze but looked promising for a hot time, breakfast was the usual mixture of eating and banter helped along when yours truly got up and almost destroyed a light fitting.
After breakfast, most of us were off to the museum, the ladies were staying in the town as there was a market in the centre.
On entering the car park, we found Kev & Sue’s bike had suffered some fatigue on the long journey and lain down, all right what really happened was the ground under his bike was only a skim of tarmac and his side stand had gone down the hole, no real damage after straightening the mirror and
clutch lever he was ok, also it put a little scratch on Neil’s bike, we looked round for them but they had already left for Paris, (and there’s another story).
Soon after all that, we were ready to leave for the museum, a massive ride of some 3 miles which turned out to be 12 miles after taking a few wrong turnings. In the end I had to stop and ask a local who was very pleased to have to come down his ladder to talk to an English idiot trying very badly to impress him with a mixture of Somerset, maintenance and attempted French, the gent was very helpful after I had shown him a letter from the museum he pointed to a sign about 200 yards down the road saying La Coupole, I thanked him and we were on our way. We reached the museum, parked up and realized we were minus 3 bikes. I shot off and had a look around the roads we had been up also waving at the chap who was back up his ladder by now, some lines from Allo Allo must have gone through his mind.
Just after I arrived back at La Coupole they turned up as well. We had a few moments before we were due to go in so our tour photographer supremo Tressy tried to organize us for a group piccie or two!!
Soon after all that, we were ready to leave for the museum, a massive ride of some 3 miles which turned out to be 12 miles after taking a few wrong turnings. In the end I had to stop and ask a local who was very pleased to have to come down his ladder to talk to an English idiot trying very badly to impress him with a mixture of Somerset, maintenance and attempted French, the gent was very helpful after I had shown him a letter from the museum he pointed to a sign about 200 yards down the road saying La Coupole, I thanked him and we were on our way. We reached the museum, parked up and realized we were minus 3 bikes. I shot off and had a look around the roads we had been up also waving at the chap who was back up his ladder by now, some lines from Allo Allo must have gone through his mind.
Just after I arrived back at La Coupole they turned up as well. We had a few moments before we were due to go in so our tour photographer supremo Tressy tried to organize us for a group piccie or two!!
What a ominous looking place, the big dome (Coupole) and all the dirty concrete, obviously not meant to impress but it gives you a feeling of not so nice goings on.
We entered the main foyer and the very helpful ladies soon had us all booked in and equipped with headsets. So off we went into the tunnel complex, immediately there are huge champers each side of the the main tunnel where the rockets were stored, there a diesel engine generator set, then just to take your breath away there is a chamber with plaques around the wall and flowers lain on the floor below them in memory of the Polish prisoners that died during the construction. A time to reflect.
As we go on there are many photos and large boards with information on the area and the other site not far away the Blockhaus about 7 miles to the north.
The place is a constant 19 degrees a bit damp in places so you imagine what it must be like to work in there, especially when you’re tired, hungry, scared, it must have been devastating.
We entered the main foyer and the very helpful ladies soon had us all booked in and equipped with headsets. So off we went into the tunnel complex, immediately there are huge champers each side of the the main tunnel where the rockets were stored, there a diesel engine generator set, then just to take your breath away there is a chamber with plaques around the wall and flowers lain on the floor below them in memory of the Polish prisoners that died during the construction. A time to reflect.
As we go on there are many photos and large boards with information on the area and the other site not far away the Blockhaus about 7 miles to the north.
The place is a constant 19 degrees a bit damp in places so you imagine what it must be like to work in there, especially when you’re tired, hungry, scared, it must have been devastating.
We came into the main area under La Coupole, what a fantastic display, with more exhibits, some very harrowing like a piece of wall that was used to line the prisoners up a shoot them, showing many bullet holes and as you looked and imagine there is a projected list of names of all those who suffered that fate playing down the wall, another time to reflect and know why we must never forget why we have what we have today.
Within the main area, there is a complete V2 hanging from the roof and a rocket motor assembly of one , looks quite crude but it was effective, also there are a couple of V1’s and a pulse motor with the gyro steering unit, there is loads of info on all the rockets and scientists leading up to the rockets of today.
One exhibit is of a rocket powered car, it is a Citroen I wonder what Rene would have made of that?
On the top floor you can look at the command centre and there are a couple of mini cinemas scattered around, all worth watching.
As we neared the end of our visit we saw many models of how the complex looked and ran during its operation, totally amazing place and well worth a visit.
Within the main area, there is a complete V2 hanging from the roof and a rocket motor assembly of one , looks quite crude but it was effective, also there are a couple of V1’s and a pulse motor with the gyro steering unit, there is loads of info on all the rockets and scientists leading up to the rockets of today.
One exhibit is of a rocket powered car, it is a Citroen I wonder what Rene would have made of that?
On the top floor you can look at the command centre and there are a couple of mini cinemas scattered around, all worth watching.
As we neared the end of our visit we saw many models of how the complex looked and ran during its operation, totally amazing place and well worth a visit.
After handing our headsets back and thanking them for an excellent time, we headed for the souvineers and of course the café for the usual banter and some sensible chat.
The some others in the group had gone to visit Dunkirk, or some war graves and the like looking for relatives.
Most of us returned to St Omer, parked up our trusty metal steeds and walked in to the town in search of refreshment, I found Trev, Tressy, Kev, Sue, Henry & Paulette hiding in a corner bar and joined them for a few Leffe’s, feeling suitably refreshed we decided to take a stroll through the park gardens, a very pleasant surprise, it was beautiful, some stunning colours, a lake with waterfall and waterfowl, then some more animals along the pathway.
After a long walk like it was obviously time for a bit more Leffe Beer, so a couple more then head back to the 3 Caves restaurant where we were eating later and up our party from 25 to 30, no problem was the answer and with a smile.
The some others in the group had gone to visit Dunkirk, or some war graves and the like looking for relatives.
Most of us returned to St Omer, parked up our trusty metal steeds and walked in to the town in search of refreshment, I found Trev, Tressy, Kev, Sue, Henry & Paulette hiding in a corner bar and joined them for a few Leffe’s, feeling suitably refreshed we decided to take a stroll through the park gardens, a very pleasant surprise, it was beautiful, some stunning colours, a lake with waterfall and waterfowl, then some more animals along the pathway.
After a long walk like it was obviously time for a bit more Leffe Beer, so a couple more then head back to the 3 Caves restaurant where we were eating later and up our party from 25 to 30, no problem was the answer and with a smile.
We all arrived at the 3 Caves in good time and after a few drinks we were shown upstairs to our tables, they had given us the whole floor and made up 2 long tables good job because we informed them that we had another 3 coming, but it was no problem, they had got extra staff in and the 2 girls looked after us so well. We gave our orders in and the drinks arrived within a few minutes, then the starters all correct and at the same time, as we finished them the mains started to arrive, everything spot on hot and extremely tasty, we all watched as a few had beef flambay’s which were ignited when they reached the tables followed by a crescendo of flash photography. The meal was superb the service was faultless and the girls brilliant, (why can’t we do it over here?).
The walk back to the hotel was interesting for a few of us and when we reached the bar we imbibed again in some more beer and Pisang.
At about that time, I got a phone call from Sue and Neil who’d gone to Paris on the train, gypsies had removed all the copper ferruls for the electrified rail system on the
The walk back to the hotel was interesting for a few of us and when we reached the bar we imbibed again in some more beer and Pisang.
At about that time, I got a phone call from Sue and Neil who’d gone to Paris on the train, gypsies had removed all the copper ferruls for the electrified rail system on the
line so no trains could leave Paris northwards, (Obviously the same lot who laid the tarmac in the hotel car park!!) The train company had put them up in a hotel and they would be back in the morning, they hoped.
After many suitable and some not so apt plus some more liquid, we all drifted off to bed.
Next morning after brekkie, we went separate ways to have look around the town, most of us ended up in a bar in the main square for a last drink and something to eat, the waiter said they didn’t do food but if we wanted there was a bakery across the square we could buy some cakes, pies etc and eat them at the bar, brilliant, (something else we could learn from them) I and a few others were gone and returned with a little snack or two!!
A few went for a stroll down along the river and discovered some lovely buildings and scenery, good excuse for another visit sometime.
Soon it was time to head for the crossing back to England, Henry and a few others needed fuel so called into the filling station where I had took the wrong turning on the way in, gave me a good excuse to say I thought I’d show you where it was, yeh right! Now in France most garages are shut on Sunday’s, so it’s the pay on the card job, well Henry got his fuel paid and when the barrier went up the Blackbird alarm went off, Henry tried to reset the alarm and pushed it out but not quite far enough, the barrier came on Henry’s shoulder, he asked (Quite loudly) for Paulette to lift it up, poor Paulette was not tall enough to reach the end and tried to lift in the middle which was harder, eventually Henry eased himself out and reset the alarm, which you could just about hear above all the laughing!!! I didn’t mean to mention this Henry, ha ha.
After that everything went smoothly we all got to the Eurotunnel, dived in the duty free and got on the train. Most of us stopped at Fleet for fuel then some found a super pub at Thruxton.
A brilliant weekend, thanks for your company.
Next year we’ll invade Brugges, 17 – 19 June.
After many suitable and some not so apt plus some more liquid, we all drifted off to bed.
Next morning after brekkie, we went separate ways to have look around the town, most of us ended up in a bar in the main square for a last drink and something to eat, the waiter said they didn’t do food but if we wanted there was a bakery across the square we could buy some cakes, pies etc and eat them at the bar, brilliant, (something else we could learn from them) I and a few others were gone and returned with a little snack or two!!
A few went for a stroll down along the river and discovered some lovely buildings and scenery, good excuse for another visit sometime.
Soon it was time to head for the crossing back to England, Henry and a few others needed fuel so called into the filling station where I had took the wrong turning on the way in, gave me a good excuse to say I thought I’d show you where it was, yeh right! Now in France most garages are shut on Sunday’s, so it’s the pay on the card job, well Henry got his fuel paid and when the barrier went up the Blackbird alarm went off, Henry tried to reset the alarm and pushed it out but not quite far enough, the barrier came on Henry’s shoulder, he asked (Quite loudly) for Paulette to lift it up, poor Paulette was not tall enough to reach the end and tried to lift in the middle which was harder, eventually Henry eased himself out and reset the alarm, which you could just about hear above all the laughing!!! I didn’t mean to mention this Henry, ha ha.
After that everything went smoothly we all got to the Eurotunnel, dived in the duty free and got on the train. Most of us stopped at Fleet for fuel then some found a super pub at Thruxton.
A brilliant weekend, thanks for your company.
Next year we’ll invade Brugges, 17 – 19 June.
