CHAMPAGNE RUN APRIL 2002

DAY 1. Friday 26th
Six bikes and riders plus two pillions took to the road for this trip across France of which five were club members. The trip started from the club with a run down to Portsmouth to catch the 22:15 ferry (Pride of Portsmouth} to Le Harve. We all boarded the boat without incident until Stu decided to reposition his bike so as the strap would go across his bikes seat correctly unfortunately he dropped it much to the annoyance of the Harley rider next to him. A couple of drinks in the bar and a midnight feast and then it was off to try and get some sleep

DAY 2. Saturday 27th The boat docked at 07:00 European time and off we went. Les was leading the run and looking out for a café so we could have much deserved breakfast. No one seems to open very early in France so we were well past Rouen before we stopped. Fed and watered we continued on our journey. A couple of hours later we stopped at Compeign for lunch. A quick visit to the local market saw Stu spending money on presents for the family. A very light lunch out the way and on our merry way we went arriving at Reims at about 13:30. A fantastic site met us in the form of the cathedral, a site that made you feel you were actually in the Middle Ages. It was at this point that Ray and Eric went into auto mode taking pictures as if they were going out of fashion, great photo opportunity they explained. Photo shoot out the way we were on the way to the Mumm champagne caves to see how it was made.

I won't bore you with the details on how champagne is made although it was a real eye opener especially for Stu who suddenly realised his ten-year-old bottle at home was now just an expensive salad dressing. After the tour of the caves we all had a glass of champers and then another photo call. At this point the heavens opened with a vengeance and out came the wet weather gear. Within half an hour we were at the hotel for our over night stop. Getting into the hotel car park was a real laugh. We had been given three entry tickets which meant that two bikes would have to enter at the same time. Les and Allan entered with no incident and then it was the turn of Eric and Ray. Ray pushed the ticket into the entry gate, up went the barrier and in rode Eric before Ray had time to retrieve the ticket the barrier was back down. With help from the attendant Ray's new Divy 900 was carefully ridden around the end of the barrier. Bikes parked and chained up it was off to our rooms for a much-deserved shower. A couple of drinks and a chat with some of the local residence preceded a hunt for somewhere to eat. After more photo calls and the examination of many menus we eventually sat down to a wonderful meal and a chat about the days events. Back to the hotel for a night-cap and then we all retired to bed. If you ever fancy listening to a funny story have a word with Ray and ask about Eric and his wallet.

DAY 3. Sunday 28th The day started at 07:30 with a continental breakfast and would end as our most eventful day. We had planned to leave at 08:30 but after waiting for Eric to get ready and Irene and I getting stuck behind the car parks security gates, thanks to Stu, we eventually left the hotel at 09:00. We then got lost and had to ask the way to the main road, just as well Les speaks good French. The weather was terrible it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale. Our first big problem came at the petrol station not far from Reims. They only had one pump with suitable fuel for the bikes so we all had to use the same one. With so many people filling up with the same pump the poor female attendant became totally confused, or was she just stupid, and started charging not only the wrong amounts but also for the wrong pump. Never mind her night in shining armour in the guise of the manager came to her rescue and sorted it out. By the time we had all managed to fill up we had spent twenty minutes at the station. On the road again it was not too long before the incident that would reshape our day took place at Compeign. The roads were very slippery and as Allan applied his brakes to stop at a set of traffic light his front wheel lost grip and his bike went over taking out Les's BMW who was in front. We picked the bikes up and made sure those involved were OK. Sarah was really shook up so Irene took her to find a café. Allan's FJ had a damaged fairing and had lost it's screen and front mudguard where Les's BMW seemed to be relatively untouched apart from a damaged pannier. We were later to find out this was not the case as Ray later noticed that the rear wheel was buckled and damaged.

After picking up all the bits we joined Irene and Sarah at the café and decided to have lunch before leaving. We now had a big problem, 150 odd miles to go, rain, high winds, poor road conditions and less than 3 hours before the boat left With all this against us we decided to take it easy and only to stop for petrol. The odds were stacked against us and after being caught by every set of traffic lights we stumbled across and taking a wrong turn we eventually arrived at the port in time to wave goodbye to the ferry. For a few minutes we just stood there in awe wondering what to do. The next ferry was at 23:00 so we changed our tickets and booked cabins before visiting a bar in Le Harve and having a swift beer before tramping round the streets looking for somewhere to eat. By now it was 18:30 and none of the restaurants opened before 19:00 so we found yet another bar and had yet another drink before finally getting a meal. After leaving the restaurant we returned to the bikes and went though passport control and then waited in the terminal for the boat. During this time the weather turned really nasty, the wind built up to a gale and the rain became torrential we all new that this would be a rough crossing and it was. I am a really poor sailor so it was just as well that I could sleep through out the trip back.

DAY 4. Monday 29th
The boat docked at a rather grey and damp Portsmouth at 06:00. We all said our goodbyes and went our own ways. Apart from Irene and me most had to go to work and in some cases went directly from the ferry. Thanks to Les for organising the trip it was great fun. We all made new friends and will be getting together again later in the year to re-live our adventure. I have heard many things about 'bad French drivers' but I'll take my chances with them rather than the English car driver. They are extremely courteous to the motorcyclist moving over to let us pass and sometimes almost driving on the grass verge to make way.