Well I haven't been out with the club recently and as a consequence I haven't written much for this blog. My excuse for this is I have been on holiday.
We have never been on the he type of holiday involving flying abroad to some hot and sandy seaside resort laden with bars and chip shops. In fact a
temporary British ghetto full of our charming fellow citizens.
For us a foreign holiday normally involves fairly aimless wandering around Europe on a motorbike stopping over where ever we find ourselves to be in the afternoon.
I thought I should write something about this years mid August break but spare you the details of our actual days out. Instead of a holiday report I shall concentrate on my preparations or lack of them rather than the holiday itself. Perhaps you may learn from my experience.
This year we decided we would have a holiday base with days out riding locally instead of the long days travelling across the countryside without a destination in mind.
We new that coming up next week was the annual Sachs Treffen in the Eifel Mountains of Germany. The Treffen is basically an hotel based rally featuring a day out riding around the superb mountain roads and hairpin bends of the region with riders from all over Germany mainly on Sachs motorcycles, followed by an evening BBQ and beer.
Seven days to go: We emailed Lotar the organiser and he kindly booked us a room near the Sachs Treffen base at Mechernic.
Six days to go: A session on Ebay and we had an apartment booked for five days at Elenz in the Mosel valley.
Five days to go: Another day and another session on the internet and we had booked a one way ticket from Dover to Dunkirk. All was set and the holiday was definitely on.
Now with less than a week to go it was the time to turn my attention to the bike. Obviously it was going to be the Sachs and not the Triumph, which was at the garage any way having a new front tyre fitted.
I looked over the Sachs felt I should check the tappets but decided not to in case I screwed up. I thought the back tyre although probably legal was too near the limit to risk on this trip, I also new the Sachs mot would expire whilst we were away so I arranged to have the back tyre replaced and the mot done together after I collected the Triumph.
Four days to go: The Sachs had its new tyre fitted and passed its mot , no problem other than the cost.
As we would be travelling through France I thought I had better check out what draconian laws apply. Sure enough, you must have a yellow reflective jacket with you, spare bulb set, first aid kit, and some brand new rules, a couple of disposable breathalysers to be carried, and sat navs with speed camera information are banned.
Three days to go: I didnt do anything. I was obviously quite relaxed about my preparations.
Two days to go: I found that I could get breathalysers from Halfords, but not the first two branches I tried. After a few phone calls I eventually got some at the third branch.
More internet research and it appears I can download a version of software for my sat nav that deals with the new French rules. I shall do that tomorrow.
One day to go: I have growing concerns if not panic about the state of the Sachs front tyre. When compared to the new back tyre or the Triumphs new front tyre it looked knackered and I began to have serious doubts. A phone call to Wheelhouse Tyres near Sutton Coldfield confirms they had an Avon Storm in stock and no appointment was necessary and they could fit it today whenever I turned up, Decision made and its out with he Sachs and its off to Sutton Coldfield.
They fitted a new tyre to the bike complete with new tube, balancing etc for £30 less than I had paid at my local bike garage to fit the Triumph tyre. A very proffessional easy and freindly experience it was too. The ride home helped scrub that new tyre in. Even with the travel it was still cheaper easier and quicker than using my usual workshop.
Zero days to go: Holiday day has dawned, I hadnt checked the valve clearances, and I hadn't got around to downloading my sat nav updates. Still that was it, we were off riding in the rain most of the way to Dover thinking about my potentially slippery new front tyre.
In foreign parts: We spent the first evening in a surprisingly nice Dunkirk in a hotel close to the centre and the maritime museum and its moored ships.
As we loaded up the next morning we spotted the tax disc. The tax expired a week ago. Bugger, Thinking its better to have no tax disc showing rather than a obviously expired one, I tried to remove the tax disc but only rounded off the fixing bolt and I had to leave it on display. Atleast we did get online and renew the tax so we were sort of legal.
I drove through France in a very law abiding manner, conscious of my sat nav and my expired tax disc.
The rest of the holiday was great if not quite as planned. The Treffen was good fun, the company excellent, but it was too bloody hot. Thirty five degrees in the Eifel when we had our long day out was really too much.
On Sunday morning we set off for the Mosel valley travelling on minor roads through a very neat and tidy countryside. Our arrival in the Mosel it was clear that for me conditions had deteriorated, my worst fears were fulfilled, it was even hotter at thirty eight degrees. Oh how I wished we had brought our lightweight jackets left at home because I never thought it would be like this, after all rain was the default setting for this year, at least at home it had been. This changed the course of the holiday, the plan for days out on the bike was abandoned.
Travel that week was mostly between cool wine cellars selling wonderful cold Mosel wines using air conditioned bus services, the cross river ferry and a river cruiser whilst the bike stayed parked at our accomadation but now with tax disc in the top box.
The holiday now effectively without the bike, but with the tremendous heat and regular bar visits had assumed much of the character the package holiday I was mocking earlier but at least we were surrounded by interesting foreigners and pretty scenery.
Our trip back through Luxembourg, Belgium and France was largely uneventful if you dont count the over three inch grasshopper walking around on our bedroom ceiling at our first night stopover in Longuyon, France.
The next day we had a easy ride to Cambrai in France where we have stayed
before. Its the most pleasant town in Northern France we have come across and reasonably handy for the ports and many battlefield sites.The next morning we decided to take a detour to look at Douai on the way to Dunkirk. I had set the sat nav to follow the shortest route without using motorways. This was a big mistake as we rode through miles of populated suburbs on our way to Dunkirk. The final moment of high excitement on this trip came when we eventually rolled into Dunkirk ferry port and tried to book the trip back across the water.
Obviously DFDS must have been taking tips from Ryan Air, those other well known transport pirates who always put profit above customer service.
We fully expected to pay more for our unbooked return crossing but not 300 per cent more, the same as a full car. They admitted they had room for us and the bike but said it was a very busy period and the boats were very busy, hence the charges or we could wait a few days.
Whatever happened to the days when they squeezed a bike in where a car doesnt fit and charged the normal amount and were glad to get the extra income and pleased to provide a service. Gone apparently, at least at DFDS.
Having declined the opportunity to give lots of money to DFDS we rode on to Calais.
A new ferry company "My Ferry Link" based on the defunct Sea France had started operating that week and was basically empty having no bookings and few unbooked travellers like us. They wanted a fraction of the fee demanded by DFDS.
Resisting the temptation to go back to Dunkirk to tell everyone at DFDS to come to Calais we boarded our ferry which had been delayed by the ticket office to ensure we caught it. Guess who we shall use in future.
A few notes on preparation:
Start thinking about it more than a week earlier.
Check your passport.
Check your European medical card.
Gather your bike documents.
Don't leave your service, oil and tappets etc till the last minute because its too late.
Check your mot dates.
Check your tax expiry.
Check your tyres and remember they may have a lot of miles to do,
Make sure you have with you whatever the latest rules in France demand.
Update your sat nav.
Take some lightweight kit. It might not rain all the time.
Book a return ticket if possible.
Finally:
When we got home I had two letters from Swansea.
Letter one contained the standard threatening letter sent out two weeks after your expiry date. The tone of the letter seems to assume you are some kind of criminal out to defraud the system for personal gain. Reference is made to crushed motorcycles if you don't tax your bike or sorn it at once. I know of no other organisation that can send out letters with this level of abrupt rudeness and threat and get away with it.
Was I guilty of attempted fraud or just forgetful? The latter I think.
Letter two contained our new tax disc bought about the same time the threatening letter was raised. I wonder which was delivered first.
John.
We have never been on the he type of holiday involving flying abroad to some hot and sandy seaside resort laden with bars and chip shops. In fact a
temporary British ghetto full of our charming fellow citizens.
For us a foreign holiday normally involves fairly aimless wandering around Europe on a motorbike stopping over where ever we find ourselves to be in the afternoon.
I thought I should write something about this years mid August break but spare you the details of our actual days out. Instead of a holiday report I shall concentrate on my preparations or lack of them rather than the holiday itself. Perhaps you may learn from my experience.
This year we decided we would have a holiday base with days out riding locally instead of the long days travelling across the countryside without a destination in mind.
We new that coming up next week was the annual Sachs Treffen in the Eifel Mountains of Germany. The Treffen is basically an hotel based rally featuring a day out riding around the superb mountain roads and hairpin bends of the region with riders from all over Germany mainly on Sachs motorcycles, followed by an evening BBQ and beer.
Seven days to go: We emailed Lotar the organiser and he kindly booked us a room near the Sachs Treffen base at Mechernic.
Six days to go: A session on Ebay and we had an apartment booked for five days at Elenz in the Mosel valley.
Five days to go: Another day and another session on the internet and we had booked a one way ticket from Dover to Dunkirk. All was set and the holiday was definitely on.
Now with less than a week to go it was the time to turn my attention to the bike. Obviously it was going to be the Sachs and not the Triumph, which was at the garage any way having a new front tyre fitted.
I looked over the Sachs felt I should check the tappets but decided not to in case I screwed up. I thought the back tyre although probably legal was too near the limit to risk on this trip, I also new the Sachs mot would expire whilst we were away so I arranged to have the back tyre replaced and the mot done together after I collected the Triumph.
Four days to go: The Sachs had its new tyre fitted and passed its mot , no problem other than the cost.
As we would be travelling through France I thought I had better check out what draconian laws apply. Sure enough, you must have a yellow reflective jacket with you, spare bulb set, first aid kit, and some brand new rules, a couple of disposable breathalysers to be carried, and sat navs with speed camera information are banned.
Three days to go: I didnt do anything. I was obviously quite relaxed about my preparations.
Two days to go: I found that I could get breathalysers from Halfords, but not the first two branches I tried. After a few phone calls I eventually got some at the third branch.
More internet research and it appears I can download a version of software for my sat nav that deals with the new French rules. I shall do that tomorrow.
One day to go: I have growing concerns if not panic about the state of the Sachs front tyre. When compared to the new back tyre or the Triumphs new front tyre it looked knackered and I began to have serious doubts. A phone call to Wheelhouse Tyres near Sutton Coldfield confirms they had an Avon Storm in stock and no appointment was necessary and they could fit it today whenever I turned up, Decision made and its out with he Sachs and its off to Sutton Coldfield.
They fitted a new tyre to the bike complete with new tube, balancing etc for £30 less than I had paid at my local bike garage to fit the Triumph tyre. A very proffessional easy and freindly experience it was too. The ride home helped scrub that new tyre in. Even with the travel it was still cheaper easier and quicker than using my usual workshop.
Zero days to go: Holiday day has dawned, I hadnt checked the valve clearances, and I hadn't got around to downloading my sat nav updates. Still that was it, we were off riding in the rain most of the way to Dover thinking about my potentially slippery new front tyre.
In foreign parts: We spent the first evening in a surprisingly nice Dunkirk in a hotel close to the centre and the maritime museum and its moored ships.
As we loaded up the next morning we spotted the tax disc. The tax expired a week ago. Bugger, Thinking its better to have no tax disc showing rather than a obviously expired one, I tried to remove the tax disc but only rounded off the fixing bolt and I had to leave it on display. Atleast we did get online and renew the tax so we were sort of legal.
I drove through France in a very law abiding manner, conscious of my sat nav and my expired tax disc.
The rest of the holiday was great if not quite as planned. The Treffen was good fun, the company excellent, but it was too bloody hot. Thirty five degrees in the Eifel when we had our long day out was really too much.
On Sunday morning we set off for the Mosel valley travelling on minor roads through a very neat and tidy countryside. Our arrival in the Mosel it was clear that for me conditions had deteriorated, my worst fears were fulfilled, it was even hotter at thirty eight degrees. Oh how I wished we had brought our lightweight jackets left at home because I never thought it would be like this, after all rain was the default setting for this year, at least at home it had been. This changed the course of the holiday, the plan for days out on the bike was abandoned.
Travel that week was mostly between cool wine cellars selling wonderful cold Mosel wines using air conditioned bus services, the cross river ferry and a river cruiser whilst the bike stayed parked at our accomadation but now with tax disc in the top box.
The holiday now effectively without the bike, but with the tremendous heat and regular bar visits had assumed much of the character the package holiday I was mocking earlier but at least we were surrounded by interesting foreigners and pretty scenery.
Our trip back through Luxembourg, Belgium and France was largely uneventful if you dont count the over three inch grasshopper walking around on our bedroom ceiling at our first night stopover in Longuyon, France.
The next day we had a easy ride to Cambrai in France where we have stayed
before. Its the most pleasant town in Northern France we have come across and reasonably handy for the ports and many battlefield sites.The next morning we decided to take a detour to look at Douai on the way to Dunkirk. I had set the sat nav to follow the shortest route without using motorways. This was a big mistake as we rode through miles of populated suburbs on our way to Dunkirk. The final moment of high excitement on this trip came when we eventually rolled into Dunkirk ferry port and tried to book the trip back across the water.
Obviously DFDS must have been taking tips from Ryan Air, those other well known transport pirates who always put profit above customer service.
We fully expected to pay more for our unbooked return crossing but not 300 per cent more, the same as a full car. They admitted they had room for us and the bike but said it was a very busy period and the boats were very busy, hence the charges or we could wait a few days.
Whatever happened to the days when they squeezed a bike in where a car doesnt fit and charged the normal amount and were glad to get the extra income and pleased to provide a service. Gone apparently, at least at DFDS.
Having declined the opportunity to give lots of money to DFDS we rode on to Calais.
A new ferry company "My Ferry Link" based on the defunct Sea France had started operating that week and was basically empty having no bookings and few unbooked travellers like us. They wanted a fraction of the fee demanded by DFDS.
Resisting the temptation to go back to Dunkirk to tell everyone at DFDS to come to Calais we boarded our ferry which had been delayed by the ticket office to ensure we caught it. Guess who we shall use in future.
A few notes on preparation:
Start thinking about it more than a week earlier.
Check your passport.
Check your European medical card.
Gather your bike documents.
Don't leave your service, oil and tappets etc till the last minute because its too late.
Check your mot dates.
Check your tax expiry.
Check your tyres and remember they may have a lot of miles to do,
Make sure you have with you whatever the latest rules in France demand.
Update your sat nav.
Take some lightweight kit. It might not rain all the time.
Book a return ticket if possible.
Finally:
When we got home I had two letters from Swansea.
Letter one contained the standard threatening letter sent out two weeks after your expiry date. The tone of the letter seems to assume you are some kind of criminal out to defraud the system for personal gain. Reference is made to crushed motorcycles if you don't tax your bike or sorn it at once. I know of no other organisation that can send out letters with this level of abrupt rudeness and threat and get away with it.
Was I guilty of attempted fraud or just forgetful? The latter I think.
Letter two contained our new tax disc bought about the same time the threatening letter was raised. I wonder which was delivered first.
John.
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