HORIZONSUNLIMTED MOUNTAIN MADNESS SPAIN 2009

During the winter of 2009 myself and Mick Hargreaves had decided that after reading about this event on the Horizons unlimited web site, we would give it a go as it sounded like a good bash around the tracks and trails on the French/ Spanish border. The plan was to ride our BMW GS 1150 motorcycles over to France via the Chunnel, then make our way down to Spain camping and sightseeing.
Before we left the UK we added two more team mates, Wolf and his son Jan, they would both be riding a BMW GS 800 and meeting us in Spain.
We spent time prior to our departure set up the bikes for carrying our camping gear etc and fitting off road tyres. The weekend before we both gave the BMs a full service and were ready to roll.
We left Mick’s House at 1900hrs to catch the midnight Chunnel service to Calais. The first 5o miles or so were on Lincolnshire A roads in the pouring rain getting darker by the mile, we were taking it steady as both bikes were fully loaded, and new off road type tyres, yet to be fully run in.

First stop was just before Peterborough and the AI. By this time the rain had stopped and after Coffee and Fags for Mick(first of many) we set off down the A1, M11, fuel and coffee stop, over the Dartford Crossing (Free, thanks to the Motorcycle Action Group) stopping once more for coffee before we pulled into the Chunnel Port at Ashford. Once we had cleared customs we were loaded on to the Train and about 10 minutes later the train started, next stop France now the Adventure was under way.
Our first mission was to find Mick’s great grandfathers grave from the First World War which was in the war cemetery at Loos. We found the village no problem and decided as it was about six in the morning it was time for a brew of tea. After a look around the cemetery and finding Mick’s Grandfathers name in the book and also engraved on the cemetery wall. We spent some time with our own thoughts and said a prayer to all those young men who had fallen in this part of France.
Our job done it was time to find a campsite.
By luck we managed to find a site near Lens. It was mostly caravans and mobile homes used for weekend and holidays but it would do for us, we were the only tents there, over looking the fishing pond. As we had not slept for a while, we set up camp had a brew and a well earned siesta. After which it was down to the supermarket for supplies, back to camp for food, drink a few beers and an early night.
The next morning after breakfast we rode out to visit one or two World War 1 sites. Well that was the plan, after some Sat-Nat madness and riding through and around Amiens for what seemed like hours we finally arrived at the “La Grande Mine” just outside Albert. Once again another sombre place, we came across a bench provided by our own Grimsby Chums. After stopping at a few more cemerties we headed home stopping off for a large cold beer on the way. After showers etc it was time for food, wine a whisky night cap and bed.

The next morning after breakfast in the rain we packed up our damp gear and headed south towards Paris hoping for better weather. As we rode through the outskirts it was a lot warmer. In parts we could have been in Africa such was the mix of people, shops and markets, just another world. The next bit of excitement was the Para freak (my name for the Paris ring road). No problems and we headed off towards Orleans searching for campsite for our overnight stop. As it was getting late we started to worry about not being able to find a site. In the end we seen a sign for a site which was just off the route national, which we followed, After putting the tents up and a bite to eat we retired to the bar for a well earned beer, then to bed.