Europe June - Sept 2011

Euro Tour 2011! All is in hand for an extended tour of Europe from 1st June to end of August. Taken early retirement...who wants to work after reaching the 50 milestone...booked the ferry to LeHavre...no return booked...the only committment I have is to be at the HU meet near Heidleburg 10th June...other than that, just wandering as I feel like it. I had attempted a plan, but soon realised that after 25+ years of planning at work, I really don't like it! So, let's see where that gets me!

5 days to go........Living the dream (gulp).image

Good, fast crossing. Dry and warm in France...quiet backroads to Bayeux...camping at municipal site on edge of town.
Now sat in bar with second lqrge Guiness...it is lunchtime...trying to work out why French keyboards arn,t QWERTY...not easy, and I havent got me glasses.
Sight seeing, on foot all day. No photos yet...no chance to upload them on this thing.
D Day beaches 2moro.Photos at last...This is Bateux Cathedral...not far from the pub I was sat in.

Well, I did say I had no plan; decided at last minute to have a stay in Portsmouth before getting ferry. Had 2 nights B and B so had full day out in Portsmouth and Gosport. Well worth the visit to HMS Victory, sub museum, Explosion. Ride down was awful...rain all the way, and SatNav made it 300 miles rqther than 270...loves villages and 30mph limits.
Ferry to LeHavre on 1st June.This is where embarkation for D-Day was...so a good point for the start of my Euro travels.

Out of touch for a while...but still going strong. Mobile phone Kerrputt! Torrential rain between Bayeux and Reims put an end to that, and internet access limited at campsites. Done 6 nights camping, 2 near to Reims.
Normandy visit to all DDay beaches was interesting, especially the Pegasus bridge site, Gold and Sword landings. Also visited the American Utah and Omaha beaches. Lots of wannaba GI's...mostly French dressed up and driving Jeeps. The tapestry at Bayeux is the longest scarf you've ever seen...Sue would like it.

Postponed TourOver the last few days I have endured severe pins and needles in my left arm. It's now got to the point whereby the whole of my arm is totally numb. I cant use the clutch or switchgear, so the last few hundred km have been a bit hard on the bike's gearbox. So, thought it wise not to go futher into europe, instead headed for Zeebrugge to get the overnight ferry to Hull...only a few miles to ride home then. At Doctors this lunch...awaiting referral to specialist. Doc thinks that years of biking have given me severe white finger syndrome!

Quick update.
Solved my connectivity problem by buying a Motorola Xoom tablet PC, so should be able to update the blog anywhere with WiFi access. Has a built in camera so life should be somewhat easier on the move. Just hope it's reasonably robust.

June 1 - 3 2011 saw the 3rd Euro meet of the European Intruder Clubs held in Haro, Rioja, Spain.

I had my wrist and hand surgery in December 2011.. all appears well but building up to longer trips. Range was limited to around 100 miles, dependant on clutch use...but now up to 350 miles, then I have to rest for a day or so till the swelling subsides.