Jon and Anya
Registered User
Okay then, it seems to date that all have got home in one piece although knackered.
It all started on Thursday 24th, 9am in Penkridge, Rhino and Ely and us set off for the first pick up on the M5, the one exit lane onto the M5 was closed so went to the next junction and turned round and joined the M5, that was the last we saw of Ely. All the pick up points were done ahead of schedule and at the last one Ely called from Dover and warned us of lorry tailbacks, so off we went, round hundreds of trucks waiting to get on the ferries. Boarded and settled for the 90 minute crossing, the Captain told us it may be a little lumpy mid channel, a force 8 to 9 was blowing. Until that point I thought we were all pretty good sailors, but my old mate Shrops went the same sickly green colour as his Tee-shirt and the sweat rolled out of him, he lay on the seats the whole crossing. Within swimming distance of Calais El Capitian come on the speakers, "there is a boat in our berth, we have around a 20 minute delay. Okay we thought, after 30 mins he came again, we have a technical problem, the engineers are looking into it, so cannot dock. An hour later, we still have a techy problem, lost one of the 3 engines and are trying to repair. 5 fecking hours on that heap of tat. Needless to say, we missed the match, were late for the hotel and restraunt - bastids.
Friday,
sun was out and all was well with the world. Fueled up and away we went. First stop, Jabekke Services, 65 miles in, every one happy away we went. The next stop should have been Kruibeke services where we were to meet Inspector, but, a bloke called NICO 56, (his reg plate) in a ferrari 360 I think was up for a play, with out going into to many details an indicated 180 was seen and he was still pulling away, when he pulled off the E40 he gave us a big grin and thumbs up, and Inspector was 20 miles behind us :xm Meanwhile, back at the service area Inspector asked a group of guys on Kwaks if they had seen a group of 17 Birds, "yes mate, we were doing 100mph and they came past us like we were standing still, they were chasing a black Ferrari", so Dave made his own way to Assen.
We got a little lost around Antwerp :h , thankyou Buzz and his GPS, and got caught in a 10 minute shower and then arrived in Applescha. The evening meal was top dollar, a few beers and bed, but not before Aly showed Bert her assets :blush:
Race day, left the hotel at 8am, got to the track and our ticket contact was phoned, bastid was at Glastonbury, so 35 Euro each and in we went. A fantastic days racing was had, we intended to go into Assen town but there were so many bikes there we thought sod it, back to the hotel and more beer. I booked a table for 27 at the kip and steak house but with the arrival of Tony and his girlfriend from Belgium along with Smudger and party it became 33 for tea. Superb food as always, more beer and bed.
Sunday,
Arnold arrived at 9 am to take us to the Dutch BB Bash. A different format to the B.I.R.D. bash and a 3 hour ride out around northern holland. For some reason our guides split up and we were left to find our own way home, Buzz to the rescue again.
Monday, home again, :B got lost at he same place, late for the ferry, that cost some ?10 other nothing, strange that. Investigations are on going.
So that was our weekend. Hope that all the people that made our weekend enjoyed thenselves. Congratulations to all the riders for safe and carefull riding and the convoy riding was superb, everyone where they should be - great :beer:
One last thing, due to other commitments for 2005 I am not going to be able to get to Assen, and so, will not be organising an Assen 05 run :xm
Thanks for making it another weekend to remember, your all stars :beer:
It all started on Thursday 24th, 9am in Penkridge, Rhino and Ely and us set off for the first pick up on the M5, the one exit lane onto the M5 was closed so went to the next junction and turned round and joined the M5, that was the last we saw of Ely. All the pick up points were done ahead of schedule and at the last one Ely called from Dover and warned us of lorry tailbacks, so off we went, round hundreds of trucks waiting to get on the ferries. Boarded and settled for the 90 minute crossing, the Captain told us it may be a little lumpy mid channel, a force 8 to 9 was blowing. Until that point I thought we were all pretty good sailors, but my old mate Shrops went the same sickly green colour as his Tee-shirt and the sweat rolled out of him, he lay on the seats the whole crossing. Within swimming distance of Calais El Capitian come on the speakers, "there is a boat in our berth, we have around a 20 minute delay. Okay we thought, after 30 mins he came again, we have a technical problem, the engineers are looking into it, so cannot dock. An hour later, we still have a techy problem, lost one of the 3 engines and are trying to repair. 5 fecking hours on that heap of tat. Needless to say, we missed the match, were late for the hotel and restraunt - bastids.
Friday,
sun was out and all was well with the world. Fueled up and away we went. First stop, Jabekke Services, 65 miles in, every one happy away we went. The next stop should have been Kruibeke services where we were to meet Inspector, but, a bloke called NICO 56, (his reg plate) in a ferrari 360 I think was up for a play, with out going into to many details an indicated 180 was seen and he was still pulling away, when he pulled off the E40 he gave us a big grin and thumbs up, and Inspector was 20 miles behind us :xm Meanwhile, back at the service area Inspector asked a group of guys on Kwaks if they had seen a group of 17 Birds, "yes mate, we were doing 100mph and they came past us like we were standing still, they were chasing a black Ferrari", so Dave made his own way to Assen.
We got a little lost around Antwerp :h , thankyou Buzz and his GPS, and got caught in a 10 minute shower and then arrived in Applescha. The evening meal was top dollar, a few beers and bed, but not before Aly showed Bert her assets :blush:
Race day, left the hotel at 8am, got to the track and our ticket contact was phoned, bastid was at Glastonbury, so 35 Euro each and in we went. A fantastic days racing was had, we intended to go into Assen town but there were so many bikes there we thought sod it, back to the hotel and more beer. I booked a table for 27 at the kip and steak house but with the arrival of Tony and his girlfriend from Belgium along with Smudger and party it became 33 for tea. Superb food as always, more beer and bed.
Sunday,
Arnold arrived at 9 am to take us to the Dutch BB Bash. A different format to the B.I.R.D. bash and a 3 hour ride out around northern holland. For some reason our guides split up and we were left to find our own way home, Buzz to the rescue again.
Monday, home again, :B got lost at he same place, late for the ferry, that cost some ?10 other nothing, strange that. Investigations are on going.
So that was our weekend. Hope that all the people that made our weekend enjoyed thenselves. Congratulations to all the riders for safe and carefull riding and the convoy riding was superb, everyone where they should be - great :beer:
One last thing, due to other commitments for 2005 I am not going to be able to get to Assen, and so, will not be organising an Assen 05 run :xm
Thanks for making it another weekend to remember, your all stars :beer: