Normandy Invasion

[Syntec4]

The Ugly Bunch Normandy Invasion

Me - XT1200
Horobags - Integra 750
Bullet Crosstourer
Frank Tmax
Colin Africa Twin



We set off on Friday morning. Calling in at the Raven for breakfast on the way. Horobags and Bullet had got some cheap BT headsets from flabby. They spent about 10 minutes shouting ‘can you hear me now?’ at each other much to the amusement of the other patrons.



We had and fantastic ride down through Shropshire and turning inland towards the Cotswolds where we stopped for lunch at Buford. It was really great weather.



My NEXX XD1 keeping me fairly cool.




The roads were hot and grippy.



Heading towards Salisbury







Stow on the Wold was packed




We managed to stay as a group mostly. Some filtering was needed.



This is Burford



The bikes parked up in Burford




Bullet on his Crosstourer with custom graphics.



We did catch a little rain for a minute but it soon passed and we dried out in no time as it was so hot.



We got separated in heavy traffic in Salisbury which we hit at rush hour. I spent some time in a lay-by while the other caught up.





On the way in to Portsmouth we were about to get a bit wet.





Whats that up ahead. Clouds?



Lets all stop and get wet gear on then.



Good decision, but it’s about to get a bit worse.



Faaaack.





Mark pretending he’s having a good time.



We stopped under a Motorway bridge as it was getting dangerous. Another rider going the other way on an R1 did the same.



Still having a laugh though.









At least the pinloc was working….



5 Miles down the road it had stopped.



We stayed at the travel lodge in Portsmouth for the night. Sooty had a dry out on the Window cill.



Day 1 ended in a predictable fashion with Colin and Frank heading for bed around 11pm. Myself Horrobags and Bullet headed for the pub opposite and watched a covers band while having a nightcap Or Ten….

 

[Syntec4]

Day 2. Portsmouth to Cherbourg.

Day 2 started with another lovely morning. Surprisingly everyone was up early. Frank making a brew at 5am in our room. We were outside with loaded bikes at 9am. We wanted to kill a few hours in the morning as our Ferry was not until 2pm.



We had a ride down the coast to Southsea castle and had a breakfast on the seafront and looked round the Museum and castle etc.









New v’s old.











Col on his very nice AT which looks a lot like Bullets old one…



South sea castle
















These are the Tunnels under Southsea castle.



We had a look round the D-Day Museum as well.



And an ice-cream



Inside the Museum











Nice Camera used for Recon. 8x10 negs.












Frank joining Dad’s army..







Some of the outside displays.










Riding round Portsmouth.



Hen party..



We pulled into the ferry terminal about an our early and just waited there chatting and talking to a few others also on bikes.



It was overcast but really warm. Helmets on, helmets off.. repeat.







Frank decided to sleep on his bike while we were waiting.



We were first on. Then the cars, so we grabbed the good seats at the front of the ship.







We crossed the Channel to Cherbourg at 41 knots. Only took 3 hours. French coastguard patrols all over the place on the way into port.













We rolled off the Ferry into Cherbourg and immediately Horobags, Frank and Bullet went the wrong way at the first roundabout. Colin and I spent 15 minutes at the side of the road sweating our bollocks off waiting for them to come back.



We spent ages finding our hotel for the night. Hotel ‘Kyriad’ on the outskirts of the town. It was nothing special and there was precious little to eat or drink in the area. A local directed us to a little place up on the seafront which was open and we had some grub and not a few beers.











Horrobags sat down for his breakfast he put his arm in a big bird shite. Not being strong in the stomach he freaked out with predictably sympathetic results from Bullet. He tried to wipe it off on the grass.





We had a walk back to the Hotel and got some kip.

 

[CentralCal]

Nice report but what is she holding? Aren't there any men in that town

 

[Syntec4]

Day 3. St Mere Egleis and the Beaches.

We made our way out of Cherbourg and down the road to visit this fella. He’s been up there a while now.









We found somewhere to eat and bought some stickers and souvenirs etc. Colin thought he’s lost his bike key, but luckily it was still sat on his seat.







It was fathers day and the kids sent me with a card to open when i got there.



Another view of the trooper









Inside the church



















Mark was found in here buying a hat.





Outside the church this fella wanted €16 for an unidentified animal part. We settled for a baguette



One of the local hotrods


We then rode down to the coast to look at the Beach.







It’s clear which tourist money they want round here…

























Mark having a stroke after he finds out its £5 for a cuppa tea.













Back on the bikes now on the way to the next site.



They are getting ready for the TDF to pass through in a few weeks.






















































Thats Colin standing at the top of a big crater.





After all that we made our way to the Digs at Arromanches. We were staying with Adrian and Karen at the Normandy Beach BnB. They have Bike parking and an all you can drink free beer and wine fridge… Challenge accepted.



The village is very pretty, but mostly deserted. Tourism has been hit hard lately.











This was on the way back from the Le Mans 24hrs

 

[Syntec4]

Some of the others arrived





Arromanches.



This Daimler belongs to Adrian the BnB owner.





While some people were trying to empty the beer fridge I decided to go for a walk and take some pictures in the dark.









Mulberry harbour









Back at the BnB we had many more beers and Frank decided to show off his new hair piece.





Bed was a vague memory but a great time was had by all.

 

[yz454]

Nice pics , I have been to a lot of those D Day places .

 

[Syntec4]

Day 4.

The other section of the ugly bunch had arrived. The ‘southern shandy swillers’. A plan was hatched to go to pegasus bridge. It was pissing down but it didn’t stop us.

Jaz had a puncture (screw stuck in the tyre) so we had a delay while we lugged it with a kit I’d brought.





























Le Menu



Mark wasn’t impresses apparently



Steve















This was in the BnB Car Park when we returned. It was on its way home from the Le Mans 24hrs









Liam nipped out for some fuel.



Dinners ready.





Never had my bike so dirty. I did a bit of off road on the way back





In the evening we watched the football on the projector.





It was a great evening. Many, Many beers were consumed.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Thanks for posting all the photos and taking us along. Looks like a good time.
::008::

 

[Syntec4]

Day 5

A big day for me. I rode over to a town called St Breiuc on the Western side of france. I found my great uncle is buried there a couple of years ago and wanted to pay him a visit. Colin offered to ride with me until Mont St Michel and then turn off to see it.

It was a fairly uneventful but long ride.









It was made into an epic marathon as the main dual carriageway was closed for a long section near to St Malo. I followed the satynav that sent me on some great back roads.



Entering st Breuic






This is him.







On the way back i diverted to ST Malo for a ride over the bridge.










Got stuck again on the way back. Filtered to the front and found this.







I filled up at the Carefour again in Bayeaux on the way back 347 miles for the day.

 

[Syntec4]

Day 6.

The run for home.

We packed up and hit the road after breakfast. We had to ride to Caen this time which is only 25 miles or so. We killed some time by using the coast road and stopping a couple of times along the way . The ferry was not until 1315.



























At the ferry port.





This guy had Ontario plates. He was a long way from home!







I wouldn’t mind a go of this.



On the ferry.







On this crossing we didn’t know we needed to book a seat. So we settled on sitting on deck and burning

Horobags stripped to his shreddies















Coming back into Portsmouth






























We rolled off the ferry at 1930. Hit the road and made it all the way home to Manchester in 4 hours.









It was a great trip. These are just some of the photo’s i took while away. There are loads more here if you're interested.

http://www.wheelshots.com/Motorcycles/Ride-Outs-and-Bike-Meets/Normandy-2016

 

[neilbarnwell]

That's excellent. Thanks for putting the effort into posting that. Would you mind telling us what kit you were using for your photos? Looks like you had a GoPro Session on your helmet, and something on a retractable tether to your shoulder? I can't be arsed with editing video, and prefer still photography anyway, but I don't like taking my SLR etc out all the time for snapshots. For that, I want a solution that I can use with gloves on, and just grab it and click (maybe even while on the move if it's safe and there's a remote shutter release or something).

 

[Squibb]

Nice trip, thanks.

Certainly brings back a few memories - just to think of the lines of graves behind Omaha Beach. Brave young guys from the likes of Idaho, teenagers even, who probably didn't know where DC was, let alone Normandy, who gave their lives there. Still brings a tear to the eye!

Like some of the First WW sites, Vimy Ridge/Tyne Cot/Ypres (Menin Gate) - all our kids should see & witness these places, just to get some perspective on the meaning of life & freedom.

................... KEN

 

[Syntec4]

Neil. I use a small Nikon aw130 upside down in my left hand. It's fastened to my jacket via a 'gear keeper'. It's a heavy duty retractable lanyard. If I need my hand in the bars quick I just let go and it winds back. I also have a D600 in the tank bag which I use when stopped. I have a couple of GoPro forwards and backwards and I make some ram ball mounts for those which I use to replace various bolts on the bike to change the viewpoint regularly. Cheers. Lee

 

[Brick]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing. I would love to get over there for a visit sometime.
I was wondering about the Honda Integra 750 is that the kind of scooter bike I've read about? Looks good. We don't get those or the Crosstour over here in the states.


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[Syntec4]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing. I would love to get over there for a visit sometime.
I was wondering about the Honda Integra 750 is that the kind of scooter bike I've read about? Looks good. We don't get those or the Crosstour over here in the states.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you. Yes mark was on his Integra 750. It's based on the NC platform but is DCT only. He likes it The Crosstourer that Bullit was riding is great. He's had a couple of them. His was the manual version. In fact it was so good I've just just bought the DCT version I'd post a pic but I might get banned

 

[Brick]

Thank you. Yes mark was on his Integra 750. It's based on the NC platform but is DCT only. He likes it The Crosstourer that Bullit was riding is great. He's had a couple of them. His was the manual version. In fact it was so good I've just just bought the DCT version I'd post a pic but I might get banned

Ok... no they wouldn't ban you please do post a photo.
I've heard the scooter think May becoming to the states some day??


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[midlife]

Great write up, thanks. A lot of time and effort put in there. ::012::

 

[Syntec4]

Ok... no they wouldn't ban you please do post a photo.
I've heard the scooter think May becoming to the states some day??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did 35k miles on the XT. It is a fantastic bike. my 2014ZE though was starting to show signs of corrosion on the frame around the welds and I suspect the CCT was on it's way out. So I traded it in while it still had some value and before I had to buy a load of parts.

This is the VFR1200X I replaced it with. It's the 'Highlander' model. Which comes with bags, engine bars, lights, centre stand, Akrapovic exhaust and the shiny paint. This is also the DCT version.





This is my mate Bullit, he is on his 3rd Crosstourer. His is the Manual. This picture was on Sunday and his bike was brand new that day. He is a big fella 6'6" and probably 250lb and he finds it comfy.



I should say that I already miss a few things about the Tenere. Firstly the cruise control. The dashboard/trip computer is better on the Yamaha. It provides more information and the Handlebar selection/scroll is great. The Honda has 2 buttons on the clocks to select trip etc. The adjustable screen system (2014+) is nicer on the Tenere. The headlights are better on the XT. The tank range is slightly longer on the Tenere by about 40 miles.

The finish on the Honda is better. The wheels/spokes looked awful on the Tenere after a couple of winters. The Honda ones are much better finished/coated. The engine is simply wonderful and the DCT is really great. I was very anti DCT before I tried one. Now I love it. The chassis is better/stiffer more road biased although this could be considered a bad thing if you do lots of offload.

The Bags are bigger on the Honda. I can get an ADV helmet in the top box and in the side case too.

Comfort I would say is the same for both bikes.

I guess there is no 'perfect bike' but it sure is fun finding that out ;-)

 

[HBLQRider]

Thanks for the pictures of Portsmouth. My niece moved there from the Colchester area and I haven't had a chance to get there to see it for myself.

 

[Squibb]

We bypassed the Honda CT & went for the S10, as SWMBO just couldn't get on with the pillion accomodation, particularly with the side panniers in place.

It was the same scenario with the big Aprilia Caponord too. Admittedly we had to go with the Altrider rack to create a little more space at the back, but even standard the S10 seems the more capable 2-up.

However, chatting to a couple of CT owners recently, they both loved the DCT gearbox set-up & were happy to demonstrate there low speed manouvering prowess. Whilst I didn't try my hand, I could see the attraction, at least for road use.

Ride Safe .................... KEN