Two to Gibraltar Part 10

Monday, 16 June 2008
Orleans – Calais Coquelles
Starting Mileage: 10173
Daily Total: 270
Finishing Mileage: 10443

To avoid the traffic in Paris we headed for Evreux to skirt round the west side. On the road to Calais met lots of English sports cars and anoraks that had been to Le Mans. Pity some of them had to imitate the track performances and speeds. They were soon roped in by the French gendarmes operating radar cameras and with motorbike chasers. Pulling into an “aire” we saw quite a few booked and some taken off the autoroute completely. On the spot fines and could there have been confiscation?

The Last Peage, Pas de Calais

The weather had been fine with one short shower but the morning had been extremely misty.

Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Calais Coquelles/Folkestone - Macclesfield
Starting Mileage: 10443
Daily Total: 261
Finishing Mileage: 10704

Left Calais Coquelles and after a short ride boarded the Eurotunnel train at 07.50. A quick train journey and we arrived at Folkestone at 07.25. (Times are local). A thirty-five minute journey and we arrived twenty-five minutes before we started.

I said farewell to John at Maidstone Services and followed the M25 north onto the M1. The traffic was still bad between Junction 6 to Junction 10. There were no problems with fuel on the motorway though there was no diesel or unleaded premium at the services on the A50, Kegworth side.

Arrived home, in Macclesfield, at 13.30. The weather had been fair all the way.

Conclusions

Statistics
Starting Mileage: 6948
Total: 3756
Finishing Mileage: 10704

Average Daily Mileage: 235

15 Days Riding;
1 Day Trip to Gibraltar;
2 Rest Days.

Pre-ride Services
We both had our bikes serviced any necessary consumables replaced prior to the ride.

Extra Kit
Both John and I used Air Hawk cushions on the seat of our bikes. In the past we had both suffered from the ‘numb bum’ syndrome after about two hundred miles riding. Fifteen days riding and neither of us suffered. Fully recommended.

Riding Gear
We wore full riding gear through out our journey. Through three days wet weather in France, a couple of wet days in Spain, low temperatures riding through the Pyrenees and the Massif Central and of course the hot days. We needed the full gear. No way would flip-flops, shorts and a flapping beach shirt have been comfortable or practical or safe. Prior to the trip we had wondered about having two sets of gear for the cool northern and the hot southern elements, eventually decided on our normal protective gear.

Spares & Tools
We didn’t take any extra spares for our bikes. We added Gerber Multi Tools and Swiss Army knives to the standard Burgman tool kits. We had also prepared and carried lists of Suzuki dealers and garages throughout France and Spain. There are hundreds of them and, as John found out, the little village workshops all over the place.

Fuel
Though there were fuel protests and some shortages in England, France and Spain we found that obtaining fuel was not too difficult. Though we were apprehensive during the ride as soon as we reached half tank we refuelled when possible.

Pre-Booked Accommodation
Both John and I appreciated having reserved accommodation. We have both experienced riding all day then having to search for the night’s accommodation and a meal, tired and maybe frustrated as the search sometimes stretched on and on.

We tried to start our ride, each day, as early as possible and aim to complete 250 miles approximately thus allowing us to finish about two or three o’clock.

Having a target mileage, depending on our riding stamina, sets the approximate location of our accommodation. Having reserved the accommodation we could then book in, take a shower and rest till evening, refreshed for the evening meal. This set us up for the next day’s ride.

Thoroughly enjoyable trip for two septuagenarians. Next year, who knows?