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Travel StoriesBogger's Et Al's Polish Adventure
Let The Chaos Commence
Ride Date - Mid July 2024
By By Bogger
Day 1
We’d had a few conversations as to where we all fancied going to this year 2024. I made my usual comment of not being really bothered where we go to, as it’s always different and it’s always an adventure. We’d already done a few weekends away in Wales and I’d done a solo trip to Brixham for three days so anywhere abroad was good with me.
To be fair, all the others are ambivalent as to the foreign destinations we decide upon, it’s just good to get away I suppose. Twelve years or so ago we’d happened upon a country called the Czech Republic. That year we were astride our C90 Cubs and we’d had a fantastic but very tiring time. After a bit of toing and froing we said we’d go back to Czechia but take in Poland as well.
For this trip we would definitely need to dig out the big bikes. I’d recently swapped my motorhome and the new one comes with a large garage at the rear. So obviously I had to buy a new bike to go in the back of it. The chosen steed was a new Honda SH Mode. The Mode is relatively cheap, good on fuel, light and in my opinion looks ok. It is also reasonably powerful for a girl's 125cc scooter.
So I’ll be aboard the Mode, Pete will be on his full fat SH125i, Jason a Caballero 125, Ash his Suzuki Address 125, High Tech Pete (HTP) a modified Innova (recumbent carb model) and Nige on his Honda CB125F. Like I said, big bikes, for big lads.
Nige did his usual sterling job of booking as many campsites as possible along our intended route. A couple of which we had stayed at previously. There were a few nights where no accommodation had been booked and we’d just have to wing it.
I don’t know why but I find great pleasure in planning trips. I love prepping the bike/scooter, getting all my camping gear out and sorting what to take and what to leave behind. Strangely I seem to take the same things, perhaps I’m starting to understand this bike/camping malarkey.
Our trip was planned for early July just before the school holidays. On Wed the 10th July I packed the scooter and made my way down to Pete’s house in Dudley. The ferry was the next day, Thursday, we’d all booked the early ferry, 10.00am from recollection and this is why I was stopping at Pete’s.
On the Wednesday evening myself and Pete went for a quick drink and a Chinese take away. We got to bed (not the same one) a bit later than originally planned. We needed to be up at 2.00am and away as close to 3.00am as possible. The ungodly hour approached, but I was already awake, tired but excited about the trip ahead. We got our senses and our act together and wheeled the two scooters out onto the road. It was pitch black and not exactly warm. As an aside Pete’s new SH125i had only covered 630mls total, my Mode just over 1200mls.
At 3.00am we head for the M5, just five miles down the road. After two miles Pete pulls in to don his waterproofs. It wasn’t raining, just very cold and waterproofs cut out most of the wind blast. I’d had the foresight to put mine on before we set off.
The first campsite booked was in the town of Chimay, Belgium. Chimay is approximately one hundred and fifty miles from Dunkirk. But first we have to get to Dover. I don’t mind Motorway miles, it sort of gets the job done. We’re soon off the M5 and onto the M40. With the next stop being at Beaconsfield services, for fuel and a leg stretch.
The Mode was really impressing me. Both scooters were easily coping with the 60mph cruising speed and didn’t feel strained at all. Fat bloke, camping gear, girls scooter. What’s not to like.
The miles roll by. The M25 was busy but not frenetic thankfully and were soon piling down the M20 at full chat heading to Dover. Obviously at this stage we are now racing each other, like you do, when you’re young, like as what we is. We refuel at Dover and head for the ferry terminal where we meet up with the Welsh contingent. The previous night they had camped at a Pub come campsite near to Deal just seven miles up the road from Dover.
Thankfully the Ferry wasn’t rammed with school kids and we partook of a breakfast and chilled out for the one and a half hour crossing to Dunkirk. By the time we had disembarked it had gone midday. We didn’t want to get to the campsite in Chimay too late so we hopped onto the A25, heading South, in the direction of Lille, once again enjoying the French roads.
The A25 morphs into the A23 at Lille and I was starting to feel a bit tired. Not falling asleep type tired, just a little weary. We have a stop in the large town of Maubeurge. We get a bite to eat from the supermarket and Nige buys most of the wine aisle then proceeds to decant it into his own bottles hidden in his auxiliary panniers. The weather was boiling hot and we’re all a bit frazzled by now.
We set off once again and immediately take a wrong turn, then end up getting lost and split up. After a bit of swearing and a few phone calls the group is back together and on the correct road towards Cousolre.
Time is getting on and everyone just wants to get to the campsite, chill out and relax. Nearing Beaumont we take a right onto the N53 to Chimay, only another sixteen miles to go. The more miles I do the more impressed I am with the Mode. It really is a fantastic bike/scooter (girls’ version).
We arrive at Camping Communal de Chimay at 5.15pm tired and red hot. The drive up to the campsite is a bit weird. You turn off the road and then ride up what seems like a pedestrian walkway for a couple of hundred yards to the entrance.
The tiny reception/bar was open. We get ourselves booked in. The small bar area looked very enticing and although I could have sunk a beer quite easily I first wanted to set up, refuel, then take a shower. The Welsh lads also wanted to do this, but decided Nah, they’ll have a few drinks in the bar instead, sampling the VERY strong Chimay Trapiste beers.
By the time I’ve found a petrol station, put fuel in, been to the supermarket for breakfast provisions and had a shower the bar had closed. Bugger.
When planning the trip I quite fancied a walk into Chimay for a bite to eat and a drink. But by now it was too late and we were all too tired. Luckily I’d bought some tinned beef curry from home and boil in the bag rice so me and Pete divvied this up between us. It was far better than either of us expected and we washed it down with a couple of beers I’d bought from the supermarket. The sun was beginning to set and the sky had clouded over. Rain was forecast for tomorrow. Boing, time for bed...
Total miles for the day 361.
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Let The Chaos Commence
After the where's and why's it's time for a long ride from The Midlands to Belgium. It doesn't all go according to plan but relative to this lot's usual mayhem - it's a good start.
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
You crazy kids on ya girls bikes.
That's way tooooo long a day.
You're still not selling this campin malarkey very well me o'd mucka.
Campin in the wet next to a highway (?), meh.
Missing out on strong trappist ale, inexcusable.
Ban im Ed.
Upt.
18/02/2025 12:50:07 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Are you sure you want me to ban him Upt'? If I did I'd have to write more of my drivel and therefore you'd have to read more of my drivel. Think about it boyo - the lesser of 2 evils.
18/02/2025 14:02:52 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I think Bogger's a wonderful chap.
18/02/2025 15:52:35 UTC
Bogger said :-
The plan,ha, is always to get to the campsite in good time.
Sadly it rarely happens. That's not to say that we don't enjoy each days riding, we do.
The days are long because we always choose inappropriate transport. But conversely That's part of the fun.
It's the hardship that makes the trip. I think ?
18/02/2025 20:29:31 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
"It's the hardship that makes the trip"?
You really are a strange lot.
Upt.
19/02/2025 08:44:50 UTC
nab301 said :-
Sounds like a very long first day with the early start! Can you really cruise @ 60mph on a 125? Maybe it's my overall weight / size but 50mph is about the max "cruising " speed on my '19 CB125F and that is only in ideal conditions( level + no head wind)
Nigel
21/02/2025 13:18:09 UTC
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