French run report

They were everywhere, as we passed them on the peage too ..

...... Just after the toll booth where it thought Andy's bike was a
HGV

Paul.

 

yuh. We tried to get his name out of Jeremy, but usefully he does
answer to the name Alan or Federico

Paul.

 

So, we had a wet trip down and a wet trip back.

Thursday we were dumped on all the way to Watford Gap, M6 spray meant
little viability and I was happy to pay 2.70ukp for the toll road.

We warmed up nicely at Anne and Tim's (thanks for the bed and beer )

Friday was a good bimble through some back roads before hitting the mway
to the ferry.

Once off the the ferry the XJ900 decided to shine its oil light at me, as
it didn't blow up in the 1st 5 miles I decided to keep going until the
1st service station, about 40 odd miles, where a quick check showed the
oil level was fine.

TOG wandered over and turned on the ignition, where upon the bike stated
on its own accord. So electrical issue then. Easy one, the ferry straps
had been over the front of the seat. That is where the fuses etc are.

So, seat off, twiddle with fuses, set on, turn key , all fine.

off the A26 at sortie 6 and a long blast via all points nice (and some
not nice) to be nearly the last back at the hotel, collecting a fined
Nial on the way.

As TOG has alluded to we had a good trip back, with the usual couple of
UKRM spottings on the way,

Still not sure what Tim and Anne were doing in Arras, and I assume Colin
and Pat were off to St Omer for lunch when we saw them.

When the rain hit 10 or 20 miles before Calais, I was aware that Jean did
not have her waterproofs on and hoped I could keep most of it off her. We
sent her scurrying to the passport booths to get them on when we hit the
port.

XJ900 behaved all the way home, passing 99k miles in St Quentin and now
only has 550 to go before its 100k birthday. Motor still turns well and
is smooth, just a few rattly noises when told to go over the ton. Only
damage/loss was my UKRM French Run III sticker finally falling off the
top box, probably on the way out of Dover.

This will have been our last French Run until at least 2012, so glad it
was a good one.

 

can you lend that one to Nial ?

 

How much did that cost ?

 

Oxford Muffs. YKIMS

 

You're welcome. Even the cat liked you.

Looking for food. Found Colin and Pat at the same service station on A26
as where SD caught-up.

Just don't do anything stupid on next year's adventure if you can help
it.

 

Probably because that is his name...unless you are a member of his
close family in which case he is Christopher or, as far as Jeremy is
concerned, 'My Brother'.

It's not often that I'm grateful for where we live when it comes to
being out on the bike but I definitely was yesterday when we followed
Andy and Adie off the ferry and saw them heading out into the gloom.

That was a good weekend. Thanks again to TOG and the rest of the
rabble and especially Colin and Pat for being Tour Guides.

Kevin

 

About 70 euros plus tip.

 

<prints and frames>

I'm glad, in a way, that the weather up the M20 was as bad as it was,
otherwise I'd have overtaken no-one all weekend.

Joking aside, I really didn't know we'd had hail.

Linda was fully aware, though.

 

So, in Euros per KMH, did you get off lighter than Nial ?

 

And I hardly sneezed.

What ? Like go ?

 

Depends where you were, we seemed to miss that in France.

 

Well, Linda noticed it, and she was at around eighteen inches behind
me.

 

That's the medical properties of Adnam's beer. When we got home I am
sure she was looking round counting people wondering where the other two
were hiding.

I couldn't possibly comment.

 

Did Linda still have those fingerless gloves on?

 

Oh, that. Yes, half price. They seem to have a speed-related
charging scale.

 

At this point, the mind boggles as to why she would have those on while
being 18 inches behind Nick .....

 

They do. Data as of June 2008:

In a >50kph limit, up to 25kph over the limit is 68 euros and 1 point
withdrawal. Possible licence suspension if borugh before a judge.

In all speed limits: 26-35kph over the limit is 135 euros and 2 points
withdrawn. Possible licence suspension if borugh before a judge.

36-40kph over the limit is 135 euros and 3 points with drawn and
suspension up to 3 years.

41-55kph over the limit is 135 euros, 4 points withdrawn, and
suspension up to 3 years.

56+ over the limit is 1500 euros, 6 points withdrawn and suspension up
to 3 years. If 2nd or 3rd offence, up the fine to 3750 euros.

So your 157 (presumably in a 130 limit) should have cost you more, or
your speedo under reads.