The K's first long trip..

Has been a resounding success

SWMBO had never done a long journey before and in all fairness to her
managed well on the back. Only bit of "education" required was letting her
know that she had a limited luggage capacity compared to going on a
"traditional" holiday.

Started last Thursday with the trip down from north Wales to Dover for the
ferry. Impressed with the bike rack things that Speedferries use. Much
better than the bit of oily rope that used to be used by the ferry companies
last time I travelled over.

Arrived in Boulogne then rode down to Caudebec en Caux. Have previously
stayed at the Normandie, La Marine and Le Manoir Retival, so this time
decided to try Le Cheval Blanc, rooms ok, food dire, off road parking.

http://www.le-cheval-blanc.fr/

Next day rode down to Bergerac near Bordeaux via Le Mans to stay with
friends for a couple of days. Stopped for lunch at a little place near
Tours, I love how you can stop just about anywhere in France and pay buttons
for a simple but enjoyable lunch.

Whilst sitting on the autoroute I got to playing with the OBC and have found
that at 70mph the bike does 60mpg, at 80mph it does 50mpg and at 90mph it
does 40 mpg. Tank range averaged about 230 miles with a couple of litres
still onboard.

It rained ... and rained and rained ... fairing worked well and the electric
screen adjustment made a real difference.

On the way back from the Bordeaux region we decided to visit Sancerre. It's
a lovely medieval town set on a hilltop. Well worth a visit with some lovely
eateries

Stayed here

http://www.panoramicotel.com/

Next day travelled to Versailles to have dinner with a colleague at Le
Valmont. Highly recommended if you're in the area

http://www.levalmont.com/

The Menu Gastromonique is lurrrrvely

On the way to Versailles had a stint at an indicated 140 for 30 minutes or
so. The bike was totally stable at speed even though it was fully laden with
panniers, huge top case, tank bag and us. Had installed the pocketgps world
speed camera database into the sat nav before we left, it was well worth
doing.

The only "breakdown" of the trip was the microphone for my Autocom headset
failed. The intercom still worked, relaying the sat nav etc I just couldn't
answer question from herself.

Travelled back over on the ferry then home to north Wales. Stayed one night
at home then rode down to Bournemouth to visit family I've never met before.
To save the boredom of the motorway went via Shrewsbury, Church Stretton,
Chepstow, Bristol, Salisbury.

Now back home tired but have enjoyed the weeks travel




--
Steve Parry
BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Ah, so it wasn't just down our way then. I don't think I've ever seen
the rivers in the Provence that full of water in the past. Nor swim
across the carpark to get to the car...

Boy was I glad we hadn't taken the bike...

 

Good stuff, I have now done around 2.5k miles on my S & it just gets
better & better. I did the stint back from Dover to our house (around
300 miles) without getting off the seat once, just filled up using the
CC machine & off i went. I am convinced there arent many 'sporty' type
bikes around as comfy or capable. I fucking love it.

I get around 42 mpg whatever speed it does!

The only slight glitch so far was the fuel gauge, does yours take a
while to update it's contents once re-filled?

Nige

 

The GT has surprised me on a couple of overtakes, I've ended up "arriving"
at the end of the overtake going much much faster than I intended

It's now done 6,500 miles and is overdue its 6K service. Total mileage for
the trip has been about 2,300 miles I think.

a minute or so after restarting and it resets itself. Perhaps it's a
software update thing?

--
Steve Parry
BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

I have 3 weeks off in August and am wondering where to go. SWMBO has been
dumped (perm or temp not sure at present) as she has an eating problem and
going on hols with her is a PITA as everything is deemed as rubbish.

Having been to several places in France that I KNOW where excellent I am now
convinced that I cannot go away again with her. On a positive note I guess
that means I can now spend twice as much on my meals now

--
Steve Parry
BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Several rivers appeared to be at bursting point enroute from Sancerre to
Versailles. At one point we were travelling alongside the river and I was
getting a wee bit twitchy that it may have overflowed at any moment.

BTW for the local residents ... I assume the campervans with young women in
them in laybys on the way to Paris were "working girls"? There seemed to be
one in each layby.

--
Steve Parry
BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Ooh, Caudebec. I trust you didn't let on you knew ukrm?

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, platypus

"Ah oui! Les UKRMeurs! Ils sont les (comment vous disez?) 'Pees Edds',
n'est-ce-pas?"

 

I thought you meant "Pey Days" [1] until I read it properly.

[1] Derogatory word for poofs.

 

*snort*

D.

 

"Ah oui! Les UKRMeurs! Ils sont les (comment vous disez?) 'Pees Edds',
n'est-ce-pas?"[/QUOTE]

Ah non! Ce sont des "kawn 'ards!!"

D.

 

That's quite a nasty coke habit you've got there Des

--
Dan L

Too much time to think, too little to do.


http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/

2002 Triumph Sprint RS 955i (It's big, and it's black)
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr (Gone to Suffolk)

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7/8)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

It's cute though, innit ? You have to admit ...

D.

 

I seenk monsieur means 'Pees Bedds'....

*Waves* at Tim Crowther.

 

So what's the French for "temporary barman"?

 

True enough, it just doesn't sit well going out on holiday eating alone :S

Weird thing is a few weeks ago we went to the Michelin starred Arkle
Restaurant at the Grosvenor Chester and have the 8 course tasting menu, and
she thoroughly enjoyed it because of course it was all itsy bitsy courses.
So my dining options appear to be absolute excellence or absolute crap

She's definately not ...and yes to the next question LOL

--
Steve Parry
BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

..pegs?

 

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk/images/album01/h1.jpg
http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk/images/album01/h2.jpg

--
Steve Parry
BMW R45, 01 Kawasaki ZX12-R, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk