More French lanes

[WIBO]

Great stuff!!!!!

[boboneleg]

Looks great, I love the look of this lane

[~ACP~]

I had an awesome time. It was a breath of fresh air to get over to Normandy. It's so quiet. Very little traffic on the roads. Almost no-one on the trails. All the locals are friendly and happy to see you. Even the old folk playing petanque raised a cheery hand.

One of the first trails we did, we came across a hunter in high-vis (which the deer can't see) with his shotgun cocked across his arm. I though uh-oh, here comes some finger wagging. The first thing he did was shook our hands. He was trying to explain they were shooting in the woods. He ascertained we were Brits so switched to English and was very apologetic. He said the trail was only closed for the morning, we'd be OK to come back in the afternoon and we could join them for lunch at 1pm at the big house on the hill if we wished! Legend

Paul's house is an immaculate old farmhouse. Granite and beautiful, set in lovely pasture with stables to lock up the bikes in. Food was good. Comfy beds, hot showers. Log fire in the evening, plenty of beer and wine, a bunch of like-minded idiots to share tales and a laugh with Even the weather was glorious. What's not to like?

Thank you Allen, Russ and Paul for a fab time.
Get yourselves booked in people. Just over an hour from the Caen ferry. Do it!

IMG-20171016-WA0009 by Andy, on Flickr

[~ACP~]

Here's some pics to bore you...

Our aircraft carrier. I thought the ferry was bigger!
IMG_20171012_081955956_HDR by Andy, on Flickr

The Spinnaker tower, Portsmouth at dawn.
IMG_20171012_082402845_HDR by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_20171012_171945101 by Andy, on Flickr

Oops, broken CCM
IMGP0016 by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0020 by Andy, on Flickr

[~ACP~]

IMGP0022 by Andy, on Flickr

Someone ran over Dave's glasses. Made him go a bit daft(er)
IMGP0023 by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0025 by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0026 by Andy, on Flickr

[~ACP~]

Proper coffee. Not like the mass produced piss we accept over 'ere.
IMGP0030 by Andy, on Flickr

Some army dude directed artillery strikes from this lookout. The area abounds with military history.
IMGP0032 by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0034 by Andy, on Flickr

Phil demonstrating his French roll
IMGP0036 by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0037 by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0039 by Andy, on Flickr

[~ACP~]

IMGP0040 by Andy, on Flickr

This was coming out of and after 'boulder alley'. Defo not big bike territory but great fun for the little ones.
IMGP0046 by Andy, on Flickr
IMGP0044 by Andy, on Flickr
IMG_20171013_143059368 by Andy, on Flickr

The crew
IMGP0051 by Andy, on Flickr

[chunky butt]

Great photos Andy, really was a cracking weekend. ......

[~ACP~]

IMG_20171014_083333835 by Andy, on Flickr

Here they are, changing Phil's mousse. According to Phil, it's not about technique, it's about "getting angry with it!"
IMG_20171014_085826301 by Andy, on Flickr

IMG_20171014_090420232_HDR by Andy, on Flickr

IMGP0054 by Andy, on Flickr

Phil on't hill
IMGP0055 by Andy, on Flickr

Steve on't hill
IMGP0057 by Andy, on Flickr

[~ACP~]

Bob says this is a 1500 somethingorother and he can tell that by it's noise. Personally I think it's more like a 1520
IMGP0063 by Andy, on Flickr

I could see this old chap waiting for us down a lane while we had a breather. I thought he was going to shake his stick at us but he disappeared after a while. As we rode passed his old farmhouse he ran out waving, hollering bonjour with a smile on his face. I think he was genuinely pleased to see other humans. His little sausage dog OTOH, not so much!
IMGP0066 by Andy, on Flickr

Steve's having a bloody good time
IMGP0067 by Andy, on Flickr

...from down there
IMGP0068 by Andy, on Flickr