Normandy to Berlin in a day - H4H. - We Made It!!!

[Dex]

Raising money for Help for Heroes charity.


So here's the plan...

A group of us are meeting at the Normandy D-Day beaches at 0530 on 6th June, then heading by motorbike to John Frost Bridge at Arnhem and on to Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. Aiming to be on Berlin the same day, some 850 miles in under 19 hours.

Anyone whos ever ridden any distance on a motorbike will probably be able to imagine that 16 or more hours in the saddle is going to be a bit of a challenge!

We're raising abit of cash for Help for Heroes, some of us on the ride have had a good friend helped by Headley Court, and we all really appreciate the work and projects that H4H supports.

Now you all know I'm after your money, so I'd better give you the link in case you want to hand over some of your hard earned...

www.justgiving.com/tim-morris


If you want to donate then pls tick for gift aid, its free money for the charity. Even if someone gives 50p or a quid it all helps, we'll need something to think about to take our minds off the pain!



And thanks,

Dex.

[Nokesy]

That's a great challenge Dex! I once rode for 16 hrs in one day (in France!) and vowed never again - I was in such agony, hot and tired - not a great combo! :( Wishing you the best of luck and great cause! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Dex]

Cheers mate - much appreciated :)

[bobf279]

good luck hope it goes as planned

[SBQE2]

Best of Luck that sounds like a real Marathon

[BB]

Best of luck on this one. Take care out there! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

BB

[igbell]

Good luck, have you thought of getting a air bag for your bum??

[Dex]

was toying with the idea of an airhawk thing - need to look at prices though...


If anyone wants to donate in person rather than online, I should be at the sally this Thursday Night for a while - I'll be the guy waving a piece of paper at anyone who opens their wallet!

[CBRowner]

I was arranging something similar but from John O'Groats to Gibraltar.

Unfortunately I didn't have any interests so gave up on the idea, which is a shame because, being in the forces myself, I feel it's a good cause and the troops need all the help they can get when injured.


Good luck with the ride though, I'm sure it'll be an interesting trip [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Dex]

well one of our Swindon bikers is at Headley Court as we speak - he was hit on the 345 (I think) last June when a Lexus 4x4 drifted across the road and hit him head-on. Jacko suffered multiple complex trauma including an open fracture on his right femur and his tib and fib shattered.

Headley have been amazing, he is recovering far better than expected or even hoped - it looked for a long time like he was going to lose the right leg. But now he's walking with sticks and getting stronger every week.

Help For Heroes was originally setup to provide money for expansion at Headley Court, and they now support other similar projects.

My support for them is very much personal, Jacko is one of my very closest mates, I still get a shudder then I think of the mess left of his Speed Triple after the accident. Wiltshire ambulance and Great Western did an incredible job saving his life that afternoon and night (10 hours surgery the first night) - Headley Court are doing an outstanding job of getting him walking again.

[CBRowner]

I have also been rehabilitated by the team from Hedley Court when I broke my leg whilst training for Afghan earlier this year.

They also helped a mate of mine who broke his arms, legs and his back.

[Dex]

WOW!!!!!


Just got back in the Sally. You guys are pretty amazing - over £100 in donations tonight from you all, and a few more taking down the Just Giving URL (www.justgiving.co.uk/tim-morris) to make theirs donations online.

Seriously guys it means the world to me that you were happy to have me interrupt your pub evening with my sales pitch. I hardly had anyone take up my offer of telling me to Pi$$ Off too!


I'll do my best to update you guys on the day, although it depends on phone signal and time and stuff.


But for tonight, thank you all again.

[darrenatthesally]

good luck dex good to meet you and have a great ride look forward to hearing all about it

[Beamer]

It was good to meet you too and be able to wish you luck personally......Hope it all goes well....Look forward to hearing about it either during the ride or on your return

;D ;D ;D

[Dex]

Great to meet you too - especially when you were all really friendly despite my introduction being me asking for your cash!

[StreetHippo]

Good luck Dex - I did a big ride at Easter for H4H, if you want any tips on nether comfort :-?
Count me in for a tenner.
Stu

[Dex]

Cheers stu you can donate though the justgiving site if it's easiest.

Any top tips are more than welcome!

[Dex]

Well we're back and all nine bikes made it :) full report to come soon, got no internet at the moment so I'm posting with phone

[Nokesy]

Glad it went well Dex and all safe and well - well done to you all! [smiley=thumbsup.gif] How much did you raise in the end?

[Dex]

Yay!

Sorry for the delayed report - but I lost internet shortly before we left, and only recently got it back to be able to upload pics and stuff!

So...


This will be much like aunty's holiday slideshow - but here goes...


Thursday 3rd June - getting ready to leave swindon and head down to Portsmouth for the night
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0027.jpg

Bikes tucked up outside the hotel. We were supposed to park them in further away, but I decided I'd leave them somewhere the receptionist could keep an eye out :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0028.jpg

Friday 4th June - early O'Clock and we are at the ferry terminal. Surrounded by jeeps, classic bikes and all sorts. Apparently Normandy is popular at this time of year...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0029.jpg

Strapped down nice and safe - LD Lines are really good for helping make sure the bikes are secure.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0030.jpg

Bye Bye Pompey!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0031.jpg

Hello Le Havre
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0032.jpg


After getting off the ferry we went for a little tour of the Normandy coast, and called in for ice cream at the gorgeous little port town of Honfleur
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0034.jpg


Saturday we spent mostly chilling - the weather was stinking hot and we knew we had a seriously long day ahead on the sunday.

The bikes outside the hotel...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/05062010183.jpg

Come sunday morning the ridiculously hot weather had eased off - and the morning looked decidedly miserable! Team photo at the start point, Sword Beach in Normandy
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/DSCF0828.jpg

and we all stick our rain gear on as the lightning, thunder and rain begins. Not a great start...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0036.jpg

First two or three hours of the ride were through a thunderstorm. We covered about 150 miles and then pulled in for fuel as we came out the other side of the weather. Couldn't get any pics as I didn't dare take the camera out- we were all absolutely drenched, couldn't have been any wetter if we'd all been fire hosed for the last few hours...

Still, only 700 miles to go! So we set off and headed for Arnhem.

Arrived at Arnhem mid afternoon, and found that all the extra clothes we'd put on in France meant we were all roasting! Hadn't dried out, so we were now hot and moist. Ever so pleasant, but time for a late lunch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0037.jpg

After Arnhem the weather was great and the miles started to fly by. Although drivers in Holland are all mental.

Got into Germany and onto the Autobahn and had a great blast. Riding at 95+ for hour and a half at a time on an Autobahn would normally be pretty dull, but doing it with a group made it pretty cool :)

Stopping for fuel in the evening, somewhere in Germany, had a nice coffee in a services up on a hillside and enjoyed the view.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0038.jpg


We left there knowing it was only one more stop to Berlin. That one passed pretty quick and before we knew it we were on the city outskirts! Managed to navigate our way through, until the fantastic moment it had all been building up to.

Checkpoint Charlie Museum
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0039.jpg

Checkpoint Charlie itself! (Looking shattered)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0040.jpg

7th June - Breakfast at the Best Western in Berlin. Cake. For Breakfast. Awesome!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0044.jpg

Section of the wall still in place in the city. Most of it is completely gone now, but there's still a few sections as a living memorial.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/CIMG0653.jpg

Not many years ago he'd have been shot doing this...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/DSCF0840.jpg

Went to the Allied Museum on the way out of Berlin - awesome place, including the obligatory section of wall and watchtower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0047.jpg

Stayed in Germany for another day on the way back (didn't fancy doing 850 miles back in a day!) and found the perfect bar. JagerTea!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/dexteruk/Normandy%20to%20Berlin/IMAG0049.jpg

Evenutally got back to UK early morning on Friday 11th June. Awesome trip.


Thanks again to all of you who sponsored and supported the trip.

[Dex]

Haven't got final total yet- looks like it's a couple of thousand between us :)

[ZZR600Dude]

Would anyone fancy doing this next year but over a few days instead?

:)

[Nokesy]

Looking at the fun they had ..... sure thing! [smiley=thumbsup.gif] But definitely over a few days :)