Ghent Randonnée 20 May 2010

Mick Ayliffe, Barry Gregory, Norman Luhr and Trevor Hughes went to Ghent, by car and ferry to Dunkirk, for three days to ride the annual fire brigade randonnée. They stayed in the Capanile Motel with some old friends of the club, Dave Twiddle, Dave Betts and Terry O'Brian. Trevor, Dave B and Terry rode the long circular route from the new fire station, which had motorbike escort riders and a leading car. They operated a rolling road closure, so there was no stopping! There were some seventy riders, the distance was approximately 85 miles with a lunch stop half way round ons a beautiful sunny day. There were sections of cobbles through the towns and villages. These were ridden at full speed. The first section Trevor's drinking bottle flew off, left behind but was miraculously reunited with its owner at the lunch stop. His pump clattered to the ground on another section but this was retrieved followed by a fast pursuit, TDF style to rejoin the riders.

Mick, Norman, Barry and Dave T with an old friend of the club for many years, Charles van de Steen (retired fireman) road the shorter canal ride. In the evening there was a pleasant meal in Ghent and the seven met Charles for a drink by the canal. The next day the journey home was via Oudenaarde to visit the cycle museum where famous riders' bikes are on display and films of historical classic races can be seen.

Last part of the exciting trip was to arrive at Dunkirk and find Barry's passport was missing! Barry had been looking after the passports and and stored them in the car glove compartment. We checked in with Norfolkline, no problem, four people and three passports but at the UK border check the chap noticed a discrepancy! Barry was going to be issued with a lost passport form to enable him to return. The chap checked Barry's identity whilst we set about dismantling the car. At the last moment, as the form was about to be issued the glove compartment was removed and the passport was found. It was coincidental that Barry was looking after the passports and it was his that was lost. Poor Barry so much stress for him because he needed is passport in two days to travel to Rob Potters in France. We missed the ferry and waved goodbye to the others. No rush, no problem, we had no plans for the rest of the day. On the next ferry two hours later and to Normans where Chris gave us some lovely tea and cake. As Barry is always such an organized chap we said we would not mention anything of this to tarnish his reputation, but!!!!!!!!!!