WW2 Extended Sights Tour, 15 – 21 May 2014
The group at Arromanches – a great bunch of new faces on the first tour of the year
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The Tour starts with breakfast at Honfleur
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“I had a great time on the tour – thanks very much for everything”
Steve Hickmott, Triumph Tiger 800
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Our first visit to Pegasus Bridge then on to see the Gun Batteries at Longues-sur-Mer
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“I really enjoyed the trip. The group were all friendly and the locationswere great. Thanks again for another fantastic bike holiday.” Paul Chambers, 5th visit, Triumph Explorer 1200 *
The fabulous water feature at the American Cemetery
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“Hi, just like to say a huge thank you for the tour – it was above myexpectations. It was so hard when we had to say our good-byes to a great
bunch of bikers. I’ll be back.” Kevin Hickmott, BMW GS1200 *
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“Hi Both. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the trip (save being a bit saddle sore). We had a really diverse but great bunch on the tour. It was just what I was looking for – a way to see all the sites but without any of the worries.”
Andy Campion, Kawasaki ER6F
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“The Spirit of Eternal Youth Rising from the Waves”
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“Can I thank you both for a wonderful tour. I think you have exactly the right balance of riding and sightseeing. The roads were interesting, not just blasts down A or N roads. We probably rode through some villages that had never seen motorcycles before! I felt we had ample time to see what we needed to at all of our scheduled stops. All the accommodation was good. I know the hotel in Oradour was somewhat basic, but its proximity to the martyr village made choosing it good sense. The group were all good company and we enjoyed the craic. Tim was excellent. He has the ideal personality to lead a group – friendly, confident and assertive and clearly a very good rider. He coped brilliantly with having to combine reading your route notes with following his satnav…Thanks also to Paul, our ever-suffering back marker…also a really good rider. And to your good selves. Thank you for making the effort to be with us, when you could so easily have used John’s injury as a reason for staying at home. Clearly, you care for your clients. Many thanks to Jen for the lovely buffet at you house…I’ve certainly been left with some great memories, for which I thank you and everyone on the trip.
Very best wishes for your swift recovery John and continued success in your excellent joint enterprise.”
Trevor Cottrell, Honda Deauville
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The WW2 tour was our first long journey together on a motorbike and we will definitely be looking to join you again next year and we will also be doing more riding ourselves…Malcolm and I would both like to say that although you were unable to join us for some of the tour, you were such good hosts and devoted yourselves to ensuring that everyone had a good holiday and gained the maximum from the experience centred around WW2. The overnight stays were a great mix of authentic french charm. We enjoyed them all in their own way. We also enjoyed having time to ourselves and also the opportunity to socialize together with the rest of the group. A great balance for us as the only couple.Remember us as first up for Sancerre next year.”
Kari & Malcolm Prestwich, Suzuki Intruder
Kari & Malcolm outside the German Cemetery
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“I was seriously impressed by the high standard of all the sights we visited, I hadn’t realised how much effort the French have put in recently. Pegasus Bridge, St Mere Eglise, the gun batteries, Pointe du Hoc, all brilliant. I enjoyed the hotels – all had character and great locations that you never get in out of town Mercure type chain hotels.The riding was brilliant when the sun was shining, grim when it was raining heavily! Everyone without exception was friendly and interesting to talk to, and thanks to John in particular for the battery terminal bolt and fuel..”
Alan Dixon KTM 640 Noise model
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Kari & Malcolm outside the German Cemetery
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“I was seriously impressed by the high standard of all the sights we visited, I hadn’t realised how much effort the French have put in recently. Pegasus Bridge, St Mere Eglise, the gun batteries, Pointe du Hoc, all brilliant. I enjoyed the hotels – all had character and great locations that you never get in out of town Mercure type chain hotels.The riding was brilliant when the sun was shining, grim when it was raining heavily! Everyone without exception was friendly and interesting to talk to, and thanks to John in particular for the battery terminal bolt and fuel..”
Alan Dixon KTM 640 Noise model
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“Which way Tim??” Always a morning briefing – this time by our Guide Tim Hale. The British Cemetery at Bayeux.
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“Sorry I have not been in touch since the tour but I went straight on another holiday afterwards and got back yesterday. Can I simply say how much both Trev. and I enjoyed all the holiday and appreciate the efforts you both made to make it enjoyable bearing in mind John’s injury and I do hope he will be back on a bike soon…Anyway, once again, thank you for a wonderful holiday and we shall be recommending you to other riders without hesitation. Bye for now”
“Flymo Bob” Rushton, Honda Deauville
Steve Hickmott with his “Mignon” John gives some background information at the German Cemetery
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Monument at the German Cemetery
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Bob, Alan, Trevor & Andy talking to a journalist. Father & son Kevin & Steve Hickmott at La Pointe du Hoc
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Moving testimonials from survivors of the Rangers who climbed the cliffs. Steve Doughty at the viewing area.
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“The tour visited some of the most important French sites of WW2. All hotels were clean and well sited. Food on the tour was very good. I went on my own but the group were great and we all quickly bonded and it seemed, after a day, like I’d known everyone for years. I felt it was good value for money and I didn’t have to do any planning, just pay and go! I would certainly recommend.”
Steve Doughty, Kawasaki ER6F
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Bob & Trevor taking a break. Sainte Mere Eglise where the parachute is in memory of paratrooper John Steele
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The group at the Airborne Museum – with John in a wheelchair!
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Andy, Steve D & Tim have a laugh at the models’ expense! Next stop La Roche Bernard
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Bikes parked outside our Hotel. Then on to see the U-Boat pens at St Nazaire
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Go on board a French Attack Submarine at St Nazaire
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Enjoy a free night at La Rochelle before moving on to visit Oradour sur Glane
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See over 200 vehicles in the Saumur Tank Museum
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Our final dinner together at Le Mans
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Malcolm says a few words and Tim can’t believe he’s surrounded on all sides by three ex-West Midlands police!!
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Lastly, a visit to the Museum at Montormel, overlooking the Falaise Gap, where the final Battles of Normandy took place
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And that’s all folks!!
We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to Tim Hale for guiding this tour for us with John being incapacitated after falling off the barn roof! Also many thanks to Paul Chambers for riding as the “Back Marker” throughout the tour. Although we were only able to be present for the first two days and the last day we really enjoyed the company of everyone on the tour and hope we’ll see you all again on future tours.