Whilst we were not due to travel to France until Thursday 11th, many of the group headed down to the Dover area Wednesday to stay overnight for the early start.
The ride down was a very, very wet one, as predicted and the consensus was that the rain would be following us to France!
Day One – 11/09
Bob S had organised the tour, which started off at the Eurotunnel.
Seventeen PECAM Members and one pillion, met at the Eurotunnel to start the process of checking in for our train at 10.20am to Calais, this was made all the more tedious as it was raining very hard, again!
On reaching Calais, with Bob S in the lead and with waterproofs on, ready for more rain, we headed off to our first stop, a lunch booking at L’Entre Mers around 16 miles from Calais.
Despite Bob making a booking for us for lunch and having had it confirmed by the restaurant, to our surprise, we found L’Entre Mers was closed!
Following a short discussion, it was decided to walk the short distance to the Battery Todt Museum, the first stop on our itinerary, where eagle eyed members found a snack bar and descended upon the single cook to order various burgers.
It was at this point the heavens opened again and we all tried to take shelter in the canopy, without much success.
Following the consumption of refreshments, we drifted off to the Todt Battery Museum.
The Todt Battery, was a battery of coastal artillery, built by Nazi Germany during World War II, which consisted of four Krupp 380 millimetre guns, capable of reaching the British Coast, each protected by a bunker of re-enforced concrete.
The Todt Battery fired for the last time on 29th September 1944 and was taken hours later by the North Nova Scotia Highlanders that had landed in Normandy, as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, after an intensive aerial bombardment, as part of Operation Undergo.
By now the sun had come out and the rest of the day and ride to the Hotel was much more pleasant, we had a ride of 108miles to Hotel Beatus in Cambrai, our home for the next three days.
On arriving at the hotel, it was tucked away, nestled in a shady park, it was very peaceful with beautiful gardens.
Kerry’s wife Odile had driven to meet us and join us for the tour.
Soon booked in and unpacked, we headed down to the bar for a drink and to chat about the day, ready for the delicious food that was served, by Bruno and Lou-Anne, who looked after us, extremely well during our stay.
An early night was in order, so we could be ready for day ahead tomorrow, where Bob had planned a full day for us all.