Riding Through Memories: A Motorcycle Adventure from Dover to Ypres

The adventure began with a simple idea - book into a hotel in Dover the night before the ride, so we could start our journey fresh and early. Little did we know that this trip would be filled with unforgettable moments, delicious food, and a fair share of unexpected surprises.

As we arrived at the hotel, our excitement was palpable. However, the sight that greeted us in the hotel's gravel forecourt left us in disbelief. How on earth were we going to navigate a fully laden K1600GTL over this rough terrain? With determination and some careful manoeuvring, we somehow managed it, though it wasn't a walk in the park.

The evening had a culinary highlight waiting for us at the Gurkha Palace, a restaurant that could only be found in certain areas. The food transported me back to the days of camp cookhouses, where Gurkha chefs worked their magic on the curries. It was a meal to remember, and we were fortunate to secure a table, thanks to a tip from our taxi driver.

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Enbrook Valley, Folkestone CT20 3NE

Back at the hotel, we were met with a mix of emotions. Excitement about the ride ahead, concerns about leaving our bike parked out in the open, and street noise from a police stop kept us awake. But what followed was a comical incident that's too good to keep to myself. We must have drifted into a deep sleep in the middle of the night. Suddenly, my partner woke me up, convinced that someone was attempting to steal our bike. Acting on my paranoid instincts, I rushed to the window, banging on it and shouting at the would-be thief, only to realize that our bike was peacefully parked where I had left it. The commotion was caused by the police stopping someone down the street.

Despite the lack of sleep, we found ourselves at the port in the morning, where we joined a queue that seemed to stretch endlessly. Eventually, we ended up alongside a group of Harley Davidson riders, creating an impromptu gang of our own. Boarding the ferry, we reunited with old friends and met some new ones.

The ferry journey was a refreshing change from my usual travels for work. I felt like a regular passenger, free from professional obligations. After a short journey, we arrived in Dunkirk, where we visited memorials and had some refreshments. Val's helmet mishap added a touch of humor to our day. We rode on, visiting more memorials along the way until we reached our villa, a stunning place where we dried our gear in the garage game room and indulged in a meal cooked at home.

Over the next few days, we explored historical sites and got caught in the rain once again. In Belgium, our intention was to witness the Last Post in Ypres, and it didn't disappoint. The hotel, however, left much to be desired, lacking essential services and amenities.

On the final day, we boarded the ferry back, reflecting on the memories we had created. As the days passed, those memories only grew richer. Looking back, there are a few things I'd do differently - invest in proper waterproof gear instead of the ex-police high vis that made me resemble a sanitation worker, consider a bicycle lock for the helmet, upgrade our camera system, and convince everyone to use proper radios for communication. After all, Russ, you proudly wear those signaller flags behind your HMAF vets badge, so why not embrace modern technology for communication?

This ride out was nothing short of amazing, and as we settled back into our routine, we couldn't help but miss every moment of it. My partner in crime and I became even more enamored with riding pillion, and it's safe to say that more adventures await us in the future. For now, we cherish the memories we made, knowing that as time goes on, they will only become more precious.