Day1 - Saturday

Bike packed and loaded final checks showed the odometer reading 44,500.0 miles so calculating the overall trip distance is going to be easy at any stage in the journey. It's 06:30 and I've already said goodbye to Suzie as she'd an early start for a day trip to Blackpool. The forecast for her day is sunny and dry, but mine is sunshine and showers. Well it is starting off OK, the sun is shining in an almost clear sky and it's time to be on my way so I thumb the starter button, snick the bike into gear and I'm off. The trip down to J10 of the M20 is uneventful and barely memorable other than for the propensity of "average speed cameras" - the south of England seems to have a love affair with them.

I roll up to the Tesco superstore at J10 where Steve and I had arranged to meet and he's already there. I've done 196 miles. We have a bacon sarnie and a mug of tea/coffee before departing for the Channel tunnel just 8 miles up the road, arriving to find that there is a delay of half an hour due to problems earlier in the day. That means we face a wait of nearly 2 hours having arrived hoping to hop on an earlier departure, but the staff are having none of that as they try to clear the backlog.

Arriving in France we set of for Ypres, which should have been via Dunkirk but both of our sat navs have other ideas and so that gets dropped from the itinerary, so Ypres it is and as we head inland the rain starts. We locate the Hortensia B'n'B but we are way early so head off to The Sanctuary and Hill 62, before returning and checking in. The rain is getting heavier but we decide to walk into the centre to eat and see the Last Post at the Menin Gate. We are soaked through when we walk into Le Trompet but we wait just minutes to be guided to a table next to a couple from Devon who are tucking into stew that looks so good we both order it. Fabulous, as was the desert.

The rain eased while we ate but returns with a vengence just as we are about to leave, but if we are to see the Last Post then there's nothing for it, so we get a damp again. We have missed much of the ceremony as we arrive at 19:50, but there is a big crowd and can't see anything from the back, but we don't need to, the Last Post is the Last Post wherever you are. This one is obviously very moving for some of those present as I spot quite a few tear filled eyes. With it done we walk up and onto the ramparts and walk back to the Hortensia B'n'B. It's still tipping it down and we are both knackered so even though it's not yet 21:00 we go to our rooms and hit the sack. Minutes later I am out for the count, it's been a long day.

Heavy rain wakes me a few times through the night but sleep soon returns. Here's hoping it blows itself out before we depart, but right now there's a breakfast to be consumed - and we are spoilt for choice.

Total mileage Day1 = 265 miles.