Day 1 June 29th mileage 70 Hull-Rotterdam ferry

Well the day actually arrived and we set off although the gods seemed to be conspiring to try and find a way to stop the journey. On Friday afternoon Geoff and Savi returned home at about 5pm to find that their house had been burgled! The burglars had forced open a window at the rear of the house and then ransacked the upstairs taking jewellery and an iPad. They then found keys to both motorbikes which of course include the keys to unlock the chains etc that secure them, and attempted to steal the bikes. Fortunately for some reason they couldn't get the bikes to start and abandoned the bikes on the front drive. Geoff's bike for the trip was all loaded with everything for the trip, but again for some reason they never bothered to open the panniers and see whether there was anything of value inside.

The burglars made off with one set of house and motorbike keys, so all the locks to the house have had to be changed, and Geoff has had to get another set of motorbike keys cut!

Still despite the chaos that this caused in plans to pack for the journey it was still possible to get ready and depart on time.

Savi did an Indian 'Arti' ceremony to bring Geoff good luck and then it was goodbye and the journey was underway.







The Clitheroe bikers had agreed to meet up in Chatburn, but not before Dave had to turn back because he had left his passport on the kitchen table! They were accompanied by three 'New Inn' drinking/biking colleagues who came along just to check that they really were going on the journey!
All were puzzled by a tramp-looking individual stood by the roadside at East Marton waving but we all realised as we passed him the it was Laycock - what a nice gesture!!

All four bikers met up at Otley and then set off for the gentle ride to Hull to catch the Hull - Rotterdam ferry. Geoff briefly met the escort team of Stuart, Brian and Bernie who rode with us as far as the York by-pass and over-took us. We thought that that was it but they'd pulled in at a lay-by and were stood in-line saluting as we passed - Mercer was super -impressed!!

This is the only photo taken at the ferry terminal and I will need to improve my skills as we progress as in the photo you cannot see anybody's face !




More later RR

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