In the morning, Bill seemed to have developed ' a bit of a head'! Heaven only knows why? He emerged, just head and shoulders out of his tent, before collapsing again and muttering “I’m never drinking with that Henry Price again”. Another camera moment.
HALF AWAKEWe cooked up some breakfast. Bill didn't seem to feel much like a fried egg fo9r some reason? Plenty of nice strong coffee, after which Bill looked a little bit more human. We checked the bikes, topping up as required, and waving our hosts farewell, headed north for the bridge.
We motored on up the Autoroute Norde and I managed to do my “running out of juice trick” again. Henry came to my rescue with the contents of his unleaded primus stove and a little from his tank and I was back in business. Of the three bikes, mine was always going to be the problem. Henry had the larger capacity tank and Bill was achieving much better m.p.g. (for petrol at least) that I was. I don’t think that Bill ever went onto reserve throughout the whole trip.
Soon, around another bend and the bridge was beneath us! It is a magnificent structure and, considering its method of construction, i.e. that the deck of the bridge was shunted out from the northern end across to the southern end seems to be beyond belief!
We motored on up the Autoroute Norde and I managed to do my “running out of juice trick” again. Henry came to my rescue with the contents of his unleaded primus stove and a little from his tank and I was back in business. Of the three bikes, mine was always going to be the problem. Henry had the larger capacity tank and Bill was achieving much better m.p.g. (for petrol at least) that I was. I don’t think that Bill ever went onto reserve throughout the whole trip.
Soon, around another bend and the bridge was beneath us! It is a magnificent structure and, considering its method of construction, i.e. that the deck of the bridge was shunted out from the northern end across to the southern end seems to be beyond belief!
THE BRIDGE
SILLY BEGGARS
After photographs and yet more admirers of the trio of Enfields in the car park, we set off again for Brendan’s place. We had arranged to meet Brendan in a bar in the town (good plan), at 4.30. I managed to get a message to him that we were on the way but were running late. We arrived, at last, just before 5.30. Brenda greeted us with ice cold beers and we presented him with his official Lonely Bob’s Magic Cloth to help him keep his shiny bullet in good order.
BRENDAN GETS HIS MAGIC CLOTH
BRENDAN'S WELCOME
After downing the beer, we followed Brendan for a mile or two to his delightful farmhouse which is really “in the sticks”. It has such a lot of character and there is plenty to keep Brendan busy for a little time to come. Saying that, we reckon that he has storage capacity for at least two dozen bikes! On the downside, Brendan explained that the winter usually brings over 1 metres of snow with it. Henry started to dream of an Enfield Snowmobile.
Brendan and Henry disappeared into the barn and, after rummaging around, found an old Solex trailer. No prizes for guessing whose bike it got attached to for a photo opportunity?
Brendan and Henry disappeared into the barn and, after rummaging around, found an old Solex trailer. No prizes for guessing whose bike it got attached to for a photo opportunity?
BULLET PLUS TRAILER
Brendan gave us the guided tour of the extensive land and outbuildings. An old bread oven exists which might yet be brought back to life. Pigs, horses, wildfowl
A COUPLE OF BIRDS WE MET AT BRENDANS
Brendan soon had the BBQ was ablaze and Monica had prepared a lovely spread and, not for the first time, we dined like Kings! We had to protect all of our food from the chickens who were not averse to jumping up and stealing from the plate on your lap! The dog did his bit as well; but more of him later.
The view to the West was an horizon silhouetting the volcanic mountains that hold the source of the Volvic water company. Not a caveman in site apart from the unshaven Henry and me! We chatted and swapped anecdotes until the light disappeared and then looked to bed down. Tomorrow, the plan was to get past Paris and as near to Calais as we could before stopping again. We would need a good night’s sleep to be ready for a long ride ahead.
We set about retiring for the night and Bill and I took up Brendan’s offer of a piece of lounge floor to park our bedrolls on. Henry, who was getting a taste for the outdoor life, pitched his tent in the yard.
The frisky dog settled onto his bed in the hallway behind the front door and Brendan et famile retired upstairs. We were all soon asleep until Bill woke in the wee-wee hours with the call of nature. In the darkness, and without his glasses, Bill groped his way out of the front room and dressed only in his pants and vest, began to feel his way along the wall of the hallway towards the ground floor bathroom.
The frisky dog settled onto his bed in the hallway behind the front door and Brendan et famile retired upstairs. We were all soon asleep until Bill woke in the wee-wee hours with the call of nature. In the darkness, and without his glasses, Bill groped his way out of the front room and dressed only in his pants and vest, began to feel his way along the wall of the hallway towards the ground floor bathroom.
That's when it happened.....
The dog awoke at this point and instead of barking, decided to check out the stranger. In stealth mode, he crept up behind Bill, (shuffle shuffle) and decided to investigate the aroma. He planted his nose deep into the crevice of Bill’s underpants from behind. Bill, who until now hadn’t noticed the dog, was now suddenly fully awake and more than a little surprised, to say the least! As he shuffled, the dog shuffled with him until he disappeared into the sanctuary of the bathroom. Bill had tried hard to shuffle without exposing his 'main course' to the dog. Bill’s journey back to the bedroom was almost as exciting although, not so much of a surprise.
STATISTICS - DAY 15
245 miles Oliana – Brendans
3286 miles in total
Average 219 miles per day
