The BMW Club East Anglia Section

As with all our foreign trips, this one was organised many months ago by our Social Secretary Peter Dutton. The usual format is for individuals to book their own ferries, hotels, chalets or camping pitches and all meet at the campsite.

Early bookings on ferries usually means cheaper fares. Hotels booked over weekends are cheaper.

This report is written on a day to day basis and as we all tend to do our own thing whilst staying in the area of the trip, it will give a fair idea of what went on.

I had arranged to ride down with Paul Round and share a chalet at Domain du Verdon, Castellane, where we were all staying (one of many such sites owned and run by Les Castles Company). Paul rides an early R100RT and I ride a 2015 R1200RT LC.

Members who attended this Rally were.

Peter Dutton	Just before the trip he suffered and ear infection affecting his balance so opted to travel by train from St. Pancreas to Marseilles and hire a car – his little Fiat 500 was put to good use throughout the Rally as we experienced very heavy rain on several evenings and he ferried us into Castellane for dinner!
Paul Round	R100RT
Mike Davies	R1200RT LC
Graham	R1200GS LC
Tim & Annie	R1200RT	(Members South West Section
Marius	R1200GS LC	(Member Northern Ireland Section)
Ron & Jan	Triumph Rocket Trike	(This suffered electrical problems in Tours so they continued by replacement car. Members South West Section)

Friday 5th June

Paul & I met at 4.30am on A12 and rode to the Tunnel for the 7.20 train. We rode down to our hotel stop in Beaune, just below Dijon – temperature during the afternoon reached 34.5 degrees!

Saturday 6th June

We rode from Beaune to the Domain du Verdon campsite arriving around 15.30pm – warm again but not as high as previous day.

Sunday 7th June

Paul and I walked into Castellane about a kilometre along a minor road and then walked up the track to the Church of Notre Dame on the Roc (917m) where we had superb views over the Castellane and the Verdon Gorge below. Later that night we were to experience the first of several thunder storms and torrential rain which occurred on three evenings, usually starting around nine pm.

Monday 8th June

This day we made use of Peter’s little Fiat 500 and he drove us though lovely lanes and gorges to the East of Castellane, ending up at the Lakes with large dam. Later that evening, on cue came another thunder storm and heavy rain!

Tuesday 9th June

Being so close to the Mediterranean, Graham, Paul and I rode to Saint Maxime (about 10 miles from St. Tropez) in the morning.
Free parking on the sea front right by a beach café and the sandy beach was where we had lunch.
After lunch I decided to ride off back to the campsite whilst Graham and Paul opted to have a swim in the Med! On the way back I ran into rain (not heavy) as did Graham and Paul. Later that evening we had the usual thunder storm and heavy rain!

Wednesday 10th June

Today Paul, Graham and I decided to ride around the Verdon Gorge, a distance of some 80 miles. I had ridden this route before with Tom Rodgers in 2010.
It is a ride I thoroughly recommend. We left the campsite in light rain which gradually cleared, riding the north side first. The altitude of the Gorge is between 2000 feet and 4000 feet and there are spectacular views at many locations. The road swings left at the bottom, over a bridge spanning the Verdon River with the large lake in view – a stunning blue colour. We were lucky to see some Griffon Vultures soaring in one area. A few of these were released some years ago and now number around 100 birds.

As we rode up the south side we stopped at the town of Aiguines for lunch at the Hotel Vieux Chateau. It was here that in 2002 I and a group of East Anglian members stayed for three days – and it rained solidly for all three days!!

Continuing along the south side the road climbs steadily, offering superb views of the Verdon River deep down below in the Gorge. We stopped for a tea break and then continued on back to the campsite.

Thursday 11th June

We were lucky to be in Castellane on this day as the Dauphine Libere cycle race was passing though. Peter drove us into Castellane and after parking in a free car park (we used this each time) we walked up to the roundabout by the Casino supermarket to await the arrival of the cycle racers. At around 11.30am they appeared and in a flash 200 of them zoomed by. We learnt later that UK rider Chris Froome won this Dauphine Libere! We then had a pleasant lunch in Castellane at a restaurant in the square.

Friday 12th June

On rising we were greeted with heavy rain! We had a leisurely breakfast in the chalet and by mid- morning the rain ceased and the sun came out! Paul and I decided to take a walk up to the nearby Colle near the hamlet of Brayal. A small road off the Gorge road near the campsite led us up through pine trees and well spaced houses to the Colle, a few hundred feet above sea level. On the way down we stopped for lunch at a newly opened restaurant and enjoyed a good meal.

That afternoon we both set about packing our clothes for an early departure the next morning. We cleaned the chalet and reported to the office where they hold on to my deposit until they check the chalet – Peter handed our key in the next day (we left before the office was open) and obtained the receipt for my deposit (credit card which they cancelled).

During the early part of the week and the first heavy thunderstorm, the WiFi aerial at the campsite was hit by lightning and blew all their computers which in turn operated the barriers! So no WiFi but no barriers to open each time we went in and out!

Saturday 13th June

Paul and I rose early and left the campsite to ride up to St. Dizier some miles north of Dijon – it was a long riding day (425 miles) which we had planned so the last day’s ride would be easier to the Tunnel.
We arrived at the Ibis Styles in St. Dizier around 16.30pm – a good quality hotel with air conditioning, comfortable bed and excellent shower. We also ate there later – a very good dinner.

Sunday 14th June

After a leisurely breakfast we rode off towards the Tunnel, some 245 miles but had planned on having lunch at our favourite restaurant the Blanc Nez in Sangatte, only 5 miles from the Tunnel. We arrived at the Blanc Nez at around 1pm and had an excellent lunch. A short ride to the Tunnel and we were allocated an earlier train, which with the hour your gain back in UK meant we were home by 16.30pm.

The whole trip went well and my condolences go out to Peter Dutton (good of him to opt to take the train and hire a car) and to Ron and Jan for carrying on in the replacement car after their trike packed up in Tours. There were no further mishaps and all concerned enjoyed themselves. A special mention for Marius who rode from Northern Ireland, ferry to Scotland, ride to Newcastle and ferry to Hook of Holland and final ride to Castellane – a long ride. He rode every day on his own to various locations through rain and sun!

My own R1200RT LC ran without fault, averaging 55.8mpg and using no oil for the 1804 mile trip. These liquid cooled engines do appear to use little oil! Paul said his R100RT was not running as well as it should but it cruised all day at around 130 kph on the peage!