Britbike forum Forums General discussion The Rod and Tappet John Bull 2022

Hell Hole duties ended Wednesday afternoon, so with a whole free day in front of me, I took my time loading up the FORTY INCHER Thursday. Then the Prospect came down on his Himalayan and we settled into the night, dragging both bikes out nice and early Friday Morn, placed me size 11 on the kickstart and she burst into life. And off we set to hook up with the Hairy Mong on his Big Four and our Guzzi chum Nigel, then we were off to the Eurotunnel and that train, where we were to hook up with Simon the Hairy Mong's Hardly rider mate, amazingly all went well. Must've been all the Covid shyte we had to send off so there wasn't much more that they could do to hold us up. Didn't bother waiting just went straight to the train.....





45mins later we were off out on the French roads heading toward Belgium, and due to the time difference, they're 1hr in front. It meant we were just in time for the cafe to open, and all y'all KNOW what that means, well....We ARE in Belgium and I think it's the law over there, and I for one am not breaking the law. So nothing for it then but to order it up.....








We were in Veurne a very nice sort of place.....







And after the Mussels, we popped along to the cake shop, and had us a fantastic lump of cream filled cake. Then back to the bikes and off to the town of Ypres, for a light refreshment, and a mooch around the Menin Gate to pay our respects to all the lads that are there on the wall of remembrance, the view from the Gate into the town....








After a good bit of looking we fired the bikes up and it was just a few gentle miles till we got to Passendale, and the Rally field where we were greeted by some old chums, and met new ones....











Time for something to eat and a few beers, whilst we chatted away and did a bit of mooching.....























Next Morning and after the Rally Breakfast, we fired up the bikes and headed back to Ypres to have a look at the Cloth hall museum, which was all new to the Prospect and the other lads, then we tried our luck at getting into Pond Farm. You're supposed to book up a visit, and it's a working farm and the young lad there has a private museum. Our luck was in, they let us have a mooch, last time I was there was a few years ago, and the young lad was building a WW1 replica Tank, well it's on the road now with a JCB Engine in....

He'll be bringing it to England in the summer to ride around the Great Dorset Steam fair, taking people for a ride, trying to get the 300,000 back it cost to build. Next to the tank was a 1914 American truck that also runs....









The lad has made this small museum out of all the stuff his Dad finds on the farm, there is tons and tons of it still coming out of the ground to this day, over 100yrs after the war.....






Then to help with the sombre mood go with a bang, we went off to the Tynecot Cemetery, we went there cos these lads made it so we CAN....












Then it was back to the Rally site for a meal and music.....






That went on until the wee small hours, great it was too, so good to be out and about again after the Plague. Next morning I awoke to this.....











Breakfast ate, our tents away, and we said our goodbyes. Then with me leading the way, off we went into the lanes of Belgium, and into France around the tiny lanes I never get out on, a coffee stop here....







Then before we knew where we were, the train came into view, the end of a fantastic weekend. Only problem...? One of me spark plug caps had rotted away, and was causing a bit of a misfire, no big deal I made it home safe and sound like everyone with me did....

No chips to eat?

Oh man I wish I could have been there... No go though !!! We had a weekend long celebration of Gerry's birthday with a house full of guests. So even if I could have gone to the john bull , I couldnt have gone

Dibnah lad, COURSE we had chips....

Although over there they calls em Frites and they have Mayo which I love, so all good....


Wade man dude, y'all was with us in spirit my man....

Hi Shaun; what is the distance from your home to that event?

reverb lad, about 150 miles or so, not too far, although next year's event will be about 250. The Bull moves around Belgium every year, that's what makes it so good lad....

Looks like a fun weekend!
Thanks for sharing the adventures, Shaun me laddio