ford 369

I was also at Etrham but in the field with the bike tour as was fc101daz

Nigel

ps , saw "willow "parked up on the camp very nice indeed

glad to hear you got back ok ,we made the ferry with about five minutes to spare ,the drinking couldnt have been my fault I was too p"££ed to make an important decision like that.It is a shame that I see you have a matchless now cos I could have thought about selling you mine(not) but you wouldnt want 2 would you

Nigel

Just wanted to thank Julian for the petrol in Normandy saturday I did not realise how low I was and would not have made it to the gas station so it was a life saver,hope your young lady was not tootraumatised from the pillion ride round the beach and if we meet up again sometime she is more than welcome to take the bike for a spin

Nigel

just got back from Normandy with my m20 had some great times and ride outs,144 Brit wd bikes riding together sure looked good and sounded even better ,finished up in Arromanche ,all parked on seafront and then took all the bikes down onto the sand for photos etc and left 144 oil stains on the pavement so anyone there in the future will know where we parked.for pictures check out the wdm20 website

It was good to meet friends old and new out there although fc101daz and his brother Greg looked about the same as I felt sunday morning after we stayed in the campsite bar with several mad Irishmen until 3.20am

Nigel

we will have a couple of brit 2 man tents and a flagpole with a union jack flying ,look forward to seeing you

Nigel

I am heading off to join the wd bike tour in Normandy on thursday with my m20 ,a large proportion of us are camping at Etreham near Port En Bessin ,visiting pegasus bridge friday and Arromanches for the day on saturday,drop in for a beer and a chat if you are in the area

Nigel

Ps shouldnt be too hard to find as I think there is only 1 campsite in Etreham and certainly only 1 with over 100 brit bikes on it

looking through this thread there is some great pictures but it got me wondering how the sherman being restored in the Isle Of Wight is getting on ,does anyone know?

Nigel

I think people will realise this misaprehension that the Americans alone saved France is not a belief held by the average Frenchman by the reaction we get in Normandy ,I feel sure the vets will get the welcome respect and gratitude they truly deserve and hopefully the politicians will get the feeling they may not be really required this time

Nigel

still Ashley with all that time off you have no doubt finished your garage and completed your engine change

Nigel

still no news about the glider to normandy so I guess this will not be happening now unless anyone knows better

Nigel

welcome to the funny farm Julian ,seem to be a few of us from Herts turning up now ,will look out for you in Normandy ,will get Kit to point you out

Nigel

looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible,coming over on the 4th to Etrham and staying for 4 days ,shouldnt be too hard to find as I will be with over 100 other brit bikes should sound good coming inti Arromanches

Nigel

things were fairly quiet in Jersey mv wise this year but it was great to meet for the second time the commander of a ww2 German gun battery who returns to the island every year for the liberation holiday and tells of his time in the islands and of life as the commander of a wartime gun battery

Nigel

thats both the airworthy lancs grounded as the only otherairworthy example is grounded due to prop problems

Nigel

Where is the D from looks like it was lifted from the sea bed.

that will be the museum of undersea wrecks at Port en Bessin Normandy well worth a look but try to go in good weather as a lot is outside

Nigel

good to meet you too Nigel I will call in again soon and take you up on the coffee,not about for a few days now but will try to bring one of the bikes next time

Nigel

welcome to the forum Nigel ,good to know there is another afflicted one so near,

Nigel of Rickmansworth

think you might want to clean that before trying it out!!!!!!!!!

3.25 20 front for wdb40s are difficult to get as well

Nigel

hoping to go next year and take my bike which should by then be marked up as a force 135 machine

Nigel

sounds good to me I will keep watching this topic and hopefully a few more will come this time , meanwhile I am off to Jersey for a few days to enjoy the liberation day celebrations

Nigel

it is my first time for the anniversary in june as well although I have been to Normandy several times later in the year and we shall be staying at Etreham which is close to Omaha and Gold beach so we may bump into with luck,we should be fairly easy to spot as will be with a group of over 100 allied wartime bikes

Nigel

M20s are heavy thats for sure but they are also pretty indestructable ,I got hit side on by a reversing vw golf on sunday whilst adjusting the carb on mine and once me and the bike were upright again a quick inspection revealed a bruised left leg and right ankle paint scratched on the clutch lever and a vw with a smashed rear light ,damaged rear bumper and several dents to the rear panel along with the drivers hurt ego.I also have to agree about the b40 it is a capable and enjoyabke bike to ride but not that easy to come by still in military trim as many have become trials irons and field bikes

Nigel

luxembourg should be easy for a day ,could this be the next trip?

Nigel

I took my m20 out for a ride for drive it day and rather wish I had not,after stopping in a parking area in front of some local shops to adjust the carb I lent down to turn the mixture screw and as I looked up what do I see? a black vw golf reversing straight at me ,next minute left leg squashed against bike and then right leg trapped under bike and hot exhaust.The car driver got out saying sorry he did not see me and was I okay,I said could you not hear me or see me , he said not (must be deaf as well as blind because that bike aint quiet)anyway I took his details only to find he lived next door to a jeep owning friend of mine.Fortunately only damage to my bike was scratched paint but he needs a bumper repair some paintwork and a new rearlight(and perhaps some mirrors)

Nigel