'It's rather a niche event' people are saying to me. They don't understand. It's as clear as day to me that a bike trip to play backgammon is what we are here for. 'S obvious.
Planning is proceeding apace and a great trip with fab riding and backgammon is in prospect.
THE PLACES
The tour/backgammon/acommodation centres are as follows:
Escalles - Rouen - Valenciennes - Ghent
We'll travel cross-channel on the Thursday evening. Escalles is less than 30 minutes from the Chunnel terminal. The idea is to give us a good head start on the Friday riding without having to set off at stupid-o-clock that day, whilst allowing competitors time to complete a day's work on Thursday. Anyone who needs a little more time in Blighty can leave later and catch us up in the hotel that evening as and when.
I'm proposing that the group meets at the Folkestone Chunnel terminal at 18.30 hrs. That will give us time to get to the hotel, shower, eat and play a little backgammon.
THE BACKGAMMON
On the first night I'll run a €10.00 Swiss (with optional pool) or a knock-out or some such. I'll decide the details nearer the time. However, Thursday evening's play will not be part of the main competition.
The competition proper will begin on the Friday evening - as curated by a guy called Richard - or 'Biddle of the Board', as he's known in these parts. More on that format, too, in due course.
THE ROUTES
Peruse the routes in France on bestbikingroads,com (and those in Belgium) and you'll get an idea of which roads we'll be riding on. (I'll settle on the precise routes nearer to the event.)
The direct-route-Googlemap distances between our venues are: Escalles-Rouen, 130 miles; Rouen-Valenciennes, 151; Valenciennes-Ghent, 76. Of course, we'll be travelling the scenic routes and stopping for lunch, etc, so the journeys will take longer than these mileages suggest. The leg from Valenciennes to Ghent will take a detour to visit some historic sites on the Western Front from WW1. On the last day, the trip from Ghent to Calais is 92 miles.
It's gonna be fab.
THE ACCOMMODATION
I've booked four twin rooms for the four consecutive nights of the event. Assuming eight entrants, we'll shack up with a tour buddy (any non-snorer please contact me soonest). If there's less than eight, we'll adjust accordingly. If that's the case, I can cancel without charge with just a few days notice. I'll be asking for payment in full four weeks prior to the trip.
The hotels are: Escalles, Hotel L'Escale; Rouen, Hotel Rouen Saint Sever; Valenciennes, Mercure Centre Valenciennes Hotel; Ghent, Hotel NH Gent Belfort.
If we are eight it will average about £41.00 per head per night. If we don't have our full complement it could be more. I'll let you know the final amount in good time.
PILLION RIDERS
The essential criteria for joining the trip is 'you must be able to play backgammon and travel by motorbike' and I'm now throwing the thing open to pillion riders. Provided all tour members can hold their own on the board and have a love of travelling by motorcycle, they will fit right in. So - put the word out. We have several players expressing interest - and I wouldn't be surprised to have a full roster soon. (Please note: both rider and pillion must be players.)
As previously, anyone who is interested needs to pay me £50.00 deposit. They should email me on simon@simonhopper.co.uk and I'll send them the payment details.
And remember; rollin's better when you're ridin'.
