Belgium XI Rally
Heuvelland-Kemmel, Belgium
7 - 10th May 2009
It was going to be a great weekend because I was travelling to the Belgium IX Rally with good friends. First Tina & I travelled down to Yeovil to meet up with Muddy & Lesley before heading off to Ashford, Kent for an overnight stay at the Travelodge. We also met up with our friends Steve & Leonie Tromans from England XIII. You can imagine that much was discussed in the bar that night!
Fairly early next morning, I met up with the others for breakfast before packing the bikes and heading for Dover. There had been a change in the weather and it was now very windy. I am sure that it was because of the wind that our ferry was delayed by one hour. Having said that, at least on the new boat it was a fairly smooth crossing.
Soon we landed and I led the way I knew from many previous visits to Ypres, where we were due to meet our guide to the Rally Hostel. The journey was almost straight forward – riding at almost 45 degree angles because of the cross wind! However, we were soon in the Grotte Markt and meeting our guide, Pierre (the Chapters Road Captain. We had a little time to spare, so sitting outside drinking a coffee and watching the world go by was very relaxing, but soon it was of to Kemmel and the De Lort Hostel, our base for the Rally.
We were one of the last to arrive, but a welcome at the reception by two lovely ladies handing our Red Bull was a nice touch before we met our wonderful friends, Ronnie & Carmen. Ronnie is now President of Belgium IX. We had a very warm welcome before heading off to find our rooms, guided by a Chapter member. This is where Tina & I struck very lucky, we had our own shower and toilet…. Yippee!
Soon it was time for tea, taken in our own area of the restaurant and served by members of the host chapter. Soup with bread, half a chicken with salad – a veritable feast! We had to hurry as we wanted to go on the ride into Ypres to participate in the Last Post ceremony. Little did I know the surprise waiting for me later in the ceremony!
Soon we were on the road being escorted by marshals into Ypres and parking on the Menin Gate before taking our places for the 8pm Last Post ceremony. We had time to wander around the huge structure with its panels containing 54,000 names of soldiers who died but not found. What we had not realised was that it was the anniversary of VE Day, so there had been ceremony’s all day. This evening was therefore, going to be a special one.
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John reading the Exhortation |
The next surprise was that the organisers allowed the Blue Knights to stand inside of the roped off area to form a Guard of Honour and Ronnie was going to lay a wreath on behalf of Blue Knights. The next thing I know is just before 8pm and the start of the ceremony, Ronny come and asks me to help him. I was then asked by the organisers to read out the Exhortation after the buglers had finished the Last Post. I was stunned, honoured, nervous and exited all at once. WOW! I was handed the words and waited nervously as the buglers came out and sounded the Post, the organiser then indicated I should walk out to the centre of the gate and in front of the audience of hundreds, said the Exhortation before walking back to Ronnie and his Executive waiting to lay the wreath. “Well done” says his Secretary out of the corner of his mouth and I was then relieved and happy all at once!
Ronnie and his team laid there wreath, followed by other party’s and then it was all over. We all walked about in our own thoughts and Muddy had to play with a dog which left him wounded! The dogs halter caught him on the nose causing a massive loss of blood – wounded in action eh?
Muddy, Steve and I decided to return into the Grotte Makt for a beer, the girls walked past all the shops (I had the wallet so I wasn’t that stupid!) before we all sat in the evening sun and enjoyed a beer.
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Poor Muddy! |
Having returned to De Lork later, as normal at a Rally, we soon gravitated to the gym where all functions will be held. One of the chapter members ran a disco and there was ways of raising money for charity amongst a little drinking of beer or two whilst catching up with friends.
What neither Muddy nor I had counted on when packing our bikes, was the number of raffle prizes we would win from the sealed envelope game. Loads!
Breakfast came next morning, breads, meats and cheese as well as fruit and lovely coffee! Soon it was time to mount up for our escorted ride led by Road Captain Pierre. We rode across the countryside passing many cemeteries and monuments all the time circling Ypres until we reach Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest where we had a break. I have been here a few times, but its scale never ceases to amaze me especially with the rear wall containing 34000 names of soldiers who died but not found.
Next we were off for our lunch stop at a village hall where the ladies again served us dinner. The wives and girlfriends of the host Chapter worked very hard all weekend – they had to set, dish up and clean up after all of the meals. I would like to say THANK YOU to you all, you made our Rally run so well.
After lunch we made our way to a special school where Ronny presented a cheque for 750 Euros to them, monies raised from the Friday night. This is where Tina and I left the ride out. We went on to Ypres for Tina to meet up with Florry, from Antwerp Red Hatters. Tina is Queen of the Classy & Sassy Hatters, so they met and chatted. Florry and her husband had driven 2 hours to meet us – how nice was that!
We had to break away and head back as the evenings formal events would be after dinner. So a quick sleep to refresh and then join Muddy, Lesley, Steve and Leonie for dinner then over to the gym for drinks music and celebrations. We had the exchange of gifts before the band played the night away. The band were all serving police officers and had us all up dancing dinner off!
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The Presidents Presentation |
There was a couple from the chapter near Gent who were getting married within a month and he was enjoying his Stag night, so all the Knights helped him – you need to see the photo’s and I am still wondering whether the permanent marker has come off yet!
All too soon it was over and we returned home. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Ronnie and his team did a fantastic job and all thanks to them for it. See you all next time.
My thanks must also go to Tina, Muddy, Lesley, Steve and Leonie for enjoying it so much with me. Until the next one.
I have also placed a number of photo's from the event for you to have a look at - just click on the Photo Gallery link at the top of this page.
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El Presidente PHOTO GALLERY