Nothing special, just a weeks hoon around France, but we had a cracking time.
I'd pre booked 6 stop overs, all turned out to be top class accommodation, especially the apartment in Chalon en Champagne, the owner went out of their way to offer assistance when we had an issue with Steve's bike, more on that later.
Too many great roads to mention them all but a few of really notable roads are, the D952 from Riez to Castellane. D526 off of the D1091 at Rochetaillee and one that I have done in the past, the D213, Col de la Madeleine, plus many more, criss-crossing between the main roads.
You've all been there and done that, well I guess most of you have, so no point in going on about the scenery, mountains, lakes, twisty roads etc.
We did have an issue, not one that should have caused us a great deal of strife, but it did, and this is what happened.
Steve's bike, a 2016 XR with 25k miles decided to dump it's front wheel bearings, not a huge issue, we were only 20km South of Chalon on the D977, in a layby and he had breakdown cover. It's around 2pm so plenty of time to get the bike picked up and on to one of the 3 bike dealer/garages in Chalon. Err, no! the break down company decided to employ an imbecile to collect the bike. In brief, he said he couldn't find us, after the guy on the phone said, oh yes, I can see exactly where you're at. Check a map yourself, 20km south of Chalon en Champagne on the D977, it's a dead straight Roman road.. FFS..
Eventually, they called and asked for coordinates, which we promptly gave them, still an hour went passed before he got there, now about 6pm. All good? Err no! He refused to take the bike to Chalon and insisted he was only paid to take it to his compound, 10 miles in the opposite direction
leaving me, Steve and my already loaded XR to get to Chalon. We piled his overnight stuff on my bike, he climbed aboard and we made the accommodation by 7pm ( I think
) Meanwhile, I'm texting Celine, the property owner, who is offering all sorts of help, translation, her car if needed, anything that might help.
We quickly got settled and then Steve got on the phone to the breakdown company, who he asked to arrange for the bike to go to one of the dealers in Chalon, all within 10 mins of our accommodation, first thing in the morning, bearing in mind, our train was due at 1:30pm in Calais. Easy enough? Err, no! They decide to take it to the BMW dealer in Reims
https://partenaire.bmw-motorrad.fr/edenmoto51/ 52km away. We explain it isn't a BMW issue and any competent dealer can change a wheel bearing. They weren't having it, so we packed up, climbed on my bike and headed for Reims. Meanwhile, I'm talking with Celine, as we thought we might have to stay over another night, she had a smaller property and offered it to Steve at a reduced price, just in case I had to get home and he had to stay and wait and would run Steve around in her car.. How nice was that?
A side note, Chalon en Champagne is a lovely town, I wish we'd have had more time to wander around.
Back to the issue. Again, trying to be brief, they didn't turn up with the bike until 4pm. All credit to the dealer, it was off the recovery truck and straight on to a workbench, they didn't have the bearings in stock but one of the sales lads went out in his car and picked some up from the supplier while the mechanic stripped the wheel and removed the bearings as we watched on, he did take one look at the bearings, look over to us and shook his head..
I guess they were pretty bad.
They had the bike done in less than an hour and all for £86.00.
So, the point of telling you all this is, when you pay for breakdown cover. please, cross all the T's and dot the I's as to what is covered and what isn't, and, as in our case, what they will do if a third party refuses to do what is included in the cover, as in, onward travel to the accommodation.
We made Calais about 7:30, booked on a train for 9:22, we were late getting boarded, the doors wouldn't open, and we sat in the rain for an hour, it pissed it down from Folkstone to Leicester and the M1 was closed at J21a.. I did eventually arrive home at 2:40am.. wet, cold and tired..
Anyway, on to the next trip, I'm already planning the routes..
windy
