Eurodemo 1996

Prologue

Easter 1996, three of us, inspired by an article in AWOL, took the bikes over to Arran. There we met two girls, Simone and Chrissie, from Switzerland. A good time was had by all and we found ourselves invited to come visit the girls in Switzerland.

Some time later in the year Andy B and myself decided to go to the Brussels Eurodemo and visit the girls for a free feed and a chance to dry our socks...

"Bye bye Blighty"

Europe and Beyond

Thursday morning saw Andy B. and myself on the A1 riding south towards Dover, the bikes laden for a camping holiday in playground Europe. It's a long and boring ride from Darlington.
Eventually with a minimum of trouble we where on the ferry, in the sunshine and heading for France.
Once into France we went south on the virtually deserted autoroutes till evening. We spent that night in a campsite at "Kinky Leicester", unfortunately we left things too late to buy any beer but we survived despite this catastrophic omission.

"Kinky Leicester camp site"

Friday dawned bright and clear as did we, inevitable really, so after several cups of coffee we packed up and got back on the road.
This turned out to be another long days ride with various new experiences. Getting tailed gated at 130mph on the Autobahns, riding from bright sunlight into a Swiss tunnel in shades - the ultimate video game and of course the first of the mountain twisties.
Teatime saw us two scruffy Brits lounging about outside an immaculately clean Swiss train station waiting to meet two Swiss girls. One local chatted to us (in perfect English), and suggested good biking roads over the Alps. Nobody cleaned us or the bikes although I suspect some would have liked to.

"Simone hugs a furry thing"

Parking the bikes outside Chrissie's proved another culture shock. We had just started locking the bikes, removing all luggage, laying out razor wire and all the other necessities of motorcycle parking when we where asked what we where doing. It seems nobody nicks things in Switzerland.
More shocks where in store during the walk into town for the evening. Bundles of newspaper left out for recycling outside every shop. In town? On a Friday night? It would be a pyromaniacs delight back in Blighty. Needless to say we couldn't find a traffic cone on the way back.

"The mighty Chrissie. Flat owner and tooth bursher extrodinaire"

Saturday and Sunday all four of us set off for quick weekend tour and camping near Interlaken. A good time was had by all and Andy and myself had our first chance to play with the Alps even though we where lumbered with luggage and pillions.

"We visited some caves when it rained ..."

"...took scenic photographs when the weather cleared ..."

"... scratched round the Alps whenever possible ..."

"... and eventually returned to Simone's place to repair Andy's boots,
which where going critical and causing him some distress."

Monday was a normal working week for the girls so we headed off to play proper like and despite the extensive storms on the way up, eventually arrived at the San Moritz camp site. The weather cleared and we started to feel at one with the world. That evening we had a few beers outside the tents and planned our forthcoming Alpine assault.

"High on a mountain pass, we find shelter in a disused tunnel."

Tuesday dawned, blue sky and sunshine. We set off without luggage, a spring in our step and hooliganism in mind.
I can't remember the exact route but basically we went over one pass into Italy, then back over another - the Sustenpas - into Switzerland.

"yum, yum, yum, it's scratchin' time"

Many miles and smiles later we arrived back in San Moritz just as the weather started to change. Next to our tents was a another English biker on a 600 Divvie. In true "idiot abroad" style he had; no tent just a bivy bag, no knowledge of German (as in worse than us and that's bad), no waterproofs (except a set of old pants a German biker gave to him out of pity) and no beer.
We three spent the night stood under a tree in the rain, drinking our beer and trying to avoid getting wet.

"Wednesday morning, it's been snowing..."

Wednesday morning we woke up to snow. Very pretty, also very scary when you've got to cross at least one pass on a bike.
We needn't have worried, the Swiss clear the snow as soon as it falls.
Soon we where back off to Simone's place and then out for a meal. We arrange to collect the girls from the train station in Antwerp Saturday morning.

"Across the Alps by bike."

Thursday started fine then got wetter and we had a long way to go. Out of Switzerland, though Germany, France, Germany, Luxembourg and eventually a campsite.

Friday it continues to rain as we head further north to Belgium.
As we get closer to Antwerp the weather improves and the influx if bikes increases. Banners are hung from the motorway bridges directing us towards the Eurodemo campsite.
Stopping at a service station we get talking to a German biker on a big traillie, he buys the coffee's, we talk bikes and decide to ride the rest of the way together.

Eurodemo '96

"Andy and Simone at the rally site."

The Rally site itself is something else. Based in a military air base there is no shortage of space, including three huge hangers in place of the usual marquees.
Most of the people seem to be Brits, it's strange to hear so many English voices and still be on the continent. Our German friend goes off to find some countrymen, we pitch our tents then ride out to get some beer.
Once stocked up we decide to ride into Antwerp to find the railway station while we have some time to spare. Getting in was easy, getting out again was a two hour nightmare tour of Antwerp.
Eventually we escaped, got back to the site for some well earned beer.

"Leaving the rally site for the run"

Saturday morning we collect the girls and get back to the site with plenty of time before the demo run.
The first part of the ride is from the rally site to just out side Brussels. Here we meet up with the many thousands who have just turned up or the demo and listen to various speakers who, as always happens in these circumstances, preach to the converted.

"Listening to the speakers before the chaos."

Eventually everything is ready and the Demo starts it's ride through Brussels. Reports reckon on 25,000 bikes which seems feasible. The police have closed the roads till we pass, which takes some time, everyone comes out to smile and wave. One memory I have is of someone's grandfather, wearing a huge grin, twisting his wrist in a throttle action.

"On the demo run through Brussels"

Everybody seems to love us except one taxi driver who shakes his fist, so we all make various signs back.
Helmets by common consensus have become optional which is fine until we reach one of the wide main street. Everyone gives if a huge handful and I feel as if my glasses are getting pushed back through my head.

When it's all over we head back to the rally and party on till late into the night...