The Story started in fact, 2 years earlier, in 1998:
It is indeed, during the H.O.G. Interchapter, at the
Belgian border, that theLorraine
Chapter have met our friends from the other side of the channel.
At the occasion of this meeting, they decided to meet again the
same year in September, in England, where Paul invited them to
one animated weekend at Canterburry.
To introduce you, most briefly as possible the Lorraine Chapter,
I thought of this picture, taken in 1996 in Sturgis. No use to
say that, to ride on Main Street like this, that one appreciates
this or not, needs guts! You will understand well that by
associating this particular humour that have our English
fellow-members, with the one of the Lorraine Chapter, it had to
work!
(Click
on the picture for an enlargement)
The
third meeting was in Lorraine, from June the 11 to 13, 1999, for:
It
is at this time that
we
have met them.
The Graoully
Then, at the time of
the European
H.O.G. Rally in Cheltenham, GB(July
1 - 4, 1999) the idea to come to see us on the French Riviera
was emitted. Idea which quickly became a reality. The date of
the appointment was decided to be on May 25, 2000.
The meeting point was
established at the exit of the motorway, in
order to guide the 54 guys from Invicta H.O.G. to the hotels,
i.e. "le
Village de
Fabulite",
in the Cap d' Antibes, and theCastel
Mistralin Juan-the-pins. Those two places were going to accommodate
them during these 4 days.
Just enough time for a good bath, a cold drink and a little
rest, and it is in a Taxi, yes, I know! I said a Taxi, that our
friends went to Jean-Marie for the evening meal. No use to say
that at first, we were surprised to see them in a Taxi,
but in fact, it should be understood that the principal goal of
their holidays is to have fun, and in all honor, they did not
want to take a change in drinking and driving.
Cheltenham 1999
(Click
on the picture for an enlargement)
The
second day: Italy, Castelvittorio
On
the way to Italy, we stopped at the dealer in Nice:H-D
Factory,
for some souvenirs or parts.
The road through the Italian mountain was pleasant. It prepared
us to face the 40 dishes meal, elaborated by Jean Carlo!
" Popeye ", from Invicta, in company of
Jean Carlo, the owner of the restaurant.
The same evening , we had a Beach Party, with Dominique's
band: VLB
Next
time that you will see him, ask him, what does VLB means!
The
third day: Saint Tropez
On the way to Saint Tropez, we stopped by Cannes, where the 53 th International
Film Festival had just taken place (no red carpet!).
Tunisians who had a booth by the steps came to play some music
for us.
On the way back, we went to visit the dealer in Fréjus:
Prestige Motorcycle, where a well appreciated "aperitif"
was served.
Back to Antibes, we had the surprise of an escort of the
national police force. This enabled us to join downtown Juan-les-Pins, in
no time. Touched by the kindness of these guys from the French
National Police, a picture to memorize this event was essential...
(Click
on the picture for an enlargement)
The evening which followed unrolled in Texas Truck, where other
Chapters of passage in the area had joined us there. But this
time, it was in a bus that our friends of Invicta went there.
One minute of carelessness of the driver, and our friends
benefit from it to make a joke...
This is without saying that
this is not the real bus driver! But I think that you had guessed it!
During the evening, Paul gave us this commemorative plate.
Unforgettable symbol of the visit from the Chapter.
Fourth
day: Relaxation!
It was indeed a relaxed day, well deserved, on the beach or in
the streets of Juan-the-pins for some shopping. Well, yes! On
holidays, they is also the shopping. Fortunately that on the
bike, we are very limited in space!!! This prevents us from
buying things that will stay in the closet, once back home.
Then, it is with a lot of emotion that they went back home...
Many
promised to meet again, on the road of the European H.O.G.
Rally in Lloret de Mar,
in Spain ,
or elsewhere...
