Modern Vespa

This is the updated agenda for the weekend of April the 4th and 5th.
Pretty much all of us are booked on the 10am Norfolkline sailing out of Dover to Dunkirk which takes about two hours.
I'm pretty sure that there will be a meeting point probably at the Leeds Castle services so we can arrive en masse at Dover.
If you are going to join the party email Sarah Pilcher at Groupbooking@norfolkline.com and use Scooter Club as a reference and you'll get the crossing for £50.
On arrival in Dunkirk we are going to look for a nice twisty road down to Ypres where we are going to head for the town square and try to park near a nice bar/resturant. With any luck our French and Belgium friends will meet up with us and we can have the biggest of strokey beard meetings ever.
Later we are going to ride to the Bikers Loft Hotel on another twisty road and probably stay there for the evening and see who else turns up.
Now Jim is going to contact the Hotel in advance to let them know how many of us are expected but from that point I think we are going to have to make all our own reservations. Am I right Jim ?
After an evening of eating, drinking (alot) and talking alot of bollocks we will try and get some sleep because in the morning we'll all check out and find another twisty road to ride to Brugge.
I don't know what time we'll get there but I'm going to suggest around 12- 1. We can try and park in the town square near the fountain which would be an excellent place for others to meet us.
We can either find a bar in the square and see who else turns up or I can show you all the chocolate breasts.
After much talking and making promises to do it all again we'll head back to the docks for the 6pm sailing but I suggest that we use the fast route back just so we can stretch the scoots legs.
Back home to blighty.
Is there anything I've forgotten ?

Any of you guys and girls from Europe got any suggestions ?

Below are the are room requirements stolen from page 6

BB & Mrs BB - 2 person double
Huskyteer & Genie - 2 person single
Wonder Machine ? Possible 3 person single with the above?
Bill ?
Kam ?
Border ?
Jim - Dorm

Anymore for anymore ?

I would say, start in Ostende

Everything between Le Touquet and Ostende is fine....

We could make an overnight stay at the Biker's Loft, a few km from Ostende. http://www.grd.be/motorhotel/
All meet at the UK Shuttle terminal Saturday morning, then a circuitous route to the Biker's Loft to arrive late Saturday afternoon. Maybe ride to Ypres (Ieper) for the Last Post at the Menin Gate.

Meet our Belgian friends at the Loft for a good piss-up in the evening, then a ride-out with them on Sunday, return late Sunday night.

Hmm... Looking forward to this already!

Wow! Nothing like it here...what a great idea! Great picture links!

Yes I think that's got alot going for it. I'd like to see Ypres again and a stay over would make alot of sense because it's way too much riding to do in a day.
I wonder what our friends over the water think of that.
Billy-no-scoot

It would be a shame to ride so close to Ostende and not see the town.
Great cafes, resturants and shops etc.

Plenty of time to decide the agenda.

Billy-no-scoot

It s a nice ride-out from Ostend to Ypres, a lot of war centemetry on the road, we can pass diksmuide http://tourism.diksmuide.be/ , Ypres is at 8 pm for the last post.
This pictures are from a ride-out last year. Starting near Ostend to Ypres.
http://www.vespaclubgent.be/photos/flandersfield/index.html

well, i just happen to be free that weekend, and april sounds like an ideal time to take the 'Loper for its first proper cruise .... i've just visited the biker hotel website - that looks amazing! the rooms are a bit 'solitary confinement' but i do like the minimalist aesthetic. count me in

I think will have my pitstop in Oostburg (Eastborough) at my family-in-law, that is just 40 mile ride from Ostende.

that bike area could certainly benefit from a group of parked vespas.

those rooms, though...

The rooms are fine. I always sleep in the dorm though, cheaper and after a decent skinful I have no problem sleeping.

i like the look of that jim.

i suppose and over-active alarmed disc lock would be frowned upon

Setting off the fire alarms with a burn-out at 05:00 didn't wake anyone except Ivan the patron! He wasn't very happy dancing about in his undies opening all the doors and vents though...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=11516927

i can see i needn't have worried.

That would be a very interesting escapade but unfortunately i cant make the inaugural DSSC European extravaganza cos its me birthday that weekend and i'm off to Cyprus for the week ............ booo

good luck to you all and make sure you don't do anything untoward

I expect there will be plenty more.

Well count me in for the weekend. Anymore Donki Skoks ?
Billy-no-scoot

when's your birthday christos? mine is on the 5th april so this weekend is probably out for me too

Smiling already

Unfortunately i have exams in the summer so would not be able to go away.

Oh wait... are all uk mvers counted in the club

But April is in the Spring not the Summer.............

As I've said it's not really a club as such just a vague collective of like minded people. No structure no pack drill jusk Donkie Skok.
Billy-no-scoot

Definitely up for this!

Donkei Skok is a mentality - if your mind is in the gutter and you come for a ride with other members, I think that's all you need.

I am thinking of getting badges made, for my own amusement.

i think Donkei Skok badges are a terrific idea. i would be proud to display a DSSC badge on the Interloper.

558 - as others have said, DSSC is an open organization that welcomes all scooterists, provided we like you .... as far as that goes, anybody who publicly rants about Microsoft is okay by me, even if they are 12

Yes stickers and badges I like the sound of that. It's like Crackerjack all over again.

Donkie Skok is also an attitude but I'm with Wonder on this one it does belong somewhere in the gutter, ditch or alternative drainage system.

That should be the interview question into Donkie Skok. Do we like you?
Of course we do so come on in.

So how many for Europa 2009 ? Me Jim Wonder Genie - How about Benelli and Border Spider and Tracy ?

Waiting with bated breath to see the graphics....

Unfortunately I think I will have to start revision for the summer exams as soon as the winter ones are out of the way
There were rumours of a gathering in the new year I'll make sure I'm at...

Put me down for a badge though!

I'll be there for the DKSC European Tour... as per jimc... am looking forward to it already.
Best regards to all fellow DKSC members.

Put me down for a badge , sticker , Tshirt. I shall wear it with pride.

If that picture you posted is Ostend it's certainly changed a lot since I was last there in 2004. The heavens opened up as I was riding along the front.

I'm sure I rod down that area, there used to be a road there right, or am I imagining it.

Border is coming YES YES YES I'm a happy boy now.
Oh come on we only need a couple more now and people will get jealous.
It certainly looks like Ostende to me. Where's the Pier ?
Billy-no-scoot

North?

Ostend is a good tourist town for lunch, and to live in I'm sure. There are better places to find to discover Belgium.

Zandvort and Brugge could be good. There are months to decide.
Agreed on Ostende though it's a good place to meet and start a ride but isn't an oooohhh arrrrr joint like Ypres.
I'm just looking forward to us who don't have Birthdays and excuses all going away together for the first time.
I'm sorry that was really harsh and totally uncalled for and just a little bit bitchy but while Doug has gone quite I've accepted the mantle.
Ride safe all.
Billy-no-scoot
Forgive me xxx

The date may be sticky but isn't fixed in stone yet, correct?

There may be a few more folk attending, there are a couple of X9 club folk who are moving to Belgium in the next week or so, and I know they'd love to join in.

Another point about the Donkie Skok SC - we don't and won't have a website or a forum, we are more like the Barbarians Rugby Club - made up of all sorts, but we are the best on the day. Spread the word.

Totally agree with Jim on the website and forum............ far better this way it can stay freindly and informal.

Can't wait to see the Donkie Skok final logo for the bagdes.

"waits with baited breath" !

Ugh!

A dutch saying says "Commonly, a donkey won't hurt itself twice on the same stone"


Just curious Jim, what is in the name? Is this local saying or...?

there are a couple of X9 club folk who are moving to Belgium in the next week or so, and I know they'd love to join in.

Ed & me and not 'arf! (Ed's a 'he' and my partner)

I doubt I'll be familiar enough with the area by then to better a GPS but would love to meet up - we'll be living close to Bruges and only 20 mins from the Bikers' Loft - and lend support if appropriate or necessary.

I can confirm for anyone who hasn't been there that the Bikers' Loft is a first-class place to stay, having done so myself on many occasions over the past five years.

It'll be my 'local', that's for sure.

I guess that one was at Blankenberghe...there is a pier too
Or was this Knokke...mmm

The thing is, you can ride from coastal town to coastal town without having the sense of where you are or getting lost

See MV member 'Bo' post on Ostende:
Vespa in Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium, Europe

This is my 'famous' picture in front of Blankenberge pier