Page 5 - Shining On Newsletter - Autumn 2022

STOP PRESS: The plan is that next year’s AGM will be on one of the middle three weekends in May
2023, so please pencil those weekends in now. Full details of time and place will be announced soon on
the Forum.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

23-26th June 2023: International Gathering, Norway
Early warning! This will probably be held this weekend (subject to sufficient interest) in and around the
mountains and fjords surrounding Solvgarten, and follow the usual international format of a weekend of
organised rides with full board. The earmarked hotel and central point for rides out will be here:
https://solvgarden.no/en/ This is very close to Kristainsand, see below. There will be an opportunity to
extend the trip to North Cape to visit the Arctic Circle and see the midnight sun for the more intrepid.
Pencil it into your diaries now.
An interesting development since the original much-postponed plan is that a new ferry between Holland
and Norway has commenced sailing, see https://hollandnorwaylines.com/. It’s an overnighter that sails 3
times a week between Eemshaven and Kristiansand, and at ~€400 flexi return (for a basic cabin, a
single bike and one rider) this will save those who wish to several days of boring German and Danish
motorways, just to get on a similarly priced ferry to Oslo, not to mention saving you a small fortune in
petrol and hotel bills.
There is a thread on the Forum for background interest but that was for the original (2020!) plan, see:
https://ulyssesclubgb.org/forums/forum/members-only/norway-2020/ Details of the revised 2023 meet will
follow in due course.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Summer Meeting Reports

7th – 12th June 2022: Normandy D Day Museums and Beaches (Alex Knight)

‘Not the Normandy Tour 2019 but the Normandy Tour of 2022’! As the title suggests, the Normandy tour
planned for June 2019 finally went ahead this year, without any hitches I may add.

Nine intrepid explorers finally made the Normandy crossing on June 8th 2022, on a calm and overcast
morning, departing from Poole harbour. A few of us
had billeted the night before in various locations. Me,
brother Paul and Barry chose Lyndon Court Hotel in
Westcliffe, a budget hostel charging the princely sum
of £30 a night for double rooms. There were some
eyebrows raised beforehand at the cost and what it
would be like, but it was perfectly fine for a one night
stop.

Just around the corner at the Premier Inn, Kevin and
Clive were found, and we settled in nicely over a pint
or two, prior to a short stroll to a lovely gastro pub
nearby. Les and Alan were staying at other hotels in
Ringwood and Bournemouth, while Joe and Martin
were meeting us straight from home at the ferry port
the next day. It wasn’t a late night and after another
couple of beers and some tasty grub we retired for the
night for the 06:00 start.

5