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Feet Forward Prologue
Leading up to mid September
By Bogger
‘Ting’. WatsApp message from High Tec Pete to our little C90 group.
Does anyone fancy a trip to France in September? The Feet Forward group on Facebook are planning a trip there. He said there should be about ten people going and Pete had asked if it was ok if he opened the invite up to our little group. Pete had previously told them of our exploits on the Honda Cubs to various far flung destinations. He’d had a message back from the FF guys saying that they thought that we were sufficiently odd enough to be included in their trip if we fancied it. Sort of a back handed compliment, I suppose?
I had planned earlier in the year to visit Poland again. This however, never happened. Mrs Bogger had the audacity to go and trip over a raised paving stone and break her wrist - as it happened quite badly. So one operation, a plate and eight screws later my Poland trip was off. September would be ok timing wise for France as the aforementioned wrist of Mrs Bogger was on the mend (slowly). The only thing I might need to do was unscrew some jar lids before I leave.
So, back to the story.
I put my digital hand up and said ‘I’ll go’. Err where about in France are we going to Pete? Verteillac! Where? I’ve never heard of it. A quick search on Google maps revealed the location, about 60 miles North and to the East of Bordeaux. Forty miles South of Angouleme. I’ve passed through this neck of the woods before but not Verteillac specifically.
It’s a fair old trek down there and with the relatively short time away I didn’t want to go on either of my 125’s. Not that they couldn’t do it, but I thought a slightly faster mode of two wheel transport would be more appropriate. I’ll take the 1200 BMW then? Yes good idea! Nah, that would be far too easy. Got it, I’ll take the Mighty Majesty 250. It’s only 29yrs old it’ll be fine. The big plus with the Majesty is that it is of course of a feet forward design. How Apt. I’ll fit in nicely, possibly?!!
As it turned out it was only myself out of our group who could make it. So the dynamic (not) duo of me and High Tec Pete it is then.
Myself and Pete had a few conversations as to whether we were camping or to Air BnB the trip. He said that we’d been invited to stay with Andy and Julia at Julia’s place in Fremondiere, a tiny hamlet in Normandy, for our first night in France. This would enable us to break up the journey South. Grand!
The accommodation arrangements for Verteillac were somewhat vague. Pete wasn’t quite sure of how many people were going and where they were going to stay. I had a think about this and decided that I did not want to impose myself on someone's generous hospitality when they could already be full to the gunnels with folk already.
I had a look for an Air BnB in Verteillac but being a small village nothing was available. I searched a little further afield. The small town of Riberac was only a further seven miles down the road. I Google earthed Riberac and it looked a pleasant enough place to rest my head for a few days. So I searched for an Air BnB in Riberac and managed to find, as it happens, the perfect accommodation in the perfect location. It was booked within five minutes. I could now rest easy knowing that I didn’t have to mither about where to stay.
A few days later Pete asked if he could join me in Riberac. No problem.
I now had another brainwave, always dangerous. Perhaps on the way back from down South Me and Pete could detour on the journey back through France and spend a couple of nights in Malestroit, Brittany where my French mate Ronan lives. I broached the subject with Pete and he was all for it. Smashing.
I contacted Ronan and he was very enthusiastic about us visiting. He said he would take a couple of days off work. He said that we should definitely stay at his place. I told him we were not going to impose ourselves on him for two nights and a day and a half. It wouldn’t be fair on him and his family. So I booked another AirBnB in Malestroit.
The trip was beginning to take shape.
I’d sorted my mode of transport, but what about Hight Tec Pete? Of course Pete had a FF bike. In fact he’s got two of them. One of them is based on a Honda Innova 125. He deemed this not quick enough for the distances involved and the fact that I was aboard a 250cc machine. He also had a FF ‘Coda’ based on a Honda 400cc twin engine. Hmm, let’s rewind the clock a couple of years.
Pete had spent many, many an hour building the Coda. A LOT of work had been undertaken both to build it and get it ready for the road. The day eventually came when it was ready for its very first shake down run ever. He donned his gear, started the bike and climbed aboard. He was a little nervous. Can you see where this is heading dear reader?
He trundled down his drive to the exit from his property. Stopped at the end, then disaster struck. The bike’s top heavy and he struggled to get his feet down in time. In fact he struggled so much it tipped over on its side snapping both his tibia and fibia. Oh yes, OUCH indeed.
Two years down the line and here we are. Leg all mended good and proper, but the Coda had not seen the light of day since. He was a tad nervous about taking it out again and the thoughts of a 1600ml journey in a foreign land did not fill him with enthusiasm or glee. Closer to our departure he got back in touch with me and said he’d been for a short ride on the Coda, but it frightened him to death. He said I’m going on my Honda shadow 700. I’ll feel much safer. Personally I don’t blame him!
Times pressing on and the upcoming trip was looming large in the diary.
Our ferry from Poole to Cherbourg was an early morning sailing and Pete had booked us an Air BnB in Poole for the previous night. I’d been Google mapping for Britain regarding routes and distances once we were in France. The first day in France was a sixty five mile hop from Cherbourg to Fremondiere. That’s easy enough even though the ferry only docks in Cherbourg around 1.30pm.
The next day, Fremondiere to Riberac is 389mls. Not an easy day's ride! I’d mentioned the distance involved to Pete and he seemed quite blasé about it. Okay fair do’s. Ronan kept asking if I had cancelled the Air BnB in Malestroit. He really wanted us to stay with him instead. I finally relented and cancelled. He was absolutely delighted. Later on in the story I think he may well have regretted his persistence.
He also mentioned that on our full day in Malestroit, Monday, he had a real treat in store for us?? Ooh a mystery day! Ok back to the route planning. I’ve not got a bike specific sat nav, but I do have a phone. I purchased a phone mount off Ebay and fitted that to the Majesty. I also removed my ‘road map case’ from the BMW and mounted that on the Majesty as well.
I quite liked the idea of using the road map system again. So I purchase a suitably sized till roll and spent literally hours and hours writing out my four main routes. Cherbourg to Fremondiere, Fremondiere to Riberac, Riberac to Malestroit and finally Malestroit to Cherbourg. I must have spent a full day doing this. I’d noted all the junctions, road signs, distances, the lot. I was very happy with my efforts. The other upside of doing this is that you have a very clear idea of what towns and villages are coming up next. It really helps me with my internal compass.
Finally the day of departure has arrived. Obviously I’d packed everything onto the Scooter the night before. I’d done a full check over of the machine. Not that it needed it, as all my bikes are always ready to travel any distance at any time. No I’m not a smart arse (Honest??) I just like things to be ‘right’.
Share your own tales - click here.
Feet Forward Prologue
Bogger is organising his next French escapade. It's the who, why, what, and where this time, oh and the how. The why never makes sense, nor should it.
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Ooooo, I can't wait for more. A riding story in December. It's another Christmas miracle.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
19/12/2025 15:59:45 UTC
nab301 said :-
This could be good! Only two questions at the moment , did you fix the paving slab and do you have a photo of the Errant Honda 400 FF bike?
Nigel
20/12/2025 14:42:54 UTC
Bogger said :-
You mean High Tech Petes Bike?
Bogger
20/12/2025 17:41:16 UTC
Bogger said :-
Paving slab not fixed. That's down to Matlock council.
So no, it will never be fixed.
Bogger
20/12/2025 17:42:45 UTC
Bogger said :-
This is HTP's FF Coda. You can still see the battle scar.
[url=https://postimg.cc/bDsRL9sD][img]https://i.postimg.cc/qRGZJmrL/IMG-20250724-WA0017-1.jpg[/img][/url]
Bogger
20/12/2025 20:30:31 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Bogger asked me to post this because he's technologically challenged...
20/12/2025 21:48:33 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I've always been fascinated by the FF movement and remember reading great articles by Royce Creasey and Paul Blezard in Motorcycle Sport before it went down market. I've never had the nerve - or spare cash - to join the club however and have never even ridden one, which is a shame. My B'Zuki has slightly forward footrests installed by its builder but I don't think that counts. Although I initially intended to fit the "proper" ones I actually find them quite comfortable although occasionally there's a bit of leg waving before I find them. Of course once the Steib is attached that won't be a problem!
21/12/2025 09:58:00 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
There's just somethings you can't unsee.
Just sayin.
Upt.
21/12/2025 10:04:31 UTC
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