Latest trip to Ypres

[stephen p nunn]

Evening all. Just returned from our latest trip to Flanders. It went like this:

Tuesday 20/8/13

Arrived in France 8.50am.

Drove to Langemark for coffee.

Went to Maple Copse to search for the story of Pte. Willie Gaston (177980) 1st. Bn. Canadian Infantry KIA 9/7/1916.

Booked in to the Ariane at Ypres.

Went to the Menin Gate for the Last Post and left a poppy for Willie Gaston who is listed there.

Flemish Stew at Cyper restaurant.

And to bed.

Wednesday, 21/8/13

Breakfast.

Drove into France to Laventie to search for the story of Pte. Edgar Hackett (4873) 2/6th. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Eventually found Rue-Du-Bacquernot (Number 1) Military Cemetery where Edgar is buried.

Drove to St. Sixtus to drink beer!

Back to hotel, the Gate and then Cyper for a meal.

Thursday, 22/8/13

Breakfast.

Purchase beer from a fantastic "farm shop" outlet just outside Poperinge.

Back in England at 1.30pmk.

Home.

Need to go back very soon!

Regards.

SPN
Maldon.

[chrissparrow]

How does it work? Each time I go I need to go again. Unlike a drug which keeps you going for a while - as if you have had enough beers for a night and don't won't anymore until tomorrow, going to the Western Front just makes you want to stay! You have never had enough. Is it just me?

Chris

[Dawley Jockey]

[quote name="chrissparrow" post=" the Western Front just makes you want to stay! You have never had enough. Is it just me?

Chris

No Chris your not the only one if I could go every week I would, and if I could persuade my wife to live over there I would move tomorrow

Dave

[Neil Mackenzie]

Ypres is one of my favourite places. I would never want to call anywhere other than the UK 'home' but I would love to go over there 3-4 times a year for my regular 'fix'.

Neil

[stephen p nunn]

Yes chaps - agree entirely. Thanks for your responses.

Regards.

SPN

Maldon

[Dave Phillips]

Love Ypres - but not so keen on the fair a couple of weeks ago!

[goldmax 007]

I love Ypres and more each time we go its a place i dont think I will ever say I,ve seen enough of and always find the locals very welcoming my next trip is November and I can not wait

[ralphjd]

Agree to all the sentiments expressed here, love the place.

[chrissparrow]

Not just Ypres! All of the Western Front - love the Belgiums and the French (most of the time!). But did places this week that I have not done before - Mons, Tournai, Cambrai. Have been going up to 5 times a year for the last 20 and am still finding new things. The subject is absolutely limitless as this site shows. Could live on the Somme and never understand everything about the battle. Each time I go I try to take in something new. Lots still to tick off - Loos is next!

Chris

[stephen p nunn]

Thanks Pals - agree with all of your thoughts. We are planning our next trip already!

Best wishes.

SPN

Maldon

[slick63]

On previous visits I`m normally fairly glad to get back to blighty, but on returning from a trip this week I found that feeling had gone. My wife felt the same, and we`re already planning the next trip.

[Seadog]

In my opinion of course we all enjoy our visits to the battlefields and in my case particularly Ypres which caters extremely well for us. However I think that should we be actually living in these places we would soon tire of walking the fields and our enthusiasm would wane. The fact that we can plan our trips and enjoy the expectation of knowing that we are to spend time in those areas about which we are passionate about is certainly a large part of the experience and after returning home the memories last hopefully until we plan our next trip. I am unsure as to whether we could sustain such anticipation and enthusiasm if we actually lived there.

Norman

[Marilyne]

If you were in Poperinge on thursday, you surely noticed the Yzer march ???

[Ken Lees]

I was there and I didn't notice it.

[Marilyne]

Hmmm ... have to tell the team they did not sing loud enough, then !!

[Dawley Jockey]

Thanks Pals - agree with all of your thoughts. We are planning our next trip already!

Best wishes.

SPN

Maldon

We are also planning our next trip(s) out to Ypres and the Somme, and I also recenrly discovered where Maldon is, having spent a weekend at friends from Witham

Dave

[dannyboy1807]

i'm off to Ypres on the 29th October to 1st November.

last time we went in April me and my sister visted 44 cemeteries in the Ypres area in 4 days.

Edited 28 August , 2013 by dannyboy1807

[HayzBCFC]

I had my first trip to Ypres in May, and loved, I even videoed most of the Last Post, as I don't think ill go again with my dad *sigh*.

[stephen p nunn]

We are also planning our next trip(s) out to Ypres and the Somme, and I also recenrly discovered where Maldon is, having spent a weekend at friends from Witham

Dave

Great stuff Dave. I think you would like Maldon, the river, the barges and all the Great war evidence including our fantastic Combined Military Services Museum. But then I have strong views about the place as I am the current Deputy Mayor!

Best regards.

Stephen.

[Dawley Jockey]

Great stuff Dave. I think you would like Maldon, the river, the barges and all the Great war evidence including our fantastic Combined Military Services Museum. But then I have strong views about the place as I am the current Deputy Mayor!

Best regards.

Stephen.

I will have to get my friends to show me around Maldon next time I visit them at Witham

[Harveyfletch]

I. Love going to the western front , not just for the Great War ,but also the people ,who make you feel welcome . Is it me or are all the Towns and Villages over there like towns and villages used to be . Does that make sense or am I being nostalgic

[WilliamRev]

I. Love going to the western front , not just for the Great War ,but also the people ,who make you feel welcome . Is it me or are all the Towns and Villages over there like towns and villages used to be . Does that make sense or am I being nostalgic

I agree. On our three trips there, my brother and I have found that virtually all of the Flemish people that we met in Ypres and its environs were friendly and hospitable - they recognised why we were there, and were happy to chat to us (and take our money to see their little museums/patronise their cafes and bars etc.). In Picardy and Pas De Calais we found the French people we met polite and charming, albeit sometimes a bit mystified by why we felt the need to wander around their villages with trench maps etc.

William

[Harveyfletch]

We once wandered into a bar in Rheningelst and when we explained why we were visiting we were treated to free beer all night , I'm sure I have a hazy recollection that I promised to send over a Triumph motorcycle engine to one of the locals ! ! !