Page 14 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 63

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Adventure Reminisce (Code name Operation Sore Butt)
Nick Storer and Paul Chalk

A brainwave and cunning plan were thought of on a Sunday afternoon whilst
staring into oblivion at the one-eyed monster in the corner. What, is the
cunning plan you ask? Well it was a trip back to Germany on the bikes, but to
confirm its on motorbikes not push bikes as Lycra clothing on some of us has
never looked good! We prefer the leather look, stop it before you say it, I know
what you are thinking!
The mission was to see what had Munster and a bit of WW1 in Ypres
changed since we were last posted there Belgium on the way back. Route
and visit many of the places where we sorted then the big headache, the Normandy Barracks Athlone Barracks
were posted to in a long distant past accommodation. Not being millionaires,
life. Please understand we were under we were on a budget, so that took some
no illusions that the BAOR was not working out, but we managed it. Channel
going to be the same as when we were tunnel and hotels booked.
last there many years ago. Yes, we know
Day 1. May 12th 2024 it started. Bikes
many of you had done this style of trip
packed and fuelled up off we went, me
previously, but it was now our turn. All I
from my place, Paul from his to the meet
had to do was find a victim, sorry mate
up point at the Travelodge in Maidstone
to ride with…. Has to be done, Currywurst And 2 happy old men with
for the overnight stop for the start of
This brainwave was in motion the and happy Cake
“Adventure reminisce”.
victim was found – Paul Chalk! So a
chat started over the ever trusted bacon Day 2. Part one. A short trip on the
sandwich one Sunday morning began. Monday to the channel tunnel, a smooth
The chat was quite in depth with what transition to get on the train. That’s it
was needed, where we were going and we were on it an off we went for the 30
when. All this was going well and then minutes journey to France, Calais here
Paul had a few doubts and thoughts we come. And for the record I was not
about going. Suddenly Paul’s wife happy! To my disappointment during
Margi and the girlfriend Sue looked at this part of the journey, when looking Mohne Dam
each other and in unison whilst doing out the channel tunnel train windows
the washing up piped up with “you two an couldn’t see the fishes in the sea!
are going plan it”, …So it began, usual Part two of the day was a long ride to
few doubts from Paul as he had to spend Hemer. Now I am pretty sure that jour-
some of his stash which he planned for ney was shorter 40 years ago? My body
his retirement. Unfortunately, he forgot certainly thinks so. Hemer had certainly
he would be retired by the time we went. changed, camp 1 was my first posting,
Once his shivers had stopped at the the cinema long gone, and so was the
thought of spending money he settled Snelli on the corner. Bad form that.
The ration stores is Hilderseim Kitchen is now
and he only practice packed 6 times. It Sure someone had moved the place. The now a night club of a offices
started out to a full 4 ton truck of stuff, two camps in Hemer had gone, now an certain nature…
then realised he is on a motorcycle and industrial estate. made famous in WW2 with Operation
got it down to a holdall. Next was the Chastise, known as the Dambusters
good old question of how much pocket Raid, was an attack on German dams
money to take and the amount Paul was carried out on the night of 16/17 May
allowed. That was over to Margi and we 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF Bomber
knew this had to be posed at the right Command. The Mohnesee dam near
time… So after feeding Margi a varied Soest is still a fabulous site to see. Paul
amount of glasses of the adult grape had not had the chance to visit this
juice the question was asked and the during his tours of the BAOR. I hadn’t
response with witnesses was positive. 30m range an ammo Garrison church now a seen it since ’84 and looked a lot bigger
Sue just looked at me and said get sav- hangers is all that’s business premises now. If you have not seen this then it
ing, so game on for me. survived would be hard to visualise the devas-
The map and the highlighter came Day 3. Hemer to Hameln via tating caused by its destruction. Paul
out and the route was planned. Meet at Hildesheim was the plan. 170 miles, Loved it, we rode round most of it.
Maidstone, then from Calais to Hemer, (fortunately not many on motorways). Back on the road to our first planned
Mohnesee Dam, Paderborn, Hameln, Obviously via a few other nice places, stop, yes coffee and cake. This time it
Hildesheim, Celle, Hohne, Fallingbostal, one being the historic Mohnesee dam, was Paderborn and Sennelager, then to
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