16/09/2026
Day 1 – Dover to Ypres, Tuesday 15 September 2026
A proper start to the trip today, although the story really began yesterday in Dover.
We drove down on Monday, had a wander around, sorted the bikes, worked out the car parking for the week and were very pleased to discover that the hotel were happy for us to take the bikes into the room.
The sleeping arrangements were less conventional.
For reasons that felt straight out of a Morecambe and Wise sketch, two grown men ended up sharing a double bed. Dave then added to the atmosphere by putting on his CPAP mask and looking like Darth Vader. Unfortunately, while the mask may have protected him from everything, it did absolutely nothing for me when he started farting like his life depended on it.
Up at 5.30am this morning for the early ferry.
We got to the terminal with the bikes, boarded without too much drama and celebrated the beginning of the ride with what can only be described as the most expensive cold breakfast imaginable. It took so long to get served and then pay that the food was pretty much cold by the time we ate it.
The unlimited cappuccino refills did improve matters considerably, although there remains some doubt as to whether Dave had actually purchased the “unlimited” part.
Then it was over to France and onto the bikes.
The planned route was fairly straightforward. Our interpretation of it was not.
At various points, both of us appeared to have slightly different ideas about where the route actually went, which added a few extra miles and a bit of character-building navigation. By the time we reached Ypres, we had ridden around 45 miles.
One of the first meaningful stops came at Canada Farm Cemetery, around 5 km outside Poperinge. It takes its name from the wartime dressing station that once stood nearby. That set the tone nicely for what we want this trip to be about: not just battles and generals, but the people who treated the wounded, moved supplies, kept things going and dealt with the consequences of war.
Later we reached Brandhoek New Military Cemetery and found the grave of Captain Noel Chavasse VC and Bar, MC.
Chavasse was a doctor with the Royal Army Medical Corps and one of only three people ever to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice.
His first VC came from his actions at Guillemont during the Somme fighting in August 1916, when he repeatedly went out under fire to find, treat and bring in wounded men.
His second came during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. Already wounded himself, he continued treating and rescuing casualties for two days before eventually dying from his wounds on 4 August 1917.
Standing at his grave and seeing the two Victoria Cross emblems carved into the headstone was one of those moments where the history stops being abstract.
After that, it was on to Ypres and the Novotel.
Good room, bikes safely in, around 45 miles in the legs and everything feeling good.
The evening was spent doing what every finely tuned endurance athlete should apparently do after a long ride: finding a Belgian beer.
We had a wander around Ypres as the light faded, with the Cloth Hall looking spectacular as it lit up for the evening. Tomorrow we’ll spend more time exploring the Salient and, importantly for us, we’ll be presenting our wreath at the Menin Gate during the Last Post ceremony.
A good first day.
Plenty of miles, a few wrong turns, some laughs, and already a couple of moments that really brought home why we wanted to do this ride in the first place.
If you’d like to support the journey and the cause behind it, our JustGiving page is here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/iananddavewesternfw?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_fundraiser_page_donation_received_-_nth_donation
