If anyone who received the file from Gecko is able to forward it to me - I would be most grateful. I hope to visit this Sunday. Many thanks.

Thanks Gecko. It is much appreciated!!

I have visited the Ypres - Flanders area several times, and always enjoyed the rides. It's very easy to spend 2 or 3 days just poking around, riding very small secondary or tertiary roads in the area - there is something of historical interest around every corner.

The whole West Flanders area is within easy reach of Ypres, and it is also a very short hike into northern France, where there is also a great deal to see and do, and many more sites relating to the Great War.

After about 3 days, though, it can get a little depressing, just because of the scale of the conflict and the realization of how many lives were lost.

But, to anyone considering riding in this area- go for it. There is so much to see and do, great variety in the riding, great variety in the food and culture.

Many years ago I sat and had a picnic with my sister and my grandfather on the beach where he'd landed on D-day. He could barely eat anything he was so overwhelmed by it - said if anyone had told him on that day that one day he'd be back, with granddaughters he couldn't even imagine having at that time, he wouldn't have believed them.

My dad is mad about WWI, and we lived just outside Paris so trips up north were a regular occurrence, but that is the day that made me feel the history not just learn about it.

Laura

PS on a lighter note, if you're doing the French battlefields not the Belgian ones, try the local cider and pancakes :-)

WW1 Battlefields
 

Hi Gecko,
I am hopeing to make enough time to do a battlefields ride this year some time and your points of interest would be very helpfull. I will PM you my e-mail address and i would be greatfull if you could send them to me.
Thanks
Jjohn

Ypres is fascinating if not macabre, the town itself is good with plenty to see and the campsite is very good with decent showers and toilets. It has a small snack bar so you can get a light breakfast. It also has cabins it's called 'Camping Jeugstadion' (look it up) very friendly and easy walk to the Menin Gate (Last Post every evening at 8:00 just by the arch). If you go read the book in the left hand arch, very moving. There are plenty of hotels in the town, 'De Schwerd' has a small garage across the street and I believe 'Old Tom' has an undergorund garage. There is also a new Novotel with parking near the town centre. Ter Posterie used to be the place to drink with over 170 different Belgium Beers, but it shut (boo hoo). Salient Tours (again, look it up) operate out of Ypres, run by Mark Horner, a Brit, very good tours and great explanations, will take you to places you won't find by trolling round by bike.

Ypres Waypoints
 

Hi All,
I'm heading to Mettet this weekend for the bike racing, and will be visiting Ypres on the way home for a look an the WW1 sites. Plan to call in at Darley Moor for the classic bikes on the folowing weekend.

Could someone send me a copy of the Ypres waypoint please. I hope to be in the area for about 4 days.

Regards,
Keith.

Can anyone recommend a good book or 3 to read before going to Flanders? I read a great book about Galipolli before i went on ANZAC Day, 2004, and it made the visit so much more......struggling to think of the appropriate word.... meaningful?

If you don't get any recommendations here, try contacting the specialist bookshop in Ypres: Over the Top Battlefield Tours Belgium France Ypres Normandy Bookshop. They should be able to suggest one or two. It's well worth a visit when you get there too. I picked up an excellent book about the British songs of the 1st World War; full of sadness, dark humour and irreverence to authority.

Stephan

WW1 Battlefields
 

I am travelling up to the Somme area for a few days starting 21st May 2009, not been in the area before and would like to visit some of the war graves. If anyone else is in the area at the time and fancy meeting up that would be good, if anyone can suggest any area to visit let me know, although I have bought a couple of books and done a bit of research but you cant beat experience. Steve.

Bef
 

Before Endeavours Fade: a seminal account and record of the WW1 war graves after a life time of dedication to the research.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Before-Endea...900913851After that classic, the libraries are full of books about Ypres (Iper) and all of the other places.

WW1 Battlefields
 

Hi

does anyone have a copy of Geko's ww1battlefield poi's please iv been to Ieper twice now and plan on going again this october could you please send me a copy of your file as id love to see as much as poss i can no longer ride due to health issues so its tin box from now yuck i hope you can help. Tony

i'm interested in this file to i have been there before (also been to verdun,somme and most other places n the western front) but i was like 12-13 at the time so i wanne do it again :mchappy:

Hi,
I live very close to Ypres (15km) so if anybody is interested I can take a ride with you (if I'm not working). There is a complete WWI tour you can do without GPS. The complete tour is marked by signs along the road. And I know all the little roads in this area.
Gr,
Vincent

sounds good, might wanne make use of that this autumn =)