A Pyrenean bimble
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:10 am
Whilst out riding in the Pyrenees (again, when you lot had gone), I got chatting in a very him-no-English, me-no-Spanish kind-of-way to a guy with an old WWII era Willys Jeep.
He was out with his gun dogs enjoying a views and having a picnic with his daughter.
Seeing that my bike had some Military connection and I was interested in the Jeep which seemed out of place we got chatting about some Aircraft crashes in the area - a Stirling in '45, a Beaufighter in '44 and a Noratlas in '53 and he marked a couple on my map. I then showed him my RAF ID and he went freekin nuts with enthusiasm, inviting me to his 'museum'. I turned him down saying that I was off in a different direction also thinking he was slightly insane - it turns out he is the curator of the Military Museum in Comprodon.
The chaps name was ALEJANDRO CUADRADO from LA RETIRADA Museo which specialises in the end of Spanish Civil War/WWII era.
I thought it may be a good excuse for a trailride if in that area again, to seek him out and get the location of the crashes and to try to find them. 20+ military bikes turning up on his doorstep may also 'make his day'.
Another example of 'it's the people you meet that make the difference to a trip' - which is why I'm no fan of the Nick Sanders school of Adventure Motorcycling
He was out with his gun dogs enjoying a views and having a picnic with his daughter.
Seeing that my bike had some Military connection and I was interested in the Jeep which seemed out of place we got chatting about some Aircraft crashes in the area - a Stirling in '45, a Beaufighter in '44 and a Noratlas in '53 and he marked a couple on my map. I then showed him my RAF ID and he went freekin nuts with enthusiasm, inviting me to his 'museum'. I turned him down saying that I was off in a different direction also thinking he was slightly insane - it turns out he is the curator of the Military Museum in Comprodon.
The chaps name was ALEJANDRO CUADRADO from LA RETIRADA Museo which specialises in the end of Spanish Civil War/WWII era.
I thought it may be a good excuse for a trailride if in that area again, to seek him out and get the location of the crashes and to try to find them. 20+ military bikes turning up on his doorstep may also 'make his day'.
Another example of 'it's the people you meet that make the difference to a trip' - which is why I'm no fan of the Nick Sanders school of Adventure Motorcycling