By Little Stinger
December 17 2002

In the annals of DW touring history this one will be looked back on as the "circuitous tour". It was not a typical start to a DW tour. All on the plane (including the team), the cabin crew closed the doors only for the captain to announce the take off slot was in 90 minutes time...

and upon enquiry no alcohol can be served whilst we were waiting on the ground!!

You can imagine after this delay we were all looking forward to hitting the bars in Bordeaux. Pile on the airport bus, and request the driver stop off close to the hotel - well he didn't. Early on in the ride Debs stated that if we get to the railway station we are well past where we want to be. "Oh look HMS Southampton is over there". Well we saw the railway station and not for the only time over the weekend found ourselves going back to where we started from ("Oh look HMS Southampton is over there").

The bus stops - we all get out - then Kris jumps back on the bus to pick up a bag - jumps off - and jumps back on again as it is the wrong bag, and switches to the correct bag. Doors close and bus pulls away. James (AKA Operatic Wasp) then realises the errant bag was his and that bag is now heading back to the airport. Hotel found - quick pit stop to drop off the bags that we had managed to bring with us and off to the Connemara for Guinness, food and wine. Thirteen to supper on Friday the thirteenth, was it an omen of things to come?

Saturday morning was very wet. All off on the tour of St. Emilion with our hosts the Rotary Club of Bordeaux who are twinned with the Rotary club of High Wycombe. As a non-French speaker I was most grateful to Sue (and others) for the commentary translations especially the one that went "You probably understood that already".

We reach St. Emilion on a bright but showery morning with a stiff breeze to blow away any remaining cobwebs from the evening before. After a wander via the cloisters, a wine shop, where purchases were made (but the Petrus stayed on the shelves for some reason), and the church, we were all back on the bus at noon as per instructions.

The driver missed a turning and we reached a market whereupon Father Christmas was beckoning us all to get off the coach and shop. But timing for lunch was critical, so no stopping. We reach the gates to the chateau but the turning was a bit tight so we drive on, turn around and try from the opposite direction. Success we were there, or were we? A few minutes later we pull away and head back to the main road. Two cars pull up, much kissing and shaking of hands followed - more instructions passed on - the coach had to follow the cars. We headed straight back to where we had just come from, so this was the right place after all. Follow me says our French guide, so we form a long queue behind him, turn left to go behind the Chateaux, pause, stop, turn left, back down some steps and back on the coach!! (Think Benny Hill without the music).

The coach goes back towards St Emilion. Groundhog day but we didn't stop this time, the coach travelled on despite there being an "obstruction in the road" and we might have to be driven up to the Chateaux in groups in the available cars. The road gets narrower and narrower, but just wide enough, and we get to our luncheon venue.

It was well worth the wait however. Stupendous views over the valley towards Spain on a sunny Autumnal day. The food and wine were first class as was the companionship.

Lunch over head off to Bordeaux for the match.

Two laps of the ground later (you will be pleased to hear we didn't have to stop for tyres or fuel) to be met by lost Queens fans who flew in specially that morning to see how the game should be played. Berets were purchased so that we would fit in with the locals.

After a shaky start, Oogie's brilliant try really gave the boys a lift and we all felt much better as well. 13-13 at half time, and after two further tries (Big T and Volls) and two Kinga penalties we were home and dry, despite a Bordeaux Begles fightback (literally), which resulted in them receiving two yellow cards. Final score 29-23.

The throat needed further lubrication as we were making twice as much noise as the locals (save for the resident band), and further beers purchased, which were drunk with gusto as we sang and danced to the sound of a typical 10-piece french rugby band. They were pretty good, and seemed more than pleased to provide the entertainment.

On the walk back to the coach they continued to play and we continued to sing- Happy birthday (for Adam), Yellow Submarine etc - (I think they were just making sure we left the premises!).

On the coach ride back to town we practiced our new DW song and girded our loins for the long night ahead.

A victory to celebrate in town - sangria, pear liqueurs and typical French fare was sampled prior to the advance party heading off to track down a suitable hostelry for real French cuisine (Pizza was high on the list of requests). Text comes back "Café Rege opposite Virgin Megastore". Find the place, extra tables added on and laid; to discover it was really called the Café Regent!. Dodgy lighting outside the café lead to this small transcription error.

Much food and wine later (and dozing off by some one in our party who shall remain nameless -Pete). That same nameless person was feeling très fatigué and was deciding Whether enough was enough when my main course arrived - with out so much as a by your leave saying "that looks good" he tucked in with relish!! - just as well I am a sharing sort of guy. Shortly later declaring hor's de combat Pete departs, leaving me to polish off what was left of my dinner. Kris was miffed as Pete had eaten most of his own dinner as well and Kris was banking on this being his dessert course.

On to a further bar where we were joined by Alistair complete with beer, and continued to be royally entertained by Richie Benaud and many English cricketers!

Shopping Sunday morning. Bordeaux was looking very festive, complete with a very large christmas market. Many euros later and a stop off at a café for refreshment (and to avoid the heavy showers) Operatic Wasp, Adam and myself head back to the hotel to collect bags to be confronted by a riot. Literally. Tear gas was in the air, French footie hooligans running down the street in front of us hurling bottles and wielding lengths of plastic piping to belt each other with. Three French gendarmerie run past us with another tear gas gun primed for action. Then the hooligans retrace their steps at pace closely pursued by the french police. We now have to take a circuitous diversion to avoid the troubles! Back to the Virgin Megastore to join the rest of the party and back on the airport bus - direct route!

Bordeaux mission complete - next stop Paris!

Back to front page