Normandie 1997 Trip Report

This was the last trip of the year to Normandie, where we tried out the novelty of actually BOOKING in ADVANCE !!!! (for the jumps at least...more on this later). This very nearly made the A J Hackett receptionist smile...almost...but the crew on the bridge we grinning as usual when presented with a fresh batch of nervous jumpers. (And the Iron Chicken going for the first jump in a year and a half, not nervous at all, it was solely the cold weather that made him shiver, no really it was...) Well the sun shone, 5 first timers jumped, very quietly for some reason - silence echoed round the valley, or at least it would have done if it weren't for the crew shouting comments on the jumpers interesting styles.

Auntie Clanger and Aviator Man did a tandem plunge, and the Chicken, annoyed at missing the water by an inch, did a duck impression and discovered that the water is not only still VERY deep, but VERY cold indeed. Videos, T-shirts and photographs collected, a discussion on the merits of staying in France and being the victims of the impending Truck Drivers strike developed. It was decided to get the ferry first thing in the morning.

This discussion was interupted by a minor problem. The cheapie hotel was full. This has not happened before. Eeek, said the Chicken, and clucked around Cherbourg until rooms were procured in a slightly more up market than usual establishment in the centre of town. This at least meant that no-one had to act as Mr Sober the Bus Driver. However, it did also result in 8 instances of Mr {or Mrs} Notreallyverywellatallthankyou at 6.30am when we got up for the ferry, or 7.30am when some rather bad tempered members of the group got up and found they had to walk to the ferry...luckily we had time to go back for them and discover them slumping off in the wrong direction. Oh well, we all got on the ferry in the end! The last ferry out of Cherbourg before the blockade began...

Non-jump highlight? The 77F menu at the restaurant in Cherbourg.

Weird hotel moments? The woman at the hotel with the empty car park saying, 'we're full' or the telephone ringing at 10.30pm and an acid French woman saying "Silence Monsieur. Silence dans la chambre."

Overall, not a classic trip - far too civilised and not nearly enough silliness - but a good return to jumping!