‘I travelled 2,250 miles on a motorbike to watch my beloved football team play’ | Travel News | Travel

A Crystal Palace superfan has revealed his incredible one-man ‘motorcycle diary’ of his epic trip to watch the Eagles play their very first ever full European fixture.

Graham Jeeves, 64, battled flu and fatigue to make the 2,250 mile round-trip to Poland to watch his beloved team take on Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv in the picturesque Polish town of Lubin, where Kiev currently play their home games.

Palace won the landmark fixture 2-0 and Graham has now shared his epic journey from his home in Edenbridge, Kent, to Lubin and back.

My first ever road trip to a European League match started at 5:30am on Sunday 28th September, the day after we beat Liverpool at home by two goals to one.

To say I was tired, sore throat and feeling rundown was an understatement.  I had to get to Le Shuttle in Folkestone by 8am. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem but considering how I felt, the fact I was going solo and ridding my extremely heavy BMW 1250 GSA motorbike made it more of a challenge.

I’m used to long journeys on the bike, I’ve been riding since I was 16 (legally). My plan was to motorway 90% of the way, it’s 1,125 miles from home to my hotel in Lublin.  I broke that down to 300 miles a day for three days with the last bit across country to get away from the boring motorway.

Everything was going well, I was starting to feel a bit more alive and I arrived at the Tunnel an hour and a half ahead of schedule.  However, due to a series of problems they were already running an hour behind schedule.  On arrival in France I went straight onto the motorway heading east through Belgium into the Netherlands, and then through the Netherlands into Germany. Whenever I needed fuel, I came off the motorway to find it at a better price, and this also allowed me a change of riding style.  I found my first overnight stop in Dorsten -Altendorf, having done over 330 miles.  I didn’t have any human encounter with staff as access was all done by key code.  There was a steakhouse three km down the road so I decided to eat before getting out of all the bike gear.

Enjoyed a very tasty rump steak meal and stuck to water (honestly).  I got back to the hotel room and, totally shattered, was looking forward to a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, maybe fatigue or something I ate. But after a restless night I woke at 7am and evaluated how I was feeling – still very tired, nauseous, nothing major but I’m clearly not well. 

At this point the brain was saying go home, but, the Palace supporter in me was saying ‘no’, ‘push on’ and ‘if you still feel bad later then turn round’.

To be honest I’m not sure how I found the strength to get all my bike gear on let along ride a 260+kg motorbike. But I got on the motorway, did two hours and covered good ground. Stopped and had a rest, I was feeling better but knew I wouldn’t be doing so many miles today (250).  Found a lovely hotel in Schwielowsee-Caputh, which I had to get a ferry too.  Had light meal at the restaurant by the ferry/water, slept extremely well.  Up and away by 8am Tuesday morning, I’m feeling so much better now.  Back on the ferry and needed to find fuel.  Back onto the motorway again and not long after I cross the border into Poland. Managed to get another 300+ miles done before stopping in Skierniewice, this left me with about 150 miles from Lublin.

Arrived in Lublin (Hotel Restauracja Browar Lwow) about 2pm on Wednesday 1st October.

Still feeling cold and a bit weak, I wanted a hot bath, how lucky for me my room had a bath, how unlucky for me, the hotel is having the boiler fixed/replaced, no hot water till later (maybe).

I decide to go for a walk into town, I didn’t make it to the town square where all the Palace fans had already made camp.

I got back to my hotel to find the boiler is fixed but the water is almost warm at best. I have a shower while shivering at the same time.

I go down to dinner and find a Palace shirt sitting on his own at a table – a chap called Les. We sat together and recalled games home and away over the years.

It’s clear Les knows his Palace and I think he’s got a few good stories in him, if not a book.

Les retires after a few drinks, there’s another guy in now, he’s English and we chat.

His name is Paul and he tells me about the Nazi concentration camp, Majdanek Museum, a mile up the road.

I decide to walk to the museum on Thursday morning.  It’s a long walk when you’re 64 and tired from a long bike ride.

The first information post starts to tell the history of the camp, I can’t remember what the guy behind me said at that time but he was English and I replied.

We walked together and started talking about where home was, He’s Robert living in California but originally from Purley, I’m Graham living in Kent. He mentions the Wattenden Arms pub near Kenley Aerodrome, he worked in the late 1970’s and early 80’s, my sister also worked there during this period.  It turns out Robert’s sister knows my sister and he and I have just met completely by chance at a museum in Lublin.

We may have a CPFC connection for being there but the timing for us both to meet at that time is crazy.

After completing the museum walk (well worth a visit) we got an Uber back to our separate hotels with a plan to meet about 3ish at the Town Square.  I’ve walked more than I would normally and I’m feeling it.

I have some lunch at my hotel and set off for the square at about 2:30pm.  I should just say, at this point I’ve walked over 19k steps and was really feeling it when walking up the hill to the square.  I bump into Paul from my hotel and we chat for a few minutes.

I meet with Robert at Trybunalska, a bar in the square.  Robert was with a couple of his mates and one of them very kindly had already got me a pint.  The conversation is general or about Palace but you’d think we’d all known each other for years.

We make our way out from the bar to the square to take in the Palace atmosphere. A couple more pints and we set off for the arena, I’m stilling to walk with the pain in my legs but I’m not going to wimp out, just take my time.  We arrive at the arena and after some photos we go in.  We are in different parts of the stand but agree to meet up later.  I’m just looking forward to sitting down. Well, I did sit down for about 20 minutes, Palace fans true to form decided to stand the whole game.  It’s a shame because apart from my problem with standing there was on older gentleman I guess with his son who couldn’t stand for the whole of the game, he stood up on occasions but it’s just too much. 

I’m not going to do a report on the game other than it was a good game, we played well and deserved the win.

We meet up after the game and start walking back, it’s obvious I can’t keep up with them and as I’m not going back into town I say my good -bye’s.  The nav on my phone says 20 minutes to walk to my hotel.  It takes me 45 and I still don’t know how I did it.  My legs are shot (22,500 steps for the day)

I get back to my hotel and shower before crashing out till the morning.

WHAT A DAY

Thank you Palace fans for being so amazing.

I mixed up the route back with motorway and some cross-country riding, however, I still get home on Monday 6th about 5pm.

The overall weather was not what I was expecting, colder and wetter, but I have achieved my dream of getting to a European league game.

Would I do it again, yes of course I would, it’s Palace.

I’ve made new friends who I will be keeping in touch with and I’m looking forward to catching more Palace games abroad. But next time I’m probably going to fly.