“May you always have love to share,
health to spare,
and friends that care.”
Can members please note that while guests are more than welcome on ride outs it should be with prior consent and approval of the organiser of that ride out. We need to promote and ensure safety and can only do this when we know the riding habits of those attending -- sorry no dickheads allowed -- by order of the Chair.
Southport Veterans Day - 29th June
Samlesbury Bottoms is a name to think about and a free bike show even better. About 20 members went to support the show and had good weather and a fine time. John Hobson was in his element with all the old bikes he remembered from days gone by -- he gave a running commentary on the rotary engine, Norton and was suitably impressed.
Held at a pub was a good sign with food and drink readily on hand even if it was a quid for a brew, there was a raffle and some good crack with more than one bike club turning out for the day. It was a bit of a pain to park as the pub is opposite private houses but there was a few coming and going and not much room to manoeuvre in the grounds.
After a couple of hours looking at all the old bikes we decided to carry on to Southport, some opted to go home and made their way back to the butty van. Ten bikes went on to Southport for fish n chips and an ice cream, where we found the RBL making a documentary on the Royal British Legion, so we had an inopportune photo shoot and we will soon be on prime time TV.
The link will be on the website and a video capture slide show will see us talking to a Canadian interviewer called Bob, with whom Michael had a great chat about the bridge over the water from Gabriola Island to Nanaimo BC, we gave him a couple of badges and a card to remember us by.
The day was good with the club riding all day from ten in the morning to seven at night, we touched base to collect the gear for the meeting and went on to Todber for more Club business, all in all a good day out with new members Debs and Tommy finding it all very satisfying and looking forward to doing it again !!
NABD Jodrell Bank 2008
9th May 2008 saw the club setting off to go to the rally NABD in Cheshire there were 3 bikes met at Stevo’s and others came down later on the Friday.
Mike was on the x4 me on Suzun and Stevo on his kwacker, all loaded to the tits with camping gear and food as we anticipated food and drink being well expensive and we were not wrong, with 4 cans of WARM beer at a fiver and a burger the same it was not a good sign for them with a big belly to fill, I could see me being malnourished if I wasn’t careful!!!!!
No problems going down we made good time and landed in the sun to pitch up and get sorted by 4 pm as soon as we got off the bikes we had a call from Graeme n Norma to say they were there and looking for us. Jimbo was coming later on and Barbara on the Saturday in the car. ---with supplies !!! hahaha beer more beer and baps and bacon and burger hehehehe lovely jubbly. £26 worth of “extras” well worth it.
The bands were good and the venue as ever just great what spoiled for me was the WARM beer and the rip off prices –we spent a lot of dosh just having brews and snacks, I was wanting to shop but Michael was being as ever just a bit careful.
The atmosphere was not the same as the year before somehow it just did not “feel” right. We had a good time and got well oiled and enjoyed the nice sun but I felt a downer on the weekend. The Scavengers invited us to a late night bar b que and we got there to find all the pies gone –nowt left !! so we went to the tent and our resident chef cooked us a nice late night burger.
Or friend from Fife was there and we caught up with the latest from him, with the Silverbacks and the RBL riders all present we had a lot of talking to do. Graeme did his job well and we had 3 new Associate members signed up on the Saturday with the promise of 4 more to come. Qb bought a fluffy top and earned herself a new rally name of FLUFF cos she was showing her belly button.
Friday night bands for me were the best and the comedy show as ever very funny with some good acts on and very fitting for a bike rally very rude and tits n arses hanging out all over the place. The high cost of food n drink put a lot off and people were going off site to buy supplies –a good point to remember for holding rallies don’t do it near to any supermarket as you will lose out!!!!
We met some old and new mates and that is what it is all about having the crack with friends, with the rally scene becoming more and more precious we have to do our bit and keep going or they will dry up altogether.
Sunday saw qb cooking brekkers for us all hot day for leathers we were melting before we had the tents down, said our goodbyes and rode home at a good lick stopping for a pee at Charnock then home to the usual washing and drying and kipping in me lovely comfy bed, all in all another good do but could have been better if the beer had been cold and the weather warm-er. ‘til next time amigos ast la heugo.
DICK TURPIN’S ( SECOND?? INFAMOUS RIDE TO YORK )
Peter n Barbara Me Michael Stevo Malcom Mick Dave Jim n Barbara Terry n Ellie Nigel Tony Gordon Barrie Ellen Gordon Norma Graeme German Jim Bill Tim 19 bikes and 24 riders/pillions set off from the layby and we picked up more on route !!!
Well the day set fair and fine and more than enough turned up to ride to the grave where old DT was interred, he is in the churchyard in St George’s in York, but was hung at the Knavesmire site and somebody thought vagabond that he was he deserved a decent slab.
So he got just that ! by the size of the stone tablet it looks like they put Black Bess in there with him !!!
The ride through to the café at Bolton Abbey was not without its moments with the x4 not firing up and having to be run off we had to put the lead onto Stevo and he was on his way to the café picking up Terry on route. Meanwhile back in the laybye we had 4 RBL riders turn up to join us and as new associate members this was a good chance to meet n mingle. The X4 finally fired up and we were on our way we made up the miles and found the rest already munching in the café.
The Hambleton is not geared up for the masses they have a 4 pot kettle and they do not rush, so 24 hungry bikers put them in a pickle. My comments were caustic but meant joking as I said, “I should have phoned up the order”. Peter was duly put out and inspecting the set up –he was not impressed and neither was anyone else.
Malcolm was the only one on a 125 and he was going like shite except uphill when the power showed. No problems for any of us really all were keeping to the speed limit and with a pee stop at the Nelson we were over halfway there. Calling at the pub for all to do a catch up with Ellen informing us Barrie wasn’t feeling too clever so they turned back for home. The rest carried on through Harrogate and into the sticks putting the bikes into 4th gear for a change was very nice!!! Urban riding is often painful and the bikes like to move on a bit when the open road appears, just like horses they like their head now and again.
The hanging site at the side of the road was the first photo shoot with Terry and Peter snapping away we could not stay long as everyone was hungry and the road very busy, so we had 5 minutes for piccies and then went to the pub for lunch !!!! with ice creams for afters !!
We made it a quick stop at the grave as the parking is terrible and a £60 fine if you are naughty, so we all went into the churchyard and had a photo shoot then got an ice cream and made our way to Hein Gerike for Gordon to buy a stereo like Steve’s. After annoying questions with the manager as to why they don’t have anything in stock we mounted up and headed for the pub again, why is orange juice so bloody dear???
Weather stayed fine and all made it thru the towns safely no mean feat when the car drivers are all mental anti –bikers who pull out on you white van man nearly took Gordon out on the roundabout when he kindly help up the traffic for us.
Then we turned for home and back to the Nelson for another pee stop we had some light refreshment and set off for home as work beckoned for most and god knows what beckoned for Malcolm but he was doing 75 mph and off like Shergar !!!!
A good day out with decent weather and no rain ----look Peter’s bike –on the road !!!!!
As we all made our ways home I was left thinking what a good time I had with the new members of the club all fitting in just nice, looking forward to more days like this with the rest of the club and as the summer comes along there is no reason not to. All we need is a full tank and a fair wind and away we go, this was a historic visit to Dick Turpin’s burial site and I hope he was with us in spirit !! the Dick Turpin’s disciples were certainly surprised to see his final resting place in such a lovely place for the famous highwayman.
