It was another well attend meeting with a couple of apologies, 27 members, 2 guests and 16 bikes. The ride out numbers reached to 15 ( 8 Classic and 7 Modern) and we made quite the spectacle on the roads with wisps of 2 stroke smoke in the air. Caroline and I took up Tail-End Charlie a position usual held by Kevin Lee; don’t worry Kevin I will be handing back the Jacket next meeting as you are more skilled at it than I.
Everything looked good for a dry pre-meeting ride out, but about 30 mins before we all left our homes, the heavens opened. Strangely it was very localised, members from Mersea and Ardleigh experienced a fair down pour, yet Colchester just the odd fine rain. Despite this, the roads dried and we were able to leave the Cricketers as planned. Shaun Parker led us off on another of his special rides. Amazingly the drop off system worked, and we all made it out and back in one group. It’s been a very good few weeks for riding. We had a run out to the Fish and Chip shop at Mersea – thanks to Paul. The meal was good, but I was shocked at the price of a cuppa Tea - £2.20 for a tea bag, milk and hot water seems a little over the top, but it was wet and warm and again the weather wasn’t the best.
We have several events coming up. Kevin O’Brien of the South Essex kindly advised us about the Battlesbridge Motorcycle Show and Autojumble on the 7th July and if we want to bring our classics, he could help accommodate us.
The Hadleigh club, which we have a long-standing relationship with, has invited the members to their 40th Anniversary on the 21st July and we will use the opportunity to get as many members as possible to ride out to the event.
We are also organising a ride out this Saturday (6th July) to Shotley Marina, which has a museum and apparently a very interesting church – thanks Tom for the info -, with several war graves, including some German mariners. The ShipWreck Pub does a fine piece of carrot cake, so they better have some available for the hungry. So lots to see and do.
Julian gave us some detail on an event he visited in France, where there were lots of Classic bikes and racers. The pictures looked amazing and apparently, it’s an annual event. One to look at for next year perhaps.
Let’s hope July providers us all with some more Sun and dry tarmac as the nights are now drawing in.