2024 Happenings
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The 'What the Heck was THAT BANG!' Run - Wednesday 20th March
Wednesday 20th March saw the inaugural ‘What the Heck was THAT BANG!’ run, surely soon to become an annual event. Rain forecast after a wet weekend, yet six of us met at McDonalds in Towcester for Barry’s run. Sunny dry weather accompanied us all the way, although the roads were awash with mire of many sorts.
An otherwise relaxing rural route was enlivened in Newnham. Lawrence, Brian, and Bob D paused on a hill to allow a descending van and jogger through, when Lawrence’s AJS detonated an astounding explosive BANG and the engine came to an immediate stop! It was so loud that it temporarily made our eyebrows too big for our faces! Expecting shrapnel, we were pleased that the bike restarted first kick. The rest of the run was positively zen-like, how we like them.
Arriving at The Yew Tree Inn in Avon Dassett we were greeted by Tim who had ridden straight there and warmly welcomed by the landlady, who was a classic bike fan. Good company, delicious food and lovely drinks made for a grand lunch stop. The mystery bang was discussed but no explanation could be agreed. Apart from ageing the Newnham populus by a few years in one second, we had a lovely run without incident there and back. One hundred miles in total and the bikes needed a good bath once home.
Great fun, just what a section run should be like. Thanks Barry.
An otherwise relaxing rural route was enlivened in Newnham. Lawrence, Brian, and Bob D paused on a hill to allow a descending van and jogger through, when Lawrence’s AJS detonated an astounding explosive BANG and the engine came to an immediate stop! It was so loud that it temporarily made our eyebrows too big for our faces! Expecting shrapnel, we were pleased that the bike restarted first kick. The rest of the run was positively zen-like, how we like them.
Arriving at The Yew Tree Inn in Avon Dassett we were greeted by Tim who had ridden straight there and warmly welcomed by the landlady, who was a classic bike fan. Good company, delicious food and lovely drinks made for a grand lunch stop. The mystery bang was discussed but no explanation could be agreed. Apart from ageing the Newnham populus by a few years in one second, we had a lovely run without incident there and back. One hundred miles in total and the bikes needed a good bath once home.
Great fun, just what a section run should be like. Thanks Barry.
Log Fire Run - Sunday 18th February
Only heavy snow has prevented our Log Fire Run in past years and so it proved this time. Four brave souls forged their way through heavy rain to meet Bob at McDonalds in Towcester. Serendipitously the rain stopped when we arrived so off we set full of good cheer and hot tea.
Bob had set us a lovely picturesque and winding rural route as usual; roads with grass growing in the middle. What none of us had expected was the floods. Up to 18” in places, sailing through the floodwater added a definite frisson to the run. The rest of the roads were just thick with mud and horse manure. By the time we arrived at Farthingstone we looked as if we’d ridden in a ‘70s scramble. Great fun!
A magnificent log fire awaited us, though to be truthful, it was too warm for a fire at 12˚.Still, we steamed off nicely. Great food and excellent drink before we wended our individual ways home again. Thanks Bob for a lot of joy.
Bob had set us a lovely picturesque and winding rural route as usual; roads with grass growing in the middle. What none of us had expected was the floods. Up to 18” in places, sailing through the floodwater added a definite frisson to the run. The rest of the roads were just thick with mud and horse manure. By the time we arrived at Farthingstone we looked as if we’d ridden in a ‘70s scramble. Great fun!
A magnificent log fire awaited us, though to be truthful, it was too warm for a fire at 12˚.Still, we steamed off nicely. Great food and excellent drink before we wended our individual ways home again. Thanks Bob for a lot of joy.
Alan's Midweek Run - Wednesday 24th January
Today, Audacious Alan answered the call to lead us all astray. Taking advantage of a gap in the storms we assembled at a new meeting place: Alban Hill café near Sherington. What a fine venue; friendly people and excellent fare. We had to do a dance between tables, as our numbers swelled, but didn't mind it at all. Lawrence even got a hug from a young(ish) lady customer at the till. It is entirely possible that she thought we were teenage tearaways…
Setting a new attendance record for a January ride, eight of us followed Alan on a gorgeous route around Bedfordshire. For a change, AMC machines were in the majority, with only one Enfield!
Farmers had laid mud on bends specially for us, floods draped the tarmac, mad Range Rovers appeared from nowhere. The modern bike owners were terrified by their brakes on greasy roads. The AMC owners were terrified of their brakes everywhere! It was FANTASTIC.
After an hour relishing the fabulously twisting lanes Alan delivered us steadily back to Alban Hill for lunch. We sat in the courtyard outside, basking in sunshine, munching, sipping and nattering. This is the life chaps!
https://youtu.be/qKuVXFauvHs
Setting a new attendance record for a January ride, eight of us followed Alan on a gorgeous route around Bedfordshire. For a change, AMC machines were in the majority, with only one Enfield!
Farmers had laid mud on bends specially for us, floods draped the tarmac, mad Range Rovers appeared from nowhere. The modern bike owners were terrified by their brakes on greasy roads. The AMC owners were terrified of their brakes everywhere! It was FANTASTIC.
After an hour relishing the fabulously twisting lanes Alan delivered us steadily back to Alban Hill for lunch. We sat in the courtyard outside, basking in sunshine, munching, sipping and nattering. This is the life chaps!
https://youtu.be/qKuVXFauvHs
Easy boy! Bob's music quiz Thursday 11th January
Bob’s music quiz got off to a roaring start with nine of us in eager attendance despite the fffreezing temperatures. Unfortunately, Bob had included some <<shudder>> MODERN music. Some as late as 2000*! I mean, how were we supposed to know those?
Seriously a great time had by all with much joshing and laughter. John and Gary triumphed with 59 points from a possible 76; a creditable performance though Lulu singing David Bowie even fooled them. A grand evening and we all trooped out at 10:00pm in view of the icy conditions, giving our hosts an early night. Thanks Bob for the amusements.
*Apparently youngsters consider music from 2000 to be ‘classic music’. What is the world coming to?
Seriously a great time had by all with much joshing and laughter. John and Gary triumphed with 59 points from a possible 76; a creditable performance though Lulu singing David Bowie even fooled them. A grand evening and we all trooped out at 10:00pm in view of the icy conditions, giving our hosts an early night. Thanks Bob for the amusements.
*Apparently youngsters consider music from 2000 to be ‘classic music’. What is the world coming to?
Start the year off right... Friday 5th January
Jollification aplenty on our first event of the year. One of us even arrived on a motorcycle despite the freezing cold. Discussion of airliner's windscreens falling out and other horrors kept us amused. Just for a change, everyone looked at the camera when the nice lady took our photo. A nice gentle starter to the year and lots coming up in the next few months! Do join us.