We headed out through Llangollen onto the A5, and down through Newtown and some lovely twisties into Llandrindod Wells.  Unfortunately I had to take it easy due to the new tyre, so I couldn’t make the most of the bends.  Having avoided the most erratic and dangerous car driver I have ever had the misfortune to happen upon, we lived up our first stop in style with pasta lunch boxes and chocolate bars in Tesco carpark.  We know how to do it in style.

Once more on the road, we munched the smiles and before we knew it we were in Magor Services on the M4.  From there it was a short hop to the Travel Lodge at Swindon where we met up with my brother Tim (who some of you will have met) and his mate Daz.  After a quick shower and change we headed off to find somewhere to eat.  A short walk into town got us to a Harvester, which served particularly pleasant food for not a lot of money.  It wasn’t quite Tesco, but we managed.

Sunday dawned slightly overcast with us heading to the bikes at 0745.  Far too early, but we wanted a hearty breakfast before the ride.  I had sussed out a truckers cafe just off J17 of the M4 near to Hullavington Airfield where the ride started.  The cafe had opened specially for the event that day.  Very good of them.  They served a decent breakfast in pleasant surroundings, and had very clean facilities.

By 845 we were heading for the airfield where we were met by a very efficient marshalling system being monitored by an extremely large police presence.  All was well though, and we were ushered onto the runway to await our ride.  The organisers had scheduled departures of 1,000 bikes at a time with a 15 minute lag between waves.  We were told our slot was a 10 o’ clock departure, and sure enough we started to move on time.  Very impressive.  Something had to go wrong though.  We quickly ground to a halt with marshals informing us to cut our engines.  It transpired that there had been a minor accident on the route that needed sorting out, and we were given a new departure time of 1030.  It was 1040 when we got going, this time without a hitch.  The ride was led by Afghan Veterans on trikes, the route taking us through a number of small villages north of the M4.  In every village there were lots of people out to greet us, waving, applaudung, cheering and flying flags.

After 12 miles we entered the village of wooton Bassett and rode the route taken by the fallen as they are repatriated.  I can honestly say I have never seen such a crowd at a ride.  The people of Wooton Bassett had filled either side of the road to the point where the bikes had to virtually go in single file as that was the only road space available to ride on.  I have to say it brought quite a lump to my throat.  The ride continued as far south as the M4, where it officially ended.  It seemed to be over all too soon really, but was fantastic while it lasted.

This ride will never happen again as far as I can tell, as RAF Lyneham is scheduled for closure later this year.  Operations are due to move to RAF Brize Norton from then, so fallen service personnel will no longer make their final journey home through what is now Royal Wooton Bassett.  We all felt very glad to have been a part of this event.  In all quite an emotional day.

Police had limited the ride to 10,000 bikes, and it appers that very nearly every place was taken.  Entry was £10 per person with all the money going to the charity.  Assuming perhaps 40% of bikes had pillions, well, you can do the math yourself.

After the ride we headed back to the truck stop before riding together as far as the Abergavenny turn off the M4.  Nice to know that bikes still go free across the Severn Bridge crossing.  We headed back up virtually in reverse of our route down, and what had cleared into a nice morning soon became an exercise in shower dodging.  It took all my knowledge of mid-Wales roads and a keen eye on the sky to keep us reasonably dry all the way home.

We arrived back in Llandudno very tired, very happy at having been on a great adventure, but a little bit sad too for the ones who will not be going home.  We Will Remember Them.

Sunday March 27th

This event starts in the Carpark next to the Texaco Garage in Ruthin at 11am.  Please arrive by 10.30am latest to allow for briefings and route handouts / explanations etc.

The 2011 riding season will soon be upon us, so to blow away those winter cobwebs and wake up our brains, I have come up with a devious challenge for all.

This is a treasure hunt with a difference.  Navigating a route of more than 40 miles through stunning scenery over approx 2 hours, you will follow a set of clues that reveal 4 words.  But there is a twist.  The letters will not be found in the right order and will need to be unscrambled with the help of the provided clues before you can declare yourself a word quest champion.

There will be prizes up for grabs, 1st and 2nd place team prizes, and a bonus secret prize, the details of which will only be revealed once everyone has completed the challenge, a final twist in the tail.   Once more than 10 teams have confirmed entry a 3rd place prize will be added.

Winning teams will be determined by the fastest time (within the law) with all clues correctly submitted.  Full instructions will be given on the morning of the event.

There will be the opportunity to purchase refreshments, relax and socialise at the finish, while you reflect on your adventures.

It is entirely up to you what vehicle you use for your quest.  Some may prefer the warmth and convenience of the car, others may prefer the thrill of the twisting Welsh roads on 2 wheels.  Whichever you decide, a co-pilot will certainly be an advantage.

There is no limit to the members you can have in your team, but you can only have one vehicle per team.  Members families and guests are welcome to attend, and members can enter as many teams as they wish on the basis of one vehicle = 1 team.  SatNavs are banned, and would not really be of any use anyway due to the way the route has been structured.

Entry per team (and so per vehicle) is £5.00.  A portion of the entry fee will provide prizes, and the sum remaining will be donated to the club’s currently nominated charity.

The cost of food and drinks at the finish venue is NOT included in the entry fee.

To enter, please send an e mail to chris•goldwing©googlemail•com  (chris•goldwing©googlemail•com)   including the names of all your team members and the registration number of the vehicle(s) you are entering.  Entry fee is payable to the treasurer by our March meeting.  Team entry can only be confirmed once payment is made.  Entry on the day is allowed, but please be aware that this is NOT the preferrred method of entry.

I expect this to be a fantastic day out, with lots of fun, head-scratching and merriment to be had,  (and the bacon and sausage baps are lovely!)  Remember too that we are raising money for our nominated charity, so please do your best to come along.

Meeting together at the start

It is that time of the year again when we have to start arrangements to attend the Wirral Egg Run. This years event is the 29th such run and it is hoped to be the biggest yet.

Members from this club have attended in previous years and seen it grow from a smallish event into the huge spectacle it has become.

The Run has become a highlight for riders of all machines in the North West and it is a day of fun for the riders.

The organisers have worked well with the authorities this year and the event promises to be one of the biggest yet

All types of bikes etc. are welcome

The last year that I attended was 2007 when the number in attendance on the run was believed to be in excess of 7000 machines. Believe me, that is one heck of a sight when you see all the machines parked up waiting to start at New Brighton. Our web-master, Nigel, was a very busy boy with his camera that day.

It was a very good run, being well marshalled and controlled by the Police.

There were enough different types of machines to keep every enthusiast happy just walking around the mustering area, from old relics to warp-factor 8 superbikes,  trikes to scooters, indeed, there were some rare bikes in attendance and it was a joy to see them being used.

The end gathering at the Hospital

Of course the event was held with a view to charity -”The Wirral Egg Run is an annual event which raises money for local children’s charities and donates Easter eggs to hospitalised children.”

For more info please see the event web-site – http://www.wirraleggrun.co.uk.

As usual there will be a run from GoldWings North Wales to the event and details will be added closer to the time in the events page

Eddy getting into the spirit of things

Dave T

A gritter spreading it's deadly contents

It is about time that this weather went away and the council stopped gritting the roads with that ‘horrible stuff’ they use now.

The gritter-wagons seem to be spreading a new type of salt that sets just like concrete if you give it a chance to dry on your bike. Even when still wet it seems to have the consistency of jelly and does not want to wash off the bike, or the car.

This is a major concern to me as I have an American model GoldWing Trike and these do not have the protection that UK GoldWings have. I understand it is down to lacquer on the wheels and shiny bits. Either way I am not chancing the bike on these
roads until the salt has had an opportunity to wash away. Therein lies the problem.

The weather has been too cold for the gritter-wagons to stay off the roads and there has not been enough rain to wash the salt away in between. There is a constant layer of salt on the road waiting for the opportunity to transmute chrome and aluminium to
rust and fur respectively. The GoldWing and other luxury bikes laden with chrome, like Harleys and Japanese cruisers, are the first ones to suffer if exposed to the chemical mix.

I rode my UK model 1800 last winter and took time to ensure that it was well washed and rinsed after each trip. The intention was to ensure that my lovely chrome work remained intact. I have to admit that Honda’s chrome was able to withstand the vast
majority of the process but all the aftermarket bits rotted away with very little resistance to the salt. It was very frustrating to see the lovely shiny bits becoming horrible hairy bits or watch chrome literally peeling off, once it had seen any salt.

What is the answer to this problem? The answer is simple: there isn’t one. Until the U.K. Authorities  stop using road salt in times of icy conditions then there will be badly corroded bikes. Interestingly, the weather in the U.K. does not go to the extremes like some other countries, USA being one. In the USA very little use is made of road salt in times of icy conditions. It does not bring the area to a standstill at the first sign of white stuff falling out of the sky. People get used to driving in the terrible conditions or they change their transport to one that does keep going. The cars have chains fitted if needed to keep moving, and if the weather is that bad that a car cannot be used then snow-mobiles come out. It is also a matter of driver/rider training for the conditions.

I am seriously thinking of having the shiny parts on my bike powder-coated. This will hopefully sort out the problem of corrosion as then no metal will be exposed directly  except brake discs and bits of the engine which cannot be powder-coated.  This will hopefully extend the amount of time during the winter when I can still get out on the GoldWing.

Some of you may want to tell me of new products which are supposed to protect the bits of the bike exposed to salt. They don’t all appear to work all the time and consequently signs of rust and furring will still be found, despite the liberal use of these anti-corrosion products. I cannot trust them on my pride and joy.

All I can say now is “Roll On Spring” then hopefully the salt will be gone, washed away by the rain-fall, which with global warming, is likely to bring floods to water-log all our favourite rides!

Dave T

Bob Summers almost smiling

It would appear that these Northern Englanders don’t have toast with their breakfast! – how do I know?  Because in the famous words of Max Boyce – ‘ I was there’.

Jan and I headed up the motorway at 8am this morning to see if the hospitality of The Swallow Hotel was all it was made out to be, and apart from the lack of toast with my breakfast it was just so. This breakfast was eaten along with Pete and Diane of our club and some forty odd others who had decided to listen to what was being offered by the new ‘GoldWings North West’.

The new chairman,  Bob Summers, was quickly voted in without anyone else standing for the post (what a surprise!)

Bob was quick to ensure that he had a working team with him and after a vote, two stalwarts,   Pete Rodgers took the job as Treasurer and Ian Duxbury took on the post of Membership Secretary.

Stuart Ormorod then explained the concept of the Federation to the meeting and after answering all the questions it seemed to me that everyone was happy with the concept.

The meeting continued to a successful conclusion, with some points being decided and some being deferred to allow the members of the new club time to make decisions on various items such as Logos and the like.

I look forward to working with Bob to ensure that our two regions make progress in the right direction and from the support by some visiting members to the meeting today, I suspect it may not be too long before we are joined by another fledgling club soon to be formed.

Keep watching this space.

Dave T

Papa Joe, last year's winner of the Best Lit Bike trophy

I am pleased to see that the Blackpool Light Parade organisers have just released plenty of information about this year’s event.

This is one of the best events of the year, and eagerly awaited by numerous Wingers – including me. In fact, I understand that the event’s website has been getting lots of messages lately from frustrated Wingers anxious to know the dates for this year so they can book their holidays!

Well, the dates are now announced – September 4th-7th – but Pontin’s are not quite geared up to take bookings yet. So keep an eye on the website for an announcement to say they are ready – probably in early February.

As many of you know, I have recently switched to a trike after a very nasty fall on my bike. However, I don’t think the 8 months remaining is enough time to load it with sufficient lights to beat Papa Joe to – what – his potential third Best Bike Award in a row?! I bet the bugger’s adding more lights as we speak!

Nigel's entry for the GoldWings North West logo competition!

On Sunday 2nd 1st February I’m travelling to The Swallow Hotel, Samlesbury, where the inaugural meeting of GoldWings North West will take place, to ensure that they see the support they will have when they form their own club.

The start of this new club will be giving GoldWing Owners in the North West and North Wales a real choice in GoldWing Clubs to join.  And make no mistake – that is what it is all about – Choice!

The meeting has been arranged to coincide with the breakfast time at the venue, so that on normal club meeting days members will be able to turn up first thing to a cooked breakfast before the business of the day and a rideout.

I really wish I’d thought of that!

If anyone wished to join me on the trip, please get in touch.

What do I want to say for my first Blog entry then? Actually, I want to say quite a bit.

I am the elected chairperson here at GoldWings North Wales, a new club formed in November 2008 with the intention of giving more choice to Wingers – and more independence to its members. Some of our members belong to other GoldWing Clubs, and that is entirely their choice.  Some have resigned from other clubs – again, their choice.

It has since become apparent that we are not alone in forming our own club, as there is quite a lot of interest from other GoldWing owners within the North West area.

The start of this club will really be giving GoldWing Owners in  North Wales  a real choice in GoldWing Clubs to join.  And make no mistake – that is what it is all about – choice!

It is important that this club develops how you want it to. One way of ensuring that you get enjoyment from the club is to make suggestions for destinations for rideouts. Let me know of the visit you have been meaning to do and we will try and make a ride to it.

Likewise, it would be helpful if you mention the sort of events you would like to go to and do – if I don’t know about it, I cannot incorporate it into the programme for the year.

The head of the Turvey household - and that's me on the front

There is already a list of events for members of GoldWings North Wales  to attend – from foreign trips for the uninitiated to the more familiar weekend events – hotel based or camping – your choice.

There is also the Blackpool Light Parade (BLP) weekend in September – possibly the biggest event of the year for those who don’t attend the GWOCGB Treffen and a spectacular event in its own right. Where else can you get together with like minded GoldWingers and show off the bikes to such great effect and audience appreciation?

It also good to see that there will be a Scarborough Light Parade (run under the auspices of GWOCGB). This bodes well for the future of such events. Hopefully a club down south of England can get together and form another light parade event in future – giving even more choice to GoldWingers. Most of these events can be found on the BLP website in an extensive All Clubs GoldWing Events Calendar compiled by Stuart Ormerod.

Stuart has also arranged a trip for beginners to the Mosel Valley in Germany in the middle of June – it does have limited places though,  so if you wish to go please go to his blog and ensure that you put your name forward as soon as possible.

There will be the meeting of the club on 15th February at the Beaufort, at the normal winter start time of 12 midday.

See you there

Dave T