Go Your Own Way
With The Wylie & Holland RAT Pack
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With The Wylie & Holland RAT Pack
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The Cold and Frosty Run (December 17 2006) We were at -1 as our intrepid riders set off as Richard did not show up. Claims that it was too cold met with little sympathy as a hardy bunch of riders headed off to Harry Tuffins at Churchstoke for breakfast. The hardy few then went to Crossgates for more hot drinks.
Attendees were: Ian, Doug, Peter & Paula, Anthony and Andrew. Total mileage was 185 miles.
Richard's Solus Run to the NEC 2006 (October 31 2006) A 100% turn out for a Solus run or a 1% turn out for a RAT Run. Just because there was a slight possibility of the wet stuff everyone stayed away - and I mean everyone. This must have been the quietest NEC that I can remember and a number of exhibitors were not present this year. No Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Laverda and almost no scooters! It looks like that some of the big players are thinking about the cost and returns from the NEC. Still it made easy to navigate, especially to the award winning Triumph stand which was, of course, quite busy. (you should have gone to the Kawasaki stand to see the opposite of quite busy!!) The new Tiger looks different but still looks like a Tiger to me. It is fresh and appealing whilst still retaining the touring features. Not sure about the white though; love it on the Speed Triple but the Tiger, maybe not. Yes there were some other bits and pieces to see on the Triumph stand but it was all about the new Tiger really. As for the rest of the show....... well it was certainly quiet and the clothes people seemed down on previous years as well. There were plenty of opportunity to try out a mini moto, off road Yamaha or a number of road bikes and there were not really any queues. And how about the Yellow Daytona in the photo below? It's actually a 125 c.c. Hyosung.
Richard's Hello Albert Run (October 15 2006) A good turn out of 11 bikes and another dry day as Richard took us on his Hello Albert Run to the Albert Dock in Liverpool. The breakfast stop was at the Ponderosa and although it was of course cold and blowy it was yet again dry in Wales. A leisurely ride followed Terry's energetic pursuit of breakfast and Richard actually found some roads to Liverpool that kept us off most boring roads. Of course we arrived just in time to have a talk with the wheel clampers and after negotiating a good deal we then enjoyed the wonderful refurbished attraction at the Albert Dock. Most went to the Maritime Museum but Ian and Alison went to the Tate Gallery and there was so much to see that the Beatles museum will have to wait for another visit. The grand total for parking and visiting the museums was one pound which was excellent value.
Attendees were: Geoff, Ian & Alison, Doug and Doug's mate, Peter, Paula, Anthony, Richard, Andrew, Terry and Les. Total mileage was 185 miles.
Michael's Birdy Run (September 17 2006) The report seems to have gone missing!! I can remember it was hot and sunny!
Attendees were: Michael, Richard, Paul, Peter & Paula, Doug, Ian & Alison, and who else was it? Total mileage was 205 miles.
Geoff's Historic Day Out (August 20 2006) The weather forecast was grim, the clouds were black but the turn out of 12 bikes for the Bonnie Day Out was fantastic. The run over the Berwyn's to Bala was a new route and we managed to stay dry for most of the way their, The route wound its way over the top and dropped into Bala where we stopped eagerly for our breakfast at Loch Cafe. We then followed a well trod route up to Trawsfynydd before another new route up the Aberglasyn Pass to Caernarfon Castle, again we managed to dodge the rain clouds. After lunch and a trip around the castle we headed for the Llanberis Pass and Capel Curig before heading down the A5 to Llangollen for afternoon tea. Having feasted on cream teas it was time to dodge the rain clouds on the way back to Wylie and Holland. Thanks to everyone who made the effort to turn out, it was a great run through Wales and we managed to stay dry for most of the time.
Attendees were: Geoff, Les, Simon, Ian & Alison, Alan & Andrea, Gary, Doug, Colin (BMW), Pete, Paula, Brian and a 'tall guy on red Sprint' Total mileage was 210 miles.
Terry's Quintessentially English Run (July 16 2006) England in the summer and where else to go but a beautiful English Country house. Terry took us on a sultry day to Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and although we didn't quite all make it all of the way there we had a very healthy turn out.
Total mileage was 210 miles.
Attendees were:
The Seaside or Bust Run (June 18 2006) Of course the weather forecast was warm and sunny and obviously in Wales it rained. Considering the recent trip to Loch Ness it was an excellent turnout as 8 bikes set off for the delights of dry Welsh roads (LOL). In no time we were at Caffi Carys at Dinas Mawddwwy and settling down for a warm coffee and a dry seat. Richard, luckily, set back for good old dry England and as the others set off in the other direction there was a pitter patter on the visors. There was some rain which cleared up once we reached Barmouth at about 11.00 a.m. and the 7 remaining riders agreed to meet up a 12.30 after looking around town for our return. On returning to our bike park, 3 of our number had already left, so that left 4. Setting off we took the railway toll bridge, at £1.10p per bike, gently does it over the wooden walk way with the planks rattling under our wheels and nothing between us and the swirling waters beneath but old planks and with drifting sand to negotiate at the exit, it was all good fun. Turning right off the toll bridge took us to Tywyn and then Aberdovey where we topped up with fuel. On to Machynlleth and then coffee at Harry Tuffins, Churchstoke. 3 then headed for Church Stretton and 1 to Craven Arms, Brian headed for Shrewsbury, Graham & Rob for Much Wenclock then Telford. One speed camera was spotted outside Barmouth..........
Total mileage was 190 miles.
Attendees were:
The Buckets and Spades Run (May 22 2006) The Monster At Crossgates
Did it rain or what? So much for the seaside as we all sheltered at Crossgates (and shivered) for a welcome hot breakfast. Geoff decided that his Bonneville needed a break every now and then from the rain but who cared as we all were soaking wet anyway! After breakfast we all reluctantly went home. Total mileage was 135 miles
Attendees were:
The Extra Steamy Run (April 25 2006) A murky day beckoned us as we set off from the CLOSED Severn Valley Railway Cafe but apart from a bit of drizzle (in Wales of course) it was actually a dry run. We headed off for the Elan Valley and realised that some more enthusiastic riders might just make this mid morning coffee rather than lunch so a rescheduled route saw us take in some unexplored (but quite nice) territory. Richard managed to surprise a car on a blind bend on the unclassified road and Peter did try and find the steel band on his tyre but apart from the gravel, here and there, it was a good ride out. Total mileage was 175 miles.
Attendees were:
The Heritage Run (April 23 2006)
Here they are in all their splendour. We have six joint winners of the Rider of the Month for our Heritage Run. Fortunately for Les, Ian and Brian they had got lost when our grinning bunch of riders, Alan (and Andrea), Rob, Mike, Richard, Peter and Doug managed to be joined on their part of the ride by two very friendly new members who had some fancy flashing lights on their jet black car. The heinous sin was committed when we got a bit separated in road works by a couple of cars on the dual carriageway outside Redditch and as Richard set off at a leisurely pace those behind cleared the cars to keep up. As Richard was joined by the friendly black car he waved his erstwhile colleagues to go past only for the nice young driver of the car to leap out and flag everyone to pull in........ After a friendly little chat about possible speeds that some people may have been doing to catch Richard up he then decided that the sight of us without helmets was too much and told us to go. What a nice man. The Heritage centre was quite interesting and Richard managed to get us all a nice £2 discount on the entrance which made it a total discount of £62 for the morning! The roads were remarkably clear and Richard took us through some nice country roads. After our visit we then took in the pleasures of the Fosse Way and Fish Hill on the way back. Total mileage was 195 miles.
Attendees were:
Can We Hack It? Mark2 Run - Of Course We Can (March 19 2006) Who said we can't hack it? Yes it was cold and overcast but ten (yes that is TEN) bikes set off to the wonderful delights of the secret nuclear bunker that is signposted from all directions at Nantwich in Cheshire. Richard took us for breakfast at Harry Tuffin's in Churchstoke which of course is completely in the opposite direction. En-route we managed to somehow lose Mike who was seen pulling into a petrol station - did he want rider-of-the-month or what? At Churchstoke we managed to arrive as the coffee machine had broken down but the wait was worthwhile as Harry Tuffin's must be one of the best value for money breakfast's around. Then it was off to Hack Green along surprisingly traffic free roads. At Hack Green we were greeted by an unheated - of course - attraction. Who cared though with any temperature being better than that what we felt like.......... Total mileage was 145 miles from Telford to Nantwich - try that on the AA route finder!
Attendees were:
Can We Hack It? Run - February Oh no we can't............ It was supposed to be quite a good turnout but first the cold weather delayed our start and then a few people decided that feet up in front of the fire was preferable. Shame on you.
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The Lose It Breakfast Run - January A cold start to our new year programme saw five bikes head off to the Ponderosa. Unfortunately Richard was not able to come at the last minute as without Richard some people really lost their way! Firstly Les lost his wallet and then Terry managed to lose his mobile phone. Luckily for Les it was picked up outside Terry's house but as for Terry's phone it just rings and rings and rings.........
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