Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Events/Meetings/Rideouts => Topic started by: timbo on April 22, 2018, 09:45:41 PM
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Although we are a small forum and group of people, the TC has always managed to have an annual rally. Because of my circumstances I wasn't able to get anything sorted for this year. But watch this space.......
I have a venue in mid Wales that Ive wanted to use for some time, but not yet had the opportunity. Discussed it with some of the regulars over the weekend at the Shepherds Rest, and the dates we are going for are 3rd and 4th of August, as this would have been the dates for the Welsh Roadrace, which unfortunately now isn't happening, and some people had already booked that time off work/home ;)
We had also always said about doing something over in the east, and that is happening over the 11-13 May this year, when we plan to visit East Kirkby and Bomber Command in Lincoln, [please see separate post]
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Hi Tim
I'd be up for a national rally in Wales in August. Lovely place and lovely time of year. Oh yes and lovely company of course!
Ian
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Count me in.
Trevor
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Let us know when you finalise a date and the ferry will be booked!
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If I can get the weekend off I'll be there.
Richard
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Will do my best to make the Rally in August if I am in the country. Many thanks for your efforts Tim, it is appreciated. Cheerz Cliff
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Post added to XT660.com to include and swell the numbers.
We need to get details of the exact location, what we are doing for food, what rideouts are organised etc.
Timbo can you confirm details of lacation, ie name of pub and address.
Cheers Steve
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Ok, thats the National Rally sorted. It will be at The Red Lion, at Llanafan fawr, 01597 860204 on the beautiful Beulah road. Dates are wknd 3rd and 4th August. Good beer and food in the pub, and some great roads for ride outs in the area. Camping is £5 a night, there are no showers, but there is a hut in the field with a toilet and sink.
Now, the pub also rents out the cottage next door which obviously would have a shower etc. The cost to book the cottage would be £140 for both nights and it is currently available for those dates. What are your views on booking the cottage and splitting the cost amongst all of us, so we have full facilities. also we could then draw lots for who gets to sleep in a bed, for a bit of fun :)
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I wouldn't mind a bit of luxury, even if I didn't 'win' a bed! Sounds good and would be most agreeable.
Ian
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nice ride from holyhead tommy
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got a good deal on the ferry so i book it ;D cool tommy
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Hey Tommy,
which ferries are you on?
Rene
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hi rene from dublin on friday 3rd ferry leaves at 8.05 am gets to holyhead at 11.30 am
back sunday holyhead 17.17 dublin 19.04 ,thats with irish ferries for 120 euro . tommy
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Ferries booked. Looking forward to it. Roll on August ;D
Rene
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hi did you get the same ferry times i have
tommy
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Yes I did. CU on board! 8)
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great see ya then rene
tommy
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I'll be coming across on Friday .
See you all there
Mark
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Pat & I will be there too...I'll try and make her stay for the weekend this time :).
For those that weren't at the NI meet...my mother took ill and Pat flew home on the evening we arrived..but all's well, she recovered and is back to her usual self.
Dave.
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All being well I'll be there too, hopefully on one of the XBRs.
Another 25 miles on the Matchless G9 today. Must be nearly 100 miles in the last week. Fingers crossed it'll stay in one piece.
Regards
Tony
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Pat & I passed the Red lion twice over the weekend (bike meet in Llandovery).
A road worth doing is the one from Beulah to Upper Chapel...it's at the top of ranges and the army were live firing with a machine gun at targets on the hillside...surprisingly noisy, even through earplugs and some lovely machinery to be seen.
We even found a used smoke grenade...which an Irish lad took home with him...for the kids to play with!
Dave.
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I'm up for it !
Hopefully get time off work.
Jethro
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Yep, I'm hoping to be there too!
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Hey Tim did anything come of the idea of booking the cottage at the Red Lion? If not I'm going to book a place at the YHA in Brecon for the rally, it's only 20 miles away.
I camped one night at Borrowdale on Sunday night just gone and was really sore in the morning. I have decided my camping days are over, too many past injuries coming back to bite me these days!
Ian
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Hi Ian, sorry nothing further was done re the cottage, unless three or four, or more peeps come on here and say they want to book it. Assuming it is still available. There is bound to be somewhere a bit closer than Brecon, maybe Newbridge on Wye. Definitely the secret to camping is a decent air bed ;)
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Ferry booked
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I called with Alan at the Red Lion last night on my way back from Ifor's funeral, and the cottage is still available at £140 for the two nights if we want it. Anyone interested?
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Found out at the weekend that this is on the same weekend as the National Rally : http://www.llanbikefest.co.uk/ (http://www.llanbikefest.co.uk/)
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A couple of the NI folks are stopping with me in Bridgnorth on the Thursday before the rally, and/or the Sunday and Monday night. If anyone else fancies doing the same you are more than welcome. Accom will be cramped, basically. camping in my house on your airbed and sleeping bag, or I have arranged with my local pub next door to let people stay real cheap in a couple of the rooms upstairs, but again, probably on your airbed and sleeping bag.
I have room for about ten bikes in the secure yard at the rear of my house, but access is through a doorway, so, sorry, no outfits, unless I can source somewhere else to park them.
The itinerary is, round to the Bear for Open-Mic night on the Thursday.
Broseley Bike Fest, near Ironbridge, on the Sunday, on our way back from the rally. With a few beers, and a walk around Bridgnorth on Sunday evening.
Monday morning. A quick tour of the loco works at the Severn Valley Railway, followed by a day out on the steam trains, including a visit to the engine sheds at Highley. Then in the evening, Speedway at Monmore Green in Wolverhampton :)
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Hey Tim how are you doing? Really appreciate the effort you have gone to, to organise yet another rally for us Thumperteer guys. You are a bit of a stalwart on the organisation front Tim, so thanks and well done mate. I plan to be there on Friday and my mate Paul from Swansea should be along as well, also on a RE Continental GT.
Could I query facilities at The Red Lion, specifically will there be tea, coffee and breakfasts available at the pub in the morning and are we able to have a camp fire, which will both dictate what gear and food myself and Paul bring along? That's all mate and if there is anything we all need to know that you can think of, that would be great. Having taken a trip up that way recently its a great location and the roads thereabouts are superb, so here's to a good craic this weekend. Cheerz for now. Brad XT/RE.
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hi tim i would be interested in the cottage my back is fecked for camping ,anyone else interested whats it cost ,looking foward to the rally tommy
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Right, my plans are laid!
I'll be leaving work a touch early at 5pm Friday, so hope to get to the site by about 7.30, throw the tent up, and into the pub for 8. I'd also like to take up your kind offer of a night in Bridgnorth on Sunday and a trip round the sheds etc on Monday Tim, if you're not fully booked up!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Hi Cliff, Alan at the pub will lay on bacon butties or similar on the saturday and sunday mornings if we want it and give him a rough idea of numbers the night before. I dont think we can have a camp fire, but I am sure a raised fire in one of those thingymabobs would be fine. The facilities consist of a tiny shed with one sink and one toilet in it :)
Hi Tommy, the cottage is £140 for the two nights and sleeps two. I am pretty sure that someone else may want to share if you need another person. You will need to book it with Alan at the Red Lion, Ill just get his number for ya :)
Hi Pete, you are very welcome to stay at the mad house on sunday night, along with anyone else who fancies it :)
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Red Lion 01597 860204, Alan
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thank tim anyone interested in going in on the cottage ta tommy
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....Monday morning. A quick tour of the loco works at the Severn Valley Railway, followed by a day out on the steam trains, including a visit to the engine sheds at Highley......
Hi Tim, what time on Monday does your steam tour start....looks like fun.
Pat & I should get to the campsite early afternoon, Martin (GL1100) says he's coming too. He's just done the Liege Brescia Liege (LBL) microcar rally, so you can ask him lots of questions.
Not long now.
Dave.
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So the tour of the engine sheds at Severn Valley Railway will probably be at 09.30 on Monday, lasting half an hour. Ive cleared it with my boss today ;)
Then we will be on the first train out of Bridgnorth at 10.40. Cost for an all day ticket is £21, or £19.50 if we pre book. Plan is to do a full run down to Kidderminster, where there is a small museum and the King and Castle pub. leave there on the 12.55 and stop at Bewdley for an hour, then stop at Highley for an hour and twenty minutes to view the museum there, then back to Bridgnorth for 16.45, but its all up to what people want to do really.
Red Lion, and bonfires. Due to the dry weather, there will be no open fires I'm afraid.
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Spoke to Alan at the Red Lion last night, and he was very helpful as ever.
Bar b qs are allowed so long as they are off the ground and not near hedges etc
On the saturday morning he will provide tea, coffee, bacon butties etc, but not on sunday morning.
The food in the pub is excellent, but it is only a small pub, so we will not all be able to eat together, but in smaller groups. (Lets not forget the Bishops Castle fiasco of last year!) :-\
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Thanks for the info Tim, much appreciated. Its been a bit damp recently so hopefully someone will turn up with a fire bowl which sits off the ground so we can have a nice small fire, subject to landlord permission. I have one but it is too big to carry on the Continental GT. So hopefully somebody travelling by 4 wheels with a bike trailer might pick up this thread and oblige. Safe journey to all! Cheerz BradXT
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By the way Public Health Warning. Apparently Mr Steve Dalby is coming this weekend so be prepared folks! Hah hah hah! Let the banter begin!!! :) :) :)
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I'll be coming in my old Camper with either a bike on the back or a trailer.
I have a small fire pit but I'll try and make it bigger, can anyone bring wood?..or anything burnable?
Dave.
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can anyone bring wood?..or anything burnable?
Dave.
I'll probably be on my Jawa, does that help? ;D
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By the way Public Health Warning. Apparently Mr Steve Dalby is coming this weekend so be prepared folks! Hah hah hah! Let the banter begin!!! :) :) :)
Oh no, the last time I saw Steve at the Peak District camp my bike failed the Dalby scrutineering. :-\
To be fair, I was very grateful though 'cos Steve spotted that I'd been running around on a back tyre which wasn't quite seated properly on the rim! :-[
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I'm sure the Jawa will burn nicely....I've acquired a scrap brazier (the metal type, not the two cup type) with a rotted out bottom, so I've fitted the remains to a fire pit that I didn't know we had and hey presto...a useable brazier on legs, which should satisfy the campsite owner.
All we need now is wood to burn, if the sidecar boys are coming, maybe they can bring some?
Dave.
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I'd like to join the merry Bridgnorth crew on Sunday/Monday if I may. A day under steam sounds great to me.
See you in Llanafan-fawr tomorrow.
Trevor
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safe biking to the rally lads ,see ya in the pub tommy :D
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See you later guys. Safe riding! Thanks to Dave 22 for organising the fire pit subject of course to landlord permission. I am sure there shouldn't be a problem in finding a small amount of wood for a small campfire in the Beulah area. Cheerz Brad XT/GT
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One thought. Maybe we can burn Mr Dalby. There's plenty of fat on the old Yorkshire man to get the fire going! hah ha hah :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :D :D :D :D :D :D :D 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
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Hi Trevor, you are very welcome to stay Sunday/Monday, but im just letting you know it will be pretty cramped on Sunday, as I reckon thats nine so far, so you will be sharing floor space ;)
Warning!!!! Mr Dalby has been at the Red Lion since Wednesday afternoon, so dear knows what he's been up to, and i'm sure Alan's ears will be bleeding by now ;D
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I've booked into The Croft B & B in St Marys St near the town centre for Sunday night, to ease the pressure on Tim's generosity a bit! It's a bummer, but I guess I'll just have to suffer the comfy bed and full English. I don't mind taking one for the team. ;D
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Gosh if Mr Dalby has been at The Red Lion since Wednesday chances are the pub has shut its doors and Alan has fled into the night. Might be a dry weekend folks courtesy of Mr Dalby! Bless him!
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Well...what a cracking weekend that was. Good weather, good food, good company...a pity a few regulars were missing (Boyd & Squirrel were there), but we had a few XT660 members to make up the numbers...a nice rideout on Saturday led by Mr Dalby and topped off by an evening bonfire with copious amounts of alcohol and Roy the campsite owner came over to sing some songs in Welsh, accompanied by our Welsh speaking members.
Unfortunately he was half cut when he arrived and drinking beer, pochine, whiskey and rum finished him off and he couldn't stand, so I walked him back home at around 2am.
He came to see us this morning and looked as bright as a button, so no harm done.
Dave.
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Hi guys. Came around at 11pm this morning at The Red Lion campsite, by which time most of you guys had left! Firstly I want to thank Tim for putting in the time and effort to organise this year's rally and Steve for putting together a great ride out on some fantastic roads. Also Dave & Pat for providing the fire bowl and wood. Great effort guys and much appreciated. Also thanks to everybody who came and made the rally a highly amusing and very social occasion. Everybody seemed to have a good time. And thanks to the landlord Alan who was very sociable and accommodating. And finally a special mention for Boyd, it was great to see him again, looking well and fantastic to see him so positive and cheerful. Good on you mate! Can we do it all again next year please! Even the locals seemed pleased to see us there. Cheerz. Brad XT/RE/TDM
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Well Chums, I'm now officially a ThumperClub member. It was a brilliant weekend. Looking forward to the next one! Thanks all.
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And same here, also an official new member, since xt660.com will be closing down.
Well, what a weekend. So happy again that i could squeeze it in between my last nightshift on friday and my first early shift tomorrow.
Got home in Holland one hour ago, managed to embark on the 14:00 ferry in Dover.
As for some guys it became very late yesterday, i tried to be as quiet as possible when leaving (left at 06:30 or so)
Well, hope you all had a fantastic weekend. I sure did!
See you on one of the meetings to come!
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Evening chaps! I too have found you so a big hello :D.
Massive thanks to Tim for organising a cracking weekend! Top man Steve for a superb ride yesterday. Brilliant. Cheers to Dave for the fire pit and wood.
What a fantastic weekend it was. Perfect spot for a rally. Loved it. Great to meet you all and thanks for making me feel so welcome.
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A few pics...
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My first post as a thumper club member! Just wanted to thank all involved for organising such a brill rally, especially Tim (and Steve for the outstanding rideout). Also thanks to all for making me feel so welcome as a new member. Roll on next time!
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Hi Thumpeteers,
What a great weekend that was! Thanks to to Tim, Steve D. and all for making it all happen. Good fun also travelling up and down from Dublin with Tommy. Back home in Mullingar at 9pm last night. Battery broke early on Sunday and fuse box got fried, thank god for kickstart only ;)
All the best and hope to speak soon,
Rene
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Although my pace was somewhat more leisurely than previous I thoroughly enjoyed my first Thumper Rally for over six years. As has already been said "Many thanks!" to Tim and Steve for organising such a great weekend. I was especially pleased at the turnout as I was only expecting a few old stalwarts.
Excellent to see so many old friends and to meet new ones. The demise of the XTZ660 Forum is to the gain of The Thumper Club and most welcome you are.
So thanks again for all your efforts and hopefully - Insh'allah - see you in a field/pub somewhere soon.
Best wishes
Boyd
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Many thanks to Tim, Steve and all the rest of you, because it's you lot that make these meets the brilliant events which they are.
Great to see all the old faces and quite a few new ones. It was especially good to see Boyd again after all this time. All the best for the future, old friend.
Sorry to bail out of the railway trip. My heart wouldn't let me be there.
All the best to you all, and hope to see you again soon.
Cheers
Trevor
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home safe had a great weekend thanks lads see ya at the next one
and a big welcome to the xtz lads
safe biking tommy
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Yeah, another great weekend. Great to see everybody and thanks to Steve for Saturday's fantastic rideout (I'd never been to that particular industrial estate before ;)) and to Tim for organising the weekend and Sunday and Monday's entertainment. ;D
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Well, that's the last three 'thumpeteers' away :(
What a fantastic weekend, made possible by so many great people turning up! The Red Lion surpassed all expectations, with Alan and his family being superb hosts, and supplying really good food and ale. We had twenty seven people in all, and one of the things that made it for me, was that we were all able to sit around one huge long table, beer keller style, outside, and enjoy the craic. i cannot remember the last time i laughed so much :)
Steve's ride out on the Saturday was one of the best I've been on, and it was great to meet all the XT fellas, and friends old and new.
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Just landed myself! A few days late, say no more but Tims company is always a good laugh.
Will write a more comprehensive debrief when I am a bit more refreshed!
Cheers Steve.
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What a great long weekend. Back to reality this morning getting off the overnight boat from Liverpool and heading straight into work at 6.45am!
Wasn't sure until the last minute whether I'd be able to make it over but I'm real glad I did. A fantastic venue as was the rideout on Saturday. Icing on the cake was the weather and a couple of days exploring some of the many hostelries in Bridgnorth. Great to meet up with all the lads and lasses from the Thumper Club and last years XT660 gathering. A big thankyou to Tim, Steve and all the staff at the Red Lion.
Rumour has it there's one of those new "Hipster" biker hangouts in Bridgnorth though some of the punters look a bit dodgy!!
Until the next one
"White legs" Tony
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Wow Tony,
Is that the new B&B they were talking about that has 2 solar powered camping showers and serves tiny coffees in Welsh shot glasses? ;D
I would not dare call those there punters dodgy, but calling them hipsters is pushing it a bit, too. They definitely look genuinely retro though! 8)
Rene
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Hipsters, is definitely a bit of a stretch, especially when we got up on Monday morning and found a tramp dossing outside in the alleyway in his sleeping bag! A certain Rossco500, who is more used to the finer things in life, or so I thought! ;D
Ive calculated that I can get fifteen bikes into that yard, so roll on next time. The faces of the locals in Bridgnorth, as people rode there bikes in and out through my front door was a sight to behold ;D
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Went over to the rally site early on the Wednesday to have a chill and get an early start to do a run of the rideout on the Thursday.
A bit of a boozy doo with the locals, late on Wednesday and a good nights kip.
Rode the route on Thursday but early night!
Friday went for a ride over to the Elan valley but rain stopped play so I came back early to meet and greet as they say.
Most came over Friday as some of the Irish contingent had stayed at Bridgenorth the day before, (and the night in the pubs I might add).
Friday night in the pub, excellent meal and beer. Harry from Holland turned up.
Breakfast in the pub and we set off for 11 ish. Brilliant rideout, about 28 behind me, really good riders with no problems. 100 miles all in. First stop Beulah for fuel. Went around Llyn Brianne with a Lunch stop at the Owls Nest just outside Llandovery.
Down to the Mynydd Bwlch-y-Groes road (Military road, allegedly part of the Welsh road race circuit) Then back to Beulah (fuel) and back to the site.
Another excellent meal and beers in the pub, the landlord got a round of whisky for the stragglers at stupid o clock, then back to the site to start over again! One of the guys brought along a brazier and some wood so we had a bit of a party!
The farmer who owns the field came over and was singing Welsh songs til late along with some of our Welsh contingent. Was taken over to the farm at 3 o clock!
Harry left early (@6:30am) I left the site at 2pm!, bit of a hangover.
Went over to Brodgenorth for the evening to stay at Timbo's place who had helped organise the event. A few others ended up there as well!
Beers and a meal in some of the pubs, people crashed all over the place, even in the yard!
Some went down to have a look around the workshops at the steam railway in the am. I met them later and we got a day rover ticket on the train and had an afternoon of museums and trains and drink!
Stragglers left during the day but I stayed a further evening with a few others and we all left on the Tuesday morn.
If you can get on to the Thumper Club site , Aliwakeskate from this site has posted some pics there.
We had at one point over 30 bikes from both the Thumper club and XT660 groups. Some ABR lads. Bikes of all sorts, some 5 Tenere turned up and of course Arn on his R! One lady rode her Enfield from Ireland, we had a new Himalayan. PS Timbo now has a Tenere. It was a real eclectic mix of bikes and persons, absolutely brilliant and the weather really made the weekend.likeminded people having a good time with motorbikes.
One of our veteran ladies called it the best rally she had ever been to and I have known her for many a year.
A special thanks to Harry00 who came over from Holland, straight after a night shift I might add, made my day to see the big fella again.
A mention to some of our old friends that I didn't even know were coming, cheers guys.
......and a BIG BIG thanks to all who came for making the weekend so memorable because without you lot it would not have been so sucessful.
Cheers Steve
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I forgot to mention a BIG BIG thank you to Allan at the pub and his staff who hosted us.
Absolutely brilliant food and beer, the locals enjoyed our company and expressed that we are more that welcome to return.
Jayne who owns the site also said the same, we can return anytime!
Hmmmmmmm methinks an Autumn rally! :o
Cheers Steve
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Autumn rally? AUTUMN RALLY!!! Count me in again then, i will come if i have half a chance! ;D Hopefully with some more time. Never saw all those beautiful sights of England and Wales yet.
Great report Steve, really looking forward to the next time.
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i wonder if theres camping around stafford in october that would be good craic ;D tommy
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Great report Steve, and Tommy, there definitely is camping AT Stafford, as I did it two years ago with the TC folks, and the craic was mighty! Check the Stafford Show thread on here, and register your bike with Gareth, (Silverfox), and youll get in for free and free camping. Though you wont have access to your bike until 5pm on Sunday :)
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Although my pace was somewhat more leisurely than previous I thoroughly enjoyed my first Thumper Rally for over six years. As has already been said "Many thanks!" to Tim and Steve for organising such a great weekend. I was especially pleased at the turnout as I was only expecting a few old stalwarts.
Excellent to see so many old friends and to meet new ones. The demise of the XTZ660 Forum is to the gain of The Thumper Club and most welcome you are.
So thanks again for all your efforts and hopefully - Insh'allah - see you in a field/pub somewhere soon.
Best wishes
Boyd
And it was very good to see you out and about again my friend, the afternoon spent chatting will always be remembered. Hope to see you again in the nearish future, if you keep posting on this site I will certainly know whats happening with you. Best wishes from John and Mol.