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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