Dalesman Rally 2011 ( one for the bikers)

OK, for the few bikers who still read this blog, here are a few pics from last weeks rally. Held at Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales and organised by the Dean Vally MCC. Leyburn is a very pleasent market town, quiet and fairly sedate, popular with the tourists.







with a few pubs and restaurants including the Sandpiper where we had an excellent meal on the Saturday night.

As for the bikes.....there were old ones, newer ones







some with sidecars








Trikes with tiny sleeping trailers.






In the next field there stood the remains of a tree that had possibly been hit by lightning.



and wandering round the site early on the Saturday morning... a lone spinner still working on her Tour de Fleece challenge.





Have a great weekend, whatever you may be doing :-)

on the road again

but cheating and traveling by car! as this was our club rally, we travelled to Cornwall by car so we would have transport if required for food shopping etc.
The rally in question was the Deja Vu held by Drake MCC, usual tent in a muddy field event, drinking evening on Friday followed by a band and Vicars n Tarts party on Saturday I will spare you the photos of hairy men drssed as tarts though :-)

So , it was a cold and frosty weekend as the photos will testify!!

not a good time to stay outside with your bike!! however this frozen biker turned out to be a little less alarming close up.

but it was easily cold enough for the bikes to grow a frosty overcoat.

I occupied myself with a bag of the mystery fleece to sort and comb out and a play on my drop spindle. Fun was had as alcohol was consumed and I have many blurry pictures that will not mean anything unless you were there yourself! On the way home we stopped off in Honiton to grab a paper and I spotted several tiled pictures including these two.

I now have the challenge of spinning 100 gm of wool that was sorted etc under the influence of alcohol, maybe not such a good idea but who can resist partying with these guys?

Hope you all had a good weekend :-)

Birthday Hawaii Camp

Yes, Ian reached the big 50 and spent the weekend with friends at a pub near Uttoxeter. Much beer was drunk, stories exchanged and reunions took place with friends not seen for a number of years. Looking across the bar on Friday night it became evident that the only long hair these days is on the girls although beards are still popular :-)However there was still a healthy number of motorcycles in the car park.

We camped in a field next to the pub with a couple of unexpected guests who obviously felt that they had been left out. Firstly a small dog who grunted like a pig joined us for some fuss.



Then a horse from the adjoining field decided that he preferred our company to that of the other horse.




On Saturday I visited the local Churnett Valley Railway with a couple of friends ( Ian preferring to stay around the camp site to welcome visitors) and spent the day riding up and down the small line and sitting in the tearooms to sample tea and cake. Thanks Eric and Rab for your company :-)




Some (Biker ted) found the celebrations on Saturday night just a bit too much!




Sadly, we had to return home on Sunday but have made firm arrangements to meet up again for at least two more birthday celebrations next year.



Denny and Frank packed for the journey home.

M C Dwylefunkers Rally

We eventually found the rally site after turning left at the wrong duck pond and having to turn round after some very nice people told us where we should have been. The pub hosting the rally (The Lower Lode Inn)dates from the 15th centuary and has been a family run pub since 1590 and was damaged in the floods of 2007 when the river broke its banks and submerged 2 or 3 bikes that were parked up, one was last seen with just its mirrors sticking out from the flood water and the caravans simply floated and tipped over. It was a quiet, civilized do with around 50 people attending on bikes and trikes, camping on the river bank along with the local geese.

These two sculptures were spotted on the river bank outside the pub.

The pub ( Good food and very good breakfast-thank you)

Aftermath of the 2007 floods


5.30 this morning! nice and peaceful