news autumn 2014

Nene Valley Chapter Chapter No. 9946

NEWS @ NENE Autumn 2014

Nene Valley Chapter

DIRECTORS DRIBBLE Autumn 2014

I sit here writing this dribble looking out at horrendous weather. The change has been pretty dramatic this year, but at least there was plenty of dry weather for all the ride outs, rallies and events that people have been on this year. I managed to get out on a few short ride outs this year to see how the Op held out. At the moment the Ace and back is about the most I can manage. Need to improve a bit more as heading over to Ypres on 1st October with a return the following day. That's still 5 weeks off so should be ok. This years riding season so far has been pretty packed with a number of trips abroad also taking place. It is amazing how over the years people seem to get more and more adventurous. Back in 2003 to go to Barcelona for the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson was a pretty big thing. Now some members seem to be heading off into Europe 2 or 3 times a year, along with those that travel further afield. Over the last month Pat and I have attended two rallies, firstly our rally which was once again attended by a large number of chapters and was also over subscribed which is a good thing. This is a credit to the Rally committee who once again organised a chilled out weekend for all. It was just a shame that there was not more of our own members there, but hey ho those that were had a great time. Second rally we attended was Thunder in the Glens which on the whole was a dry weekend. The weekend was great fun and many stories to be told (well most anyway). It was great catching up with old friends and also great to spend some time with Jean Davidson and her son Jon (grand daughter and great grandson of Walter Davidson ,founder of Harley Davidson). It would have been good to go up on the bike, but as mentioned earlier it was a bridge too far. The votes for the charity for the next two years have been counted, and although not many people voted the outright winner was the Air Ambulance, which although we will be supporting I hope no members have the need to use it. For Novembers Club night Jamie from Euro camp (they have organised the St Tropez trip for 2015 for us) will be coming along to give us a talk which may hopefully give people options for trips in the future.

As mentioned at the AGM, to inject new ideas and blood onto the committee I asked if there was anyone interested in taking on any of the roles within the committee. To date I have only had one person approach me, but I am sure there have been a number of conversations had over a beer or two about different positions within the committee. I understand that there are those that just like to ride and party with the club, which is great, but I'm also aware that there are some that would like to be more active in the running of Nene Valley. If you are one of the latter please make yourself known. There is a wealth of experience to guide and mentor you if necessary. Martin

Nene Valley Chapter

Editor’s View Point Autumn 2014

That’s it – after 18 months planning it’s all over. 2210 miles of

Californian twisties (with a little bit of straight here and there),

temperatures of upto 107 deg and altitudes upto 8,000ft…..

‘Awesome’ as our American cousins often exclaimed. Time to

plan another one !

Whilst we were away there was the Old Skool Rally – which by all

accounts was another major success for Nene Valley. Well done to

all those responsible for organising and running the rally this year.

It’s been a while since our last magazine (AGM night) but there has

been lots going on. However……. Please don’t shoot the Editor –

but this issue contains nothing about the rally ! I am sure

somebody had a camera, I’m sure someone must have been sober

enough to remember most of what happened and write a short

article about it – but if they did nothing came my way. Therefore I

have nothing to put in this issue – apart from Jan Harter saving the

day with a few pics – see back page. As I said, don’t shoot the

Editor – I cannot be ever where at once, although I do try.

In the last N@N I gave the story of my fast wearing rear tyre. The

story has a footnote – thanks to eagle eyed Tal Taylor. When at

Sulgrave Manor for the American Independence day ride, Tal had a

look at the new replacement tyre and also being able to remember

the tread pattern from my photo – said “I bet they fitted a front

tyre on your rear”. As soon as I got home I check my past invoices

for tyre replacement – and well done Tal they had. Photo evidence

and part numbers were duly sent off by email Sunday and on

Monday I had a very apologetic Service manager on to me with an

instant refund on my credit card. Something liquid is winging its

way to you Tal – many thanks.

Back to our Californian tour – no articles or major pics this issue and

the video is currently in production. However, a few insights into

the group :

Some liked to take their clothes off whenever I was around :

Some regressed to childlike behaviour :

Someone (Kevin) broke his bike (pic is of replacement arriving)

And some slept like babes :

Big thanks to the Ladies this issue for their article

contributions – Thank You: Sue Whiting, Gill

Foster, Marilyn Knight & Rickie Anne Gee.

The end of September sees me leaving my job of umpteen years.

As I have already got a new job I will be working in Leicester so

again I am too far away from the printers I have been using over

the last year or so. So, I have to find another – but one close

enough to allow me review the proof and to pick up the copies, and

at a sensible cost. This may not be easy. So bear with me, we may

have to live on eMags for a while……

…..UNLESS another member of the Chapter wishes to take on the Editor role. How about some new blood and ideas for the mag ? That will allow me to concentrate even more on the ride planning!

Cheers

Chris Lapsley, “Slow Hand” Editor

Last date for contributions to the next mag Edition : SAT 15th November 2014

email :- [email protected] or phone me on 07709 205571 or 01455 450463

Nene Valley HOG Chapter (Editor) PO Box 9277 LEICESTER LE9 OBT

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Mikey’s Natter Autumn 2014

Well it seems ages since I wrote my last natter but that’s because so much has happened. I last wrote just before the AGM and at that point said I might go on a last minute road trip to Switzerland. I did, I ended up leaving the morning after the AGM, which meant I missed the Independence Day ride and Carnival ride.

It was an eventful few days with lots of learning curves, the weather that week at home was lovely, on my travels it was probably the worst weeks weather I have ever had to ride in. Torrential rain and hailstones as big as gob stoppers, and we feared our tanks would get pepper damaged, it was such dangerous riding conditions we got off our bikes and hid under a wall with a ledge where a dear old Swiss lady took pity on us and made us a coffee. We were dripping wet right onto her red tiled porch. For all our bilingual language meant we didn’t understand each other she did grasp we were truly grateful. This was ongoing for the whole week, the sun came back out when we got to Folkestone…no longer can we assume the continent has the better weather.

We were going to visit a friends daughter in Saas Fee, and whilst we had booked the first night and the accommodation in Saas Fee, we decided to just book on route so we could be flexible in terms of miles…big mistake. It’s amazing that even in the small places accommodation was booked up, we did eventually find places but rather than take away from the stress as planned, it just added to it!!!

Also on day 1, a couple of hours from the tunnel ( yes DAY 1) my mate came off his bike and his bike then decided to slide into mine. It’s not fixed yet and both of us were OK, but the lesson here is re

insurance. You only get what you pay for!!! Whilst HOG insurance probably is a bit more expensive they have been excellent, in fact I cannot fault them. By the time you read this the bike should all be back to normal!!

Whilst I missed a couple of rides that week, there has been lots of other stuff going on, I know Groundhog had a great ride to the Cheddar Gorge and I really enjoyed the ride to the Gun Powder mills, really interesting. Also the Archery was a big hit and the High Peak Passes ride. Also whilst there was not many of us I enjoyed Bob’s ride half way round the UK for an ice cream, and then the day before the big hols I squeezed in going to Classics on the Common.

There has also been some great rallys; TITG, I also hear the new Welsh Magic Black Mountains rally was a success and one for us to think about for next year; and also a big well done to our rally team for The Old Skool rally which I am also hearing was a great success. Unfortunately we missed it as we were ‘California Dreamin’. This was the most amazing of trips and I said Becks was keeping a blog, which many of us did, so look out for lots of stories in future magazines, but here’s a couple of pics to whet the appetite.

Whilst I was just back and really suffering with jet lag I still managed to get to the Ace… as always the guy in the Mac was there and I learnt ( as I was cutting it fine) that with the reserve I get 210 miles out of a full tank

Lots more riding still to be done…unfortunately as you will have read I had to cancel the Dads Army Museum ride even though I had spent lots of time with them, visited,

Mikey’s Natter Autumn 2014

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agreed a plan, at the last minute they decided to postpone us to a later date. It’s not that they didn’t want us to come, the museum is growing in popularity and the numbers have been increasing, they didn’t quite realise also that the Thetford Fair and the World War 1 events this year would add to the popularity and therefore they would like us to come at the beginning or end of the season, so we will do this.

Other rideouts coming up are:

Neils Ring of Fire Ride ( it’s a curry not walking on hot coals…!!)

BridgeNorth ( Food Stop café)

Ace Café Harley Night

RTTW return

Also keep your eye open for a mystery ride… can’t say much more than that as it’s a mystery.

Also the rally season is still in full flow, I am going to Circus Maximus ( Deva Legion) visiting my old Sportster Black Pearl, at a new location on the Horseshoe Pass and I will report back. Talking of rallies, please, please, please let me know or nominate someone to take a list and make sure you are on it. I found myself looking at facebook to work

out who was where. So don’t moan at me 5 weeks later if you have not got your points tally right.

It won’t be long either before we start thinking about planning next year, so please feedback on this year’s rides and ideas for next year are more than welcome. Drop me an email on [email protected]. We already have some ideas and planning up our sleeves but we really want your ideas so don’t be shy!!!

In the meantime have fun and ride safe

Mikey Mikey Mikey

HRC The chapters at its best when it rides

Chris Fawcett - ‘Jedi’ Email : [email protected] 07964 775677

Becky Ivers ‘Becks’ [email protected] 07901 716385

Mike Sharp [email protected] 07748 913326

Rickie Anne Gee Email : [email protected] 07969 809662

Andrew ‘Pasty’ Pugsley [email protected] 07971 903581

Neil ‘The Ambassador’ Harrison [email protected] 07810 870167

Bob ‘The Bus’ Rhoades [email protected] 07817 700958

Head Road Captain Mike ‘Mikey’ Ivers [email protected] 07950 947681

Chris Lapsley ‘Slow Hand’ [email protected] 07709 205571

Mick Gray ‘Badger’ [email protected] 07946 299447

Chris Ringer [email protected] 07897 729749

Mike Waklein – ‘Groundhog’ [email protected] 07989 975444

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Ladies of Harley Officer Autumn 2014

It has been quite a busy couple of months with no mag in between. We had a good rally last month which was well attended and the weather remained dry if not as warm as it had been in July. The ride out on Saturday morning saw about 30 bikes set off for The Long Itch Diner where we enjoyed a drink and a natter with old friends and new.

There were some very interesting and varied costumes on the Saturday night reflecting the vast possibilities with this year’s theme of Movie Characters.

Big thanks to the team who always put a lot of effort into this, it is really appreciated.

Back in July, I think I can safely say, my archery event was enjoyed by those who attended with a few commenting that it should be repeated. Could we really be so lucky with the weather again? The day was certainly very hot. The route to Edlesborough was a wiggle through various villages, new to some.

Mike and his team at Silver Arrow Archery greeted everyone upon our arrival and kitted everyone out with arm guards, bows and arrows and sorted us into teams. We were given a few practice shots with instructions on how to actually hit a target successfully (and safely) then we started scoring each team’s efforts at the variety of targets. There were targets on a “boss”, with the multicoloured circles associated with archery, along with a deer, a hog and a rabbit – plastic models of course. Each team had a go at every target twice, the second time with different distances to contend with. Afterwards we all rode off to the pub nearby for a hearty lunch and an announcement of the final result of the shooting. You can see by the photos how the winning team managed to win, they were very accurate with their arrows. Congratulations Rickie and the two Mikes.


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It wasn’t all plain sailing though, there were a couple of lost

arrows:

The full range of pictures

is now on the new

website, up and running

thanks to the efforts of

Scot.

The day for me ended

rather abruptly; we had

stopped at the American

Diner at Old Stratford to

say our goodbyes before

going our separate ways.

As everyone rode off my

bike said “No, that’s

enough, not going any

further.” A call to HOG Assist got me home fairly quickly –

the diner was a good place to have to wait on a hot day

though, with ice cream and a cold drink to while away the

time. Thanks to Bob for waiting with me – déjà vu I think.

Northants VTwin later collected it and my credit card

complained as I had a knackered battery and faulty regulator

to pay for. I think the regulator must have been failing for

some time as the bike is now riding much more smoothly

than it has for a while.

The week before we were treated to The Secret Island Ride

by Mike Sharp. It was another very hot day but we took a

leisurely landtrain ride around the site – actually a trailer full

of seats pulled by a tractor – and were educated as to the

history of the buildings when the site was producing the

various explosives including those used in the bouncing

bomb.

Earlier in the month on 13th July my alarm was set for silly

o’clock (for a Sunday morning in the Harter household

anyway) as Groundhog had arranged an early start for his

Cheddar Gorge ride. He had said it was not for the faint

hearted, it being a pretty long journey, but I was really

looking forward to it. I had been up early the day before as

well, to go to the Hampton Court Flower Show, a day of

scorching heat and long traffic jams on the way there. With

an evening meal at Hampton afterwards I’d arrived home

well after midnight so as soon as I was up on Sunday I

thought I’d first better check my email to make sure the iffy

forecast for Sunday and the grey start to the day had not

meant a cancellation. No, there was a global mail from our

Editor to say it was definitely on so all hard ass riders were to

be at Jacks for the 9.00am departure. So this hard ass biker

chick got into the shower, dressed, makeup on and out of

the house in record time.


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There was quite a good turnout at Jack’s although only three hard ass pillions in the form newbie Jules, Gillian the Pillion, and the long suffering Mrs Ringer of course. We set off promptly and hadn’t gone far when the heavens opened. Groundhog, bless him, stopped in a layby so we could all quickly don our wet gear. That sorted we set off again and within a couple of minutes the rain stopped, never to start again apart from a few spits, although it was grey for most of the ride there. The route was a very enjoyable one though and we entered Cheddar riding down through the spectacular gorge. We parked up, sorted out our food and drinks in the café and sat in the garden to enjoy it, along with the usual good banter that is the norm on a Nene Valley outing. With my reputation for shopping I’d resisted walking down to purchase cheese but the loo (always required before setting off on any leg of a ride) just happened to be next to an interesting shop with a huge teddy outside. I was doubtful about whether it would fit on my bike but Richard Smith and Neil the Ambassasor, who’d just come out of the gents, were insistent I’d manage somehow. With a black plastic sack and some string scrounged from the lady in the shop, plus a luggage net that Neil scrounged from Sharpie, the men and I managed to get it secured to my sissy bar, just in time for the setoff towards home again. We started back up the gorge this time in sunshine. No wet gear required for this half of the day. The riding was good, fast in places and for the most part with us all keeping together. So thank you one and all for the company, Chris and Mike for the tailing and particularly Mike for organising this epic ride; it was a very good day. And the teddy? He will have made his appearance as a raffle prize by the time you are reading this. On the subject of the raffle I thought it might be an idea to talk about that this month. The purpose of it is simply to provide a bit of entertainment at our club nights. I try to make the prizes as varied as possible in order to keep everyone interested. I have Harley related prizes as much as I can but that involves a trip to a dealership which I don't often do so I stock up on Harley goods when I am in a dealership and spread them out over a few club nights. I have an alcoholic prize every time as that is always popular. I also have specifically girlie things sometimes to interest our lady members. Then I add some general items that I find when I am out and about, particularly if I find some bargains. With regard to the money that comes in It is used for:

a) more raffle prizes and raffle tickets b) to assist with some of our events for example it paid for the cream tea ride, the parking charges at Rutland Water, and the archery event was slightly subsidised. c) donations to the rally tombola, raising money for Keech Hospice d) engraving the LOH trophy and flowers to go with the LOH trophy at the Awards Night e) skittles event prizes f) assistance with the cost of the Awards Night Thanks to some donated prizes from members, plus freebies I’ve managed to get hold of, the funds are looking quite healthy at the moment so I will be adding to the first donation Nene Valley makes to our new charity. I am sure we are all hoping the much cooler and wetter weather experienced in August is not the onset of autumn as some have been saying but just a blip and that the next 2 or 3 months still gives us plenty of enjoyable riding. Take care. Jan

Nene Valley Chapter

The Other ‘A Trip to the Netherlands’ Autumn 2014

Note : This article from Sue should be read in conjunction with Paul Whiting’s article printed in the June/July Q2 2014 N@N heading “Oh the Joy of Biking !” Editor. I would like to set the record straight about an article that appeared in the magazine regarding the adventurous trip to Holland; I WAS THERE ALSO. I read the article and found it very interesting except for the fact that I was there as the passenger (pussy pillion as my husband refers); although there was very little reference to me. Whereas the story was wholly factual and the timescales quoted were correct. What it failed to mention was that I had to race to Newmarket for the crank positioning sensor along with my extremely stressed husband as I had to drive from Northampton V Twin. It also did not convey that I had been at work and also had not eaten all day. I then had to rush home, after leaving hubby, at NVT to pack everything and shower ready for the conquering hero to return and start the charge to Harwich. Yes there was an element of chilling out once we arrived at the boat decided to eat and indulge in some alcohol. The boats both on the outward and homeward journey were fantastic and good value. However having to take the top bunk as Shrek could not possibly climbed up there and fit in the space provided was not a problem. As soon as the occupant below turned off the TV he must have started dreaming that we were in a fog bank out at sea, because, he gave off the loudest fog warnings that could emanate from a person; he does insist that he does not snore. Nothing I could do, including throwing my shoe at him (climbing the ladder hurts my feet so I took my shoes with me) trying to hit him with my pillow, would shut him up; I was however confident that the boat would not collide with anything in else the North Sea. The original article mentioned that at times the Bluetooth got hot. Well I was at the receiving end of the innumerable expletives that filtered through the airwaves when roadworks blocked our planned route and left us floundering for a direction. This did calm a smidge once the correct road was found and we headed in the right direction. However normal service resumed pretty quickly when we had missed the turn off the motorway and ended up in the centre of Amsterdam; got to say what a lovely place. Needless to say my contribution to any conversation at this time was not welcomed.

We did eventually reach our destination and had a jolly good time visiting our friends who lived near the beach and some interesting places. There were lots of windmills, both new and old, along the way and although the country is very flat the scenery was interesting in many places. I did just want to emphasise to those who read the earlier article that I was there and that he had not gone off on his ‘Girlie’ bike, even though it is a Harley Davidson, on his own. Sue Whiting.

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WW1 – Oxford & Bucks Autumn 2014

Note : At this poignant time I would like to thank Gill for this memory from a soldiers perspective of life in the trenches. Editor. The following was brought into work a few years ago by a neighbour of Harry Lee (a Bedworth lad who told her his memoirs and she transcribed them). He'd recently died and as he had no living heirs she was having to clear out his home. She thought the article would be of interest to the pupils but at 711 years of age it was considered to be too old for them to understand. When I read it I realised that it mentioned my Great Uncle Jim Cassidy and so I asked if I could keep it. She was pleased to let me have it. What a coincidence eh? Gill Foster

It was 26.08.1914 and we were four young men in our early

twenties from Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire.

George Greenstreet, Jack Moulding, Jim Cassidy & me, Harry

Lee.

One said “Let’s join up; it won’t last long there are too many

countries involved.” We thought it would be a picnic but it

turned out to be a nightmare!

We all wanted to be together, so we joined the 5th Battalion,

B Company, 14 Division, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry and

next day we went to Oxford.

They gave us a blanket and we had to sleep on the floor with

about forty other chaps. This went on for about two weeks

and then they moved us to Camberley. We were put in Bell

Tents, thirteen in each. We were not allowed out as we had

no uniform, rifle or cookhouse, all we had to eat was boiled

meat and bread & butter or jam.

We were marching up and down about eight hours a day.

After about two months we moved to Aldershot, and then we

started to look like soldiers and received our uniform and

were allowed out. Our pay was 6d per day and there was

plenty of hard training, marching and shooting on the rifle

range.

Now they thought we were trained soldiers and ready to go

abroad.

We left Aldershot for France at 4.00 pm on Thursday

20.05.2014. We arrived in France at 10.00 pm and stayed in

Boulogne until 2.00 am next morning. Then we were

marched four miles to the Railway Station and got into some

cattle trucks on a five hour journey. Following this we had to

march 10 miles; we’d had nothing to eat since Aldershot.

Next day we arrived at Rest Camp; Bully Beef & biscuits was

the only food. We moved on and found we were at Cloth

Hall, Ypres, and then into trenches where we were tear

gassed.

All four of us were still together.

Next day we went to the front line. There had been a charge

a few days before and the dead lay around everywhere.

There was a dead German with his head bashed in and the

flies were going in & out like a beehive. You must know what

it felt like to us young chaps that had never seen anyone

dead before.

When night came we had to go and bury the dead, and the

smell was very bad. It was midsummer and the smell was

very bad.

If you opened a tin of jam it was full of flies before you could

turn around. We never got much to eat and only a cup of

water a day, and some of that tasted of petrol as it was

brought in petrol tins.

After a week we went back for what was supposed to be a

rest, but at night we had to take rations up to the lads in the

front line. That is how things went, in trenches for weeks and

back for a few days, and lots getting killed and wounded.

We were all covered in body lice by this time and we went

back to Poperinge for a bath in tubs, and there were irons to

iron the seams of our trousers to try and get rid of the lice,

but it was hopeless.

It was now 30th July 1915 and we were in the trenches.

Jack Moulding and me in one bay and Jim Cassidy & George

Greenstreet in the next. About 4.00 am the Germans opened

up an attack, shells came flying in all directions and knocked

our trench in.

Jack said “I’m hit.” He was wounded in the chest and I got

out my field dressing and bandaged him up. George

Greenstreet came round and said, “Harry, I am hit in the head

and I think I have broken my arm.” Then the Germans sent

over liquid fire over, and I think it was the only time it was

ever used.


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One chap went funny and ran around shouting they are

coming in thousands, and I said “Let the buggers come” but

they never got to us.

I went to see George and Jack; they were in a dug out with a

cigarette in their mouths. They got sent back to England but

Jack died of his wounds. That left me & Jim.

About 3 weeks later the Officer came to me and said I had to

go to a place called Proven on sentry duty, stopping people to

see their passes. There were about 12 of us and we slept in

the barn at a farmhouse. It was very nice but it was only to

last for 6 weeks and then I had to go back to the trenches.

There were not many of my mates left, 800 of them had

made a charge and 700 men and officers were killed. Jim got

wounded and was sent back to Blighty although he was sent

back to the front again. That left only me out of the four.

Winter was coming on now so that made things worse. The

trenches were full of water and we were issued with thigh

boots; front line duty was limited to 3 days.

I kept making new mates but they were then killed or

wounded.

One night we had to take the rations etc up to the forward

lines. The trenches being full of water we had to go over the

top and to guide us to our destination was a man aiming a

cigarette with his back to the German lines. So we start in

single file, the man in front was meant to know the way.

It was pitch dark and we had gone about halfway when the

Germans opened fire with machine guns mowing us down.

One bullet hit the rifle of the chap in front of me and another

went through my cap creasing my head so several of us

jumped in the nearest trench. This was full of water and I

stuck in the mud. My thigh boots were firmly embedded so I

cut them off, pulled my feet out and went barefooted. We

did not know where we were and I could feel bodies and

sandbags under my feet as I walked. I did not know if we

would walk into the Germans or our own chaps.

After walking for some time we were challenged and found

ourselves back in our own lines. We still had to find HQ and

the few of us that were left started walking but my feet were

so sore I could hardly walk. Someone tried to carry me but I

was too heavy and I was wet to my waist.

Eventually, we reached our HQ and they fixed me up with

boots. Our orders were to get back to our huts, but it was

still dark and we lost our way. We found a hut and stayed

there until it was light. When it was light we found a

farmhouse and asked for a cup of coffee and a slice of bread;

it cost us 1 franc.

In the end we got back and although I thought I was sure to

be ill after what I had gone through, a rest during the day and

a cleanup rendered me fit again.

We were in the trenches when the Germans sent a trench

mortar over. We could see it coming and shouted for

everybody to get down but it dropped right in the trench and

killed 6 and wounded 2 others. After this we were sent out

draining the trenches and one of my mates got hit in the eye.

I wondered how much longer my luck would last.

The weeks went by, in and out of the trenches but I did get

back to Rouen, France for a day and went to a saloon.

Here the sold wine and there were 8 or 10 girls and all they

had on was a short slip. You could go with them if you had

the money to pay.

At last I was given a 2 week leave back to England but when it

was time to return to the front I did not think I would return

home again. When I reached London I went on a spree and

missed the boat train. I remember riding around Hyde Park

with a girl. That night I slept in a Salvation Army Hostel and

finally returned to Belgium 3 days later. When I arrived back

my battalion had moved to Arras and I was a day or two

finding them so my late return from leave was not noticed.

In this area there were no civilians as they had fled leaving

everything, it was a great deal quieter than Ypres.

It was here that my health began to fail; I caught a fever and

collapsed in the trenches. They sent me back to Le Treport

but after a week or two when I did not get any better they

sent me back to England. I was in the little hospital at

Wimbourne for 6 weeks and from there I was sent to Epsom

for a month’s convalescence.

After a week’s sick leave I had to report to Portsmouth and

here the Doctor said I was not fit and sent me to hospital at

Cosham for 3 weeks. From there they transferred me to

Parkhurst Hospital for a month. I was back for 3 weeks at

Portsmouth and when the examining Doctor saw me smile he

passed me fit so they shipped me back to France.

I went back to the old battalion and when the Officer saw me

he said “I am pleased to see you I want you to go out with me

and pick out some machine gun post.” Back to the same old

routine, in and out of the trenches.


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After a week we were on the move again and I think we were

somewhere in the Somme. We were sent into some trenches

that were only 2 feet deep and they told us to dig ourselves

in deeper. As soon as I started digging I uncovered a soldier

so we had to cover him up again. There were six of us in this

trench when the Germans started shelling us.

Every shell came a little nearer. I thought this was it and

started saying my prayers. The next shell hit the trench but

at the other end burying two chaps up to the waist, but we

got them out. Another was completely buried, we dug him

out but I don’t think he lived.

We went back again and they said we had to make a charge

the next night. The officers told us what we had got to do.

This was to join up with other chaps on the right and left. It

was dark, they gave us hot rum and coffee and we were

issued with a Mills Bomb to carry in each pocket.

We had only gone about 20 yards when they opened up on

us. They must have known we were coming. There were

shells and machine guns in all directions. When we got to the

first lot of trenches they were empty and we could not see

the others. I stood up to see if I could see them and a bullet

or piece of shrapnel went straight through my arm. I was

bleeding and feeling faint. We put a field dressing on and I

started to work my way back after throwing everything away

except for my tin hat.

It was my left arm and I held it with my other arm whilst I

ran. I could hear the shells coming over and then I lay on the

ground to dodge the shell bursts. I heard shrapnel hitting the

ground all around me. By getting up again each time, and

running I gradually got out of the range of their guns.

I met reinforcements coming up and they asked me what it

was like up the front but what could I say with blood dripping

from my elbow.

The next Company I met was the Royal Artillery and they

gave me a drop of tea but said could I carry on a bit more as

they were full up. I managed to do this and when I reached

the big tent they gave me a needle and bandaged my arm up

again. Then they put a cross on my forehead and put me on

a train. I don’t know the name of the hospital they took me

to but everyone was badly wounded. They were continually

taking men out to the operating theatre and most of them

came back with an arm or leg removed.

When my turn came they put me on the table, put gauze

over my mouth and I was out. When I came round I felt to

see if my arm was there. It was.

When they dressed my arm the next day I saw they had

inserted a half inch tube right through my arm. The day after

I was put on a boat for England; my arm was very painful.

They took me to Bangor War Hospital and operated on me

again as my arm had swollen to double its size. The tube was

taken out and replaced with rubber; this was pulled back and

forth to keep the wound open. The bone was broken in

several places and it was five months before the last piece

was removed.

This left me with no use in my hand and they sent me away

to Edinburgh to convalesce for a month. This was followed

by another operation to remove the scar and put a nerve all

the way up my arm so that I could use my hand again. This

took another 12 months but I had a nice time there.

As I could not go home the people of Scotland were very

good inviting me out to tea or on outings.

One day I went into Edinburgh with a Jock who had lost his

arm, my arm was in a sling. We had stopped the night and in

the morning 2 Redcaps wanted to see our passes and we had

none. They marched us up to Edinburgh Castle but when we

saw the officer he smiled and told us to catch the first bus

back.

After sick leave I was sent to Portsmouth and then on to

Dover where they tried to make a P.T Instructor out of me. I

had to go to Dover Castle every day but my hand was not

right so they discharged me as Not Fit for Service on the 10th

September 1918.

I had served 4 years and 16 days and they gave me a small

pension.

Footnote: Jim Cassidy (Michael James Cassidy) was my Great

Uncle Jim. He and Harry survived the war and returned to

live in the Nuneaton and Bedworth areas. They both married

had families and lived into their 80s.

Gill Foster

Nene Valley Chapter

American Independence Ride Autumn 2014

Nene Valley Chapter

Croatia 2014 – Marilyn Knight A Personal Challenge Autumn 2014

Friday 6th June

Well the thought of a 3000 mile journey on a bike had been

daunting me since Alan first suggested it when it was announced

back in August 2013, it’s not far he kept saying and to make matters

even more reassuring he bought me a new bike this year. Now I

must say at this point up until now the furthest I had travelled on a

bike in Europe on my own was to Hardilot last September. What

about my petrol tank I said it looks like it won’t go far on this, no

problem he said I have brought 2 bike spare fuel cans that’s 120 at

a push with these.

So the day has now arrived and off we go, Alan had decided that we

should stop at the Holiday Inn at the tunnel to make the 1st day in

Belgium a shorter ride to ease in to the journey, a quick stop for

fuel a Cobham services and before you know it we are at the hotel.

Not long after Mike S & Bron arrived so beers and wine were

ordered, Chris R is coming down tonight Mike said he thinks it

might rain tonight, don’t want no rain I thought to myself quietly.

Food was next on the discussion, the list of food choice was not too

good in the hotel so we decided to walk and see what we could

find. After going in to 2 pubs with a food sign outside that sold no

food we caught a cab to a pub guaranteed to sell food, in the bar by

now and 1st thing the landlady says no food tonight chef is ill, we

are in the middle of nowhere by now so it’s a few words with the

locals and off we set again on foot to another village this time food

was on the menu. Watered and feed we taxied back to the hotel

didn’t want to have a late one tonight by then Chris R was in the

bar, another drink/nightcap and off to bed.

Saturday 7th June

The mornings weather looking was a bit dull but looking good the

other side of the channel, it’s time to go to the train now; the

journey had started and reality set in, I think I was too nervous to

worry how many miles lay ahead of me.

The rain that came down whilst we were in the waiting area at the

tunnel had stopped it did make boarding a little difficult but once

we had parked up I knew I was on my way. Our 1st destination was

Brussels, now Mike had planned the stops to Alan’s route to work

with the 75 to 90 miles my bike would do before it ran out of fuel.

Oh boy did it get hot!!! 32c by the time we got in to the city, not

good timing through rush hour and stop start all the way to the

hotel. Alan’s shouting at me by now my bloody bikes playing up it’s

got too hot and is on 1 cylinder he kept saying, must say it didn’t

sound good even to me. Let’s just say we were all glad to reach the

hotel with its cool underground carpark, as there were plenty of

undesirables hanging around. Anyway the hotel was good and it

was also Mike & Bron’s 45th wedding anniversary, so after a few

celebratory drinks, good food (time for a Nene photo shoot) and

166 miles later of to bed as an early start the next day to Frankfurt

awaits us.

Sunday 8th June

Now it’s already hot as we set off but after the 1st fuel stop the skie

s are starting to cloud up, not what I had anticipated so we put on

our wet gear only to find a few miles down the road it cleared up so

at the next fuel stop off can the wet gear again. Off we set again

and yes you guessed it over it come blacker and blacker, then

thunder & lightning luckily Mike decided to pull in to a fuel stop so

we did not get too wet, just as we all got in to the service station

down it came all hells let loose so coffee was on the menu again.

Within 15 min’s it had gone over a bit of spray on the roads to

contend with but it soon started to change the suns out to play and

little did we all know it would be staying out for all the rest of our

journey there & back. 240 miles later and we have arrived in

Frankfurt. By now it’s glorious 33c + some good food at the local

Irish bar (no Fletcher

was not there at the

time & time again for

a Nene photo shoot) a

good mosey about

town then off to bed,

we all had decided

that it was much

better to travel early

to avoid the heat and

try and get to the next

hotel earlier.

Monday 9th June

7.30 am and we are off to our next stop Passau its already 24c what

a great way to start a day’s riding to our next leg of our journey,

breath taking views, fantastic roads & 34c. Mike’s fuel stop

planning is just right. I’m now longing to get to the hotel as this was

my longest ride so far 270 miles today. I’m feeling tired but still

happy for this experience! & pinching myself to see if it is not a

dream. My ignition light started to flicker on & off but the bike

seems to be running well. The ride in to Passau was along a long

flowing river that seems to go on for miles; we arrive at our hotel

and get the bike put away safely. Alan had certainly done his

homework on this all the parking so far was very good.

Alan picked up a local paper only to see that the week before some

of the town was under water with floods, not today you could feel

the heat coming off the roads. Passau is an old city and is a culture

& learning city with universities & cathedrals doted around. Hence

Ice cream parlours & bars everywhere not good for the diet. We

found a traditional Bavarian beer garden & restaurant where Mike

decided that the hog roast must be tried little did he know that he

could of fed all of us with it. A few beers on the terrace after and

early to bed.

Tuesday 10th June

Our journey today is to Maribor in Slovenia so good early start

(getting used to these now) in fact it is much better to get on your

way with less traffic at that time of the morning you settle in better

& gets you to your hotel quicker so you have more time to look

about. Travelling through Austria was fantastic I had to stop

pinching myself I am hundreds of miles from home and enjoying it,


Nene Valley Chapter

who would have thought that 2 years earlier I hadn’t, rode a bike

let alone travel abroad.

Some of the tunnels were very long up to 11 kilometres one after

the other these where a bit scary dark hot & dusty especially when

all it seemed was in them where lorries miles & miles of them.

Thanks to Mike’s bright rear light it was my life saver as I couldn’t

see a thing (yes my head light was on but no use to anybody).

Anyway we are making great time should be at our hotel in about

90 min’s one more long tunnel to go and a gentle ride through the

countryside, so through the toll 8 euros each, then suddenly the

pay assistant starts waving her arms & shouting. Well not speaking

the language didn’t help so we carried on 11 k’s later we found out

why, there had been a bad accident in the tunnel & after waiting

for what seemed ages in the heat and a few picturesque photo’s we

were told to turn

around. That caused a

few headaches so it was

back to good old maps

now that the sat nav

was doing its

confused.com bit by

now, in fact we ended

up doing another 60 k’s

more to the hotel.

This was a game in itself finding the hotel or should I say the road to

it, by now Alan had gone one way with his sat nav, Chris had chosen

a different way with his I followed Mike. Eventually we got there it

was right in the middle of a pedestrian area just like Villach; Alan

was already there and had arranged for the parking. Follow me he

said to us all who by now were tired and hot, where was he taking

us I thought opening a gate then opening an electric door what’s

this, it’s a great big lift

I decide so we are

now going down to

what can only be said

was a great big

underground car park

with nobody using it

except us. Mike

noticed that the bays

where set out in

countries so where

did we park you got it

in England only trouble was it was right at the opposite end to the

entrance so when we had unpacked and starting to walk to the lift

the lights went out leaving us all in total darkness with not one of

us having a torch.

Fun and games over & after a quick shower time to chill out in the

market square beers flowing, Bron & myself decided to leave the

boys we would go shopping well why not girls? Cobbled streets

quaint shops & loads of ice cream parlours.

A quick change then out for some food so many to choose from so

we just took the plunge. We are escorted through an empty

restaurant only to find a very big terrace area, after some hesitation

we all ordered and did we make a good choice great food wine &

beer and very cheap (time for the Nene flag photo shoot). Well it’s

up early tomorrow as it’s off to Biograd in the morning.

Wednesday 11th June

Bikes up out the garage and packed it’s already 26c at 7am, we set

off nice & steady looking at the fantastic landscape and views from

long winding roads (if you have not travelled in Slovenia then you

must do so) it’s now midday & 32c time for a little detour to a

group of 10 lakes & waterfalls that are listed as a world heritage

site. This place is buzzing, however, we found a place to park thanks

to Chris R who had popped their before on one of his short ride

outs 3 years ago. Watered & fed it was then onwards & upwards as

they say! Starting to feel tired now with the riding and heat &

ready to stop, no such luck, some stupid council had decided to dig

up the entire road at once for over 5 K’s. All we could do was to

hang on tight and ride through lorries, dust, ditches & large stones

(might be ok on a moped but not on a Harley) poor boy’s had a hell

of a job with those big bikes and all the luggage to contend with, I

think we were all considering getting off & walking. At the next

service station we all just looked at each other in amazement as to

what we had just ridden through. Mike S said this is the last stop

before we get to Croatia I’m very tired by now but excited to think

I’m nearly there & 4 nights of bliss no more early starts no more

riding (well short distances will be ok). Off we set Wow! Going

down on a final leg to Biograd I slow down because the views were

so beautiful & amazing, long winding & flowing new roads with the

sea starting to appear on the horizon.

The bridges had information signs on them and the more we swept

down the valleys the more they went up 33c then 34c the 35.5c my

face is starting to feel the wonderful warm breezes that is now

rushing past me, a memory that will stay with me for ever.

All this heat was giving me more & more confidence & I was ready

for a race up the road with Mike S. I’m up to 95ish (that’s scary

enough for me 1st time over 80) anyway Mike was only teasing me

as he then opened his up and sailed by me. Alan by now is trailing

behind & must have felt left out as before you knew it he comes

zapping by the both of us. Ha! Ha! I thought I bet he hasn’t seen the

turning off this motorway I thought, no such luck his sat nav was

working too good for that.

The remaining miles seemed easy with the end was in sight, a few

left & right turns & we have arrived at our accommodation, 1st

impressions from the outside were good, bar/restaurant next door

& I’m not saying the sea was close but the beach was 5 metres

across the road from our drive. We parked up which was secure

under our windows, we each had our own apartments Chris was

overlooking the sea and to his surprise had a huge 5ft teddy in his

room waiting for him, good really as sadly Julie could not join us for

this trip. Bliss I thought just bliss, better nip 3 doors along to the

local supermarket cash and only Kuna’s taken in here, soon the

essentials are being bought (& drunk) beer, wine, & lemonade oh!

& some snacks for later. We decided to eat in the restaurant next


Nene Valley Chapter

door so after being fed & watered we went for a gentle stroll

through this end of the beach just to get our bearings for tomorrow

not too much done tonight as we were all feeling the results of

riding in the heat for the last 4 days.

Thursday 12th June

We all seemed to be up with the larks this morning Alan had gone

& got some fresh bread & croissants for breakfast which we

decided to have on Chris’s patio as it overlooked to sea. But 1st

things 1st the boys had all looked at their bikes & even though they

were fairly clean decided to wash & sparkle them up, not wanting

to get my nails damaged Alan had 2 to clean (well if he wants me to

ride with him he has to clean it).

Because of Alan’s bike playing up in the heat & my ignition light

coming on Mike advised us that once we got to the site we should

to go straight to the technical department & book the bikes in as

there would be a queue. After a gentle ride in and asking directions

to the Tec tent who was the 1st person I saw on the gate it was

Moggy from the Bridgwater chapter who when asked what was she

doing replied just a bit of gate duty for 4 days, rather her than me

in all that heat. We got the bikes booked in for the next day as we

did not want to sit around on our 1st day in Croatia & after being

told we would have to leave them with them for most of the day

we thought why not go and book a Rushmore test ride for then,

that would that some of the frustrations away. We decided to book

an ultralimited (whatever that is) for the ride.

All this now done it was time to catch up with the others and get

down to business find a bar & order drinks. Now I have to say we

were all surprised as to just how cheap food & drink was here 20

Kuna’s seemed to be the cost of most things about £2. As with most

places in Croatia they only want to take local cash or cards so we

found a cash point to get some local Wonga, Mike got some 1st

then Alan then I went to get some only not to be able to get my

card out so here we are on our 1st day & my card is swallowed up

by the ATM. After a few calls the card is made safe but still

annoying all the same good job Alan has money to spend on me.

The rest of the day went quite quickly so it was time to get back to

our apartments and decide what we were doing & how we were

going to get there. The owner was really helpful & arranged for a

cab to take us to the rally site and more importantly bring us back

later as the last thing we wanted to do was ride.

The rally site was about 5Km from our apartments which was far

enough for peace and quiet (most of the time but near enough to

get to) all along the costal route were local bars & restaurants that

had joined in the atmosphere and many had music playing outside

them. The taxi dropped us off at one end of the site and we started

to mosey around, as food was on most minds we took the plunge to

eat 1st, this turned out to be a good decision as this lovely fish

restaurant soon filled up with many being turned away. After

inspecting trays of very fresh large fish we went for 2 sea bass & 1

sea bream with lots of vegetables, well what a good choice the fish

was excellent and cooked to perfection. As I said earlier the place

had filled very quickly and the ambience was getting more & more

joyful & louder, Alan was getting itchy about a photo shoot so when

he saw a large group of Polish guy’s & girls lining up for a photo he

decided to gate crash them with the club flag in full view. It’s a

good thing that they were all friendly and helped hold the flag up

high to get it in their photo.

More liquid followed but the heat of the day had caught up with us

(yes we are all 60 or over) so it was back to pick up the taxi, we did

not have to wait too long when he arrived so after some more

broken English v Croatian dialog we are back at the apartments

again another excuse for a quick drink then that’s it for the night as

we had an early start in the morning.

Friday 13th June

After a quick breakfast Alan & myself were off in to Biograd to the

Tec camp as we had cut it fine as it opened at 9.00am & we had a

test ride booked for 9.30 & had to get there and do all the

remaining paperwork/briefing etc. before we could go out.

The guys had said that they had taken a complete switch harness

off of one of the display bikes so they could be sure to fix my bike

Alan’s was not so easy as he did not have his tuner with him in fact

he didn’t have one at all it transpires that Oxford had kept it.

A quick dash around the harbour to the bike demo’s , just in time to

pick up a very nice lightweight pair of coats for the ride, a quick

briefing where we were told that the Rushmore ride out was for

1.30 min’s with a drinks stop half way. This made Alan a bit more

cheerful, after being told which was our bike we all got ready with

to my surprise, it was all girls doing the ride out for Harley.

Now I’m not saying I liked the bike but I know it would be so easy to

go to sleep whilst being ridden about on one of these. We were

taken on a very nice route up into the mountains with great views

all around where we stopped at a road side restaurant that once

inside we found that they were famous for cooking lamb & they

just happen to have 3 cooking by the bar.

Time to go they said oh well ride out over, out to the bikes only to

find that one of our friendly HOG coriders decided that they should

own my new biker sun glass’s I had only just brought at the Warrs

open day the week before. Well as you probably know Alan is not

for taking any prisoners when it concerns our property so he made

it very clear to both

the fellow riders &

the HOG girls that

there was a thief

amongst our

present as there

was nobody else at

the restaurant.

Back to the rally site

now I’m really peed

off with the thought

of losing the only

pair of glass’s that fitted so well they never felt uncomfortable the

entire ride down. A bit more moaning & complaining to no avail &

£120 worse off & it was time to go and see what they had done to


Nene Valley Chapter

the bikes. We were told that they had fixed my bike but had to

completely change the switch & wiring to do it, Alan’s was not so

lucky they needed to talk to Oxford to see what they had done to it

when they changed the exhausts only to be told that they needed

the little red box we should have been given. As we did not have it

they decided to change the oil & filter because the engine had got

so hot and arranged for us to take it in once we got back (if we get

back with it). Mike Chris & Bron went out in the afternoon on the

same ride whilst we relaxed across the road from our apartment on

the beach, that night we decided to stay local and eat which we did

and enjoyed a stroll down the coast and stopped off at a few bars.

Saturday 14th June

Well it’s our last full day in Biograd for Alan Chris & myself as Mike

& Bron where going traveling on the Monday lucky nice people I

thought to myself, we went down to the site again for another look

around and all the usual stuff then it was time to go back & pack

before we went out to eat. A local was a band playing just up the

road so we again stayed close to where we were, Alan decided

another flag shoot was needed but this time he wanted to pin it up

on the front of the stage to the group’s amazement when they

were setting up. After nearly destroying the sound system a photo

was taken with

another with

all of us

around a palm

tree for good

measure. Not

much more

done and an

early night

after a few

good by drinks

on Chris’s

balcony.

Sunday 15th June

After a bit of a restless night thinking about traveling home on our

own as Chris had decided to go home in 2/3 days as he had work to

go back to. We had a different hotel in Maribor to get to and we

had also changed the Frankfurt one and the Belgium one to help

Alan’s bike from overheating when getting in to heavy traffic.

6.00am & we are ready to go, the 1st few miles were great but this

soon changed as we climbed up the pass into the mountains, Chris

had started to pull away even though it had started to get bad. Alan

said lets slow down we are not risking the weather as we had

plenty of time to get there, well it got stronger & stronger & Alan

who was carrying all the luggage started to drop back.

The next thing was all the signs changed to a 25 kph speed limit by

now it was almost impossible to hold the bikes up Alan was blown

into the wall of a bridge at only 5kph, everybody else was in trouble

with another biker hitting a bollard. After about what seemed ages

there was a tunnel in site as we got there it said 11km long, what a

relief to get out of it praying that it would be alright once we got

through it was going on in my mind & even more so for Alan, the

light started to shine as we came to the end of it & was it or was it

not any better as we come out what a relief to us as it was almost

gone. We pulled in to the next garage to take a breath & take 5

mins break only to be discussing all the other bikers problems they

had had as well it did not matter about language barriers the

expressions told it all.

On our way again & we are soon in Slovenia, what a great country if

you have never toured or stayed here then please look it up as if is

so beautiful & very cheap. The long sweeping roads now are making

the journey so rewarding. A few stops later & we are at our revised

hotel in Maribor, oh my god I thought to myself as Alan turned in to

what I can only describe as a very luxurious hotel. As we stopped a

little man in a green & gold uniform came up to us with his brass

trolley asking if he could help take the luggage for us, we just

looked at each other & smiled as we said yes indeed. Alan then

asked him if he would be valet parking the bikes when he had an

instant startled look on his face & said very quickly oh no sir I will

take you to a private secure parking. He then took off at a running

pace leading us to the parking

area that they had cordoned

off for VIP’s well we are

riding Harleys I thought. Soon

we had sorted ourselves out

and it was time for a look

about. 1st stop was the ski

car up the slopes to enjoy the

views. We were joined on the

ride up by what I can only

describe as idiots who were all padded up and had their mountain

bikes with them, what were they going to do I thought surly not

going down the ski slope it was far too steep and straight. Well we

soon got to see what was happing as we could see from our car

that there was a crisscrossing track that was like a mad man’s route

down the mountain which they were all using. Now I know that

there are some things that you need to do in your life but to

shorten your life on a push bike is not one of them that stands out

to me.

Soon it was time to wash change & down to the restaurant where

we were handed a free glass of champagne, not wanting to retire

too early we went for a stroll only to find the same 2 policemen in

the bar we had seen in the afternoon (must have been undercover

doing some police work). Another big day lay ahead so off to bed

ready for another early start.

Monday 16th June

Our next stop was Passau the only stop we had done on the way

down. 216 miles today it was a good ride 3 fuel stops with some

magnificent scenery along the way through Austria & Italy. We

arrived early which gave us a chance to have a good wander around

this quaint town which has a few universities amongst its

architecture. Well we could not have picked the wrong place to stay

if you don’t like football like us. Germany were playing their 1st

world cup game and the local brewery & to be honest every shop

was involved what made it even more rowdy when they won the


Nene Valley Chapter

whole town went mad & the local police just watched thousands of

them running mad everywhere you would of thought that they

had won the world cup then. It was another early night as we were

going to Frankfurt in the morning Alan had changed the hotel so no

riding in to long traffic queues.

Tuesday 17th June

After an early start and about 75 miles we stopped for fuel this was

when I thought I could smell cake or bread and as usual the smell of

rubber (strange I thought) no factories around here I said to myself.

But on we rode to the next fuel stop we filled up & as Alan came

back to the bike from paying, his usual job, I stood up off the saddle

only to find that my key fob had come out of my pocket as I pulled

it out err ouch!!! The fob had completely melted on the exhaust, at

that moment had seen it well you can imagine the rest he went

ballistic. How the hell are we going to get this bloody bike home he

kept shouting we are 800 miles from home & no bloody fob?

As luck would have it & for reasons I still can’t work out after a few

minutes of it saying enter pin it worked we could not start the bike

quick enough. What would we do if we try & fill the bike up at the

next station without turning it off or do we take a chance. As you

can imagine the ride to the next fuel stop was to say none eventful

no talking no anything just riding. We rode on regardless to

Frankfurt where we found our new hotel it was on the edge of

town and once we parked up got ready and went as usual for a

walk around we found a fantastic Argentinian restaurant that was

just starting to fill up. We ordered & within minutes it was

completely full outside even on a midweek evening. After a great

meal & a good walk to let the food go down it was back for yet

another early night as we were both exhausted & with all the days

coming & goings as well & heading to Ghent for our final overnight

stop in the morning.

Wednesday 18th June

No breakfast this morning we just wanted to get the bikes nearer to

home with the doubt of mine not starting, luck was still with us & it

fired up straight away, we had 290 miles today to Ghent, the

weather was still hot which made the journey so much better, the

scenery started to change as we got closer to the west of Europe

which was a great contrast to what we had ridden through. For

some reason the miles just flew by & before I realised we saw the

signs for Ghent, the hotel was one Alan had stopped off at on his

way back from Faker an See last year & was only a few hundred

yards off the autobahn. We parked up & got changed quickly, this

was when Alan said I can’t take it any longer let’s go the dealership

we went to in February. OK I said, off we went it was only about 8k

from the hotel. Once there Alan gave it all the old sob story & the

guy just said give me your fob I will programme a new one for you.

A few coffees & chatting to some Belgium guys it was done.

Another 100 euros Alan had to pay out but well worth the price of

security that it would start. It was now time to eat again not

wanting to sit in the hotel as the restaurant was being refurbished

we decide to go for a walk and then came across a good old

Campanile hotel, let’s go in there Alan said the food will be nice and

cheap . Cheap I said just because it’s the last night I don’t do cheap I

replied anyway Alan was as usual persistent & in we go only to find

it wasn’t that bad on the menu. Soon we had eaten & time to go

and get ready for our final ride of this trip home, I had by now

mixed emotions but being very tired I was soon drifting away to

sleep trying to write my diary up & realising I had done 2555 miles

in 9 days to date.

Thursday 19th June

Breakfast in the hotel & before we knew it, it was time to get on

that bike again but this time heading home. As in western Europe

the roads are just boring and full of lorries going to the ports, only

120 ks to go & not much to report here and soon we were at the

tunnel. We had booked the 12.00 pm train but Alan decides we

would just push to get on the 10.40 which we did. On the train we

meet some Canadians who had been over in Europe for a month &

where heading to do all of England before flying their bike back to

Canada. I also got talking to some guys who had ridden some little

Vespa scooters down to Italy for a Vespa rally no sat nav no

nothing, better them than me I thought.

Soon off the train & that dreaded journey when you realise that

every road in Europe is better that that bloody big car park that

welcomes you in to England. We did have I must say quite a good

run home. Soon the signs for junction 9 M40 where approaching I

was getting quite emotional by now a few twists & turns & I’m on

our drive. I quickly kicked the side stand out and got off, as I did I

jumped for joy yes I did it!!!. My 1st long journey I had done it.

Never in all my life would I have believed that I would want to learn

to ride a motorbike let alone to take upon myself a long journey,

2881 miles in 10 days not bad for a learner.

So everyone who is contemplating learning to ride it goes to prove

if you really believe in yourself & have a very patient partner,

boyfriend or husband nothing is impossible.

We have by now been to Wales & Thunder in the Glens & still have

Jersey & Hardilot to do before our final ride out from Dubai to the

Abu Dhabi rally in November. Then it’s bike away and planning our

months trip to the USA, oh! this is after we have ridden to the

south of France in between & I’m sure a few other places.

Life is too short so go out there & have fun I did & I don’t regret a

thing

Marilyn Knight

Nene Valley Chapter

A Weekend in Wales (The Solstice Ride) Autumn 2014

Well, I hadn't planned to go to Wales for the weekend. When Chris told me that Jacqui was looking for someone to share a room with, I thought 'ok, why not'. I'm glad that I went.... Saturday morning started off a bit damp and drizzly, 'hmm, what to wear?' I don't like really like wearing waterproofs and was pleased when it started to dry up. Sorted! Kevlar jeans ....waterproofs if I need them when I got to Jacks Hill Cafe. 9.00 a.m. off we go. Chris leading and Mikey and Groundhog tailing. We had an uneventful journey until we got to Monmouth. What a nightmare! There were roadworks at the bottom of the hill (couldn't really see what they were doing looked like nothing). But it caused absolute havoc! We had to filter through the traffic for about 12 miles. My pipes run right by my right calf....it was burning! I was riding along saying 'ouch, ouch, ouch' to myself. Trying to get away from the pipe. (As far as I could anyway. I'm sure I wasn't the only one). I must say that the traffic for the most part was very good, moving over to let us get by. Even managed to have a chat with a few drivers as we went passed. Finally got to the end of the problem, with us all heaving a sign of relief. Stopped for lunch at a Biker Cafe called The Iron Horse Cafe. Busy place. Parked nose down in the only free spot available, so had to get a couple of the guys to pull me out when we left. The other bikers who were there, were very friendly. Got chatting to a lovely lady who was on her very first bike. A scruffy little Chinese 125. Her pride and joy. The weather stayed dry all the way and the scenery was stunning English/Welsh Countryside at it's best. Arrived at 'The Big Pit'. We parked the bikes and wandered down to the entrance, through the door, into the room where the lift was to take us down to the pit face. We were kitted out with miner’s helmets, complete with a belt and a very heavy battery. The guides, who are volunteers, were a great laugh. Messing around and being cheeky. They very kindly took some photo's of us and then relieved us of our watches, camera's, mobile phone's, lighter's and matches. They all went into a bag and were locked up whilst we were down the pit. This is because of the risk of explosion, due to the Methane gas that accumulates in the mine. (The mines are checked twice a day and if gas is found the 'airlock' doors are opened to let the gas out). We were separated into two groups to go down in the lifts, women in one and men in the other. Our guide for the tour was an exminer called Sean. Once we were all down, he told us about the pit and mining in general. The main killer in the mine is not explosions or caveins, but the Methane gas. Just as he was saying this, one of the male members of our group let out a gigantic fart! We all fell about laughing. 'Where are the gas masks'? Sorry, it was a long time before a mask was invented that lasted for more than an hour. Most miners did not bother to use them. Preferring to die quickly. (we wished we could) In one mine over

450 men lost their lives after a cavein. Children as young as six worked underground, in charge of opening and closing the doors to let the miners and pit ponies through. This eventually made them go blind. Up to 72 ponies were in the mine, and once they were down there, they never came back up. They only lasted about 5 years. (most ponies live to be about 20 years old). When they died they were buried in the mine. Sean told us about the ghost of a small boy is often seen in the mine. He was kicked to death by one of the ponies. The mine owner paid the miners with 'chitties' (small metal disks). These were used to pay for the rent for their houses, food and clothes, all bought from the mine owner. Miners tended to have very large families. This was because if the father died, then the children took over his job. Otherwise the family would lose their home. After leaving the pit we headed for the Hotel. I thought we had arrived in Switzerland. The hotel was surrounded by mountains and trees. Beautiful. We locked the bikes and after taking our luggage to our rooms, we hit the bar! Free coffee and soft drinks after the first one. That made me a 'cheap date' for the weekend. Lol. The evening meal was good, although we did make it hard work for the staff trying to serve us. Too many of us and very loud. Some of the meals got mixed up and a few were served late. But we got there in the end. All part of the fun of being in a big group. After eating, some of the guys decided that sing song was in order. Boy! do they know some dirty rugby songs! Great fun.....and a late night. After breakfast we packed our bikes and left the hotel. As we wound our way through some beautiful countryside, we came around a bend and into view came a lovely old building..... Tintern Abbey. Semiderelict, with skeletal arches reaching into the sky. It would be nice to stop there one day for a picnic and a look around. The next bend took us to our 'coffee stop'. A cafe in a courtyard, with a working water mill, a pond, old farm machinery, quaint shops, a river with a bridge over it. A great place for photo's and a cream tea. It certainly 'ticked' all of my boxes. Our next stop was for lunch at The Severn Bore Pub. This is on the banks of the River Severn, where the surfers ride the bore waves. I have never had

such a big meal! 'Would I like a second plate just to put the veg on? Phew! won't one plate be big enough'? We all managed to eat most of it. The river itself looks like it wouldn't be out of place in Africa. Wide, Dark and fast flowing, with bits of trees being carried along in the current. You could almost imagine a crocodile sliding into the water from the opposite bank.

Finally, after a very full weekend we headed for home, stopping at a garage near Oxford, for a final hug and to say goodbye. Then off on our separate ways. Thanks to Jacqui, Chris & The Tail Gunners for a fantastic weekend. ......I'm glad that I went. Rickie Anne

Date Event Location Information

September 2014

Sun 7th

Chilli Ride Waddesdon Manor ‘The Ambassador’ Leading

Wed 10th

Club Night Towcester Rugby Club From 7.30pm

12th‐14th Sept Circus Maximus Rally Chester Check out Deva Legion H.O.G Chapter website for details

Sat 13th

Disco Boat Ride River Thames TBC ‘Bob the Bus’ Leading – Details to follow

Sun 21st Ring of Fire Ride Indian Cottage Restaurant ‘The Ambassador’ Leading

Thurs 25th

Harley Davidson Night Ace Café London Check website for confirmation and details

Sun 28th

Food Stop Café Ride Bridgenorth ‘Groundhog’ leading – Details to follow

October 2014

Sat 4th

RTTW 7 and The Return National Memorial Arboretum ‘Mikey/Slow Hand’ – Details to follow

Wed 8th


Sun 12th

Brightona Brighton ‘Bob the Bus’ Leading – Details to follow

Sun 19th

Hoggin the Bridge TBD

Thurs 25th

Harley Davidson Night Ace Café London Check website for confirmation and details

November 2014

Sat 1st Halloween Ride (Provisional) Forest of Dean ‘Groundhog’ leading – Details to follow

Wed 12th


Sun 9th

Remembrance & Baps Bletchley ‘The Ambassador’ Leading – Details to follow

December 2014

Wed 10th


Disclaimer: The Editor accepts no responsibility for the views and comments expressed in this publication. All views and comments contained are those of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Nene Valley H.O.G®, Harley Davidson®, their agents, or authorised dealers. All H.O.G.® Logos and marks are used under licence

in accordance with article X of the current H.O.G.® Annual Charter for H.O.G.® Chapters.

news autumn 2014

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