Daves Blog

OK, now don’t feint or fall over… yes, it’s amazing…

Amazing I’m posting again and so many amazing things to report. Firstly, thank you for the messages of well being, I’m fine. I was pretty ill over Christmas and the new year but I’m fully recovered now and back in the saddle - literally.

Something very odd happened this winter. Last winter you couldn’t keep me off the bikes but for some reason I just haven’t been interested through this last one. I think it was November we went on a rideout, I parked the bike in the garage and apart from cleaning it, didn’t give it another thought until earlier this month. Well, it’s not true I didn’t think about them, but I had no desire at all to get on ride either one. That all changed earlier this month with the appearance of sunshine, and despite low temperatures I couldn’t be happier to be back riding again.

Of course we’ve continued to meet with Mermaid Bikers, now at the Oliver Cromwell every Wednesday evening, but until a couple of weeks ago it was more like Mermaid Drivers. The official bike nights are starting at the OC on Wednesday 31st March, just after the clocks change to give us longer evenings. If your local and free, please do turn up and help make it a success as well as meet a great bunch of people.

Last Saturday we went to George Whites looking for a new pair of boots for me - I have wide feet and find most ‘normal’ boots quite uncomfortable. Anyway, we didn’t find any suitable because of course they cater for ‘normal’ people. We did though come away having put down a deposit on a new bike… Yes, I know, amazing lol. It’s for Meike although I suspect I wouldn’t be unhappy to ride it. It seems having given it lots of thought she does still want to ride but was deeply unimpressed with the Ninja 250. I have to say it is somewhat gutless and so she’s finally agreed with me to have something bigger… A new Yamaha XJ6S ‘Diversion’ in red.

I have to say I think they’re a very smart looking bike and size wise it seems more than OK for her. We’re supposed to be collecting it this Saturday but at the moment I’m still waiting for the insurance paperwork to come through so not sure we’ll be ready in time.

If the bike is as a good as the test reports suggest and goes well enough then there’s every possibility that later this year I’ll get rid of the bandit and just keep this and the K1200S in the garage. I’ll know that a lot better after riding it of course.

Last Sunday we attended the Afghan Heroes ride through Wootton Bassett. If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you must have been asleep because it’s been covered widely by the press including the national news on the TV. It was truly an amazing event to take part in with so many other motorcyclists. Everyone met up before the ride at Hullavington air field and I have to say I’ve never seen so many motorcycles in one place. News reports suggest there was anything between 10 to 22 thousand bikes and so I think 15 would be about right.

Here’s the view behind us while we waiting for the off…

You can see the bikes in the distance (horizon, to the left) still queuing to get in.

Here’s the view in front of us…

Truly amazing! We left the ride in waves of 500 bikes and to be honest following press reports the week before about how we weren’t welcome, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Well, as usual, the press couldn’t have been more wrong. People turned out in their thousands to wave, clap and cheer us on our way. The crowd in Wootton Bassett high street was just incredible. With everyone taking part having paid at least a fiver to do so, the charity is expected to make well over £100,000.00 which is just brilliant.

I think the most moving thing I saw was an old lady sitting outside a home on the way there, wrapped in a blanket to keep her warm and waving her union jack and all with a big smile on her face. It made me realise that the people actually did recognise what we were doing and appreciated it.

Truly amazing.