Well who doesn’t like a road trip, I thought back in January,so I put it out there to our lady members if anyone would be interested….where could we go??? Last year I wanted to go to the World’s largest all Female Biker meet in July up past Wolverhampton at Lynn’s Raven Café but it was a long way to do in a day and I got round to it too late to book something, so I thought that would be perfect for our trip. Pauline Smith and Liz Hatchett came back and said yes they would be up for that, great a plan was forming. We were going to head up to the NMA on the Saturday( National Memorial Arboretum,I’ve been to the RTTW 3 times but never seen all the memorials and thought a great place to visit while we are up there) then stay in Market Drayton which is just a few miles from Lynn’s café for the meet, so no early rising on a Sunday morning.
After booking the hotel in February and planning the route in June we were all set, we were going to meet at Sutton Scotney on the A34 at 9am on the 28th July. we had been having a heat wave and for the last 7 weeks had had no rain…I thought boy we are going to cook… I couldn’t believe it when I woke up of all the days to decide to fill up my water butts.. It did ease up and after meeting up we headed off for our first stop at Warwick services, what a windy ride and hanging on we were glad of the stop for coffee as dark clouds were following us.. after a group chat we decided just to head to the hotel, route rejigged and off we went. we did have to stop to put our wets on but it wasn’t too bad. Got to the hotel,checked in, bags dumbed went to fill up for fuel ready for the morning. then back to the hotel for a well earned glass of bubbles which I had packed and was still cold after riding over 230 miles in high winds I think we deserved it The heavens then opened,, well timed I thought. A good meal had and an early night.
In the morning the weather was awful, such a shame with all the planning the ladies had done for the big meet,, another type of bike was on display(not naming the make :)) ) which you could have taken for a demo, not sure anyone took them up on that, several motorbike clothing stalls, and a few all lady biker clubs were there.
We waited as long as we could to pack up our bikes so left at around 10am, glad only 14miles(a very wet 14 miles) to go.
Well done to the 443 ladies that did turn up and we are very proud that we were part of that, our numbers were 122,123&124. No records broken as 1132 last year but every one had smiles. We left around 12pm as along way to go home and 6 1/2 hours later in appalling weather we were home.. over 480 miles done. well ladies if we can ride in that I think we can ride in anything, well done for following me and still having smiles on your faces even though you were very damp. Who’s up for next year?
