Eight riders and one support person in a car assembled at GH-D shortly after 9.00am. Ride leader Czes Wicherek briefed the group on the route to be taken and to expect a long day in the saddle. Shortly after 10.00am, the group set off. The route chosen was intended to be a leisurely one avoiding major roads such as the M25 as far as possible. Unfortunately, what was not factored in to the planning was the Regatta taking place in Henley and the disruption caused by traffic associated with the British Grand prix!

There was the threat of wet weather as we set off from GH-D, well it wouldn’t be a camping weekend without a little precipitation! We experienced a couple of showers as lunchtime approached but fortunately, the rain held off and we had a lovely lunch at The Pig Place near Banbury. The traffic delays meant that we were over an hour behind schedule as we left on the second leg of our journey, a comfort break at Sycamore H-D, and arrived at our final destination still over an hour later than planned.

This meant we had to erect our tents in double quick time as the taxi to take us to our venue for the evening was already waiting for us. Eventually with tents erected, and for the most part, Hawaiian shirts on, we proceeded to the Leagate Inn for dinner. We were joined for dinner by long time Chapter members Bill and Marion Morris who live in that part of the world. The staff looked after us very well (again) with the chef rising to the challenge set by one of our party rustling up a Christmas pudding!

Fed and watered, it was soon time to return to the camp site, check that the bar in the actual pub part of the camp site was operational, start the camp fire going and chat around it until the early hours of the morning … which we succeeded in doing.

The next morning, we were able to appreciate more of the campsite with the facilities being regarded as an improvement on previous years especially with the showers not requiring any money to use! Attached to the Red Lion pub, it also had a bar which was useful for members of the troupe who were prone to feeling thirsty.

The pub does not offer breakfast or lunch, but the campsite is situated next door to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Breakfast / brunch was merely a short walk from the campsite to the NAAFI which is part of the museum. Once we had eaten, we then spent the next couple of hours wandering around the museum and were treated to a demonstration of a Lancaster bomber taxing up and down the runway with all four of its engines running.

The plan was then to jump on our bikes and ride to Miami Beach to find an ice cream for Liz Getgood but unfortunately the weather intervened. To placate Liz, I bought her an ice cream in the museum. One potential catastrophe averted, there was the issue of what to do now that it was too wet to ride.

It was obvious to our ride leader, that we would have to visit to another Red Lion to check on the facilities therein. Spotting a separate room off the main bar, we camped there for the afternoon. Soon we were all playing pool with Pete Branson winning the ‘Winner stays on’ trophy before we switched out attention to playing darts. Exhausted by all this sporting activity, we eventually retired to our own Red Lion, but not before a raiding party went and got some wood for the camp fire.

Dinner on Saturday Night was in the Red Lion (the one attached to the camp site) another friendly venue with attentive staff. Possibly the most notable event of the meal was Mike Terry thinking he could eat the Dam Busters mega 52oz mixed grill (comprising of a chicken breast, 10oz Rump steak, 10oz sirloin steak, pork chop, 12oz Gammon and 3 lincs sausages- served with 4 onion rings, chips, side salad, grilled tomato, mushrooms and peas). Needless to say, he didn’t succeed!

We retired to sit around the camp fire for more beers under the stars though not quite such a late evening as the night before and woke up to a lovely day on Sunday. This meant we could pack away our tents and get ready to make the journey home without having to worry about the weather … though rain was promised early afternoon.

We travelled back as a group stopping off just before Peterborough for brunch / lunch before heading home. A fun chilled weekend with a lot of riding down roads less well travelled; lots of examples of good hospitality, and lovely company. Oh and the beer was good as well. Thanks to all who came along, a mention to Nina Westley providing logistical support and special thanks to my Road Crew Alasdair Denton-Miller and Liz who supported me very well again this year.

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