2017 The Big Meet

[Hogan]

Sadly I don't think she'll ever recover. She's still blushing and having nightmares. Do you think you would recognise her again?

Didn't get a look at her face!!

[bth2bth2]

sorry we didnt stay with you sat night. the consensus was its too bloody far from the pub.after 10 days of camping next to pubs ,it was something we had got used to. we did try the hostel at bridges but had been block booked by a hen party.after a short discussion they had no problem with us camping but unfortunatly the battleaxe of a warden wasnt havin it. we ended up in bishops castle on the quietest saturday night ive ever known ,it was dead.
it was good to see some old faces again and some new. sorry i missed you rus.

brian

[rustybike]

You missed a great one Brian.
Sorry I didn't get chance to see you. Hope the trip went well.

[gronk]

Had a great time yet again!
A big thank you to everyone who participated in my enjoyment.

[rustybike]

How cool
[url=http://s1107.%20.com/user/rustybike21/media/.facebook_1493064329516_2.jpg.html][/url]
Nuff said

[Bunker]

Cant agree more, one of the best meets for years, such excellent companionship, weather and countryside.
Ive said my thanks but Russ and Chisler, Alan, Alex you made the event work so smoothly. Im embarrassed I didnt hang around too long but a long ride back to kids eagerly awaiting to celebrate my birthday made me leg it a touch prematurely.

Terriffic event. I thoroughly enjoyed Cosford but the lanes sound like a good reason to hold it there again.

Thanks all.

[hounddog]

A brilliant weekend , really good to see everyone , lots of laughter and banter . thoroughly enjoyed it . A great team effort making it all happen thanks to all who helped out and supported the event .

Spoke to the site owner on Sunday , he was pleased we had a good weekend, we didnt cause any problems and he says we will be most welcome to come back there - I got a lot of good feedback that this site would be worth coming to again , and more lanes to explore

here are a few photos of mine

cooking up the punch

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chilling by the inferno

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up the long mynd , searching for phone signal . (after falling off in the petrol garage whilst stationary earlier in the day , went for a ride somewhere safer :)

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our camp from above

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just before Alex nearly wiped out a family of sheep

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museum exhibit

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you pay per parking bay at Cosford

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[Chisler]

Thanks to one and all for a fantastic weekend, really enjoyed seeing you all, one to remember.
Jonathan

[rustybike]

The Big Meet 2017, 21-23 April Shropshire

After initial club meetings as part of shows in Uttoxeter then Stafford, the last couple of years have been different This year Rustybike and Gronk found a new picturesque location in Shropshire with a few different daytime activities to try. It’s always stressful organising such things but to borrow the title of the 1983 play by Denise Deegan … Daisy Pulls It Off.. They certainly did

Here are Russ’ ‘addled memories’ of the weekend...

I arrived on Thursday 1100 hours, closely followed by Jonathan (Chisler) and Clubman of the year Gary (Minter). We unloaded the club trailer and got the marque up and had a beer or two. Then Appyarry arrived followed by Bernhard and a few drinks more, the site was ready
That evening we all went into the other (family) field to sit around the campfire with SWIMBO for a few drinks and a laugh. At some point during the evening one of our early arrivals collapsed. Not sure who it was (me) but he was very comfortable lying in the grass for 30 mins or so. This journey and exertion of tent pitching had taken its toll

Friday morning Jonathan and I went over to see SWIMBO for a bacon buttie when Ian (Hounddog) pulled up and somehow managed to con a bacon buttie and a brew. Back in the rally field riders were arriving in the usual dribs and drabs, until suddenly there were a lot of people putting up tents and drinking. No-one arrived on an AA/RAC van - a first ? Bunker rode his bike to an event (Bloody Hell)
The Big Meet had finally started.

Whilst everyone was arriving there was still lots to be sorted, Jonathan and Bernhard went to get the chilli that Lynne (Mrs Chisler) had made for us, - it was brilliant. Ian and I had to think about feeding the masses, but we had no idea how many eggs, packets of bacon, sausages we needed. so we went shopping in Church Stretton. We got there and didn't have a clue what to do for tea on Saturday. Picture this, two idiots walking around the CO OP trying to come up with a menu to feed 27 people- if only Drifter were here. STEW, it's easy, you only need one pan and it feeds thousands. Somehow we got enough to feed everyone. A convivial evening was spent with members sitting around the campfire enjoying some good banter and lots of laughter.

Saturday arrived with a few nursing mild hangovers. The cooks got stuck in and soon everyone was fed and watered. Bikes were made ready and eventually groups formed for the day’s activities. Geoff Barnett took a group to explore the local green lanes at warp-speed https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TBnb5JOtl ... e=youtu.be
Their highlight was coming up behind a poor lady who had been caught short in what she thought was a remote location

Gary fettled a few bikes at the campsite. Madsu and a couple of the lads went rock climbing and sightseeing

Meanwhile I somehow ended up leading the ride to RAF Cosford, I did warn them I have no sense of direction but no one cared so we set off to the petrol station. While Mel filled his bike up, Ian fell off his bike just sitting still on the forecourt. How. we may never know. As we were laughing at Ian’s lack of balance, Mel’s bike wouldn't start. The problem was quickly diagnosed, his carb had fallen off. I think it was in sympathy with Ian.The ride to RAF Cosford was good until Simon pointed out that I had missed the sign to turn. Then Alex took over and we arrived safely at the great museum. It was aviation nostalgia overload with so many exhibits. The ride back was ok (about 1 mile) until I turned the wrong way at the first set of traffic lights. Then Simon run out of petrol. After going round in circles for 20 mins Ian fired up his satnav and we were soon heading in the right direction.Simon wanted to stop to take some pics on top of the Mynd on the way back which gave us a chance to look at the views... Stunning.

Back at camp thoughts turned to food and beer.Alex and Mel became chefs for the evening and created a stew... It was excellent...I think there may have been alcohol in it... The evening began with the fire being started and the beer flowing. There was nearly an international incident over my chair. The Germans decided to put their towel on it and I had to mount an SAS style raid to repatriate it. Alex managed to get drunk as a skunk, I have ever seen him so inebriated.

At some point Alex, MadStu, Simon, Bernhard, Ian, myself and a few others decided to raise a glass in honour of Ellrider and Simon’s birthday was celebrated Things got blurred after that…… It was a dull weekend for Steve (Bonnielad) ,who was regretting spending last year’s event in a motorhome but it at least provided some sport for Alan (12royal) This year Steve crawled out of his cold tent and snuggled up in his car with the engine running

Sunday arrived with sunshine. CMOTY (Club Member Of The Year) Gary managed to fleece everyone of any last cash before packing up. The site was empty and clean by 1200 hours.What a great weekend I still haven't comedown yet.

Some memories from Ian
-Bernhard calling Chisler into the marquee, ‘Jonathan can you come here please’ - someone shouted " don’t tell him your name Pike "
-Mel asking all to gather some firewood, someone asked where from , Mel said - I believe it grows out of the ground !
-Getting a huge pile of wood that was still being loaded on fire at 3am
-Franc arriving on some Francensteins monster of a Rotax bitsa bike- still not sure what it was , with 4 split links to make chain long enough
-Going out to explore the Long Mynd to see what this dangerous road was all about , and finding it was a great scenic road to do solo, just don’t go off the edge
-The look of disgust on lady’s face in car park at a beauty spot when we all turned up and shattered the peace
-Getting to Cosford but struggling to remember how to get back
-Pirate Phils bike backfiring on campsite and resounding like a shotgun across the valley
-That happy feeling when you find a stack of beers still in date from last meet
-Bunker having limited success lining us all in an orderly convoy for a photo-shoot,
-Alex taking off down a country road at speed and almost high siding it, but maintaining he always had full control

Thanks to all who came an especial thanks for those who worked hard to ensure that we didn’t starve !
Until next year……
Rus
p.s thanks Eric for your editing skills...

[deadgrass.]

nice write up, sounds like i missed a great event,
can we have it there next year please,
well done gary[sorry i mean clubman of the year]

dave.