Thank you all for your kind words and your patience.
Apologies for the long delay: apart from looking after my poor, poor Possu
I also had to make jam (as every year after the EM – albeit on my own this time…
)
Then I had my little sister visiting and together we went to… yes?
That’s right: to Bristol
Where we spent a great extended weekend with such lovely people as The White Rabbit, Mrs White Rabbit and Mucky Helmet
Now it has gone a bit quieter and I hope you are still interested in the rest of the report…
Saturday afternoon, we are still at SkyGod Manor, ready to get going after a superb lunch.
Sycomoto looking extra nice for the camera
I think that's the junction before my most embarrassing tumble...
Instead of cautiously riding down the steep rocky slope I first went up the bank - so that I had further to fall...
No photos here, I'm afraid, as everybody was too busy helping me up again. Thank you.
Motörhead must have seen it coming...
One of the most varied and 'interesting' trails of the day was Fox Hill Lane. After we had reached the end unscathed and were just about to breathe a sigh of relief, Gary announced that we would go all the way back again...
Fortunately it was not only me who needed a rest from time to time...
What a fantastic day in great company!
Forry summed it up nicely
Back at Lumb Farm, Proff showed us how
not to go off road...
Vespertine idyll with GS's...
After a lovely hot shower it was time for dinner - here's the veggie version of the hogroast
Forry preferred the meaty option though
Val H & Kleine Blumen seemed pleased with the day and the adventures on their Ford Ride
Finally: Timpo revealed his side job that helps him funding all those new motor bikes...
Tina & Denise were contemplating if they had any use for him...
Not sure what happened to the photos Lynchy was taking all night long...
Ian?
Despite the amazing moral and physical support with lifting my big pig on various occasions during the day I felt completely knackered by 10.30 and went to bed. Probably missed the most interesting bits...
Still noticed Proff's elaborate résumé of the day
Not so sure about the first two lines, to be honest...
Sunday morning
... looked a bit gloomy - quite appropriate though, as we had to part and go our separate ways again...
Earthmover and Denise doing their royal couple impression
After two weeks in the Spanish wilderness, Forry and Tina enjoyed a hearty English breakfast
And then it was inevitably time to leave...
Master snorer Att, who was extremely lucky that I had left my Kalashnikov at home that weekend...
Spikehammer and his most sophisticated van
Sarah Teach with her pride and joy
That's probably the closest to off road we will ever see Timpo's ADV...
Oh my God, there is some mud on the surface!
Lynchy still found it hard to keep his eyes open...
Jaq and Oblertone and their impressive Tipi
Proff and star organiser Bryn.
Keith, do you really think that's an appropriate gesture when having your photo taken by a lady? Tss tss tss
Paul & Lucy
... and my faithful baby...
... looking even more battered and bruised than before...
But I can count myself very lucky for having such a wonderful personal mechanic at home...
What a splendid weekend!
Special thanks go to
* Flipfly and SkyGod for leading the off road ride-outs
* all the tailends for sweeping and making sure that no one was left behind
* all my riding mates who helped out with technical knowledge, cable ties and elbow-grease...
* Mrs SkyGod for excellent catering
* Forry for breakfast on Sunday
(I know, it was a very cheap trick... )
* Tina & Forry for evaluating my Pyrenees trails
* Clive for fixing my mirror and tank bag
* Spikehammer for all the help on the trails, the rain shelter and for being such a nice person in general
* Bryn & Lyn for organising yet another cracking East Midlands Do
* Everybody else for their company and all the fun we had!
See you next year - at the latest!
Ela x