Cheddar Gorgeous 2011
28th May 2011
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Well fellow Blue Knight members and friends, what a day, I don't know where to start other than to thank The Hawthorns Hotel for doing us proud yet again, also to thank you for doing me proud, without you there is no ride out.
It was a case of miserable weather, I now remember why we moved away from the Mendip Hills, basically the Mendip Drizzle.
It was my third year of organising "The Cheddar Gorgeous" ride out, each year it gets bigger in attendance, as organiser I had been watching the weather forecast all week and was disappointed with the resulting showers/drizzle, however only ten had to cry off the ride out, there were thirty one bikes attended with nine pillions and five other guests at The Hawthorns, a total of forty five, good by anyone's standards for the weather.
I do hope you all enjoyed the choice of route, Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Coombe are exceptional beauty spots, it's hard to imagine that a giant ice cube managed to carve them out during the ice age.
A special thanks goes to David and Maddy Fletcher who attended from England Five on their Honda CBF1000, plus Neil and Elaine Hallam England Six on his Triumph Rocket3 Classic.
We were joined by new members Dave Hardaway on his Triumph Thunderbird from Cornwall plus Shane Dick and his wife Sher on their BMW GS1200, a warm welcome to you both.
We were also joined by three potential new members, my old Police biking partner Roger Smith on his Triumph Sprint GT, his daughter Emma on her KTM RC8 and Martin Gray on his Ducati Multi Strada.
I apologise if you didn't get a mention.
Hartley's did us proud for breakfasts and drinks, a real gem of a place.
I have to comment on the fact that after a very short briefing and the fact that there were quite a few guests who hadn't experienced the second bike drop off system, how remarkably well the ride worked out, though I did have a sense of humour failure with Congresbury traffic lights !
Considering the cycle race up the Gorge and the A38 at Lower Langford I think we were extremely lucky on a Bank Holiday weekend to avoid traffic chaos.
The meal and company at The Hawthorns was spot on, they are hoping to make this a yearly event possibly with musical entertainment next year, who am I to refuse such an offer, Claire and I have been invited back to do another Support Dogs talk and demonstration in August.
Many of you returned home after lunch, with ten motorcycles remaining we embarked on the second half of the ride out at 3pm, we had a spirited ride to Pilton, home of the Glastonbury Pop Festival where, for those who wished,we washed our tyres in a Ford (water crossing) and ended our ride shortly afterwards, there was no drizzle the second half of our ride.
A big thank you to all who attended, you made my day and ride out, I look forward to organising next years "Cheddar Gorgeous4" ride out.
Regards, Simon.
Ps: Thank you to our very own Paparazzi photographer John Cooke for some great action shots and Gallery images.
List of attendees:
Adamson Kevin Triumph Boneville America
Adamson Susan Pillion
Allen Mark Harley V-Rod
Anderson Claire Suzuki SV1000s
Anderson Simon Rocket3 Trike
Anderson Rebecca Buell Ullysees
Cooke John Pan European
Cooke Tina At Hawthorns
Deal Chris Honda Firestorm
Desbois Paul Yamaha FZN1
Dick Shane Bmw Gs1200
Dick Sher Pillion
Fletcher David Eng5 Honda CBF1000
Fletcher Maddy Eng5 Pillion
George Alan At Hawthorns
Gray William Pillion
Gray Martin Ducati Multi Strada
Hallam Neil Eng6 Rocket3 Classic
Hallan Elaine Eng6 Pillion
Hardaway Dave Triumph Thunderbird
Hopes Roger Triumph Speed Triple
Hopes Nicola Pillion
Hussain Hardy Bmw R1300GT
Kettleborough Glynn + Tom Goldwing Trike
Kettleborough Ruth + George + Carol At Hawthorns
Lamborne Pete BMW K1100LT
Hughes Lee Harley RXFS
Metcalfe Sue Harley 1200 Sportster
Miller Richard Aprilla Turano
Mullholland Mike Honda Fireblade
Mullholland Helen Pillion
Nesbit-Bell Paul Triumph Daytona
Porter Dave Bmw 75/7
Rooke John Pan European
Savage Mark Ninja 750
Smith Bob Harley
Smith Hilary Pillion
Smith Emma KTM
Smith Martin KTM
Smith Roger Triumph Sprint GT
Walker Reg Bmw R1100RT
Walters Muddy Goldwing
TOTAL 45
31 BIKES, 9 PILLIONS & 5 GUESTS OTHER
Simon Anderson
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