Myself, Pete, Mick and Heather arrived at Tim’s for an early Friday morning start for our annual outing to the Beezumph, Tim’s caravan (complete with my tent and provisions) was hitched to Heather’s 4x4, (leaving plenty of room in my top box for a bottle of rum as I hadn’t been trusted with the coke this year) and we all made tracks for Cadwell Park. After a short stay with the caravan, the bikes went off and left Heather to find her own way, she’s a lady who does know how to navigate ( woops! I shouldn’t have said that), proving so by arriving only10 minutes after us. We set up camp, with John and Claire arriving in the early afternoon, “some of us have to work you know”. After setting up camp it was a steady stroll round to view the track day and the many glorious bikes on display. Petefrombrid, Peternick and some of their friends, from Geordieland and further north, were found to have arrived the previous evening and encamped not too far away, they joined us later on, for Mick’s BBQ, when we received a call from John W. that he’d broken down with an electrical fault. As it was getting dark I set off and managed to borrow a trailer and tie-downs so that Heather and John could go and fetch him in. So many thanks to the unknown person that loaned us the trailer – trusting people these Triumph owners! After recovering John W. it was down to some serious eating and drinking, more serious for some than others, most people seemed to have brought a bottle of rum, I stuck to my beers (sad person that I am)!

Saturday it was up early, some breakfast, some more viewing of bikes and watching the performances of some of our friends on the track. The nice thing about this meet is that owners of the fantastic machinery on display, whether unknown or well known, always have time to talk to you. Later on that evening it was the bike show and the main BBQ in the beer tent where the only downer of the event took place – everyone was in agreement that the band was diabolical and that’s putting it mildly! Sunday morning we said our goodbyes to old and new friends and made our way home, all in all a very good do all round, to find out, put it in your diary and join us next year for good company, great bikes and a great time.

Between Beezumph and our next major event was the Cromford steam show which was attended by Tim, Keith, Richard, Nicola, Pat and Pete who were camping for the weekend (Tim having come down from the Pickering Show) and Myself, Barry, Bill Davies and Mary Hollingworth visiting for the day.

Then it was time for our BBQ and camping weekend in Heather’s field (you know – the place next to the M1 motorway where you didn’t know how much fun you could have). For the 48 hours prior to the event it never stopped raining, on the Friday we put up the gazebo, the tents and the toilet facilities ready for the Saturday event and it didn’t stop raining until 4-00pm but no fear, the event was a great success with a full camping ground and good food prepared by our resident BBQ chef Mick. Many, many thanks to Heather and Mick and to all who helped to make this, another success. Congratulations to Petefrombrid for being the furthest traveller, putting some of our nearer members to shame by travelling so far in such atrocious weather.

These events turn up some funny things, such as tales of some of the collections our members have, how about a collection of different traffic cones and a collection of British Railway electrical insulators – the mind boggles. A free pint for the first person to name the collectors!

A date for your diary, Barry is planning a “scenic Derbyshire” run on Sunday the 25th September, starting from the Carbrook at 10-00am

The nights are getting darker, make the best of the weather before winter appears.

GLOVEBOX.