I’ll start this report with an apology for missing out a very important person from our list of winners in the National Rally, that is, Jean, Stuart’s partner and passenger who also received a Special Gold award and contributed with her navigation and puncture repairing skills. She also helped in raising £350 in sponsorship for Mencap (herself and Stuart also helped to raise over £1400 by helping to run an open day for NABD at the Silver Link pub in Stocksbridge). Do please remember that I can only report things if I’m told about them!

Barry’s Derbyshire run was very well attended with 11 bikes, riders and 4 passengers setting off from the Carbrook on a fine Sunday morning, this time managing not to lose anyone. The first section ended with a trip to Triumph World in Chesterfield, which saw Chairman Pete and “she who must be obeyed” looking seriously like joining the “Hinckley’s” be trying out the seating arrangements on a new Bonneville. I think the “King and Queen” seat suits your style very well Pat! After setting off we headed for the more “rural” parts of Derbyshire that we expect of runs organised by Barry, you know, through peoples’ front gardens, back yards, farm yards and country dual carriageways, that is, a country lane with a grass strip down the middle. During a downpour, we all stopped under some trees, to put on our waterproofs and watched all the mud and farmyard manure going down the lane in a swollen torrent. On the sudden downpours demise, we carefully made our way down the hill, slipping and sliding to the main road, where as we broke left, Ralph on his immaculate pre-unit T100 exited right and headed for home. Sensible man! He must have known, for the next stop was Tissington ford (the first of two fords on the trip) which most of us (except Barry on his Tiger) managed to cross without footing! The dinner break was held in Tissington, where hot soup, hot coffee and hot scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream (or is it clotted cream with strawberry jam?) were devoured with gusto. Then it was up and across the Staffordshire moors towards the back lanes of Buxton and on to Chapel-en-le-frith, fill up with fuel and then wend our way to our various homes. 140mls of unusual and sometimes interesting scenery but nothing unusual for one of Barry’s adventures! If you would like to go to places you never knew existed, look out for the next “Barry’s magical mystery tour”.

After leading 7 club bikes and 20 others from the Doncaster air museum to a show at the Trolley-bus museum at Sandtoft, without losing one bike (please note Barry!) It’s been suggested that Keith is nominated for the next run’s secretary. Please note the branch annual meeting will be held at the Carbrook on January the 18th 2006 where all committee positions will be voted on.

Any speculation raised by my article in the November edition of the Nacelle, that there may be a Bonneville Thruxton coming into my garage has been dispelled, after me taking one out for a test run and managing to throw it down the road. The major lesson to be learnt from this, is that if you are going to ride for 100 yards or 100 miles make sure that you wear all your protective gear, because by wearing my good quality equipment I am still here to tell the tale!

(Steph asked me to point out that no bonus points are to be awarded on the Landmark Challenge for binning your bike outside one of the clues! A simple photo would have sufficed! - Ed)

GLOVEBOX