A Weather Oasis?

Anyone with an event to go to this weekend is going to have been watching the weather forecast avidly. Tales of doom and gloom (well, gloom) were being told. Phew did they live up to the forecaster’s warnings on Friday and Sunday, but Saturday?

We called the day a weather oasis! What a beautiful day. Birgit and I were at the Calne Bike Meet which is the UK’s largest free outdoor event. It buzzed under blue skies and sunshine. All a bit surreal really, but with the sun came an even better atmosphere.

Birgit and I love the event because it’s a huge mix of just about everything that’s good about motorcycling. It wouldn’t surprise me if every type of motorcycling was there. Choppers, cruisers, traliees, endro’s, rat bikes, custom jobs, long distance tourers and well you get my drift. Gore-Tex clad people mingled with leather, badges, and those who’d believed the forecast strolled round in shorts and t-shirts.

I’m not sure how many exhibitors were there but the streets and yards were packed. In our area (the tree-lined Carniegie Mews) were the likes of Moto Freight, Adventures in Arizona, Cooper Avon Tyres, Armed Forces Bikers, Chippenham Motorcycles, and well many more.

We loved the atmosphere and were delighted to have so many friends stop off with us to say hello and have a quick natter. Thanks very much to Steve Bond for this quote, ‘Even bigger and better event. It’s amazing to think this small town welcomes thousands of bikers with open arms. There’s no trouble or bike snobbery. Just great camaraderie and like-minded bikers.’

Bonuses of the day were the great tales of the road we heard. The bike boot? It made it to NordKapp, but its owner didn’t! I also need to say a huge thank you to everyone who bought books! We did better than ever. Phew!

All in all an excellent weekend – in the sunshine! When it mattered for us that is. Oh and yes we did cop the rain! On Friday it took me from 2.30 to 5pm to get from Exeter to Taunton and then until 8pm to get to Calne! It should have been a 3 hour journey! Was I wishing I was on my bike in the rain, splitting lanes? Too right I was!