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Guernsey 2022 – STOMCC is travelling again
Initially planned as a joint visit with the Gloucester Meteors, celebrating the 75th Liberation anniversary together with the Guernsey branch in 2020, we now were treated to a Trifest as well.
Riders from across the UK, and some even coming from as far as Finland and the USA, made this a truly international event.
On Thursday 5th May, Paul joined Sue and Mark in Needham Market for an early start to the Premiere Inn Poole North Hotel, our meeting place for the night. Andy and myself set off a bit later in the morning held back by my work – doesn’t it always get in the way?
The hotel is about 15 minutes from the port making it an ideal rest place for a morning sailing. It has good parking, a nice restaurant and bar, and friendly staff. After a pleasant meal with banter and discussing Paul’s temperamental spark plugs, we went to bed well primed for a great holiday.
Good night sleep, breakfast, pleasant weather, bikes that start – what more would one want? Smooth ride to the ferry, more Triumphs already waiting, onto the ferry we went. Goodness how we all hate clamps, but the staff was helpful, up the stairs – and relax! Dosed up on Stugeron, Andy’s recommendation against sea sickness, we all enjoyed the trip and were greeted on the other side by the Guernsey branch.
Our little group as well as some of the Gloucester Meteors stayed at the Wayside Cheer hotel on the North-ish end of the island, with a west facing beautiful beach just across the road, providing the most spectacular sunsets. We stayed there before and we were greeted back like family. This time some of us had the chalet rooms across the courtyard, which don’t have sea views but a lovely lawn with tables and a swimming pool right in front. No climbing stairs with heavy bike gear and after a day out we just sat and relaxed over a cuppa and nice biscuits, provided by the hotel. Life is good!
Day 1: Herm Island
Day 2: The Bike Show and Gala Dinner
Colin Robin, who built ‘The Obliterator’, a double engine Triumph which almost killed him, is a legend on Guernsey and in racing circles. He had this dream of the biggest Triumph bike show ever happened on the island. And he made it: 171 Triumphs gathered at a quarry site.
Lots of other very interesting bikes arrived and were parked separately, big machinery was displayed together with some prime specimen of Triumph bikes. It as was a fantastic atmosphere.
For the Gala Dinner at the Peninsula hotel they had arranged transport, so a few beers were in order.
Of course, our Mr Dobbs joined us and had a whale of a time despite his friends Guy Rat and Eugene missing. We were told that Gloucester’s Guy Rat got stuck in customs for smuggling, but we have the suspicion that they forgot to invite him along, and apparently Eugene is on a World trip doing his own thing, but yet again, we think they forgot him on one of the trips and he’s actually crying his eyes out somewhere in a hotel cupboard.
The ‘The 3 Sixties’ played 60s music, a lot of dancing happened, and after being chauffeured home by Mac, another lovely member of the Guernsey branch, we happily toddled to bed.
Day 3: 77s Liberation Anniversary
Starting off with a visit to the German Occupation Museum we moved on to the celebration part of the day. Fun fairs were arranged across the island with a parade of about 150 WWII vehicles running along them. It was spectacular.
We attended the Mallard complex fair, with 5 bands playing all day long including ‘The 3 Sixties’ again, special Triumph motorcycle parking space was arranged, and then there was a baffled BBC Guernsey reporter, interviewing our very own Vice Chair Andy live, opening with the question: “So, what are we doing here?”
Response in typical Andy fashion: “We are standing here and you are holding a microphone into my face, I think we are doing an interview!”
Days…
With the official part done everything that followed became a wonderfully relaxed blur. Starting each day with a hearty full English, we looked at the map, decided on a general direction mostly guided by toilet and coffee cup signs, and off we went. Bikes parked in a preferably photogenic fashion, we then walked the most beautiful coastline. We found so many unexpected views, rested when we felt like it, ate fantastic cakes, and just had a good time in the sun. Oh yes, and we made sure Paul found the best smelling hand sanitisers wherever we went.
The only day that differed happened when Colin and the TOMCC Chairman fixed my bike. While Mark, Sue and Paul went up the Pleinmont ObservationTower, Andy and I went to see Colin in his impressive garage/workshop to investigate the weird rattle of my bike. It turned out that my exhaust seemed to disintegrate on the inside.
Colin being Colin, found me some Harley defyingly loud exhausts on the island. After many more cuppas they were fixed on my bike and off I now go, clearly audible throughout the entire continent. Such are the Guernsey people, generous, entertaining and just lovely.
But all good things must end, and so we packed up to fetch the overnight ferry with the plan to have one for the road on the boat, and to have a good night sleep for a relaxed ride home. Despite the late hour a group of the Guernsey branch came to the port to bid us farewell, and then we waited, and waited some more. Instead of 11PM we sailed at 1:30 AM. We slept rather well without the one for the road, woke to a really good breakfast on the ferry that was included in the price, got our bikes out of those stupid clamps and off home we went, blessed by great weather still.
And now it’s all a memory, one that will be much cherished. But we know, that all be well, we’ll be back. There are still a few miles we haven’t walked and a few views we haven’t seen
Christmas branch meet at the Pickerel Inn December 2021
Andy from the Stowe Fish Bar did an incredible job putting a tasty, freshly cooked takeaway for 21 people together. I have never seen a fryer so quick. It was wonderful coming back to the pub with the food and seeing the room filled up with happy people chatting and laughing. Albeit in a new location it felt like the good old days.
We got so lucky with Jazz, our new landlady. She let me use her kitchen to put the food on platters and she supports us wherever she can. She was pleased for us, that the branch is doing well and that we enjoy being at hers.
To me this will be Christmas meet long remembered.
End of season Lunch at the The Cross Keys in Redgrave.
23rd October 2021, a dry but rather fresh morning, 7 bikes and 1 car made their way to Redgrave. Our newest member is forgiven for not using the bike, I had said that cars are appropriate means of transport given that it's almost November.
Mr L., overly keen on his brand new Street Twin, arrived first on the scene well before the rest of us trickled in. Nice table for 9 put together for us, and although the food came a bit late, goodness they are busy there, the time was flying in great company. It was good that we had a pre-order sent through, though.
It was great to see a member from the area, too, who usually couldn't make it to the monthly meets due to distance. The food was absolutely delicious and after a hot and strong coffee for most of us, we braved the cold on our way home.
We all agreed that it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon and that we should do it again for the opening of the season in April
-Rika-
The Copdock Show was a great success. It felt good doing 'normal' things again, and we seemed to have got away with it. I have not heard any bad news in the aftermath of the show, although they had about 10k people through the door with cars queuing well back into the road to get on site.
My little 'back of the van' kitchen served us well again for coffees and teas and the mandatory bacon sarnies for lunch. As usual part of the set-up crew stayed on site, and as usual, we did it in style with fire-pit, beer tent visit and a little bit of dancing - this time the vice chair behaved and stayed off the tables, and breakfast fry up the next morning.
We got a lot of visitors on the stall, which this year we themed: 'Triumph at the movies'. We found out that almost all of the displayed bikes had a role in a movie - how cool is that! And we met some new members and associates from other branches. All great fun and worth the while!
Tired but happy, now all is packed away again for next year when we'll do it all over again.
- Rika-
2021 Anglian Motocycle Festival
The Anglian Motorcycle Festival, sat 14th August 2021
The festival was originally to be held on Felixstowe sea front, however was moved to TTT Motorcycle Village in Sudbury. who kindly said they would host it.
Rika and I loaded up our bikes and set off at 07:30 across the deserted back roads to Sudbury, a very pleasant ride which set the tone for the day.On arrival just under an hour later we reported to Ben (shop manager) who directed us to Jason who was running the show.
We assembled the new gazebo with some good natured banter between ourselves and our neighbours, 'Blood bikes' on one side and 'Mental health motorbike' on the other. I'm pleased to say political correctness took a very low (non existent) priority.Once set up it was walk about time, first priority a cuppa, the shop cafe were brilliant and delivered two free drinks to the stall for us, bless them. While on walk about I headed for the workshop and the chief engineer Andy (also a branch member), who kindly put his tricked up Bonnie on the stand and arranged for his workmate and John from the shop to add there's too.Shortly after Tony turned up to help on his Speedmaster.
As 10:00 arrived people started to drift in bringing the sunshine with them. Time to 'drop em' and don shorts and Crocs!
Throughout the day there was a lot of interest in the branch, many new cards handed out to prospective new members. Some passed members stopped for a chat, others didn't. Many old friends renewed their friendships during the day, for many (like us) it was the first major event out post lockdown!
The BBQ did a roaring trade and sold out, the Icecream van was also kept very busy too. 'Beautiful Dangerous' played a cracking set, and although I've seen them perform many times, I think this was their best yet. Our faulty intercoms were sorted FOC by a couple of very knowledgeable chaps, thanks. The shop has offered 10% discount on all service work, (Andy knows his Triumphs inside out and comes highly recommended), and up to 10% on other items on production of a valid membership card.
All too soon it was time to do a striptease, then pack up the stand, both new gazebo and flags were easily carried on the Explorer, proving that in the future, events can be attended by bike, and van back up not required. At this point I must pass on my thanks to Tony, who after a brief meeting at Stonham barns a couple of nights before, turned up to help Cheers mate. Tony was seen leaving the show with a chainsaw strapped to the Speedmaster, a raffle prize!!!
The ride home was a bit eventful due in part to me missing the turn off! we ended up on a lane more suited to scramblers, obviously there had been major wash off from the fields, and the lane resembled a nearly dry river bed! Having lost intercom communication I stopped fearing the worse. On putting my feet down, due to the steep camber and uphill nature of the lane, I laid the bike down (that's a posh way of saying fell off!!). Rika duly turned up unharmed, and between us with a combined age of 123! we picked the heavy Ba#**rd up. No harm done, small graze to the shin and a bit of mud on 'Pops'. Now I know why its called an adventure bike 😊.
The rest of the ride was uneventful with 'Pops' appearing to run better than before, go figure as the septics would say.
11 hours after setting out we arrived home completely knackered, but with a sense of accomplishment and raring to go for the next one!
Epilogue: The Anglian motorcycle festival in collaboration with TTT motorcycle village had 1000 people attend the show during the course of the day, with 750 arriving by bike. After costs an estimated £700 was raised for Mental Health Motorbike
Copdock 2019 Arrival of the set-up team on Saturday lunchtime before the show, with bacon sarnies from the back of the van. The table with coffees, teas and biscuits always goes up first and then brave people climb ladders and swing hammers until it all looks fabulous. So, off we go to set up tents and getting ready for the well deserved party with bonfire and laughs. Our chef Richard cooked the morning fry up on the BBQ and then the show begins. And this time we won best club stand, thanks to a fantastic team pulling it all together.
Paul, Mark, Sue, Andy and Rika joined the tour for the Guernsey part. What a fabulous party and ride outs we had. The Guernsey branch are fantastic hosts and have become good friends over the years. This was the first outing of our club mascot Mr Dobbs and as inexperienced as he was in official business, he got drawn into the gutter by Guy Rat from the Gloucester Meteors.
