Sammy Miller's
Well it was that time again, how do I get a set of noisy Vance & Hines pipes away from a sleepy housing estate at 08.30 on a Sunday morning?! Good job I live on a hill!! Just roll away and fire them up where I think I wont be recognised!!
So we all left our warm houses and headed for the Elly.
Thinking I may be the first to arrive, I was startled to see David
'Chris' Bailey pop out from a hedgerow pointing his Finepix lens at me.
Chris, you really must get some camouflage in the future!! Colin had
already arrived and was sipping on some liquid that could only be described
as something that had been rung out of an oily rag!! Made me think of the
coffee that awaited us when we reached Sammy Millers. Keith was also an
early bird, sporting ANOTHER style of beard. It came to my attention later
that Keith is a dab hand with a dremel. Next time I'm in Screwfix I'll pick
one up, must save on getting a Braun!! Another four bikes arrived, Ed &
Sue, Paul & Brian. When we had our brief and fired up, Diesel arrived just
in time to join us.
I sometimes wonder if my recently purchased pile of nuts and bolts are
actually held together!! I'm still bonding with my bike, I think we'll be
good mates!! I always said that I'd never take my bike out in the rain!! I
guess that idea has gone straight out of the window!! We had a shower
between The Elly and Winchester. Another from Winchester to Sammy's. All
in all the clouds looked threatening but there were welcome sunny spells.
There were mentions of cold fingers later in the day. Mine included!!
Apparently, Mike had broken down near Winchester. I hope he got sorted out. I don't know the full details.
After a little sight seeing detour from Colin, we confused
the hell out of some innocent Sunday drivers and all did a U turn at a sign
that read FLOOD!! Colin, your bike is big enough to part the Red Sea!!
With you in front us, the Sunday drivers would think Moses was back in
town!! We Rumbled through Lyndhurst and sent ripples to
Sammy Millers coffee shop, warning them that the Thames Valley Vultures were
on their way and were badly in need of some caffeine. An assault was
immediately made on the coffee shop staff on arrival.
Chris requested a Bacon Bap. The already stressed chef looked bewildered.
'A Bacon Bap'?? I haven't done one of those since catering college!! He
had a look on his face as though Chris had asked for Lobster Thermador for
9 please!! Eventually the coffee shop staff pulled together and the chilly
air cooled our tea and coffee. After the worn out chef had had his ciggy
break whilst pondering his future career in the catering industry, it was
the turn of the museum staff to feel the brunt of what a Vulture wants a
Vulture gets!! A
calm relaxed cashier was quietly seeing to a visitor or two on a Sunday
afternoon when, WALLUP, 9 Vultures storm in and clamber for a Sammy Miller
pin badge!! The cashiers day suddenly turned as grey as the clouds. There
was one brand new shiny pin badge and 9 people wanted it NOW! Paul was the
lucky one. He is now the proud owner of a very rare, sought after
pin badge. There was a problem; Sue had to have one too. With the flutter
of the eye lids Sue locked onto the poor cahiers own personal pin badge.
Can I buy that one? I don't think the cashier would have disagreed with 8
Vultures behind Sue with the look; 'Do what she says'!!!
The bikes were all in mint condition. Brian pointed out one or two he used to own. Perhaps the Viragos and Stars will be in a museum one day? Unfortunately the jumble was next Sunday the 20th. All in all Sammy Millers is a great day out. It's very well kept and informative. We stopped off for a roast dinner on the way home. During the meal the heavens opened!!
On a personal note if I may; Thank you to The Vultures for making a new member and inexperienced rider feel welcome and safe. This club really is the Muts Nuts!!
Dan
