Steam Fair

15th August 2004

Thanks should be given to Ian Murfitt from Centre 14 who organised a really good ride out today, 58 miles. It’s a shame that just 4 vultures turned out, you would have really enjoyed it.

Anyway, after meeting at box hill, quick breki and coffee, we took about 10 bikes including two new C14 members on a very picturesque route, winding our way through some great roads in and out of the W. Sussex and Surrey boarders.

The ride was brisk but great fun and I certainly improved my control of the bike through corners. I’m getting the hang of this counter steering lark!

We even managed to lure a couple of crutch rockets into overtaking us in an illegal place, which resulted in Mr Plod switching on his flashing bits and chasing after them ha ha…

The steam fair was just that, a fair! We played at being kids again taking a trip on all the attractions. Pete and Sarah on the chairoplanes were great. Pete did a different impression on each rotation. These included “ the Flintstone car run, Superman pose and of course camp legs crossed biker”. It was very funny.

There were old steam rail engines too and the smell of the locos took me back to my childhood. We had a ride on a little train, “Ivor the engine look a like”; on the carousel we did our hard rocker act standing up like the boys at the bumper cars used to and emptied the cafeteria by just being biker types!

The ride home took us through Liphook, Farnham, Fleet, Hartley Witney, Camberley and Bracknell, where Dave and Sarah served us tea and cakes (well done guys).

What I enjoyed about this ride out, was that I didn’t know these roads, which made it more interesting and the fact that we all kept together. The marking system working perfectly.

My conclusion…. A great way to spend a Sunday.

Big Rog !