Alan, I'm glad that you are still with us on the net and in life! From your list of injuries it sounds like you were run over by a tank! Good to hear you have only minor injuries though and I wish you a speedy recovery.

It just goes to show how unaware most car drivers are of other forms of transport, especially bikes. Unfortunately, unless car/truck/bus/van drivers have experience of riding a bike they will not understand things like filtering which many of them wrongly believe to be illegal. The onus therefore falls on us bikers to watch out for muppets on four wheels.

From what you describe of the events it would appear to be the fault of the emerging car for not checking it was safe to move out into traffic, but I'm no lawyer (I have scruples!).

I have recently rediscovered the joys of sharing the roads with ignorant drivers. On Monday I went for a ride to Bristol up the A37 which is all single carriageway and I had at least two occasions when white vans I was following would deliberately move onto the white line when they knew I was behind them just to try to hinder my progress by blocking my view of the traffic ahead. I don't know what on earth they thought they would achieve by doing this. Needless to say I wasn't held up for long but it is so annoying.

I have borrowed an old CB aerial from a work colleague which I am going to attach to one of the rear grab-rails and from which I will fly my Afghan Heroes flag. Unfortunately I can't get my hands on a small White Ensign to counter Henry's RAF hankie. But I will be there. Just a pity that Jan and now Alan won't be able to join us.

Take care Alan and get well soon.

Nige.

How awful – look after yourself and get better soon.  Good luck with the insurance and everthing.

Hi, everyone.

I did cancell my internet connection, but as you can see, they still haven't actually taken me off, yet. so I have time to tell you some BAD news.

I managed to clock up 273 miles, on Friday and Saturday, and being a fine crisp Sunday morning, I went out to put some more miles, on it, so I could get the first service over and done with before the WB weekend. As I planned to meet you all, after the run.

I picked up the A27, got past Locks Heath, and came up to a line of stationary traffic, waiting for the temporary lights to change.

So I filtered through towards the front of the cars. As I got closer, the lights changed, and the traffic started moving off. I was getting ready to pull back in a gap in the line, when one of the still stationary cars, waved a car out of a side road, just as I was about to pass it.

The last thing I can remember, was the car shooting out in front of me. The next thing I saw, was people staring down at me, lying on my back, in the road. I must have lost conciousness, for a short period of time, as I can't  remember going over the top of the car.

The Police and ambulance turned up, and I was rushed to QA hospital. I've been in there, since Sunday lunch time, with badly bruised left shoulder, ribs, hip, and thigh. And  suspected damage to a tube coming out of my kidney, to the bladder, black eye, and thick lip. Oh, and broken bones in my left hand.

They let me out today, as the kidney was sore, but not damaged. I've got to have plenty of rest, for the next few weeks. And am on an assortment of painkillers.

I haven't a clue about my lovely new scooter, yet. The Police dumped it in a tile shop's yard, to get it off the road. I did manage to glimpse a large chunk of fairing, lying close to me, in the road, though.

I've now got to get witnesses, from the Police, then phone my insurance, to sort out what's to be done, then get a dealer to go and pick it up, to see if it can be repaired, or not.

You'll notice that I've typed this slowly, as I've got a plaster cast, on my left (writing) hand and arm……

I'll try and let you know how it all progresses.

Obviously, my trip to WB, now won't happen.

Hope your weekend goes well.

Alan.

Sad to report that Jan and Bouncer will not be coming to WB after all

If anyone was going to meet at the DeVere Hotel at 0745 I will still go there and join up with you but if there is no response to this then I shall bypass the hotel and go straight out towards WB to route via Malmesbury to Hullavington.

We shall miss our Jan and especially her promise of fishnets!!

BurgieKing said:

ALGIE Banana? Aren't you the son of Biggles "Big Chocks" Banana?

Drat !! Hands up my cover is blown ! It`s Algie here – adopted son of Biggles and Vera Lynn. Sired on the wrong side of the blanket by some toff in the war office, damn poor show if you ask me – still don`t know who the blighter was !

Found a spiffing site on the old interweb for Brylcreme, 50 gallon drums – cheap as chips. I`ll let you have the address as soon as we touch down.

Anyway, can`t stop , the good lady has just given me a shout for early tiffin.

Pip – pip

Regards,

Algie -sorry-banana (momentry lapse)

I KNEW I had met you before, old chap! Aren't you ALGIE Banana who flew as my wingman back in nineteen hundred and umptyump!? Jolly good show, getting the old white scarf and gauntlets out of storage as we speak! Thanks, chaps, for the encouragement – sorry I showed the odd streak of yellow there for a mo – I'd hate to have you blokes flying the "missing man" formation because I had wimped out!

Now, as to Jan acting as a decoy, there WAS talk of a pair of fishnets…..

Then it's a good job we're not on parade next Sunday, but there to pay tribute to others instead. I'm sure you can hide your hasty bodge amongst the other 10,333 of us! Or you could use a distraction of some sort. I wonder what it would take to get Jan to wear something short?!!

Ooh, she's going to kill me for that one!

Nige.

Henry,

Now, you see that's a typical RAF reaction. The crates broken (or the windscreen is dirty) so we can't possibly go to war! Whereas in the Navy we had fewer aircraft to use and so we would fix the problem with whatever we had available and get the old girl back in the air to give Johnny Foreigner a damn good pasting, then back home for tea and medals!

Gaffer (or Duct/Duck) tape is a wonderful thing made for just such eventualities. It may not be pretty but it'll do the job I'll bet.

You can't back out now Henry! Where's the old Dunkirk spirit?

Nige.

Henry_C said:Dave, thanks for your "heads up" – are you in an all scooter group or a mix? What should we look for? I shall be wearing my RAF Ensign as mentioned below so probably relatively easily recognised! But then with up to 4000 bikes already on site by that time who knows? As you say it's gonna be "some do"!

We are mixed group, but I'm sure we'll pick out the maxiscoots…….I was going on my Bandit, but the heated grips & seat have won the day, so look out for an '09 plate Exec (grey) and hope to see you on the day.

Davethescoot

alto1_3 said:

                        There's nothing ALARMING about it.!

I'm not a DOOM & GLOOM merchant.  It's common sense,really.

It was inevitable that with the unprecedented number of bikers wanting to join in the event, RAF Lynham wasn't going to be able to "security-check" each and every bike, going through their gates. 

                    So they had no option but to call it off. 

And, it will apply to any other similar site they try to assemble on. 

                          Now you can be despondant.!

It was a great idea, to start with, but very quickly got out of control.

I had my doubts about it, when you first said there would be more than 1,000 bikes, and possibly up to 7,000. 

                              Let alone 10,000 + bikes.

             Still, lets wait and see what they can come up with.

Hi Henryc……..just to let you and other members know, our group will be at Michael Wood services  M5 South,@ 8.00am ready for the ride in to Hullavington eta 9.00am.

Anyone there at this time is welcome to join our group,( expected to be about 15 riders)

The 9.00am – 10.00am slot was the time chosen by the majority, so I have to go with that.

We will have 2 hours at the meet point before the ride to WB, so hope to maybe catch up with you among  the 'crush'!

All the best to all those attending…………..Its gonna be 'some do' !!

regards

davethescoot