Thanks for the info, Nige.

And yes, I did see a coulple of aerial shots, too. (your one isn't the one I referred to, though.-LOL .).

And, yes, I CAN see you standing there, waving. You're the one in the grey riding suit, with a silly grin on his face, aren't you.?

Alan.

1.45 pm.

Yes, Nige. I did see those aerial shots. Talk about sardines.

Strange, in one of those photo's, in the bottom right, (unless it was a flawed photo) there's an empty round space, with just one bike in the middle of it. I thought the one in the middle, must have Farted,   and cleared the area.  It made me laugh so much, it hurt my ribs.

I posted about me and my bike, in "Idle Winter Gossip"

And NO, I wasn't aware that Jan had had an accident, as well.

She must have gone down harder than I did, if she's broken some of her ribs. I got away with just a broken hand, and some heavy bruising.

I do hope she's not too badly hurt, bless her.  I know what she's going through, at the moment.

Have you, or Peter heard from her, at all.?  Or have you any details of the accident.?

I hope it doesn't put her off riding. Because she was so keen on it.

Please keep me posted.

Alan.

I've seen all the photo's, and the news coverage.

What a fantastic site. Everybody seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.

Glad it all went off, well. And glad the weather kept dry for it , too.

Who were those "Three Musketeer's" I saw Posing ?…..

Or was it the " Three Stooges " ?……LOL.

Well done chaps.

Alan.

What a BRILLIANT Ride the Wootton Bassett event turned out to be! I have attempted to post a few pictures here but my "tiny browser" window which opens is totally blank so no good for some reason. However, there are many excellent photos on the Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/group&…..436251925#!/group.php?v=photos&gid=331436251925 . There is also a lot of video footage and news reports at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/eng…..566626.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/…..566860.stm

The last link starts with an amazing view of the High Street of WB during the Ride! Our US cousins should look on and WONDER!! That day there was the most awesome sound of Thunder Rolling in the air!

BurgieKing said:Were you there Colin?

Sadly no. I worked a night shift last night (and the previous two) which has left me feeling like a zombie.

The event seems to have won respect from many quarters. Bravo to all.

Made the national news folks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/eng…..566626.stm

Thank you all, for your kind words, and support.

But try not to make me laugh, (re. Tank etc.) as it really hurts! when I do. Actually, it hurts, even when I don't.

I'm of the same mind, Bernard. The driver should have checked to see if it was safe to let that car out of the side road, before he waved him out. And the driver emerging from the side road, should have double checked, to see if the road was clear, before he came out. After all, the 650, has BOTH headlights blazing, as well as the sidelights. It's as high as a car, and half as wide, for heavens sake.

PC PLod came to the hospital, on Monday, to take a statement from me. He told me he drove into that side road, to see how difficult it was to emerge from it . He said it was a real problem, to which I replied, the driver must have been so relieved to get out of there, he just drove straight out, in a hurry, without looking to see if it was safe to do so.

I've phoned my insurance, to report the accident, so the wheels are now in motion. And have insisted that it was the other drivers fault, not mine. They have put me through to a legal firm, as I intend to make a compensation claim, for my injuries.

I'll try and keep you updated, while I'm still connected.

Jan, can you post a picture of you in your fishnets. Just to cheer up an aching invalid , you understand.

Alan.

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, who wanted to turn right, 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.