The rendezvous was Red Lodge at 9am, so I met Clive and Brian at Thickthorn at 7.55 am and we filled up at Barton Mills, where Carl turned up just as we had refuelled. On the way down, following Brian "The Text Maniac" Summers round the last roundabout outside Thetford, I got a slight taste of things to come as the newly lowered fork yokes in the TDM caused the front to tip quicker than expected, the centre stand and peg making a nice grinding sound. He does fly round the corners that Brian! The customary bacon rolls/full English at Red Lodge. Just as we were about to leave at 9.30am, Tony arrived and our convoy was complete.

Clive commented on the fact that, 3 or 4 years ago it would have been inconceivable that there would be so many "tourers" in ER, what with Cameron's Pan, my TDM, Carl's FJR 1300 and Mack's Blackbird. Brian now has a VFR800 as well; maybe we're getting older, maybe just wiser! There are still some old boys out there on sports bikes though, somewhere.........................

Regular lunch stop at Moreton-in-the-Marsh, where Brian's text addiction first showed itself in earnest. We weren't overly hungry and I asked for a picture to be taken which included me just so there is some evidence that I actually go on these things, as I'm usually the one holding the camera.

Ray from the Lion had previously suggested we go over some time and try offroading. Fish Hill near Evesham proved the opportunity and Chris decided to take it, running wide and off into the undergrowth and gravel. No serious damage done to either machine or rider thank goodness. The run stayed dry, although rain looked likely, so after parking up at the chalets we decided to postpone our fish & chips on the seafront at Aberystwyth and instead call Ray from the Lion to pick us up and take us to the pub, with the exception of Mack "Johnny Fartpants" Marcuzzo, Cameron and Carl "Dehli Belly" Champion, who wanted to ride to Newtown for some food instead. Myself and the other alcoholics went to the pub for our free introductory drink and I had a very good beef and mushroom casserole, the others having various from the menu - plentiful helpings and very good quality too, given the price. Ray and Janet are always so welcoming each year. The obligatory few games of pool with Chris doing his best to take me out with a flying white ball, I suppose there was a winner, but that wasn't the point anyway. Chris has got beyond the text phase now - he goes missing for hours with the mobile strapped to his ear.

The next morning was OK, if not sensational. Cameron emerged from the room he was sharing with  "Johnny Fartpants" Marcuzzo and the odours started to permeate the whole chalet. Soon to be joined by "Dehli Belly" Champion, anyone entering the chalet with a lit cigarette could have seen the first manned chalet in space. It was odd how the two chalets had different characters in them. Stalag 1 had the quiet, unassuming ones like me and Mack whereas the noisy ones like Brian and Gary opted for Stalag 2. To the right is not a very nice picture, but if you can stomach it, there's a full size one in the album.

Sunday saw the same two groups head down to the Black Mountains for some stunning roads and lovely views - it was a splendid day with no rain in sight. Towards the end of the day, Carl's tyre was nearly down to the wear indicators ( please re-read statement made on 17th August, faithfully reproduced above) so it was a steady ride back to the chalets after we had been to Brecon and through the Golden Valley, which was really very picturesque. A few miles from home Carl waved everyone pass and I determined to catch Mack who had taken the lead. I had to politely get past Tony, who knows by now when I want to go past by subtly sitting about an inch from his rear tyre. Cameron found that the Pan doesn't handle quite like his ZX-10 so he was overtaken on a twisty bit; now for the Blackbird. All I will say is that, apparently, had its rider been wearing leathers and sliders, he would have been able to pull away from the 86 bhp TDM when we were banked over on a very fast right hand sweeper. Honour was satisfied and I never mentioned it again all night. Much.

The evening saw Tony and myself going for a ride in the evening sun over the hills behind the chalets and up to Newtown for petrol - the A483 must be one of the best roads, full stop, and the ride back was "spirited and progressive" lets say. Back towards the chalets and we met Cameron with Carl as pillion, to be later joined by Mack and Tony who went to Newport again for a meal. With predictable regularity, the rest of us went down the pub.