When is this summer going to start? In three weeks time it will be mid-summer’s day. We lost the last two Monday rides because of bad weather and Barry Pope tells us that the last two months have been much wetter than average. The picture was taken of my back garden on the 6 April. Some spring! Still last weekend saw us at the GEMs show and the weather was good. Maybe there’s hope yet. We need it as we have some weather dependant events coming up.

First I want to remind you that the club has arranged it’s evening BBQ for the 9th June at The Farmers, Scaynes Hill. If you haven’t done so already, let Andy Fairhurst know your order as soon as possible, if you wish to eat on the night. There will be a ride leaving the football club at the normal time, getting to The Farmers for about 8.30pm. So you will be welcome to come just for a drink if a BBQ is not your thing.

Keeping with the BBQ theme, you should find a booking form for our annual family camping weekend and BBQ at the Bat & Ball pub near Loxwood. This year we have brought the date forward a little to benefit from a longer evening. It will be held on Sat/Sun 26/27 July although quite a few members go over on the Friday to make it a long weekend. For £12 per head you will get your camping, a BBQ and breakfast on Sunday. Exceptional value and a great chance to involve the whole family in a club activity. Please pray for good weather.

Another family event coming up soon is the Duck Fayre at Worlds End recreational ground on Saturday 12 July. This is where we try to show our neighbours that motorcyclists are normal people not tearaways, We also use it to try to recruit new members. Everybody is very welcome to come along with their bike if possible and let the public see what we do. The children really love looking at the bikes on display as do the Dads.

The last trailer is for the Club AGM on 23 June at St Francis SS, starting at 8.00pm. Your committee work hard on your behalf throughout the year and they would welcome your feedback at the AGM. It is your opportunity to let us know what you want from your club. It is a chance for you to see what your subs are spent on and your opportunity to elect your committee for the next year. I know that for many this sounds rather boring but these things have to be done and as members you ought to be involved. We will go for a ride before hand, meeting at the football club for 6.30pm ending up at St Francis for a drink and the AGM.

That’s it from me. Stay safe

David

Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated !!

As most of you will be aware by now that I was involved in a motorbike accident on the 6 May and it is with great regret I write to inform you all of the passing of my faithful BMW F800. She was last seen laying with me on Jane's Lane Burgess Hill. Unfortunately, although the paramedics were able to stabilise me, the Beemer was not so lucky. (RIP)

I have broken my right leg in five places between my knee and my ankle but have been fortunate enough to avoid a plaster cast. I do need crutches to get around.I would like to thank everyone who sent me good wishes. It is times like these when you find out why this club is such a nice friendly club. Thanks. If anyone has a spare moment during the week, please give me a call and pop in for a cuppa, as I seem to have some time on my hands at the moment.

The insurance have decided to write my Bike off and I have accepted the offer so I am looking for a new bike. I have thought about a replacement F800 but I have never been someone to go backwards. I am looking at a new Honda CB1300 as Honda is doing 0% finance at the moment. This always makes things look better in the current financial climate, especially when you’ve just had a major accident andyou’re trying to justify a new bike to the wife, who thinks you’re mad.

Barry, can I have a concession on the Carpe Diem Competition as I cannot take a bike to places for photos, but I can take one very damaged Arai for the photo shoots???

Thanks again to everyone for being so kind.

Paul

For a change, the weather was bright and sunny when we met at the Football Club at 9.30 (Dave Pilbeam, Geoff Curtis and me). Traffic was light as we had a good ride via Lewes, Ringmer and Hailsham to arrive at Hastings about 10.45, then the fun started! The queue of bikes, trikes and quads started long before we reached the Carlisle Pub. The main sea-front car park was already full, so it was a case of finding a gap big enough for your bike. I ended up parking on the wide pavement opposite the amusement arcade so at least I had a chance of getting your bike out again. By 11o'clock bikes were being abandoned in the middle of the road, in the shopping precinct and even in the old town among the fishermen’s huts.

All types, makes and configurations of machines were present, including a huge number of Harleys. Many of them "tricked-up" with goodies that must of cost a fortune. We bumped into Geoff Linnington, Darren and Phil Lucas during our wander eastwards, towards the old town, and ended up at surprise, surprise, a pub where we sampled the various brews produced by Shepherd-Neane brewery. We spent some time here sitting outside to watch the world and their bikes go by, as you do.

The time came for food but with long queues at the Fish & Chip shops and the excessive prices - £8.50 for cod and chips made us look elsewhere. Eventually we found one of the fishermen had set up a takeaway stall selling "Fishermen’s Rolls" comprising a large brown or white roll, filled with 2 fresh fried fish fillets for £2 a time - delicious.

After a slow wander back to the bikes, we all managed to extract our bikes from the scrum of parked bikes and headed back towards home. The traffic was very heavy leaving Hastings but fortunately it thinned out by the time we reached Bexhill. Geoff C. left us near the Conquest Hospital to join the A21 back to Tonbridge, while Dave and I had a good run back via Battle and Heathfield.

So ended an excellent day out with lots to see, good weather, beer and food excellent - what a way to spend a Bank Holiday!!

Pat Drew

The opportunities to get out and about on the bikes and take photos has been severely restricted so far this year by the awful weather, especially over the Bank Holiday weekends. Rainfall for February was lower than average, but since then it has been wet, wet, wet (and cold). As far as I know, no rides further than the Lobster Pot at Bognor have been undertaken, (although Goodwood might be just a mile or so further!). Hopefully the weather will pick up as Mid-Summer Day approaches, giving the chance to get out and about in the sunshine and take in some more of the CD venues. Best of luck to you all.

Barry Pope.