Out and About Aug

Here are photos from different events and visits during 2017
sent in by our members.

Once again, Lincs Wingers gathered in Skegness for our Christmas Party at the Grosvenor Hotel. We were joined by Goldwinger friends from around the UK (Essex, Shropshire, Leeds ..) The weekend started on Friday with drinks and a catchup chat with friends in the bar. Then an evening of Carvery Dinner followed by live entertainment. Downstairs a live band played till 2.00am, whilst upstairs, we were treated to a host of female singers (all in one great singer) from the 60s followed by a great Rock and Roll Band.

Saturday started with a help-yourself breakfast (a yummy fry up) then out to hit the Skegness shops for some late Christmas shopping. The Christmas Party started at 6.00pm with a beautifully laid out ball room, and after dinner we were entertained with songs again from the 60s and 70s by a terrific singer. On the way in, we had photos taken - so it was a great excuse to break out the glad rags and get dressed up. We also had the added treat that it was Susan's birthday, celebrating her 70th year. She received cards, gifts and a smashing cake. Finally on Sunday morning, we had another lovely breakfast before packing up and returning home.

At this year's Skegness Light Parade we missed seeing Jack and his family as visitors to the parade. Jack has cerebral palsy and has great difficulty controlling his muscles. Which means that he is confined to his chair and has great difficulty in expressing himself. However, each year when he has come to visit us and he has been helped aboard a Goldwing, his excitement and pleasure are plain to all. Unfortunately, his grandma Cath, who normally brings him to the parade, was ill and couldn't attend. So a few of us (Trevor, Martin G and me) decided to visit Jack at his School so that he and his friends wouldn't miss out of the thrill of seeing the bikes.

We set out on a grey windy and damp morning, meeting up at the Friendly Farmer in Newark and then heading up through Mansfield and Chesterfield to arrive at the School by 11.00am. Before we could even get in the door to register as visitors, Jack and his mates were already streaming out of the doors to see us. Although Jack has difficulty moving, he was literally jumping out of his chair with excitement to see us. Having completed administration, we took the kids around to the bikes and with the use of a high tech lift, Jack was hoisted into place on the bike.

It may have been a dull day but there was real sunshine in the smiles of the kids that came to see us. We stayed until 3.00pm with each of the classes coming along to see the bikes. Trevor had his Yellow GL1800 which the kids thought was 'hot', whilst my dark Blue GL1800 with an eagle on the front was declared 'cool', and the kids went nuts over Martin's Startrek Enterprise and Shuttlecraft trailer. They climbed over the bikes, pressed every button, pulled and pushed every level and generally had a whale of a time. I had added my flashing light bars to the aerials that we use for the Light Parade and these went down a treat. On top of this we were bombarded with questions about the bikes and then thanked by each class with a roaring 'THANKYOU'.

Just before we departed, I went again to see Jack in his classroom and he demonstrated a new piece of kit he had been given called an 'Eye Gazer'. This is a computer screen with icons which stand for words. Jack has to gaze at the icons to bring them up to the top of the screen to make up sentences and communicate what he wants. For me this was an eye-opener because it showed that even though Jack was locked up in a body he couldn't control, his mind and his thought processes are still those of the 10 year old boy.

Although it had started out as an iffy day and we did get some rain on the way home, we all agreed that it had been a great day out and it was worthwhile to be able to see the kids enjoying themselves so much. Perhaps we can arrange another visit next year but we can aim for the summer months so that we are not so much at risk of the weather. Here is Neil Amos (Deputy Head) and a few members of staff with us and our bikes at the end of a long but satisfying day.

I await more photos from Neil once he has secured permission from parents to use them on our website.

Details and pictures of this year's Skegness Light Parade can be viewed
on the SKLP sub site. Click here to follow the link

In preparation for the Skegness Light Parade, a group of us was invited to appear on the BBC Lincolnshire FM show, Melvyn in the Morning. The staff at Radio Lincolnshire were terrific. They greeted Sandy & Jayne, Doug & Sue and Stephen & Lynne as we parked up outside the BBC studio. We were then invited in for coffee and toilets and a warm chat before we were introduced to Melvyn Prior.

Melvyn came out just after 11.00 and as a consummate professional he introduced us each to the microphone and guided the discussion to turn out a really nice interview - despite the fact that it was all done 'off the cuff'. You can hear the interview on the BBC iPlayer. The interview gave us an opportunity to talk about the Goldwings, our Club, and to inform everyone about our charity fund raising activities, especially the forthcoming Light Parade in Skegness. Melvyn had a guided tour over each of our bikes and then asked us to start the engines so that he could monitor their sound - he was most impressed by how quiet the Goldwings are. After the guided tour, Sandy and Jayne gave a great run down on the Parade and they encouraged people to come visit us over the weekend. To finish off, Melvyn couldn't resist sitting on Sandy's Trike and revving the engine for a group photo. Here are a few more pictures from that morning. Lets hope you heard it and will join us for the Skegness Light Parade this Saturday.

Directly after our monthly meeting in Langworth, four bikes left for a trip to Winterton Steam Rally. Sue and Doug, Mark and Debbie, Marion and Trevor and Ian and Sue. We took the scenic route through Market Rasen to Caneby Corner and joined A15 riding through light showers to Brigg and on to Winterton show ground. We met up with Tim and Louise from the MS Charity stand who are regular visitors to our Skegness Light Parade. Very impressed by numbers of exhibits ranging from classic and vintage motorcycles to steam engines and tractors. We stayed for a couple of hours among the sunshine and showers, then said goodbyes to be homeward bound.

Martin and Christine once again braved the elements to cross over to Welsh Wales and to join in the Llandudno Light Parade. Here are a few photos sent in to prove they were there and having a great time.

The weather was fine and Trev & Marion planned to take a ride up to Caister for a cup of coffee. So Stephen & Lynne joined them at Billinghay and enjoyed a nice ride through Martin, Woodhall Spa, Horncastle, then north to Caister. I admit that I have passed Caister many times but never once entered the town. This time, following Trev, we dived into the twisty town streets to find a piece of level ground to park the bikes. We were in luck and managed to park up just a few yards in front of the Library. As you enter the library, there is a coffee shop on the ground floor and the walls are decorated with artistic photos. Upstairs they have an internet cafe, library, art gallery and museum. We enjoyed coffee and cake and then took a wander around this gem of a venue before setting off again for the ride home.

Leaving Caister, we cut south to Market Rasen then East to stop off at Willingham woods where we took a rest and had lunch. We then continued East towards Louth then South past Cadwell Race Course to Horncastle, Coningsby and home. A really great day out with weather just right (not too hot and not too cold).

Lincs Wingers turned out for the UK Treffen held this year at Driffield Rugby Club in our neighbouring region of Yorkshire. Mark & Debbie (fresh from their trip to the Irish Treffen), Doug & Sue, Ian and Sue, Larry & Caroll, Martin (with the Starship Enterprise), Stephen & Lynne, Paul, and Stephen & Lorraine (with their nice 2014 edition GL1800) all put in appearances to help the festivities along. Unfortunately, Sandy (our Rep) couldn't make it this year due to pressures of work - so sorry Sandy, but we downed a few in your honour. The Treffen this year was undertaken on a smaller scale than previous years but it lacked none of the customary atmosphere of a good old Goldwing meeting. More than 340 bikes were inscribed (312 from UK) at the event with travellers coming in from ten other European countries. At the awards ceremony on Saturday evening it was good to see both Finland and Czech Republic walking away with trophies (nice to see our newer member nations getting a taste). There was a Light Parade on the Friday night which was well conducted and well received by the local population. Saturday provided a rideout around the lovely Yorkshire country roads and then the Parade of Nations took place on Saturday evening. Sunday included the 'Best Bike' competition alongside the 'Skilled Rider' contest so there was plenty to see and do. Driffield Rigby Club provided the bar and the restaurant arrangements which worked out very well and the staff were all helpful and friendly.

Here are a few photos from the event to give you an idea of the beautiful weather and the friendly atmosphere of a well organised event. Also here is a great big thankyou to the GWOCGB members who worked tirelessly to organise, manage and secure the event over the long Bank Holiday weekend. Well done to all.

Mark and Debbie took the trip over to Ireland for this year's Treffen. Here they are out and about with friends and visiting the Giant's Causeway.

Doug and Sue, Denis and Gwen, Sandy and Jayne all at the Norfolk Wing Ding. After a run out to the Banham Zoo rally, stopped off at David Silver Honda Museum in Leiston. Many thanks to Dave Silver, and sally's team at the
BAKE N BUTTY

The BMF held a Dambusters Rally at Thorpe Camp this year. As well as enjoying a pleasant camping weekend, Dave and Elaine also visited the displays and exhibitions offered by the Thorpe Camp Museum. These included mock ups of World War II (WWII) aircraft and the crew positions (there's a really cool working radio shack) plus lots of quirky things from the 1940s that we have forgotten about. Like the hydraulically operated pop-up pillboxes made to be installed on airfields - they normally sat retracted and out of the way of airfield traffic but could be lifted up to provide formidable airfield defence from protected positions. Also, during WWII, lots of equipments was being manufactured throughout Britain but how could you prevent theft? A great idea was in the manufacture of boots for the armed forces. Each factory was contracted to make either 'left' or 'right' boots but never both. This way, no-one could steal a pair of boots - simple, ingenious but very effective. The museum is also close to RAF Woodhall Spa and the Dambusters memorial wall which deserved a visit. Of course the museum also includes many military artefacts and equipment since the 19402 including an English Electric Lightning jet fighter which served throughout the 50s and 60s as our main air defence fighter. Also a Bloodhound missile system which was one of the earliest Air Defence missile systems built to combat high altitude enemy aircraft trying to encroach on our airspace.

Attractions at the rally included a number of bands playing on the Friday and Saturday night with a showing of the original Dambusters movie late on the Saturday night. The Blue Bell pub is a few minutes walk away and this was used by the aircrews during the war so full of history with exhibits of items left by them hanging on the walls. There was a rideout on the Saturday morning and there was a bar at the venue selling cheap beer and a catering van attended which sold great food at reasonable prices. Highlights at the van were the terrific "biker burgers" and the traditional full English breakfasts.

Overall, a great little museum and a great weekend. This was the second Dambusters Rally organised by the BMF. A video from the 2016 rally can be viewed here. This is well worth a future visit for any bikers.

Doug and Sue took a trip up to Pudsey for the Yorkshire Wing Ding. They took a Rideout to visit the 'Oldest Sweet Shop' in the UK where they enjoyed topping up with sweeties. They also joined the Rideout to Patley Bridge for a very nice day out. Finally, here's Snowball enjoying a cuddle !!