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+ SHOULDER OF MUTTON, Thwaites.
We finally made it to the last stop off point of the day. The Shoulder of Mutton, after another quick drink and a photo shoot the bikes were packed back onto the wagon and the festivities got underway.
There was much partying in the Shoulder that night, James and Michelle put on the usual excellent stingy ring curry and accessories which was duly demolished by hungry punters and moped mob alike. Ian got the auction underway, the bargain of the night had to be the pair of wellies and gloves that had been liberated from some poor workman's vehicle and he had to bid to £30 to get them back!
The Star Buy of the night was most definately the water bottle full of coins that made an astonishing £300, was paid for and put back in the auction and resold for another £250. The generosity of the people down at the Shoulder holds no bounds, items were bid on, bought and paid for then given away, it was a fantastic night and everyone should be proud of themselves.
+ A new day dawns Sunday morning arrived all too soon and with it a little bit of sunshine. It was an earlier start today and there were a couple of frail mopeders due to Saturday's partying. The bikes were offloaded and a few repairs and adjustments made. Fred Flintstone managed to get the teletubbies ped going again which put a big smile on LaLa's face. Down at Marley car park for the big, one of the Scuba Diver's bikes was playing up but he still made the start. At 9.00am off we went, the first caualty of the day was the same Scuba Diver, his wheel bearing gave out as he hit the speed bumps on Aireworth Road, "bugger it, I'll keep going" and so he did.
Our fisrt major obstacle loomed into view, Hollins Hill. The fizzies and geared mopeds managed it without too much trouble but the rev and peddle brigade didn't fair too well with quite a few walking alonside their mounts to get them up the hill.
At the first stop in Harry Ramsden’s car park the spanners came out and a major strip down of the scuba divers carb took place, the man still managed to keep smiling. Onto the garage at Pool and another regroup, the lonely N.S.U refused to rev and the poor bee got left behind, which didn’t impress him and he let the other bees know about it, sorry Mr. Bee. The sun was still out and the riding was enjoyable, everybody was in fine spirits and there were more people about to cheer us on our way. The ride into Wetherby was great and the reception of the people there was marvellous, the girls had stopped the cars and got out and rattled their tins. Another scheduled stop on the York side of Rufforth saw the scuba diver try out his suit and start a new sport of deep puddle diving?
 Off we went again and onto possibly the scariest part of the run, the York ring road and a bit of the A64. One of the bee’s managed to spit him self off his bike but not too much damage was done and he was able to continue, licking his wounds and his pride as he went. The ride onto Stamford Bridge was very pleasant, apart from the fact that Fred Flintstone had been joined by Wilma today and she proved to be very handy with her club and a large water pistol! As though we hadn’t got wet enough the previous day! But it all added to the fun. We also saw the first breakdown of one of the Tate & Lyle Sugar Boys.
At Stamford Bridge the sandwiches were broke out and a few riders tried a quick drink in one of the pubs while the rest hurriedly repaired bent peddles and the like. The only bad point was a grumpy landlord not letting the girls shake their tins, one of the sugar boys had a quick, but not too sweet word with him though. Dinner over with, mounts repaired and fuelled and guess what? It started raining.
Up the road lay in wait the dreaded Garrowby Hill!! Surprisingly the first man up the hill was a scuba diver on his peddle and pop, complete with bright red top box, well done. The recovery wagon picked a couple up at the bottom and the bee’s lonely N.S.U broke it’s throttle cable, a new one was quickly fitted and he to made it to the top with his legs going like the proverbial bee’s wings. The mobile gynecologist pushed his mount up as did quite a few, the other scuba diver, complete with wobbly wheel pedalled the whole way up. Hoss on his AP50 ferried a couple of people up, I think he was just showing off though. A brilliant effort by everyone, and guess what, after everybody had got to the top, the sun came out.
It was a good distance to the next stop and again we were in for a pleasant ride, the sun was out, waterproofs had been cast off, Wilma was still bashing people on her way past on the back of Fred aboard the fizzie tiger. A couple of peds fell by the wayside, but nothing serious and Superman and Stephanie had commandeered a large comfy quad, lucky sods.
As we entered Flamborough, a full regroup was called for and the poorly bikes were taken off the back of the wagon and fettled enough so they could finish the last quarter of a mile. The Harley riding marshal took the lead and we all processed down the road to the Viking, with lights blazing and horns tooting! Mr Flintstone Senior had got the crowd whipped into a frenzy and there was much cheering and flag waving, a brilliant reception, thanks Mick. Cider fever again attacked the bee but I think we were all ready for a drink, and a bit of massaging of the butts!!
All in all 21 bikes set off and 21 bikes crossed the finish line.
Fair enough a few had spent a bit of time in the back of the wagon but with nothing too serious that they couldn’t be fixed. A good night was had by all at the Viking, even if it did shut a little prematurely in some peoples view. About £500 was raised in the raffle, which seemed to me that the regulars of the Shoulder and the Moped Mob shelled out the majority of the money again! So well done you lot.
Just a quick thanks to all the people and companies who sponsored the run in one way or another, Physique, The Shoulder of Mutton, The Kings Arms, Hobbsport, Sewer Rats, Dick Turpins Disciples, Back Street Heroes, just to name a few.
Keep a look out for future Moped Mob events because McGee, our intrepid leader, was heard to say that he‘s “had another idea!!” Oh shit.
The event eventually raised £11,000 for the Manorlands Sue Ryder Hospice.
A fantastic effort by everyone, well done.
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Moped Cadet
