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“Just look at that lot” was the thought that sprang to mind as I got to the Shoulder on Saturday morning. The turn out was spectacular, people and mopeds that had not been seen before were all converged and ready for the off. Altogether 36 mopeds and riders, 98% of them in fancy dress, chomping at the bit and ready to go. Once again our intrepid leader had gone over the top by dressing his ped up as well as himself and his daughter, Laura, the brave girl.
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Fancy dress was at its best this year with a whole jail full of convicts making an appearance, some really dodgy looking Power Rangers, although Terry looked a cutie !! McGee’s Bee’s were there again, a full compliment thanks to Simon, who had come over from Cyprus to take part, cheers old bean ! A dubious looking monk with a couple of his floozy’s, Nuns on the run ? Toy Stories Woody, His Holiness Bishop Patrick, who incedently was the mastermind of this years challenge. The ever faithful Superman, some kind of Pokeyahiyawaffle Indian bird and ever so many more.
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And our very own celebrity
Peter Armitage star of Coronation Street.
Peter kindly donated many fabulous
Corrie prizes for the auction. |
The 1/2 BHP POWER RANGERS | |
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Any how, at the allotted time the peds were fired up and every one set off, leaving the Shoulder in a cloud of 2 stroke smoke.
First regroup stop was at Sutton . Only a few watchers here but treated to a marvellous site. All together now and off we go. Crosshills saw our first two casualties. Over the Moss and into Colne, where we did a quick circuit of the town centre and stopped in the Union car park for a fag or two. Spare mopeds were unloaded and two pedders were happy again. From Colne to Barnoldswick, another circuit and then onto Dick Turpins for a brew and a buttie. Many sincere thanks to Jackie and her happy band of bikers who once again have been winkling cash out of people on behalf of our chosen charity "The Yorkshire Air Ambulance".
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Once we had all been fed and watered , and a few tune ups to a couple of peds, it was back on them and on our way , leaving the buttie wagon and heading towards Skipton, after a few hundred yards we turned left onto the narrow back roads. I chose to ride at the back at this point and must admit that the sight of thirty six or so mopeds, with riders in fancy dress snaking up the road was pretty damn impressive !! As we made our way towards Settle it became apparent that the lads and lass who had volunteered to marshal had got it together and were doing a sterling job. It also became apparent that the words “follow Patrick or you will get lost” had been chosen to be ignored as a few riders that had got a squirt on couldn’t decide which way to go as we approached Settle and a little bit of “frustration “ reared its ugly head. After all this wasn’t meant to be a race !!
We arrived at Settle and managed to park on the square, the girls had been out collecting and telling all and sundry what we were all about so quite a few people came across to admire the peds and interrogate us. A few of us (read nearly all of us) thought it was a good idea to get a refreshment or two into us so we retreated to a pub.
Once we had gathered every one ,we mounted up and continued our way on the last bit of day one, a mellow little climb up to Helwith Bridge. Many thanks to Colin and the staff at The Helwith Bridge Inn for their hospitality and warm welcome. I think a good time was had by all. Jabberjaw still didn’t manage to pace himself though.
At about ten o clock a lone motor bike and side car came bumbling into the car park, parked in the middle and the rider and passenger got off or out, as the case may be. The rider fumbled about in the side car and produced a set of bagpipes, which he wrestled with for a minute or two , then started to play the thing. The look on Whitby’s and The Lovely Deb's face was a picture, the pair happened to be Leif and Amelia, good friends of Whitby and Debs and had come down from Inverness , in bad weather, suffered two brake downs ,to surprise them . Geordie had been on tenterhooks all night, as he knew they were coming, and they were very late. Anyhow, a few tears were shed , and Debs cried a bit as well. Leif was duly invited into the pub and at Colin’s request gave the locals and pedders a tune or two.
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