UK THUMPER WEEKEND, ABERGAVENNY, WALES by Miguel Dasoul (kindly Translated by Sjak Evers wife)
Meeting in Oostende. Four Dutchmen and two Belgians. Meanwhile Gerard tried to make a penny out of bringing in illegals but the ticket in the name of Ha San was pinched by a Belgian. So with 6 guys over the quiet sea direction Dover. Ton had starting problems for the first time. After that 38 miles a ride without problems along the beautiful English coast (there is an enormous difference between England and Scotland, especially the inhabitants). Now, because we do not want a boring trip (otherwise we could just as well ride a BMW) the only MuZ, which become a bit strange in the SRX Connection, collapsed and once was the source of a lot of trouble. After a 200-years walk we found a small engineering company who also worked with motorcycles. They were able to recondition the rear suspension in one hour. The trip goes on, Ton has starting problems. The main roads are overfull, so we go inland along the smaller roads direction B and B, but only overcrowded B and B's there. After stopping and setting off again for many times (Ton becomes tired) we were allowed to camp in a garden of a B and B near Horsham. The Dutchmen borrowed a luxury tent from the owner (with a beautiful Bandit) and also to demolish it afterwards. A SUBSTANTIAL BREAKFAST After the wake-up service by parakeets and a substantial breakfast the expedition goes on direction coast in glorious weather and blue sky to the Sammy Miller Museum near Milton. Very beautiful and many special bikes. It's a detour worth making. Just a step on it direction Abergavenny, where we have found the meeting at the farm camp site quite easily. Dinner had to be ordered immediately, for the cook wanted to go home. Next followed Guinness. Rene preferred an overfull, lukewarm, still pint, they normally throw down the sink. The next day we were up bright and early after a substantial breakfast. After an even more substantial kick-session of Ton, the ride followed with some other mono's and 2 BSA's Gold Star, one is run over and the other one explodes. Beautiful roads in a beautiful landscape with a lot of sheep. Some descents have a lot of gravel and some ride through the rivers. Now and then we halt in the glorious landscape with even more glorious weather. Some people take the time to take a bath. NOW AND THEN THERE IS AN HALT After the man in orange riding on an orange bike started ramming other cars we were held up by the police on the way back. At night some bikes had a pint of oil and their little bosses pints (4/4) of beer (or coca cola). Only the carter crankcase of Gerard's SRX had been forgotten. At night in the pub there was a Special Act of the just exploded BSA rider who played a bagpipe. The road towards bed was long and dark (Rene thought the morning was still dark). At Sunday we went direction Aberdare for the Road Races. Ton stayed horizontal during the day between 1000 sheep. Mad races in a city park along the trees (for some between the trees). Only Pascal was allowed in the field. There he saw his work of Art in other colours. A SRX-Tigcraft dream. The last race was the funniest. The mono's and also the mono BMW against the two-stroke motors. Back on the camping Ton had made a proper recovery. After watering the bottomless SRX it is our turn. Behind the corner Rene had discovered another cask with a dusty pillow on top of it, filled with other dirt that tasted better than the last dishwater. Just before the flying-out there was another Special Act of a Norwegian, originally English, playing the piano. Going outdoors the neighbours waved goodbye, already 2 minutes past eleven (PM). The day before the return trip we were woken up (again) by the sheep. After Ton's starting problems it was a race against the clock. After having lost each other and having found each other again for a couple of times, and having filled up a few times (petrol and oil) Sjak's SRX was 8 grams too heavy, which Rene just took out of the fuel cap. Anyway, we still arrived in Dover via le Tour de Londre. Filled our stomach and then onto the ship. The sea was less quiet between Dover and Oostende. As a result of this some of us had trouble digesting the Dover food in time. We were surrounded by seawater. Gerard preferred to look into sweet water during the crossing. Attentive Ton even had a small present for the staff. The brown complexion of the sunny trip on many people's faces soon made place for a pale colour of the grey sky which was waiting for us. We left the ship with pleasure. Ton had starting problems. Four Dutchmen and two Belgian. Back in Belgium we rode together until Gent, then nationalities split up and there were wishes to meet in Schoorl. For the Belgian still an hour to go, for the Dutchmen it probably will be a short night, this time not woken up by parakeets or sheep, but by a blody shrill alarm. But with in the back of my mind a lot of nice and good memories of a successful meeting, in short, it was printed on Rene's shirt. We put on the shower proof suits and ride on. Ton started immediately. The end of a fantastic meeting in the beautiful UK. Surely it bears repetition and those who stayed at home were wrong. Next year no apologies accepted.

In the name of the SRX connection (when turbulent sea SRX consicktion)

DAS