As I had been volunteered as run leader by our beloved club secretary Sue, I thought I had better be nice and early for MUFO at 9am.
So up early, quick look at weather, worth the risk, so off to the pub to round up all the merry men.
I arrived at the pub, riding solo on the Wing (failed to wake the secretary up to come as pillion) to find just one other bike and rider waiting, I parked up and dismounted to be promptly approached by our pub landlord Mike who asked if we could park on the road as the pub car park was being used as a check point for the Waendel Walk and he didn't want the car park clogged up with loads of motorbikes HA HA HA.
John Shaw and I waited patiently for all the others to arrive. My phone then rang, it was Sue who had been woken up by Whitey (a major feat that I had failed at, well done Whitey), to say that he was running late and to wait for him, ironically he travelled 20 miles to the pub only to retrace his tracks on the way to Gaydon.
We waited until 9.10am, still only the 3 of us, so we decided to set off. Me as run leader, no need for the buddy system. I had set the Sat Nav for the shortest route as I know that takes us through the villages. We bimbled along towards Northampton via Sywell dodging in and out of the walkers all over the road. Clearing the walkers we made better progress, further on, unknown to the others I missed an instruction from Sally Sat Nav and on her re routing we were told to turn right. The road seemed to be into a farm although a definite road was showing on the screen, single track and meadow to both sides, oncoming traffic in the form of Model T Fords and other small vintage cars, probably narrower than the Goldwing and yet barely enough room to pass.
What superb roads, perhaps better miss instructions more often.
As we got nearer to Gaydon it became obvious that we were going the right way as we were meeting more bikers and forming a convoy.
We parked up, found a place on the Wing to stow all the equipment for all 3 of us and wandered down to the event.
Pretty much standard format, trade stands, training and advanced riding groups, brilliant stunt riding displays and of course the Heritage Motor Museum.
Into the museum café for pie and chips then a nostalgic wander around . So as not to tempt the clouds any more it was time to make our way home.
We rode home separately as we mostly do.
All in all a good day with lots to see although I had seen it all before. I did wonder, due to the low attendance, whether the event had been announced, but of course it had as we had a new member turn up, John Shaw, his first ride with us. Welcome John.
Dan

Thanks to all the riders that came down to the club for my ride out. There where 13 bikes in total, we left the pub at around 8pm after waiting for Dan to change his trousers, not sure what that was all about, maybe the thought of a ride out lead by myself was to much for him( ha ha). By the time we where ready for the off there was around 13 bikes and riders ready to go, along with two new riders which Sue took no time at all to sign up as members,way to go Sue!
We left the Ten O'clock car park and headed towards Finedon then on to Woodford under the A14 heading into Thrapston, coming out of Thrapston heading towards Ringstead, some nice fast and windy back roads hopping over the A45 at Raunds heading towards Chelveston on some even more windy back roads. Then it all went a bit mad, well what can I say, there is only one thing to do when going down the Hargrave straight and boy did we do it (he he). We then headed out towards two lovely little villages called Upper and Lower Dean so even more lovely back roads then finally ending up at The Chequers pub at Yelden just outside of Rushden.
The whole ride was approx 30 miles and lasted around 35 to 40 mins, everyone who came said they had a good time even the new comers. Maybe a bit fast, will have to keep that in mind for my next run.
So all that is left to say is once again thank you to everyone that came along and also thanks to Mickey 2 Hornets for being my T.E.C.
Tin Tin

Despite an overcast showery evening I found 16 other silly buggers waiting at the 10 o'clock when I arrived. All of us looking at the sky scratching our heads... Should we?... Shouldn't we?... We decided we should and no sooner had we set off we wish we shouldn't!!
I think it rained the whole way!! Probably not the best evening for Dan to scrub in his new front tyre on the wing! Well done Dan for getting to the pub and keeping it shiny side up.
The route I planned took us from the 10 O'clock to Orlingbury, Hannington, over the Pitsford Resovoir to Brixworth, Spratton, Ravensthorpe, Long Buckby to the A5 and then on to Weedon cross roads & up to Pattishall and along Ruth's old school bus route to Bugbrooke and on to Bugbrooke's Five Bells.
I decided to cut the route a bit shorter as we were all pretty much soaked through! I think I can say that we were all glad to reach the pub & dry out... as a little bonus and to make a ride in the wet worth it I'd arranged some FREE chippies - which seemed to go down very well.
But no sooner had we dried out (slightly) it was time to leave for the journey home... IN THE RAIN!
All in all a VERY WET run and a most enjoyable evening in the pub. Thanks everyone for attending my first rideout as leader... Hopefully my next one will be dry!
Whitey

During the day, there was no sign of a respite in the weather for the evening.
Getting kitted up in the garage as it drizzled steadily outside, I thought, “At this rate, I'll be the only stupid bugger to turn up”. A quick text from Sue, saying Dan was already wheeling his bike out of the garage, meant this was it! Still, as it happened, this was to be the only falling down water (from the sky) we were going to see for the rest of the night. We even had a dry road at one point along the 644.
FIVE stupid buggers set off from the 10 O'clock after a hastily revised route kept the run short, but interesting. Not as short as one suggestion. “Down to the roundabout and back in the car park”!
We had a good 50 minute blast. Incident free, aside from a couple of cars trying to squeeze through gaps that were filled with more than just the one bike then! (Goldwings can be so intimidating) and Dan having had at least 1 front-end “moment” on the loose stuff. Whitey, my Tail-End, declared, “I wouldn't have wanted it any drier”, after somebody had said that was a brisk run.
We had stopped at the Samuel Lloyd. A relatively new pub adjacent to Corby’s Triangle and being a Whetherspoons, I think we liked this falling down water better than most.
Straight away a local made conversation with us, and Prof and Dan were very quickly suckered in for the evening. To be fair, these weren't the usual ramblings of a drunken Scot. After all, Gordon had to get both himself AND the Be Em home that night!
Personally speaking, I think the locals were most excited to meet Prof and Dan (having just returned from the Scotland branch holiday) because now they can say they've met someone who has actually been there!!
One day, I'll get a dry E.O.R........ ONE DAY!
Kev

Russel

The weather was awful all week up to Wednesday, when there was a small break.... ish. The rain clouds followed us, occasionally spitting but always threatening heavy showers. Unfortunately the cold and damp meant that Liz and Steve left us halfway, which was a shame.
The rest of the journey was uneventful save a couple of missed turns, but as the night got very dark it wasn't surprising. Cambridge Branch had forgotten that we were coming, so we got a very warm welcome from them. Despite the weather, it was a great run.
Ruth

Little Harrowden was once again filled with hundreds of bikers as they enjoyed the summer sun at the Branch Charity Show, raising over £8,500 for the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
This was the fourth year of the Charity Show, which has now raised well over £34,000 for this deserving charity.
The free afternoon consisted of the live duo The Richtones (who performed for nothing), barbecue (with all the food donated by the landlord), massive charity auction and a hotly contested 'Best & Worst' bike competition.
The visitors to the show voted Pete Johnston's superb CB400/4 as the Best Bike, with the Worst Bike being Dave Wilson's BMW, named "Purple Grace".
Well done to Sue and Dan who worked so very hard to make this happen and thanks to everyone who contributed to raise this amazing total.