VRA (UK)
Northern
After the games we returned to the pub, where we had another fine evening meal. As we had decided to ride back to the camp site we were unable to indulge in any alcohol, but nevertheless enjoyed the evening, although we were wilting by 10:30 pm and decided to head back early. So we said a few goodbyes (sorry if we missed anyone) and rode back to the camp site, with a slight detour by Hilts, who failed to see the sign and had to turn round in the nearby road junction! A few drinks in Gary & Nicole’s tent and then we were off to bed before midnight, must be getting too old for all the partying!
Sunday morning saw Gary & Nicole packed and ready to leave by about 9 am, while we still had lots to do, so we said our goodbyes and waved them off. Finishing breakfast, we then packed everything in the trailer and were ready to leave by around 10 am. After a look at the map we decided to retrace our motorway route in order to get home quickly. At least the trip home was in sunshine all the way, so although a bit tedious it was better than the outward journey.
All in all another terrific VRA weekend, enhanced by an extra couple of days sightseeing. We did lose something by not camping at the Wharf, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed being so packed in and at least we had decent showers and toilets and a quiet place to sleep. I would be interested to hear from someone who did stay at the Wharf, and also from someone who took part in the rideout.
Having arranged to meet Hilts and the Wench at a camp site in Mollington on the Wednesday before the AGM, I spent much of Tuesday trying to find the best way to load all our new kit into the trailer. This was to be the first use of our new, larger, tent, as well as new chairs and a different gas stove, so loading the trailer and getting it correctly balanced took a bit of experimentation.
On Wednesday we spent a leisurely morning finishing the packing, then left home
at around 1:30pm for the trip down to Banbury. The motorway trip was uneventful (BORING!)
except for a bit of filtering on the M40, with one stop for coffee and fuel, before
the short run north on the A423 to Mollington. The camp site, Anita’s, is on a working
farm in beautiful surroundings and is well-
Arriving at around 5:30pm we found Gary & Nicole already set up and having their evening meal. Pauline sat with Nicole having a cup of tea while Gary helped me put up the new tent, then we unloaded the bike and went for a short ride to Tesco at Banbury to get food for supper. This was consumed by torchlight in the tent, followed by an early night.
Thursday started with a leisurely breakfast and chat, The Times crossword
(not the cryptic one!), completed on Hilts’ Ipad, then we went for a ride to Kenilworth
Castle, where we had a light lunch and a walk around the castle and grounds in the
sunshine, returning to the camp site mid-
Friday morning saw us at the Rollright Stones, a large stone circle and burial ground on the hills above Chipping Norton. Another beautiful sunny day early on, but clouding up at lunchtime, we managed to escape any rain as we returned to the camp site for lunch. Then, finally, it was time to head to The Wharf Inn at Fenny Compton for the start of the VRA UK AGM weekend rally.
Arriving at about 2:30pm, we were directed onto the car park by Lord Sav,
then began the usual round of greeting friends we hadn’t seen for some months. There
were already quite a few tents up, with more going up as we watched. Inevitably we
ended up helping with one or two, but I soon slipped away to take pictures and see
who else was there. After a couple of coffees, meeting and greeting as many friends
as possible, and having a general look around, the downside of camping off site began
to have an impact. After some discussion about the merits of staying sober versus
getting a taxi, we worked out a strategy for the night. A trip to Tesco for cash
with Bulldog, then leave the VN at the camp site and a pillion ride back to the Wharf
on his 1600 and we had one bike at each end, ready for Saturday morning shuttles.
This was my first pillion ride since I was an eight-
So we were able to enjoy the evenings festivities, have a few drinks without
worrying and have a dance while the band played. Even so, we were ready to head for
some sleep at about Midnight, so started to make enquiries about transport. One of
the great services offered by the Wharf is free Friday night transport. A quick word
with Penny and she got the big pick-
Saturday morning we had breakfast in the tent, then I took Hilts for the short ride
back to the Wharf to collect his 1700, before we all mounted up to return for the
AGM and the rest of the days events. The AGM was a very quiet affair, I did feel
for Badges having to keep his review of the year going a bit longer than expected
while the VP votes were counted, but we got there in the end and the rest of the
meeting passed with very little comment. Congratulations to Wardy, our new VP, and
thanks to Lord Sav for having the commitment to stand and make a vote of it. Thanks
are also due to our outgoing VP, Bulldog, for his efforts in the past year. This,
and the support of his wife Julie, were recognised by the club with the presentation
of the Ravenscroft Award to Paul & Julie, a well-
After the meeting and buffet we decided to miss the rideout and instead head for Burton Dasset Country Park, just a few miles from the Wharf. We had been told that it was worth a look and this proved to be something of an understatement. The country park is on the hills overlooking stunning countryside, with tremendous views in all directions. The sun was shining and as if to order an ice cream van pulled into the car park just as we were dismounting from the bikes. A pleasant hour or so was spent sitting on the grass gazing at the views. Next we set off to look for the Castle Pub and a Motte & Bailey we had spotted on the map at a small village called Ratley. We found the pub, which looked stunning and overlooked yet more tremendous views, then carried on to the village, where, after a short walk, we found we were on the wrong side of the village. We could see what looked like the site of the Motte & Bailey on the opposite hill, but decided that was close enough!
What should have been a short ride back to the Wharf was slightly extended by a
seemingly confused satnav system that caused Hilts some frustration! After a couple
of false starts we decided to follow the road signs, so I took the lead in what turned
out to be a lucky detour along minor roads through some picturesque villages before
re-
I just had time for a quick snack before heading to the AGM games, which Spock then informed us had been postponed for an hour to allow the return of the main rideout group! So it was back to the pub for a sit, then back down to the green for the games at 6pm. I confess I wasn’t very keen on the games, but in the end I was glad I had taken part, as they really were a lot of fun, even though we came second.
VRA UK AGM 2011