Ride to the Wall RTTW 2009
National Memorial
An excellent report written by Ian Duxbury can be found on Stuarts GoldWing blog with images from the day in the RTTW gallery and also at GoldWing’s North Wales event gallery.
RTTW 2009 is a fund raising event in aid of the National Memorial Arboretum, taking place on Saturday October 10th.
Located in the heart of the country within the National Forest near Lichfield, the National Memorial Arboretum comprises 150 acres of trees and memorials devoted to the concept of Remembrance. It is the home of the Armed Forces Memorial, a striking and emotive structure that gives recognition and thanks for those who have died whilst on duty or as a result of terrorist action since the Second World War and acknowledges the enduring sacrifice of those who mourn their loss.Ride To The Wall is supported by motorcyclist throughout the UK and this year 5000 + bikers are expected to ride into the Memorial to show their support. You can register for the ride and make a donation here.
We will meet at Knutsford Services on the M6 southbound at 8:00 am, leaving at 8:15 am. There is likely to be several other bike clubs at this meeting place so we should have plenty of company and a great ride down to Drayton Manor Park to muster with other bikers. The ride in to the Arboretum is scheduled to leave at around 11:00 am, taking approx 30 Min’s. There will be service of remembrance at 1:30 pm and a fly by at approx 1:55 pm. From the forum and Internet chatter this sounds like it will be an awesome day. Lets have a good turn out from Goldwings North West. Spread the word.
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Lesley | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Bob do we need to register to go on the 10th? I cant see why we couldnt go if we can still register. At a time when we are in conflict and so many of our young lads are giving their lives for us, we should stand up and give our thanks to them.
Maybe send out a mass email to members may alert them more to this than just on the site, lots of folk have posh phones that they can retrieve their emails on
Lesley | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Bob just read some of the forum over there, we can register on the day, and as a group so can we do it, can we????
admin | Sep 29, 2009 | Reply
Even though it means getting up 2 hours before going to bed, I’m game for this one on October 10th Bob.
I see that one group of bikes is leaving from Knutsford Services very very very very very early – like 8am in the blasted morning! Maybe we could meet up there and leave with them? I’ll be the one snoring loudly.
We have to be at Drayton Manor Theme Park ready to muster by 10:30am, ready to depart from there at 11am.
The ride to the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield, should only take about half an hour – mind you, the service there isn’t til 1.30pm (so I don’t know why they are going so early). There is a fly past at 1.55pm.
regards
Nigel (aka “Big Wing”)
Bob Summers | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
OK lets go. Everyone sounds positive and it certainly has my full support. Meet at Knutsford at 8:00 am, leaving for 8:15. Really looking forward to this.
Bob Summers
Bob Summers | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
OK thats me registered, quite painless via paypal. I have said we will be bringing around 12 bikes. See what you can do to top this if you would.
Bob
Judy Goodman | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Have I missed something? Is there something special on that day? I have gone to the website but there is’nt any info for 10th. We have wanted to go there for awhile, I’ll speak to the boss when I know what’s going on.
Judy
Lesley | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
Well I am sorted for this bike fest to the RTTW. I have booked the week off work so I can do both things on Saturday and Sunday before I go on a trike hunt, it may be our last run out on Daphne, so lets have a good turn out for such a special event.
As a few of us has family serving at this time it is a fitting thing to do.
see you all soon.
Lesley | Oct 1, 2009 | Reply
lol the above post was Barry not Lesley and he has been up since 3 so please ignore his spelling…. he is now in bed!!
bugger, just corrected all the mistakes (Ed.)
Lesley | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Judy its a huge event, last year 2,000 bikes turned up, this year its looking like there will be a hell of a lot more.
Bob watching the videos lots of lads were wearing high vis jackets, how about us wearing the federation high vis vest on the day?, just a thought x
Bob Summers | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Nigel
Can you see if you can encourage some support from Goldwings North Wales Members, we could have a healthy turn out for this run.
Bob
Ian Duxbury | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
Hi Team!
Registered and raring to go!
Big Wing | Oct 2, 2009 | Reply
I’m working on it Bob – I’ve emailed all our members and friends. Sadly, DaveT can’t make it, as he has to go and be fitted for a new pinnie or something. The ladies are already booked for their annual Craft Show too, so I may be Billy NoMates! You don’t have any spare blondes, do you?
Big Wing | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
Come on Bob and Ian, keep up at the back – why haven’t you got Gravatars yet? Surely you didn’t fail their strict “far too too ugly – might scare the kids” criteria?!
Mind you, I did too until I used this younger photo of me!
Ian Duxbury | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
Go on then, Nigel, What’s a Gravatar? Do I need one? How can I get one? Will it make me more attractive to the Ladies? Do tell………
Bob Summers | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
Nigel
I would if I knew what a Gravatars was and how to grow one?
Bob
Big Wing | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
You mean you don’t read Stuart’s blog, where I already described it?
A Gravatar is a “Globally Recognized Avatar” – an image that follows you from website to website, appearing beside your name when you do things like comment or post on a blog. The image can be a photo of you, or your cat, or your bike…… or even Bart Simpson if you’re daft enough!
Sign up for a Gravatar at http://en.gravatar.com/ – it’s free.
Big Wing | Oct 3, 2009 | Reply
Right Judy, it looks like just you without an illustrious Gravatar now – so let’s see what you can do!
Judy Goodman | Oct 4, 2009 | Reply
Ee by gum, we done it. WE HAVE A GRAVATAR. I did’nt even know what it was afew hours ago, it just shows, between us we can do anything. Is it illustrious enough Nigel? A Bavarian beer each, nice.
Jeff Thornton | Oct 5, 2009 | Reply
Bob
Last time I had a gravatar I was ill for a week !
If I get my wing back, we will try and make saturday but at that time of the morning I will still be in my nightie.
Jeff
Graham & Jacci | Oct 6, 2009 | Reply
Lesley, will you two now be leaving the 4×4 at home and bringing the trailer tent with a trike?
Judy Goodman | Oct 6, 2009 | Reply
Hi all.
I’m sorry but we can’t make the RTTW, Frank only finishes work and gets home about the time we would have to leave, it would’nt be a good idea as he might just nod off. But have a good day all of you, I’ll be thinking of you, so keep it in your minds to tell us about it when we see you. Love to everyone and enjoy the day.
Ian Duxbury | Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Nice response I received to my mail:
From Alan Munro:
Hi Ian,
I’m off to Gabon,West Africa on Thursday for a month, so cannot make it. But I’ve been onto the website and made a donation to Help4heroes.
Thanks
Alan
Great idea if you can’t make it but want to show your support.
Jeff Thornton | Oct 9, 2009 | Reply
Hi
Sorry guys,cannot make the RRTW, still not got my wing back,have a good day.
Jeff
Lesley | Oct 10, 2009 | Reply
Its a shame you cant come jeff i hope you have had a few stern words. How long is it now they have had your wing must be going on 5 weeks.
I am glad i took your advice on where to take mine for its service thats bad so long for your work to be done.
see you soon.
barry | Oct 10, 2009 | Reply
Well folks what a great great great run that was.Who would have thought that 500 plus bikes of all types could get on so well.
It was a superbly marshalled ride from drayton manor to the memorial loads of people along the route waving and cheering.
100/100 for the peoplr that set this up.
I cant speak for the rest that went from gnw but for us it is well worth putting on the boards for next year.
The fly past of the spitfire topping the bill was awesome.
THANK YOU TO ALL for making a good day great.
p.s
my spell checker was making tea while i wrote this.
barry | Oct 10, 2009 | Reply
dam that was ment to say 5000 not 500
Big Wing | Oct 11, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for letting me join you on yesterday’s ride – a very memorable day as it turned out. We must do it again next year and get even more members involved.
There seemed to be very few Wings there (30?), but about 3,000 Harleys! Good job there weren’t any more of them or we might have lost the punch-up!
I’ve just uploaded the best of my photos here:
Crezz | Oct 12, 2009 | Reply
Nice to meet up with so many of you at the services, not seen any of you since BLP.
What a great day we had, albeit a sombre affair when we finally arrived at the memorial.
God willing we will be able to do this again next year.
Lest We Forget.
Ian Duxbury | Oct 13, 2009 | Reply
Hi Nigel,
Don’t know if it’s just me, but I can’t get the link to work?
Big Wing | Oct 13, 2009 | Reply
Damn, damn, damn, damn…………
Sorry Ian – I was trying to be clever, but only succeeded in revealing that I am not! I have put the full URL in there now instead.
Apologies again – I suspect you knew where to find them anyway.
No he didnt. I had to explain fully & at length how to find them. (Ed)
Bob Summers | Oct 13, 2009 | Reply
Adrian
Your right, it was a really moving day. I found a couple of names on the wall that took me back quite a few years and the Spitfire was amazing, which they always are. Ian’s wife Lynette summed it all up when she commented ” the thing which made the greatest impression on her was not the expanse of wall which contained names, but rather, that expanse which didn’t. How wonderful it would be if that were never needed to be used”.
This run will certainly be in the calendar for next year. Trust we will see you before then, why not pay us a visit at our next meeting, or better still come to our anniversary dinner dance
regards Bob Summers