Sarah’s 21st Birthday surprise – Report from Sarah

On the morning of Sunday 18thof July, having been back on British soil for only a week, I was waiting nervously, cup of tea in hand, for my big 21st Birthday Surprise.

There had been many clues and hints from my family about what it was going to be, I was to put on jeans and not leggings, boots (in July) and to wear my naturally curly hair straight. So my first thought was that I was going to watch the Rugby, but then I was told that was not the case. So I ended up sitting at the kitchen table at 10am with a cup of tea and no idea what was going on at all. The whole scenario became even more peculiar when my parents started having a quarrel about how to cook large amounts of bacon. Why did we need lots of bacon? ……then I thought I had the answer…..a bacon butty eating contest.

At just after 10 0’clock things began to happen, my parents started rushing in and out of the kitchen shutting the door behind them leaving my brother Robin as guard dog to check that I did not sneak a peek at what was going on. After several agonising minutes I was ushered to open the front door to Ian Duxbury who took me down the drive to a row of the most fabulous, shiny and colourful motorbikes I had ever seen, along with the smiling faces of their owners.

At first all I could say was ‘This is amazing!’ over and over again, but after Jim and Chandra presented me with the coolest Honda GoldWing jacket I was completely dumbfounded. Next Ian presented me with Honorary membership of GoldWings North West, so it was official I was about to become a GoldWinger!

A few minutes later, I managed to find my voice again and after a few more lines of ‘this is amazing’ and ‘wow’, we all trooped inside for the ominous McArthur Bacon Butties and cups of tea. After having a chat with the other GoldWingers, I was suited and booted for my GoldWing experience and was taken outside and asked which bike I wanted to ride on, and as I was standing in front of Jim’s lovely blue GoldWing (adorned with two 21st birthday banners and a Teddy on the back) I chose to ride with him. After finding suitable bikes for the rest of my family, and having our pictures taken for the paper, we were off to Matlock.

To be honest I didn’t really catch on where we were going until we got to Buxton, but it was quite exciting having a bit of a magical mystery tour! As the weather was not exactly ideal, we took it slowly over the Cat and the Fiddle and made our way through Buxton to Matlock. When I first clambered aboard the GoldWing I was very nicely surprised by how comfortable it was and after a few miles on the back, even in the windy, rainy conditions I was nearly falling asleep as I was so relaxed.

Stopping off in Matlock for a cuppa and some fish and chips, I first checked to make sure my mother wasn’t stuck to Ted’s bike, rigid with fear! After a few hours of R & R, we left Matlock for Prestbury ( going a little bit faster this time!) and got back to my house with just enough time for cup no3 of tea ( or cup no 8 for Bob!) and some Birthday cake!

It was such a wonderful day and one of the biggest surprises I have ever had. I will never forget my birthday surprise and meeting all of you

lovely GoldWingers. Being part of the group was such a nice feeling, looking behind me at all the beautiful bikes and smiling faces behind me.

Thank you Ian, Jim, Chandra and everybody, I am very proud to be a member of GoldWings North West!