You can read all about it here, thanks to our resident reporter, Graham C Pinder….

Me and Sue rode down on the Friday, we met up with Bob and Jackie Summers at Truck stop services on the M6 southbound at around 12:30 pm. and tried to get into McDonalds for some lunch but it was chocker, so we went into the Truck stop diner and had a real truckers’ feast instead. We then set off for our Hotel in Mold, The Beaufort Park. On the way there we got peppered with everything that the weather could chuck at us, intense rain, sleet, hail, you name it, we got it thrown in our faces.
We arrived safely, but very wet, around a half hour later and then got sorted with our rooms and stashed our wet bike gear to dry.

That afternoon was spent in the bar area where we had a few drinks and a good natter with some old friends from our club, G.W.N.W. and some friends from other Goldwing Clubs that had begun to arrive. Then it was time to get ready for dinner, which was held in a special room with all the other Gold wingers from various regions.
Saturday morning came and a hearty breakfast was had by all, then it was time to saddle up and ride into Chester City centre. When we got there, we were shown to one of the three locations for the static display of our bikes; we got the spot right in front of the City Hall.

We then all had a good wander round the streets, bumped into lots of other Gold wing Folk from our club and others along the way, checked out all the other bikes on display, some of the girls did a bit of retail therapy, and we had a nice coffee and a sumptuous cake. The weather was a mixture of rain and sunshine throughout the day but this didn’t really spoil it in any big way.

We then all rode back to the hotel for an early dinner and then back into Chester for the Light Parade mustering area.
As we all got ready to line up, it was estimated that there was over a hundred bikes and trikes there, which was quite good considering that it was the first event of this kind to be held in Chester. Jim and Chandra were up there near the front, just after the leading trikes,

Jim had a celebrity pillion passenger, ‘Owen’ the builder from Coronation Street. There was our Ted there as well, with his skeleton head on, Graham Coleman and Jean on their new 2012 model, Jimmy and Daphne, Dave and Tonia , Bill, Nigel and Joanne Mackintosh etc. etc. and many more besides.
The parade started at around 8:15 and we started to depart from the car park, the police motorcycle marshals did a brilliant job of stopping the traffic at all the traffic lights and roundabouts, the public seemed to like what they were seeing along the way and there were waves and cheers as we passed through the more populated areas of the City Centre. We did the circuit twice before the parade was split into those who were entering the best lit bike competition and those who were carrying on back to their accommodation.
We all got back to the hotel nice and dry, as the weather had kept off with the rain for the parade, which pleased everyone. After stowing the bikes under their covers on the hotel car park, it was a quick change and then back to the lounge area for drinkies and chatter with friends once again.
Everyone said that they had enjoyed it and that they would do it all again, so here’s to Southport now and another good parade.
After another hearty breakfast on Sunday morning, some of us rode home while some others linked up with some members from Goldwings North Wales and had a ride to the new J&S Accessories store near to Northwhich to bag a load of greatly reduced Goldwing goodies.

It’s Sunday night as I type this and the first ever Llandudno Light Parade has been and gone for this year. But what an absolutely fantastic event it turned out to be. The sun shone, the crowds thronged and even the nice Welsh policemen pitched in to help make this a memorable weekend.

But rather than me rambling onabout it, here’s a copy of the e-mail I sent to the guys in Goldwings North Wales earlier tonight.

Dear All at Goldwings North Wales

Thought that it would be very remiss of me not to write and say just what an absolutely brilliant event the Llandudno Light Parade (1?) turned out to be.

It was wonderful to see the way in which everyone involved, the Organisers, Attendees and the Llandudno people themselves really entered into the spirit of the event and I’m really pleased to report that I personally was unaware of any animosity of ANY description from anyone throughout the whole weekend. This was truly an event where the key element was simply to have fun, and loads of it.

The response from the crowds before, during and after the Parade was almost overwhelming and I think it’s safe to say that they would probably be more than a little disappointed were you not to stage the event again in the future. Even the traffic played ball, some drivers electing to wait at junctions (even they had right of way) to allow the Parade to pass in its entirety.

All of us from Goldwings NorthWest agreed that it had been a truly enjoyable event, and I personally feel that you took up the baton from the BLP magnificently, especially given the somewhat limited time in which you had to prepare.

So, take a bow, and let’s look forward to more events like this in the future!

Ian Duxbury

Chairman, Goldwings NorthWest

and I’m absolutely sure that those who attended will be only too keen to put their side of the story in the comments fields below.

Incidentally, I understand that the event raised over £2700 for the RNLI, a pretty magnificent achievement for a first time, so again, many congratulations to all of you who made it possible!

So, it’s over to you……..

There’s a Charity Motorbike Ride in aid of MedEquip4kids on Sunday 14th August 2011. Starting at 11am prompt from Trumacar Primary School, Combermere Rd, Higher Heysham, Morecambe, LA3 2ST Finishing at The Punch Bowl, Low Bentham, LA2 7DD A ride of approximately 70 miles, stopping at Bull Beck Lay-by & Devil’s Bridge to collect riders & with a break at Hawes for lunch. £5.00 a bike to join in the fun!

Stephen Bleasdale & Gavin Wells (teachers at Trumacar School) are taking part in a Sinai Desert Trek this November for MedEquip4kids, who raise money to help fund invaluable medical equipment and facilities for children’s wards, neo-natal units and community health care teams across the north of England.

The day is all about trying to help these guys with their sponsorship. If you can’t attend perhaps you could donate Cash or a Raffle Prize?

For more information please contact Pam Bowker on 07920 106399 or pamcat60gmailcom  (pamcat60gmailcom)   or visit the website

John is involved with a project called “robinSDReams“   He is supporting this family with a charity ride out from his Pendle Motorcycles shop in Nelson on 1st May 2011  and is hopeful of attracting around 100 + bikers to take part on the day. John is also looking for a couple of trike or combination riders to offer their services so that Robin and his mum can also take part in the run. I know the club has a full diary on that weekend but we cant all be away. If you can take part in the ride or offer your services to help Robin and his mum that would be terrific. John’s marketing skills are not the greatest in the world but he’s a good man and we can help him with this.

You can contact John at Pendle Motorcycles on 01282 695 959

Thanks Guys

The new start date for the Bergen Relay is 12 noon Sat 27th August. Leg 40 will take place on Sunday 28th approx 13.40pm Please register your intent to take part in this run on this website and tick the box for leg 40. Thanks, Bev.

Can we mention this please?  Burgen Relay 2011 – Phil & I will be leading leg 40 Lancaster to Penrith on Sunday 28th August and we would like as many goldwingers as possible to join us. Registration will be £10 and all money is going to these two charities: The Invicta Foundation, this is a new charity with the aim of building a housing unit for recovering troops, this will support the troops that are discharged from hospital but need rehab, many of them go home to houses that are not yet adapted to a wheel chair user, this will hopefully bridge the gap between hospital and rehab. To support all our service personnel operating in theatre in Afghanistan, by providing the much needed “home comfort” supplies and gifts to the 10,000 service personnel, to promote and embrace the new initiative “Thank the Troops” and to ensure our soldiers know they are not alone. On the home front we will set up support groups for the families of the fallen. We will also set up regional network groups and events so families can come together and support each other.

Thanks

Pam

Have a chat with Phil or Pam for further details if you want to get involed. It sounds like a good day out.

Meet at the first layby on the A580 East Lancs Road from the M6 junction 23 heading towards Liverpool at 9:00 am ready for a 9:15 am start.. The layby is about 500 yrds on the left.

For your safety and so there are no misunderstandings can you please read the rules page on the egg run website.

The 31st Wirral Egg Run will take place on Sunday 17th April. This is one of the early events of the year and is a great start to the season. If previous events are anything to go by then it should be a superb day out. The theme for those who haven’t attended before is we donate money or Easter  Eggs, for neady children on the Wirral. Suffice it to say they are usually overloaded with Eggs and would in most instances prefer a cash donation, whatever is your choice. Read last years report here.

We will meet up at the usual layby on the A580 East Lancs road and have a run into the Wirral via the Mersey Tunnel. There is no Toll for motorcyclists for this event. The Egg run traditionally starts from New Brighton forming up on Costal Drive where there is a large grassed area and open space away from major residential housing. The run itself starts at 11am from New Brighton and makes its way through Wallasey Village, onto Leasowe Road and through to Moreton Cross before turning right through Moreton and heading through Hoylake, West Kirby, Caldy and Heswall and then turning onto the Chester High Road and heading into Thornton Hough and on to Clatterbridge Hospital. This route has been chosen as it has been the same route over the past 6 years since the run has terminated at Clatterbridge and is known by regular participants. This route was also discussed at length with Merseyside Police and deemed to be the safest route with the minimum disruption to road users. The event itself takes place on public roads and terminates at Clatterbridge hospital where the bikes will form up in the car parks at that location. It is envisaged that vehicles will start to arrive at Clatterbridge hospital around 11.50am and be clear of Clatterbridge site by 4pm the same afternoon. There are usually in excess of 10,000 bikes on this run, plus thousands of spectators lining the route. Its a great day out.

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Hi All, You should all be aware that there is a static display to be held at ASDA Queensferry from 10am onwards until about 3.-3.30pm -Please show up during the day and and if you can come for the whole day. ASDA do allow us to use their subsidised canteen and you can get cheap lunch as well as drinks if you want during the day. A good area has been set aside for us as well as a covered area allocated if raining.

Ian,

If any of your members from GNWest are looking for a ride on the Saturday please call and see us  – we are only 1/2 hour from Chrome Crazy day.

Dave T

Looking at their excellent website, it appears that this is in aid of the Tickled Pink charity which, as you probably know, is a major supporter of research into breast cancer.

And, if we’re down that way already, why not?

I would like to extend a special thank you to the members of Goldwings North Wales for their attendance. A gallery of images from the day taken by Nigel Mackintosh can be found by clicking here.

The organisers are asking for suitably experienced Goldwing riders to help as Marshall’s for the day. If you fit into that category and want to offer your services contact Barry at Appleyards on 01535 606 311.