Modern Vespa

Folks I am really pleased to say that I will be attending, and on my new scoot. I will break it in at the rally. It will be great to have a break from work and a small holiday to talk crap about scooters.

Wonder that really is great news I can't wait to see it.
There is just one thing that's bothering me and it's that no one has told me where we are going to meet.
I'm starting to think that people don't like me.
Regards Bill and his 2nd hand looking ET4

i think we're meeting at doug's but nobody's got doug's address yet (other than me) because i don't want to post it on the internet. on the other hand, if folks want to meet somewhere in central london and ride out to doug's en masse, that's fine with me too.

what do you think people? meet in central london for a coffee then ride out to doug's together? or meet there?

I'm loving that idea. Happy to meet in the old smoke. I'll await instructions.
Bill

So,,,,,,,,,,, do we have an itinary program for the 9th....... are we actually meeting on the 9th ?Is it a camping night.. 1 night ??

Regards
Carl

I'm all for meeting in London and riding up there together it could save us all riding out again. Coffee and a muffin ? I'm there once the venue and the time has been agreed.
Can't wait to meet yaw'lll.
Bill X

we don't have an itinerary just yet .... all we know at this stage is that we'll be meeting somewhere in central london in the early afternoon on the 9th, heading out to doug's, going for a ride in the countryside up epping way, then returning to doug's for a bbq. camping is available on the saturday night - i'll be seeing doug tomorrow (sunday), we'll try and work out an itinerary for the 9th and get a better idea of exactly how many tents the garden will accommodate.

Cool, can meet you pretty much anywhere central if others are keen on coffee.

okay, here is the plan for this saturday (9th August):

meet at Carluccio's in West Smithfield. The full address and details are here: http://www.carluccios.com/caffes/default.asp?func=where&caffe_id=21#

and you can view a better map here:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=531792&y=181659&z=0&sv=ec1a+9jr&st=2&pc=ec1a+9jr&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

meet at carluccio's 1:30, have a coffee, ride up through the city (with a brief stop at genie's to pick up tent, etc.), and arrive at doug's for 3 o'clockish.

we'll spend a couple of hours touring the beautiful countryside then return to doug's to get the bbq started. i think there may also need to be a food-and-drink shopping interval somewhere in there.

we've done a careful survey of doug's back garden, and determined that it will hold about 4-5 tents, glasto-style (i.e. with very little space between them). please bear this in mind before bringing your 6-man tent!

can we have a final head count (including those who are intending on spending the night) so we know whether or not to panic about where to put people

I have a two person tent if anyone wants to borrow one...

Cool! I'll be there, not staying over.

I'll be there, won't stay over though, I've got a ride-out from Stamford on Sunday. That'll be a 300+ mile day.

Ooh bagsy your tent doug! Please

edit - this means I'm staying, not that I am a phantom tent thief.

Tent now taken!

Genie... Kate may need a sleeping bag! I take it two of the four/five tent spaces are gone...

Who else needs a pitch?

Bill?

whhhoarrrrrr I want to come whhhhooooaaarrrrrrr

but i'm off to soggy Cornwall sans le scoot...boooooo


Have a great time and dont drink too much, remember camping and hangovers do not mix.

whhhoarrrrrr I want to come whhhhooooaaarrrrrrr

We wish you and Sally were coming too!

D

we've got extra sleeping bags at mine, i'm planning a stop-off here to pick up the tent and stuff so we can get extra sleeping bags then if we need them. sorry, i've only got two camping mats and those are reserved for alex and me!

I have two sun loungers (the old type, with sprung canvas) that will fit in a tent.

I might snaffle a lounger if you still have a free one...

One is definitely yours!

Thanks doug.

I got the scoot today - great but the tyres are a total mare... grip is non existent... must ride a lot between today and Saturday, otherwise I will wipe out!

I will be there but I may be meeting husky at the 02 first around midday first. I will be staying into the late evening.
Build it and they will come.
Regards Bill and the scabby ET4 xx

They're not by any chance Maxxis are they?

No they are Pirellis... I used to love my Michelin Pilot Cities, they were very grippy. Probably personal taste more than anything else, some people love the Pirellis on here.

Replave with Continental Zippy's Just brilliant, Period x
Regards Bill and the scabby ET4

Replave ? What was I thinking ?

Well folks.. what's the gamble on the weather? Were we lucky or what with the Brighton outing!

My partner (obsessive glider pilot who watches the skies for signs of rain) says the weather will stink on Sunday and pretty much rain all day. It may be better on the Saturday though.

Anyway, riding in the rain is pretty much par for the course here. Its only really bad when the insider of your boots get wet, then it is probably time to stop.

How does a 120km round trip sound for tomorrow afternoon, taking in some pretty Essex countryside? It also includes High Beech near the end, which is a familiar Biker's meet in Epping Forest.

That looks lovely.

Weather for NE London looks to be dry enough tomorrow - anyway, I don't care about rain, just a different sort of ride, that's all.

Again the weather looks a little unsettled. I'm still looking forward to this!

i'm packing me rain trousers may pass on the camping if it's going to be miserable - we'll see

Looking at the forecast for today, it looks like it will rain heavily for most of Saturday afternoon and is clear on Sunday - it might be that we have to make some changes to when we ride.

Great day. The ride was a bit damp in places, but lovely roads! Thanks for all the hard work Doug. Got home at 20:50, soaked by a downpour around the North Circular.

Good Evening Guys and Galls

I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed all of your respective companies this afternoon. Please forgive me for leaving early - and yes I do feel guilty for doing a runner but as you may have realised I'm not a big fan of riding in the rain even if it was with beautiful people and (and I know I'm clutching at straws here ) I had a 45 mile ride to get home and I'm a wuss.
But before I get my cup of cocoa and drift into middle age I''d like to say Jim you do yourself a disservice because I found you very pleasant and engaging, Alex you are easily the best looking and wittyest bloke I had the pleasure to meet that day,Wonder I think that youv'e done very well in your choice of Vespa to the point where I'm finding myself just a little bit jealous, Genie anyone who comes from the hometown of my favourite band is close to a Goddess to me even if you did try and play Scabby top trumps with the ET4's, Husky you rode like a demon through the traffic
while I was trying to scythe through it this am so I salute you and Doug thank you for your hospitality this afternoon and I really like all of your toys. Thank you all for making a new face feel welcome.
I hope to see you all again sometime soon.
As I type the rain is lashing against the windows so looking back I think I have have done the right thing by bunking off.
Ride safe all.
Much affection Bill and the not so scabby ET4

we're all sitting around doug's kitchen table now - having decided that it's just a bit too damp to have a bbq we have et a big indian takeaway and are now settling in for an evening of drinking

cheers jim for putting up with our slowness on tiny wheels and slippery roads - it was a gorgeous route even though the rain was lashing down sideways at times and the trees were blowing all over the road.

bill! it was brilliant meeting you at last - we will all come down to your neck of the woods next time, for coffee and a bun, and we'll make sure the sun is shining p.s. alex had a wee drop on a particularly slippery bit of road and now betty is definitely the winner in the slightly banged up category ... 'experiments in bodywork' will definitely be taking place next time the weather permits.

alice has a pic that she'll post of all our lovely scoots outside doug's place but she's just off home now.

You are all welcome down at anytime you know that.
Bluewater is a good place to meet because it's not too far South and only an hour away for most of us ish sort of. Let me know if you'd care for a meet later in the year and I'll treat you all to a cappucino avec une sticky bun.
I'm glad the ride out all went well. I'm kinda sad that I missed it but I'm most happy when it's dry and I can ride how I like. I salute you all.
I have to say I thought our ride out to Genie's flat reminded me of a duck taking it's duckings out accross the pond but on tarmac.
Jim would pass as a very good drake being older and wiser and all that.
Best regards to all Bill.

We ended up in this lovely little pub in Fyfield. We only did about half the route because of the cyclonic weather system!

It was great! Thanks to doug and genie for organising, and lovely to meet you all. I had a wonderful time.

Best part was going to the biker cafe with our little 125s. [/i]

yeah, the biker café was awesome! i love the way they swarmed over and admired our scoots when we went over to get a burger post some pix doug!