Modern Vespa

The weather forecast for Friday had been getting steadily better, from 'heavy showers' at the start of the week through 'light showers' and 'sunny intervals' to the point where it actually claimed it would be 'sunny' over Dorking by 7PM.

I arrived at Ryka's shortly before 6:30 to find I was almost the last to arrive (but not the very last; that honour went to Wonder Machine).

The troops:

Huskyteer
Wonder Machine
Mr Wonder(ful), who kindly volunteered to go Tail End Charlie
Genie
Bill Dog
Doug on a shiny new MP3
DaveLondon
Megamod
Gass and party (son and friend, both on geared bikes)

Big props to Megamod, visiting from the USA, who despite a delayed flight had made it out to join us, and to Gass who gave her a backie.

Once everyone was assembled I gave a briefing on the marker system (thanks to Bill for human megaphone duties) and we set off.

We lost Wonder Machine almost immediately as she pulled up beside me, yelled that she needed petrol and shot off into the middle distance. I felt terrible, as it is the leader's responsibility to ask at the start whether everyone is OK for juice and I had forgotten.

But no time to worry about that - the turning was approaching at which we would leave the busy main road and hit the country lanes.

The route was a nice one, if I say so myself, and you can see it here. Along B and unclassified roads, heading south on a rough parallel with the A24. We saw little traffic, though there were horses and cyclists to contend with (and a caravan which Genie and I managed to zip past).

There was one tricky stretch with gravel up the middle of the road, but everyone coped very well, and the rest of the way was scenic with gentle, easy bends and the occasional long straight. Much of the ride was in 40 and 50mph limits, but there was one fast bit for which Bill somehow contrived to be sitting behind me, so we gave it some beans.

We went through Steyning, very pretty, then climbed up to the South Downs along a lovely twisty road with views over hills and sea. Here we took a five-minute breather before hunger compelled us down and onto the last leg.

In Worthing we were reunited with Wonder Machine, who joined us from the opposite direction just as we were turning off the A259 to park.

We parked by the beach, on the pavement, much to the distress of some ambling pensioners who were apparently unable to manage a brief detour onto the cycle path, and queued for our fish n' chips, which were well worth the wait. Then we sat in a row chatting and gazing at the pearly sea.

The sea was so lovely that I went for a quick paddle, and found a pebble that looked exactly like a motorcycle helmet. All agreed this was a wondrous and lucky portent.

It was getting dark by this time, and we began to disperse. I followed Bill and Genie (and their amazing hi-viz waistcoats) as far as Tunbridge Wells, then home up the A21.

Thanks to everyone for riding and marking so well, and your lovely company. I had a brilliant evening and was grinning (and yawning) all the way home.

Thanks Alice, for a great night run out. I enjoyed the quiet winding roads southwards, and intend to stop off sometime at the pubs we passed. Most weirdly enough called the Star. Meg my american passenger really enjoyed it and it was a good warmup for her, as she and her husband have a week or so touring the south west on rented Vespas. the chippy was fine food, and the first time I have seen battered scallops on a menu. Must be locally caught. I made it back to west London ok. but ran out of fuel returning at Boxhill, but fortunately the petrol station there was still open at 11.15 pm. My biker son Lewis and mate Noel liked it too. Noel has just come back from a 7,000 km tour of southern Africa cross country on a BMW GS, so knows a bit about touring. When we were assembling at Rykas, I met a guy who lives near me in Notting Hill, and told him about the Modern Vespa site, which was news to him. Maybe we should post web info on other folks scoots. He'd just come back from a tour of Sicily on a vespa. Nice also to meet a member of the Big 7 scooter club at Worthing. I caught up with them earlier in the year on the run to Hastings, organised by the 1066 club. Thanks for a lovely evening and hope fully i'll catch up with all the other Vesperados. thanks gass silver machine GTS 250.

Wow, looks like a great route to the coast.

Wished I was there...

What a lovely report. Thanks!

You're very welcome, Jim! Papa J, make sure you're available for the next one

Wow, I wish I'd talked to Noel about his adventures. I love touring but I've stuck to Europe so far; I like proper roads!

Firstly thank you for all being so welcoming on my first proper ride out ever. I was a little nervous when I pulled up at Box Hill but I had nothing to worry about as you are cool people. I even understood the marker system after a few goes at it!

Loved the whole route to the chippy really nice roads and scenery (thanks Alice.) Good to see how a Vespa can be cornered when done properly to.
I've never ridden on a road with lots of nice gravel and pot holes before. Loved it.

Great fish and chips and an interesting ride back home running on fumes waiting to run out of petrol near Guildford!
Tip for next time, look at my fuel gauge

Luckily saw a nice AA man at the side of the road stopped asked for some petrol and he help me out with a near tank full. Had a quick chat as he was a biker and had even done the same himself while in France, so I didn't feel so bad then.

cheers all.

Thanks so much to my new London friends. I had a great time! Special thanks to Alice for planning the route and Gass for taking me two up and putting up with me. Also, thanks for all the suggestions for shops, travel, etc. You were all wonderful. Probably eating in Soho Sunday night and maybe Ace Cafe on Monday evening. Trying to find the London Motorcycle Museum when the husband comes in tomorrow. Thanks again. A great start to my holiday.

Looks like a great evening out.

Can't beat vespas, fish and chips and the seaside

Hi Meg and hubby. If you have time today, go to the ace cafe this afternoon, sunday. There's a big streetfighter meet. Street fighter is a bike mag. There'll be lots of bikes, but probably no scoots. Excellent food and t- shirts, stickers, mags and vids. gass.

First of all a big thank you to Alice for planning such an excellent route to the coast and then to combine it with everyones favourite food , well that was just the work of genius.

It was nice to meet some new faces such a Gass, Meg,Lewis and Dave London who did a fine job job with keeping up with us plus Noel who I didn't spend enough time talking to.

All of you are welcome to join us on my progressive ride on the 15th of August, well apart fom Meg who I think may have gone home at that point.

I think a special thank you should go out to Big 7 Baz who made it there on a PX with a slipping clutch.

Good work Fella. I'm proud of you. Did you make it home alright ?

Great evening out.

Bill X

brilliant ride, great company, and fantastic fish n chips. i got some nice pics as well - to be uploaded as soon as the camera batteries recharge.

Bill and I followed it up with a fantastic ride to Thorpeness the following morning, and two very relaxing days by the seaside.

A couple of highlights from the ride out. From left to right in the group pic: Gass, Noel, Lewis, Meg, Bill, Doug, David (Mr. Wonder) Alice, DaveLondon.

What a nice bunch we look! Cheers for these.

Thanks Bill.
I had a good ride there & back, I've been using the T5 today & it's been fine so I think it could be the oil that I used in the gear-box.