Sometimes you are presented a challenge, you can either avoid it and walk away thinking “Well that was a disaster avoided” or you accept it and rise to the occasion and give it your best efforts. That’s exactly what happened over the course of last weekend when we hosted the Dutch Chapter “Rock City” from Amersfoort in Holland. All the Hatters who got involved with the event really got behind it and gave it their full support.
Four guys in particular stand out because they were with our guests from the moment they arrived at Hull Docks on Friday Morning until we waved goodbye to them on Sunday Evening ready to board the ferry back to Rotterdam, in fact the weekend began on Thursday afternoon for Trev Bradley, Don Bowie, Keith Radcliffe and Joe Grimes when they travelled to Hull with a few other Hatters and stayed overnight in order to escort our guests to the hotel in Wilmslow.
The packed programme kicked off with a visit to the dealership then in the evening a 52 seat coach was organized to take them to the Curry Mile in Rusholme where a 3 course Indian supper was arranged.
Saturday Morning saw the biggest rideout convoy I have ever been involved with from the Hatters when we took them on a rideout through North Wales including a trip through biblical weather from an Atlantic squall that blew up out of nowhere as we passed through Snowdonia on the A5 between Capel Curig and Bethesda on our way to lunch in Anglesey.
Typical weather then changed within 30 minutes from lead coloured clouds, horizontal rain and howling gale to bright sunshine and blue sky so our return journey down the A55 included an unscripted stop at the quayside in Conway where our Dutch friends were soon infected with the Hatters appetite for Ice Cream and taking photos.
That evening the hotel hosted a Thai cuisine spectacular followed by entertainment in the form of a superb singer coupled with a liberal amount of drinks from the bar made for a display of embarrassing “disco dancing” from some people who really should know better.
Sunday Morning saw another big turnout as we started the return journey to the ferry at Hull. The job sounded simple, we needed to get them to the departure terminal at Hull for 5 o’clock that evening, we could have stayed at the dealership until lunchtime and took them straight round the M60 and East on the M62, easy, but being the genial hosts, the ever-willing-to-please Hatters, we took them North via Clitheroe and the A59 through Harrogate and Knaresborough, were we planned to stop for Lunch, however, a 15 minute coffee stop at the Clitheroe McDonalds turned into another spectacular Anglo-Dutch Pig-Out so lunch was delayed until we got to Ferrybridge services at the A1M/M62 junction, don’t forget we had the clock running. More food at Ferrybridge, I swear watching the Hatters and chums at work reminds me of a boiler being stoked, we ate more on our rideouts than a small African country, no wonder Harley Davidsons have such huge seats and soggy suspensions.
So at ten to five we roll into the ferry terminal at Hull, everyone of our Dutch chums returned safe and sound where they expressed their gratitude for giving them a great time and showing them our “Wonderful Scenery and great biking roads” Their words, not mine and for getting them around safely.

I for one was filled with a great sense of pride and achievement, we’d all worked hard to make this weekend a success and to be honest, exceeded our expectations.

Major respect to Trev and Mandy Bradley, Don Bowie and Joe Grimes for long hours and effort organizing the whole event, big shout going out to Keith Burke for the meticulous planning and execution of Saturday’s North Wales excursion, maximum respect to the marshall’s involved, Keith Radcliffe, Paul Whittaker, Helen Lang, Pete Davies, Pete Humphries, Malcolm Broadbent, Mandy Bradley, Keith Burke, Paul Whittaker and The Lenster for all their hard work and hard riding, keeping everything moving and everyone safe.

Dave Knight

Friday
Meeting at the Knutsford services on a brilliant sunny morning for the ride down to the cider rally. Aidan and Trev leading the group of around 30+ bikes down the M6, taking a minor detour for breakfast, a belly busting fry up where Keith (Skull) had arranged for the owners to be ready for us. Once everyone was fed and watered we continued down the M6 and then onto the M5 to have a couple of stops on the way down before the final push into Weston super Mare. We did encounter a couple of traffic queues mainly at Bristol but we all white lined and were soon through the traffic and on our way again
Arriving at sand bay after 3.00pm it was clear blue sky and warm sunshine, it was into the bar for some hatters while others chose to unpack and chill out for a while, before having a walk round looking at the stalls etc. Night time In the Bar where else! Where some brilliant acts entertained us, one high light of the night was when someone tied a balloon onto the rear of the safety officers (Mark) bracers he spent a good hour half stood going to the bar with a balloon floating just above his head .He even went to the toilet with the balloon following him everywhere, after a few minutes word got round the hatters and everyone was now laughing at poor Mark some were in tears and he had no idea what we were laughing at. While Mark was on his way to the bar with his balloon following him we were all in hysterics at him and as he turned round he saw us all laughing at him and asked the bar maid if there was something stuck on his back, she gave the game away and told him! As he ripped the balloon off and called us all some choice names and he received a massive cheer from the hatters.

Saturday
First Job Breakfast full English for those that could stomach it! There were a few missing and some who did seem to be struggling to eat it. Ride out into Weston super Mare and a parade down the front then parking up and spending a couple of hours in the town. There was said to be over 2,000 people at the rally, I have no idea how many bikes went on the parade but it was a fantastic sight to see all those Harleys in one place and once again in glorious sunshine. Night time in the bar again! It was a 1920s themed night where some of the hatters got into the sprit and dressed up in 1920,s style clothing along with many others from other chapters. More great entertainment, more beer, cider, burgers, then more Beer cider and the hatters partied until the small hours.

Sunday
Same again Full English and then those that were up to it there was a ride out lead by Trev leaving at 10.30 am, destination a quiet little village that is said to be home to the smallest prison in Britain. A return trip of 70 miles we were told. We set off and hadn’t been riding long when we got caught up in a traffic queue which turned out to be an accident and the police had closed the road. We rode along some great roads with brilliant views up hill down hill, through villages, the miles where clocking up and we had done well over the said 35 miles it was supposed to be to the village. Eventually we arrived somewhere! Where most hatters had a Sunday lunch in the local pub, I never even got to see the prison (to busy feeding my face) although I believe others did get to see it! Back on the road again this time taking a different route back this time passing through or around the cheddar gorge not sure which?. It was a brilliant route with great roads and some stunning views along the way, arriving back at Sand Bay around 3.30pm having exceeded the promised 70 miles by rather a lot, I don’t think anyone on the ride was really bothered about the extra miles after all we were out in the sunshine on great roads and in great company having fun. Sunday night more drinking and great entertainment, presentations where the hatters cleared up again winning the chapter games and the best-attended chapter.

Monday
The ride home
After breakfast it was time to head for home so with Trev leading the group out around 10.30, we headed for fuel my self and Gary got stuck at traffic lights which took ages to change by which time the group had disappeared and we couldn’t see anyone marking the route! Not to worry we said we would head for M6 and catch them up somewhere along the route .We stopped at the first motorway services on the M6 to get fuel and whilst there we heard a rumble in the distance and then going past us a quick radio call to Trev confirmed it was our lot going past. We arranged to meet them at the next services stop a few miles down the M6 .It was plain sailing now M6 M5 having one last stop to say our goodbyes and Knutsford services before making our way home, a brilliant weekend in good weather, with great company and brilliant entertainment .
Thanks to everyone involved in organising it and getting us there and back safely.

Paul Whittaker

Email Received From Harry

Hi Mad Hatters,

From this side a personal BIG THNX AGAIN for all your efforts to make this Millers Meet Manchester weekend happen!!!

Again I had an excellent time with you all, this time at your end of the pond! The programm and above all: your hospitality, they were ab-so-lu-te-ly unbelievably fabulous!!! Further on you showed us places of your beautiful country, where we must come back! All and all a utter succes!!!!

I´m not in the posession of all your e-mailadresses, so apart from the ones I had I kindly ask you to forward this message to everybody who was present, either as a member of the organisation, as Road Captain/Marshall, as Activities or any other Officer, as participant, as bystander.

I hope to see you guys soon again, either here or there.

Harry

Hi Guys

Rachel has uploaded some videos she took of the parade into Weston super Mare at the Cider Rally onto youtube.

Here are the links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgxxplzAVbQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z63h4Y5GIYY&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO0YY-Ayn4M&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi1O1bquB-U&feature=channel

Pete B

LADIES OF HARLEY CIDER RALLY
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Latest News
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Ladies of Harley Marshals & Nominated marker helped marshall the massive turn out for the Cider Rally. We had 35 bikes turn up at Knutsford services. Then all over the weekend we helped out down inWeston-Super-Mare.
Firstly Shona was the nominated marker.
Her job entailed keeping the pack in line & up to speed & leaving enough gap for marshalls to tuck in at the front. All weekend she was faultless & kept up with Trevor & kept the pack moving & in line. Think she might have a permanent job as marker.
Next mandy showed off her newly acquired marshalling skills which I don't think she learned on the course but I think Ratty has been teaching her how to stop traffic. She showed no fear in blocking round-a-bouts & she is still here to tell the tail. Next was me, well marshaling isn't something I do a lot, but I have learnt very quickly how
to round up stragglers & dash up & down the line.
Well ladies I thought we did great.

Helen Lang

Hi Guys & Girls

Cider Rally pics that I took can be found here, in the following 3 public albums.

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Album 1 = http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82213&id=690826937&l=773a667e3f

Album 2 = http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82218&id=690826937&l=cc31a3c2b6

Album 3 = http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82220&id=690826937&l=5728aacce4

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Enjoy

Steve

Ladies Of Harley Ride-Out Fishermans Retreat

Sat 12pm 6 Hatters left the dealership & as usual as soon as we put our legs over the seat it started raining as usual. It was only a drizzle so we continued to Birch Services Where we picked up 2 more riders. One was not female but he was new so we welcomed him into our little club & we were gentle with him(I think). As we were chatting at Birch the heavens opened so we had to take shelter as it was hail stoning. We had a chat amongst ourselves and decided once it stopped we would take a short cut & go straight to the fisherman's retreat at Shuttleworth(by the way this was plan B). We set off & came off the M66 @ Heywood traveled through the centre @ diverted up Ashworth Valley over the tops past the reservoir & came out just near Old Betts pub. The road was very narrow &
bumpy but we all came through(Basic skills Training was covered all on one road).
We continued along Edenfield/Rochdale Rd passed the windmills & onto A56. A few miles down on the left is a very narrow track to the Fisherman's Retreat this is where we did the advanced Skills Training as there had been some renovating of the site & the road was muddy wet, up & down but everybody got through. At least the parking was hard
standing. We all stripped off as we were quite cold & we plonked
ourselves down on the nearest table.
We all ordered food which was very nice but a bit pricey. There was a group of about 20ish eating a hog roast it looked delicious. We all sat around having a chin wag & chomping. We decided just to stay in the pub as the weather was not nice enough to do the rest of the ride. I will save it for another day.

Thanks to Trev & Keith for looking after us & thanks to the ladies & our new members who joined us.

See You All Next Time

Helen Lang

Ladies Point of View

Ladies I talked myself out of joining the ride on sunday at least 15 times. Excuses ranging from the lousy weather to lack of supportive husband! I had to kick start myself in to action and get to the Dealership. Once there, I had lots of people to chat to and I soon forgot group riding insecurities.Thanks to Trev and Keith (for some of it) for support and Helen who lead the way. The road going to the Fishermans Retreat was muddy due to the car park renovation, which was made all the more treacherous by the rain fall. The 'nice ride on lovely country lanes' turned into a bit of an 'enduro day'. It was a good test of the old 'riding skills'. Luckily, we all arrived safe and well and had a lovely lunch.The weather was not good for most of the day, but it didn't matter. I had a great time. Thank you for all of the hard work and planning you all put into it. I can't wait for the next one. What a FAB day.
Kay Willocks

Sunday 19th April Stokesay Castle
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The day was warm & pleasant which meant around 35 Hatters turned up at the dealership. We set off slightly later than planned as our leader was down at the Raven Café waiting for us. Once we found him we set off for breakfast at the café. We went down the motorway onto the A41 & straight to the café where we spent an hour or so topping ourselves up & meeting several more hatters.
We proceeded down the A49 all the way to Stocksay Castle stopping only for petrol in a small town just before the castle. We arrived to glorious sunshine. All the bikes parked up on the grass which looked quite impressive as everybody in the car park watched us arrive & park up. We all went for a browse round the castle armed only with a recording of the route around the rooms. We lounged around drinking tea & eating scones & sunbathing. GREAT!
We set off heading towards Welshpool via A489.
Then it all got a bit confusing as we turned off a lovely country road just wide enough for 2 bikes. It got narrower & dustier until all you could see was a dust trail of Harleys. Then we come to an abrupt halt as there was the small matter of the road being flooded by a ford. This did not halt us in any way as we just did a bit off road riding across a path or foot bridge (yes Foot Bridge). A couple of us decided to try the
direct approach and just waded through the water. There was steam everywhere but at least it cleaned our bikes of the dust. Yes our shiney pristine Harleys were now looking like dirt bikes. We all thought it was very entertaining. We eventually got to welshpool just in time as the café was just shutting. We all had a cuppa & a cake and an hour later we
were back on the road.
We set off up the A483 & kept going back toward Manchester. I think most of us arrived home around 7pm and we had covered about 220 miles & the weather held out for us.

Helen Lang

Stokesay castle

Meeting at the dealership as usual on yet another sunny Sunday morning saw around 28 bikes turn out for the ride out to Stokesay castle. Keith & Meg leading the group down the M60/M56 /A49, which is always a great road to ride. Following the A49 to ravens café, with Trev and more hatters meeting us there this made our numbers up to a brilliant total of 35 bikes. Many hatters going for a belly-busting fry up and a brew myself I chose the
healthy option and just had a large grape peeled of course!
With Trev now leading the group on to our destination with the chosen route being along some great roads that took us through some beautiful parts of the Shropshire countryside and in the sunshine as well just perfect.

Arriving at Stokesay castle most of the hatters went to visit the church and castle while others who have been before had a picnic and soaked up the sun in the gardens.

Paul’s interesting facts

Stokesay castle is one of the finest and best-preserved examples in England Stokesay castle is not really a castle at it’s a fortified manor house Lawrence of Ludlow, who made his fortune as a wool merchant acquired the manor in 1281 Extensive tree-ring dating confirms that Lawrence had completed nearly all the house by 1291 using the same team of carpenters throughout Stokesay experienced its only known military encounter in 1645 surrending without a fight to a parliamentarian force.

Leaving the castle after a couple of hours we went in search of some little used roads and found some brilliant roads with twist and turns great scenery very few cars .The further we went into the country side the narrower the roads seemed to be getting, I thought at one point we had joined the Dakar Paris rally as there was so much dust being kicked up by the bikes in front (great idea of mine to ride at the back). A few more dust loaded miles down the road the group came to a grinding halt, oh dear had we gone down a dead end! Gone into a farmyard, was there traffic and we had caused a queue No None of these it was a ford! Who’s taking the blame for taking that route Trev? Sat nav maybe, oh dear now what! Ride through it? To deep to slippery not many fancied that option; Although Helen did go straight through no messing and no problem (shame on us Blokes). Turn around, too many bikes not enough room! One option left a rickety old footbridge just wide enough for
the bikes to ride across, but would it hold the weight? Only one way to find out! . We all crossed safely and no one fell off into the water, good job, as there were plenty of cameras at the ready if anyone did. Winding our way across country by more great roads until we made our way back to the motorway and home.

A cracking day out on great roads in great company and we had a laugh along the way Thanks to Trev, Keith & Meg and all the marshals for looking after us.

Paul - I’m sure I retired last year

Hello Everyone

There is a new photo gallery under the photo's tab, please feel free to take a look and let me know what you think.

Mandy