REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THIS BLOG!

Just spent the weekend on the western edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park....and shock horror - NO FISH AND CHIPS! Shortage of images, I'm afraid, as I left my camera behind.

A 380 mile ride on Friday from home to Llangadog via Little Chalfont in temperatures between 18 Celsius and 33 Celsius meant late arrival, intense thirst, no time to cook - and indeed , no food to cook as we were lightweight camping and relying on eating out.

No problem as there was always The Black Lion in Llgangadog. Arrived at 10 pm to find the only pub in town did not serve food. We ended up with a new taste sensation: a bag of plain crisps and two pickled eggs...and a pint of the local bitter. 

Seriously, if you are ever really really hungry and need something desperately to stop you eating your own arm...you'd be hard put to find anything worse!

The following day Saturday we took local advice and breakfasted at Miss Mollie's on the A40 at LLangdog. Used to be a Little Chef and shows what Little Chef could have been if only they'd tried. Thoroughly recommended..good choice, freshly cooked, well presented, decently priced... the complete antithesis of Little Chef.

https://www.facebook.com/MissMolliesDiner

Fed up , as it were, off to Aberystwyth ..to the bottom of the funicular railway on the sea front. We were followed through the town by two bikes who it later transpired followed us because we really looked as though we knew where we we going. Of course, we did know. It's just that we were not going to the bike show that they were looking for!

Then a pleasant if busy ride over to Aberaeron for ice cream etc. then a quiet cross country ride down the quiet and enjoyable A482 back to the camp site  Rest of afternoon was spent reducing the nation's stock of beer and cider and soaking up the rays.

Sunday morning dawned cold and grey. Was that it? Summer been and gone? In reality, conditions were ideal for a quiet  and progressive ride down the A40 to Monmouth. Great riding road, no traffic on Sunday morning...you should try it!

GET WELL SOON, GEOFF!

Recently, I've been putting a lot of effort into preparing for my IAM test so was off elsewhere and I missed the lads' Wednesday ride out..... Seems it was't such a successful rideout...certainly not for Geoff.

Getting off his bike at Archer's Fish 'n'n Chip shop in Woodhall Spa, his bike toppled over..and Geoff with it..and he was stationary at the time. Result? A bike with a few scratches, Geoff with a badly-broken lower right leg, and no one had any fish 'n'chips!

His bike was lifted off him and in obvious and severe pain, Geoff's right boot was swiftly removed by the lads before his ankle had time to swell up inside. The ambulance arrived in double-quick time, followed by the police and Geoff was whizzed of to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.

His right leg has now been screwed, pinned, plated and fettled up generally and he is back home. He's not allowed to put any weight on his leg for six weeks, though.

Thanks must go to the staff and owner of Archers for their prompt response and help in dealing with the situation. If you are ever in Woodhall Spa, try Archers for yoursellves. They are at 29 Witham Rd, Woodhall Spa LN10 6RW

ALL QUIET ON THE FISH 'N' CHIP FRONT...

..as one of our people is no longer allowed to eat them!! So stay tuned for gluten-free news!

Also, tonight is Barton Bike Night but I won't be there this year, though I WILL be at Boston Bike Night from 6 pm Thursday July 4th. Just make sure you visit the Wolds Bikers stand.

On Friday 12th July, 6 pm till late it's the Wolds Bikers Charity Night at the Coach and Horses Billinghay - raising money for LIVES and the Lincs/Notts Air Ambulance.

This is the Wolds Bikes major charity fund raising event of the year and I encourage you to come along with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. There are trade stands, classic bikes, BBQ, and Live Music by Gin House.

Oh, forgot to mention, you can also join Wolds Bikers on the spot..just £10 a year.

LOUTH BIKE NIGHT THURS 6th JUNE

Louth Bike Night Thursday 6th June

All round, a good night. Sunny and reasonably warm, huge crowds of bikers and non-bikers - and bikes - keeping the local shops busy. The Wolds Bikers stand was busy as can be seen from these images. If visibility and awareness was our objective, then it was a success. If promotion of the Wolds Bikers Charity Night ( Friday 12th July 6 pm till late at the Coach and Horses Billinghay) was our objective, that too was a success, with numerous event flyers handed out.   

Nearly forgot...great fish 'n' chips from Louth's Mr Chips. 

Tony and Daryl snare another victim!

but others escape with wallets intact

Correct fuelling is vital for optimum performance

Proof that we did promote the Charity Bike Night

No sitting down on the job!

After this, can you really take the organisers seriously?

You WILL enter our prize draw!

Hi! Honeybun! No, not you! These three!

When in Spilsby, the place to head for is Honeybun, 26-28 Market Street Spilsby.  How do I know? I've been there, that's how I know. It was Spilsby Bike Night on Tuesday 21st May and your heroes: Alan, Colin, Geoff, Maurice, Brian and more , many more headed to this Lincolnshire market town in the renowned Lincolnshire Wolds. We were not alone. Of course not, how can seven people be alone? There were in fact hundreds of bikes, hundreds of bikers and hundreds of non-bikers looking at the hundreds of bikes and the hundreds of bikers: that is what bikes nights are all about. 

The happy people of Honeybun
showing their support for the Wolds Bikers

It's thirsty work, though, so off to find a tea room and the one we found was Honeybun. Newly opened and serving tea, coffee and really great cake, I think they have weaned us off fish 'n' chips!

Colin enjoying himself with an old friend

Oh yes! My next bike.

Or even this one!

SOUPER SUNNY SUNDAY!

Apologies, but still no fish and chips! 
Warm and sunny today so off to Gibraltar Point for soup and roll and a short siesta in the sun. Miles of slow moving cars between Gunby and Skegness were no obstacle to progress on the Pan European and I made it to The Point Cafe at the Lincs Wildlife Trust Visitor Center in good time. The cafe is actually rather good. Here's the menu.

Discovery  of the day though was Rachel's Cafe at Hagworthingham . With five stars for cleanliness, bright and airy and  great service and good value , you raally must try this place, midway between  Horncastle and Partney. The meals are good, too, as one of out crowd has testified. We'll definitely be back.

ICE COLD IN....CLEETHORPES

Well, it was OK went we set off from the Wild Coast, but by the time the five of us arrived at the Hawaiian Eye Cafe opposite the pier in Cleethorpes, it was distinctly chilly. A quick cup of hot chocolate and a natter to what few bikers were around and then back down the bendy coast road as the temperature dropped from 12 to 11...to..10..ending up at just 6 Celsius!

However, in line with the theme of this blog, we did discuss fish and chips. The general consensus was that the food at Steels Corner House Restaurant is not what it was. Popular opinion was split between Thompson's in Wetwang - not yet visited by us - and the Market Place in Barton on Humber..unless, of course, you know better!

NO. WE HAVE NOT GONE ON A DIET!!

It's just that we haven't been near any fish and chip shops recently. Last night was a Machine Control Session arranged by Boston Advanced Motorists Bike Section at the LRSP center at North Kyme. I had intended to call in at the Harbour Light fish and chip shop in Mareham le Fen on my way back - see here - but I was too late. Maybe next time. In the meantime, watch this space!

TROPICAL WEATHER HITS LINCOLNSHIRE COAST

yes...Yes...YEs...YES....biking weather at last! 13 Celsius Saturday afternoon. 75 solo miles around the Lincolnshire Wolds but still no fish 'n' chips I'm afraid. I can however, put in a good word for The Dolphin in Sutton-on-Sea. Fish, chips and peas for two. Just £10.00 and they were pretty good too..but that was on Thursday and they were collected by car, not bike.

With a bit of luck will get out Sunday afternoon for a spell, too, but is really our Thursday night rides that get us to the chippie.

Oh, and don't forget, the Wolds Bikers next rideout is this Monday 15th April, leaving The Coach and Horses Billinghay LN4 4DD at 7.30 pm. If you are not a member, just turn up.. and bring your £10.00 annual subs with you.

Wolds Bikers is a friendly and welcoming Lincolnshire  motorcycling club. We like nothing more than to talk, ride and watch motorcycles. We cater for any size and make of bike. You don’t even need one! All we ask is a passion and interest for motorcycles.Wold Bikers has already raised over £14,000 for LIVES, the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service  and the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. Why not join and help raise even more?

To find out more visit www.woldsbikers.net or contact John Smith, Chairman, on 07920 859118

WE'RE ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Don't know if its good news or bad..but we're back! After a seemingly endless winter (and it's not over yet!), Alan, young Peter the Bandit and I managed a shakedown ride in the Wolds yesterday. I realise that three cups of hot chocolate at the Willingham Woods kiosk does not add to the nation's body of fish 'n' chip knowledge but it's the best you are going to get when its just 4 Celsius. But Shirley (it's an old joke!) it has to get warmer from now on so we can resume our quest. And what a quest it will be this year as I'll be reporting from the Black Forest in Germany (probably only finding Pork Knuckle and Sauerkraut shops) and will also be seeking out the best chippies between Dublin and Coleraine later in the year. 

On another front, tonight, 1st April sees the Wolds Bikers first Monday night ride out of the year. 7.30 pm at the Coach and Horses Billinghay 'twixt Tattershall and North Kyme, Lincs, for a short 30 mile season-starter. If you are a Wolds Bikes member, please check your subs payment . If you are not yet a Wolds Bikes member, you can join for just £10 a year. See http://www.woldsbikers.net/

SPRING IS HERE?

Almost...but not quite. Here on the Lincolnshire Coast there are still icebergs...in the bath! Its looking promising, though and within a couple of weeks my mates and I, the Mild Bunch as it were, hope to be out and about, bringing you reports of great rides, great destinations and great fish and chip shops. So watch this space. 

In the meantime, why not join or rejoin the Wolds Bikers, the friendly and welcoming Lincolnshire Wolds motorcycling club? We like nothing more than to talk, ride and watch motorcycles. We cater for any size and make of bike.You don’t even need one! All we ask is a passion and interest for motorcycles. Wolds Bikers has already raised over £14,000 for LIVES, the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service and the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. see http://www.woldsbikers.net/

You could also consider joining the Bike Section of the Boston Advanced Motorists to enhance your riding skills. see http://www.bostonadvancedmotorists.co.uk/

DIDN'T MAKE IT TO SHERINGHAM AFTER ALL

Just too much on..too much to do. You can't do everything all the time. My next outing is to the Springfield Motorbike Show at the Springfields Event Centre in Spalding, 26th and 27th January where I'll be on the Wolds Bikers stand or possibly the Boston Advanced Motorcyclists stand trying to recruits new members for both organisations: see Wolds Bikers and Boston Advanced Motorists

Oh, and if you'd rather like some toast,  have a look at the recipes on here: On Toast