Trout Run-Out

Well what can I say, a major success all round, what a day !

We met at the Flowing Spring as arranged, but what I didn’t expect is the total of 27 bikes, the car park was full. We were joined by most of Centre 14 and they looked pretty cool as they arrived on that overcast morning. At the stroke of 11am we were off, with Scouse’s Harley blocking the road we filtered out taking up about ¾ of a mile at a guess. It felt pretty damn good leading that line of headlights towards Henley I can tell you and my initial nerves soon wore off,  with my trusty side kick on the back map reading for me ( a dig in the ribs just before a sign post) we were off.

We had a steady 30 – 40mph ride, (well we did, Scouse was doing 100mph + in order to get from the front to the back after blocking junctions and roundabouts) after about 30 miles we seemed to lose 20 bikes for 5 minutes, and I did a quick U turn only to see 20 bikes coming towards me, so another U turn and we were all reunited. We got to the Trout pub at dead on 1 o’clock and were met by 4 more VSOC members who had taken another route and beaten us there.

I made a dash to see the landlord as I had booked a table for 20 and we had about 40 hungry mouths to feed, he was most helpful and we ended up in our own heated Marquee at a great long table that would have done Henry the Eighth Proud.

Then it was lunch time, the Vultures lived up to their name and demolished the entire menu, the Trout didn’t let me down and everyone was very satisfied with the meal and service.

There was a Folk Music event going on in the other bar and we all bought a raffle ticket in support, it was either that I have a whip round to pay them to stop singing ! There were winners from Centre 12 and Centre 14 and the prizes were bungeed on the back of the bikes, along with Johns two huge great jars of Pickled Onions, he must have big pockets that’s all I can say !

Steve Tyson managed to take Anne’s camera to strange new  depths, like down his trousers, but sadly even with the telescopic lens attached and at maximum magnification the picture was hard to make out apparently !

After a laugh and a relaxed drink we got ready for the return Journey, filled up with gas and headed towards the M4. This is where things got confusing as some of Centre 12 were going back on  Scouse’s magical Mystery tour and Centre 14 and the others were doing the M4. It turned out to be chaos at the junction, with people waving goodbye and tooting, others confused as to what was happening and others doing U turns, throw in a few cars, and, well I just shut my eyes and looked the other way !

We had a good ride back, the weather held until we hit Reading (it’s not proper biking without rain) and then it was back to Caroline and Scouse’s for a cuppa, lovely.

My personal thanks go to everyone who attended, without the people who make up the VSOC it would have been nothing.

Special thanks to Anne and Steve from centre 14 who made the 2^nd man marking system work,  Scouse for marshalling and John for rear marking.

Next year we might well arrange a “Vulture Party” at the same venue with overnight camping and a band, but not a folk band, watch this space.