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How many would be prepared to join me on my first DAM Ride Out as leader? I, rather expectantly, prepared fifty sets of ride out notes complete with free gift! In fact we got about fifteen bikes all raring to go.
I had
prepared the route in Map Source the PC based mapping software that is
compatible with my Garmin GPS2610, to take in all sorts of roads from Motorway
to farm track and everything in between. I knew the basic route but in the
mapping software it suggested some unusual roads so after downloading the route
to the remote unit I decided to do the run on Saturday to dot the i’s and cross
the t’s. Chris Malkin joined me and we had a wet morning but the route was fine
and I only made one wrong turn so Sunday should work out well. Here we all are
at Bowburn Durham Services:
As
you can see quite a motley crew, some resplendent in their DAM fluorescent
jackets and a couple of Geordie Chapter Harley members joined us too. Barry
passed his IAM with me many years ago and Dave Vardy is keen to take the IAM
test soon to become a Road Captain within our Chapter. So where did we go; here
is the route, as you can see we headed NW through Leadgate and up to Corbridge
then North to Rothbury..jpg)
Rothbury is a bikers mecca this time of year and has the main biker requirements of excellent roads, good cafes and toilets!
Suitably coffee’d up we were back on the road heading NW to Bamburgh, the road into Bamburgh that I choose gave up excellent views of the castle and with the bright weather and an empty car park I decided a group photo was in order, even though many riders were well ready for their lunch. Lunch was scheduled at Seahouses and only a few minutes South of Bamburgh so I managed to get all the riders lined up, sans lids, next to their chosen bikes for today’s ride – and a grand sight we all looked too.
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After Seahouses our next break was scheduled for Whitley Bay, Brian gave me a little congratulateory Thank You, for a job well done. I had enjoyed my first Advance Motorcyclists run and with only two bikes dropped, one lost rider I guess it was a success!
