Virago Star Owners Club - Centre 8

Conan, Taff, Jem, Jem's daughter Gemma, Dave O, Joe, Chris and I made our way to Birkenhead on Thursday 30th April to set sail for The Laughin' Leprechaun VSOC Rally 2009 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. 

Heavy rain greeted us on arrival in Belfast and on our journey up to Ballymena (About 30 miles) which made it great for us!!! to pitch our tents.  Thank goodness for the T-Tent so that I could keep dry while watching Chris put our tent up.

On Friday afternoon Jan, Jane and Jo arrived after flying in from the mainland.  In the evening we had a rock-a-billy band which everybody enjoyed.  Centre 4 had us all joining in a sing-a-long of why, why, why Delilah.

On Saturday the planned ride-out was along the coast between Larne and Portrush.  Fifty bikes were on the rideout which was superbly marshalled all the 106 miles.  Stop-off points included the Glenarm Rope Bridge and the Giants Causeway.  Fortunately the weather was mostly dry and warm  with a few short busts of heavy rain.  We didn't get back to the camp until about 18:00 so time for a quick change and then into the clubhouse for another lovely evening meal laid on by the Rugby club for only £5.

On Sunday Conan, Taff, Chris and I got a lift into town for us to head straight into a Weatherspoons pub for lunch and a few beers.  We had ice cream while walking one and a half miles (poor Taff) back to the Rugby Club.  On Sunday evening there was a disco with another 'Delilah' singalong followed by Jem's famous rendition of allouette.

While others prepared to return home on Monday, Chris and I carried on to a small town between Omagh and Strabane to stay a few days with friends.  It was wet, wet, wet all the while so on the Tuesday (Chris's birthday) we left the bike and took a bus into Londonderry to have a look round. 

On the Wednesday we made our way to Lisburn and spent Wednesday night in a beautiful guest house where the landlady locked our bike away securely in her Garage.

Our ferry back home wasn't until Thursday evening so Chris and I took the train into Belfast to spend the day looking around.  We got to the port in good time and just before a heavy downpour of rain.  The port staff looked after us and asked us to put the bike undercover for a couple of hours waiting to board the ferry. 

It was a stormy night and the crossing was pretty rough.  The arrival in Birkenhead was calm and we had a good ride home.  Washing machine straight on, lunch then Chris travelled down to Cambridge for  more camping to join future son-in-law for his stag do. 

All in all a good week, great fun, excellent company and great hospitality.

Jinny

Click here to see my piccies

Another great weekend in wet Ireland.

It all started on Thursday afternoon with Connan and myself setting off for the Ferry,needless to say that on the way to Birkenhead it rained,on arrival at the ferry we were joined by Joe,Chris and Jinney ,Dave O, Jem and his daughter Jemma,we also met up with quite a large contingent from the Yorkies.

We were about the last group to load as they loaded all the car traffic 1st,when we finally loaded it was up to cabins to remove all our gear then down for food,allincluded in the price of ticket,eavening meal over abot 2300 hours and off to bed,no sleep for me as I was sharing with Connan and if there had been fog the boat would not have needed a fog horn,must remember ear plugs next time,breakfast at 0600 hours and docked about 0800 hours.

As you may have guessed the ride from Belfast to Ballimeana was to say the least reminisent of the ride back from the Scrummpies,must get wiper blades fitted to screen,vissor and glasses!On arrival at camp site tents errected by about 1000 hours to the barfor what was going to be a memorable weekend,the bitts that I can remember,

Me walking down to the rope bridge,1 km in Ireland is more like 10km,the walk back was more like mountaineering and yes I needed oxygen,then onto the Giants causewsway,caught bus down and back,dont remember a bloody thing about Saturday night,.

Sunday,another wet sort of day to start but turned out nice,went into Balimeena town and ended up in Witherspoons,had a drink and a meal,then another bloody walk back to camp site,I DON'T DO WALKING!

Monday a lazy day hanging around camp site untill 1800 hours as the ferry was not untill 2200hours,the rugby club left open and kitchen so that we could help ourselves to food and tea and coffee.

A fantastic event ,avery well organised and marshalled ride out,fantastic company and a big thank you and well done to Brian,Aidie and Steve for all their hard work in putting on such a good Rally.

It is a pitty that this event was not better supported by more Centers,as Brian travells over to the mainland to other VSOC rallies.

Center 8 picked up 3 trophies at the Jump start.The 1st was for the most members attending yet again!,the 2nd was won by Morag for ricing to here 1st Rally/party on here Learner Bike.The 3rd won by Mark Pickins for attending nearly every Jump Start since it started.Well done Center 8.

Just to say thanks to everone who turned out for this, I was quite surprised by the number of Centre 8 in attendance. This is surprising as I hear Centre8 won best attended award for the Jumpstart.

Considering this was the first Easter Egg run for 'Wings', It was very well attended, I would estimate 4000+ bikes and the weather, well just excellent!

Thanks again

The meeting point for the Easter Egg Run to RAF Cosford (This Sunday 5th) will be at the cafe in Bridgenorth at Approx 09.00 - 09.30. We will leave at approx 10.00 - 10.30 for Shrewsbury Town FC.

Ivan