by Roy and Chris
On Saturday I rode to East Kirkby to meet up with other Tri-Anglia club members, who were camping on a site next to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. The centre is the home of a real Second World War Avro Lancaster aeroplane called “Just Jane”. East Kirby was an orginal war-time Lancaster airfield and it supports the memory of Bomber Command.
After breakfast we wandered over to the Aviation Centre, which was pretty full with motorcycles and plenty more were still arriving; we felt that some bikes had already left to take part in the run. We had noticed that the older machines sported blue stickers on their headlamps and newer machines had red ones. The ride out is described as an “exhilarating run over the Lincolnshire Wolds”. Signing on started at 8.30 am and the ride out started at approximately 10.30 am. We noticed that it cost £7.00 to enter your bike for the ride out, as against paying £9.00 entrance fee to just come in and look around the Aviation Centre itself.
This was my first visit to the centre. There is so much to see there and, of course, today there were also hundreds of motorcycles to look at, with a wide variety of machines of all ages; these were changing all the time, as some machines were let out on the run and others were returning.
There were plenty of classic motorcycles to see, including a couple of sidecar outfits to admire. Something else to look at today was a flying display by the Large Model Association; some of these planes were huge – one stood five feet high and when started up a couple of men had to hold onto it.
On another occasion a display team had nine planes up in the air, racing between pylons – but there was a mid-air collision and one plane had a wheel knocked off; this was the last plane to land (and successfully) – this flyer got a round of applause.
“Just Jane” was fired up three times during the day, and taxied down the runway. There was a raffle and the prize was a runway ride in the Lanc. Some of the sidecar club members were standing close by when the Merlin engines were started up – the hats they were wearing were whipped off their heads and they had to retrieve them later!!
Another nice touch later in the afternoon was a Spitfire which flew several times very low over the event.
The Aviation Museum has plenty of exhibits to look at, and there are plenty of food outlets to choose from. Wartime period music was playing over the tannoy.
Motorcycle awards were presented at 2.30 pm.
What a brilliant day – a wide range of motorcycles to look at, about 150 flying model aeroplanes giving a excellent flying display, and a museum to look at.
For more details of events at the museum go to: — www.lincsaviation.co.uk
The Wolds Explorer by Michael
Once again the part-timer must work & my finishing time was 1800pm on Saturday of the May Day holidays, plus l was able to get away by 1810pm and ride east for The Wolds of Lincolnshire.
l arrived at East Kirkby at about 1945pm and started put up my tent,
while Martyn & Lesley cooked our evening meal. (Thank you) Then the rest of evening was spent in the ‘Red Lion’ which seems to be a place for up and coming local singers!!
Sunday morning form a crescent of sidecars for our club photo shoot. Our ‘Wolds’ hosts are John & Tracy and are leading a run leaving at 11.00pm for Woodall Spa by the back lanes, plus a sidecar pilgrimage to the ruins of Kirkstead Abbey.
From Woodall Spa l said my goods byes and became a ‘Wolds Explorer’ and found myself a pub for lunch, must be all right even MG owners dine at The Ebrington Arms http://www.ebringtonarms.com
Also the local Triumph Owners club (The Missing Lincs.) have club nights at this pub.
Time to find some wet roads/fords, however not expecting deep water because it’s been quite dry of late.
Found a green lane leading to a”white walk” church of All Saints Church, Mareham on the Hill from the 12 century.
Next another ford and a ‘Unsuitable for motor vehicles’ lane and it seems the The Wolds have connections with Ural Mountains of Russia! After this l found a poet in Somersby ‘Lord Alfred Tennyson’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzCOL6ewpPw
Monday, May Day morning l and others have been very well feed last evening at the Red Lion, a real Lincolnshire yellow belly feast!! So it’s taking a little longer for the inner man to wake up, however the dawn chorus of wild birds in near wood really are going for it with great gusto at 05.30am!
Next noise, that of model air planes from East Kirkby Model Air Show, yes we have a grandstand view from our campsite.
Time now10.00am ready to leave for home, however still more to explore along the way, in North Kelsey l ask a ‘chap’ with two dogs for directions for Hibadstow Bridge.The two dogs seemed to be excited/friendly on seeing the Ural, perhaps the reason for this is because they are the Siberian Husky breed http://siberianhuskyclub.org.uk and are hankering for sidecar trip back to Mother Russia/Siberia.
Now on the banks of the Old River Ancholme, approaching the Hibadstow Bridge with flat landscape of North Lincolnshire. While parked on the bridge, also witness the ‘Sky Divers’ descending at nearby airfield http://www.skydiving.co.uk
My next stop was for ice cream was at Blyton http://blytonicecream.co.uk Now crossed over the River Trent and in North Nottinghamshire and a chance to ride a longish ‘Byway’, however no need for 2WD because conditions are quite dry in Sherwood Forest.
Bye for now. Michael.