XRV.ORG.UK Meeting 2004

[paultheold]

Just a thought, are any of you interested in a camping weekend some time this year ?

Maybe a small gathering on a campsite somewhere central of England [well south of Birmingham]

A pub, small site, or full facilities.

[SteveLee]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Only weekends I can't make at the moment are Sept 4/5 and Sept 11/12.

Venue I guess will depend on where most people are coming from - I'm in Abingdon but am happy to travel pretty much anywhere.

Steve

[ogri wannabe]

I like the idea! :D Just tell me when and where.

[iswoolley]

Towards the end of September would suit me the best. Location could be anywhere, but organising the right weather is the key. 8)

Iain

[paultheold]

Is it worth it for four of us?

From the 17th to 27 Sept I am on holiday with the Dragon [wife]

I will start looking for a site, that is bike friendly.

[Phoenix]

Great idea about the camping. What about Wales somewhere so I can pop over on the ferry and join you all. OR you could come over on the ferry and visit the emerald Isle. Plenty of motorbike friendly camp sites. and always excellent weather, with cars moving to the side of the road to let bikes past and men in overalls mopping up any fuel spills with signage a mile in advance of the damage. Scantily clad young females with direction boards if you get lost and loads of pubs........................... or we could go to bognor regis!!

[xrv_jim]

I could be up for a weekend camping :D

As a suggestion, South Wales/Forest of Dean sounds good. Nearest I've been to that part of the world is the M5 :wink:

[iswoolley]

So far it looks like October 2nd and 3rd at a campsite in the Forest of Dean suits most of the people most of the time. Any ideas on a specific venue?

Iain

[xrv_jim]

How about http://www.doward-park.co.uk/ ? Looks OK'ish (no caravans allowed :lol:) but a 20 minute walk to the nearest pub :shock: could put some off

Of course not many of the smaller, more accomodating sites are on the 'net. It'd be better if someone who's been to (or who's from) the Forest of Dean could recommend somewhere from personal experience - campfires allowed preferably :wink:

[paultheold]

The End of September is still best for me.

How about :
Christchurch Caravan & Camping Site, Bracelands Drive, Christchurch, Coleford, Gloucester, GL16 7NN.

This is a Forestry Commission Site,

http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/caravanandcamping/sites/christchurch.asp

This is one of three sites in the same area.

[xrv_jim]

How about :
Christchurch Caravan & Camping Site, Bracelands Drive, Christchurch, Coleford, Gloucester, GL16 7NN.

Fine by me.

[ogri wannabe]

The wife says no problem for me to come out and play :wink: :lol:

[xrv_jim]

Oo er! Forgot about 'er indoors. Still, there's plenty of time to work around that. :roll:

[paultheold]

I have been to the Christchurch site, but it was over 20 years ago. At that time a pub was within walking distance. Also I do not know their attitude to groups of bikes. Still we have a choice of two sites.. :D

[SteveLee]

Either of the above locations sounds fine to me. I'm OK for for the 1st w/e in October or end of September at the moment.

Steve

[paultheold]

Ime ok for the first weekend in October, Question is witch of the two sites

[ogri wannabe]

HI all. I'm not fussy, both look good. If I had to choose it would be Christchurch, but like I said I'm not fussy!! I'm a sheep, where others lead I follow :lol:

[Phoenix]

A wee trip to the South Wales area of the universe end of Sept or Oct would be great. Hmmm where is the new forest, and dont say its two mile down the road from the old one....

[SteveLee]

Phoenix, it's the Forest of Dean not the New Forest. This is probably good for you as it's nearer to Ireland!

Is everyone planning on camping Friday and Saturday?

Anyone have any ideas for a rideout on the Saturday? Brecon Beacons for example.

Steve

[paultheold]

OK Boys And Girls.

This is the big one.

Christchurch, http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/caravanandcamping/sites/christchurch.asp

Friday and Saturday night. Find your own way to the site. Do all your own booking, and hope to hell they take bikes. We will not be arriving as a group so the campsite will not know it is a meet.

I do not like rideouts, so I am able to stay on site and watch the equipment.

All in agreement say, Aye :?:

Else the discussion goes on :wink:

[paultheold]

PS

There is a lot to see in the area, so a ride out could be aranged on Friday night.

[ogri wannabe]

AYE for first weekend of october.

[SteveLee]

That sounds good to me. Lets hope the weather improves a bit by then!

Steve

[gibbo]

Put me down as a maybe. I would head across on Saturday morning, will let you know closer to the time.

[SteveLee]

Friday and Saturday night. Find your own way to the site. Do all your own booking, and hope to hell they take bikes. We will not be arriving as a group so the campsite will not know it is a meet.


I just had a look at their terms and conditions, which say...

The price of your pitch entitles you to locate:
a) one car/motorcycle and one tent/caravan/trailer tent, or
b) one motorhome

So bikes shouldn't be a problem.

I'll be booking mine soon.

Steve

[ogri wannabe]

Sad news :cry: . I've just been made redundant so unless I can find a job by the end of the month I'm going to have to oull out of the weekend trip.
SORRY.

[DaveS]

Sorry to hear that m8. Really bad news.
Hope you find something real quick.

[SteveLee]

Bad news Ogri. If it's any consolation everyone I know who's been made redundant has ended up getting a better job!

Getting away for the weekend might be a good way of escaping from life's hassles for a while.

Steve

[paultheold]

I have had 5 Redundancies, so has Jill [udder arf] I have remained within my trade [still in Engineering and happier] Jill returned to College and also worked on production lines to earn a wage.

Despite feeling very bitter regarding her last redundancy, she took a totally different career turn into Nursing and is extremely happy with her career of ten years We both have survived the ordeal.

Don't be bitter, the only way is to look to forward not backwards. Don't be bitter it is destructive.

She would not have that new career without the last redundancy.

[wheeliebin]

Aye, I'll pop down for a beer.

Can do Friday no problem, Saturday's a maybe.

[ogri wannabe]

Thank you all for your kindness and support :D

[african swede]

Is this still on? Place and time to meet?
chrs
e

[SteveLee]

I'm certainly still going. I hope to get to the campsite late afternoon on Friday.

Steve

[paultheold]

http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/caravanandcamping/sites/christchurch.asp

Is the location, Date October 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2004 :D

The first one there sets the position, so ride around the site to look for ATs TAs Ect. Maybe the first on the site could leave a message with the warden. I hope to arrive early Friday afternoon If I am you will see a small St George flag flying above a miserable old bas***d who is half pi***d

I will wash my bike for the ocasion :(

[paultheold]

Ps Ogri
If you can make it I will loan you a can of cider

[african swede]

Glad I asked and thank you for your replies. I would looked a bit of a saddo had I turned up as planned this evening, on my own, camping with my bike on my own, with one can of beer, on my own. :oops:

Phew!

Will try for next weekend!

chrs
e

[SteveLee]

AS - turning up a week early may have been slightly less embarrassing than admitting you were going to do it!!

ogri, if you can make it I'll bring an extra can of cider in case you finish paultheold's.

Steve

[wheeliebin]

CIDER ! you can tell who the established piss'eads are :wink:

Your more than welcome to join me with a bottle of Becks (if your a shandy drinker, like me :oops: )

[paultheold]

That is why cider drinkers ride ATs :?
and have large blue noses :roll:

[wheeliebin]

Weather for the week ahead : looks like a good weekend now.

[DaveS]

I'll come over at some point to say Hi as I'm not that far away.
We'll need to arrange where and when.
Perhaps Saturday morning or something like that?
Anyone else from the Bristol end fancy joining up for a ride across the bridge to meet up??

[iswoolley]

Booked my space this morning for Friday and Saturday nights. Can't see myself getting to the campsite much before dark on Friday though.

Is there a local pub that I can get a feed at?

Iain

[SteveLee]

I rang the campsite earlier and they said there are plenty of spaces this weekend so I didn't bother booking.

There is a pub called the Dog & Muffler in Christchurch, according to the OS map there are a couple of others as well. I'll dig out my Good Pub Guide tonight and see what it says.

BTW what does everyone want to do on Staurday?

Steve

[paultheold]

Nurse my hangover, moan about the youth of today, weather, politiks, and tick like a cantankerous old man.

Dave could you meet us on the site, If the warden charges visitors meet outside the site and ride somewhere else.

There is a Pub within walking distance, as to food, it was twenty years since I was last there. I am taking all my own food for the weekend, but I might manage to eat a meal in a Pub as well.

I cannot find my OS map of the area, [most probably eaten by moths]

[iswoolley]

What to do on Sat could be decided by the weather. But a ride out in the Beacons could be the job!?! :D

Iain

[ogri wannabe]

Hi all. I've got a job interview tomorrow :D . If I get the job will see you on saturday to celebrate :D :D :D

[DaveS]

Good luck in the interview mate.

[paultheold]

Thats it Bike well overloaded beer beans beer. Had to leave underpants behind due to weight. a whole weekend without a wash, bliss !!

Went away with the "Crone" she made me wash every day, plus dress for Dinner. God how awful.

Some prat at work has given me a cold, so don't be suprised if I do not turn up. I will do my best.

Phoned the site this afternoon, the shop is basic, and as far as I can attain it does not sell alcohol. Oh dear a shop with no beer

[wheeliebin]

Overloaded, know want you mean. Think I've overdone it with the underpants, time for a re-pack.

[DaveS]

OK. Can someone post here to say that you've left.
I don't want to head over there to find no-one there!!!
PM me your mobile or something and then I can ring you before I set off.

[paultheold]

Cold seems to have cleared. now at work waiting to go. see you all at the site.

Ride safe..

[SteveLee]

Some buggers given me a cold as well. You may want to bring extra earplugs in case I start coughing during the night.

I plan on setting off around lunch time so should be there mid afternoon.

See ya later

Steve

[wheeliebin]

I've gone.

[SteveLee]

Bike's packed and I'm bored so I'm setting off now before it starts raining!

[iswoolley]

Hmm, drizling here, and probably worse further south... :cry: Anyway, what's a camping weekend without putting the tent up in the rain? :x So, packing a spare set of boxers and I'm on my way.

Iain 8)

[DaveS]

You probably won't all see this of course but I have 3 sets of mobile no's from you so will deffo try to meet up and meet you all.
Anyone else from the Bristol contingent fancy meeting up with the guys over the next few days???

[wheeliebin]

:shock: I'm scared for life !

[SteveLee]

Scared or Scarred, John??

I set off back about 4pm during a dry spell - sunny all the way home!!

Great to meet you all despite the weather.

Steve

PS: Thanks for the cider Paul, I'm drinking it now!

[DaveS]

:shock: I'm scared for life !

And why would that be?

I've just spoken to Iain and you broke up a bit early didn't you!!!
I couldn't make it today but I was keen to meet you tomorrow.
I suppose the weather was a bit challenging!

[wheeliebin]

Sorry, my spelling ! I am Scarred for life :shock:

My introduction to camping was a tad damp. Just dried the tent out, wasn't as bad as I'd expected. The sleeping bag had soaked the worst up !

[SteveLee]

I've just put up 3 pictures in the pictures bit, can't be bothered to figure out how to link to them at the moment!

Note from DaveS....... here they are: (Cheers Dave)

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=182
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=183
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=184

[paultheold]

Who's idea was it to have a camping weekend ?
Who suggested October ?
The weather slowly improved the nearer I got to home, when I took my socks off my feet were white and plukey, everything is slowly drying out. Managed to get my camera to work, it was the damp.

All in all the weekend turned out very well, those who said they would be there, were. For a first camp it was a great success. a gazebo and bbq would have helped.

It was nice to have met you all. may be next year a pub site,earlier in the season might be better.

Sorry to have missed you Dave.

Just one more thing, could those who took photos email copies to me. Thanks.

[DaveS]

Sorry to have missed you Dave.
Yep twas a shame. I did intend to ride out Saturday morning, but had some stuff to do at home.
Ahhh well there'll always be next time.

[african swede]

Greetings chaps!

That was good fun wasn't it? :shock: I've dried up now and keen for the next trip, to the south of France I think...

Good to meet you that made the trip. I'll post my piccies at some point and then email some of them over to you as well Paul.

chrs
e

[iswoolley]

Due to an unfortunate combination of too many pints of Rev James, and autofocus not working particularly well in pitch black, these are the only three photos that came out for me... :?

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=187
That tent isn't going anywhere!

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=185
WheelieBin

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=186
African Swede

[african swede]

Greetings!

Finally got round to downloading my photos from the weekend. Here are some of them;

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=205
A lucky break in the weather gave me sunshine at Tintern Abbey.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=204
Got the tent up just in time before dark...

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=206
The view our site from one of the loos...

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=207
..and the bikes in the morning before everyone packed up and left due to the weather.

chrs
e