Sue and I have just returned from our holiday in South East Australia, what a country for motor biking! Not only are the roads almost without traffic by comparison with ours but the tarmac surfaces are usually devoid of manhole covers, metal studs and trenches from sewer and cable workings.

Although many roads are straight like those in the USA there are plenty of coastal and mountain roads with lovely bends and sweeping curves. We have come away with ideas about a fly/ride Harley Davidson holiday based in Melbourne to soak up the glories of the South Ocean Road from Melbourne to Adelaide.

I can’t begin to describe the off road potential in Oz. Land is so cheap you could buy a few acres for a £1000 to use as your very own trials playground. Lots of gullies, trees, light sandy soil and hills, but not much water. It should certainly suit those of you who dislike cleaning your bikes!

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The camping weekend went well and I think all who were there will agree it was a great success. I wasn’t able to be there the whole time but managed a part of every day and Saturday night. The weather was sunny and especially nice for a bank holiday weekend!

Glenys of Steptoe & Fun provided us with a great evening Line Dancing. The kids were taught Kung Fu Dancing and we all are now fairly good at Heel fans and grapevines, to mention but a few dance steps. I would like to thank Derek TW & Pam for introducing Glenys to the club and for showing us all a clean pair of ballroom heels during Glenys’ rest period. Afterwards we went on to twist, shake and rock to a Hits of the 60’s disco.

Sunday morning breakfast was cooked, as tradition dictates, by the blokes for the rest. Anthony did quite well cooking the eggs but complained that the shells weren’t cracking in the right direction! Danny H, Pat LJ and Trevor B did a sterling job on the BBQ all weekend and deserve a special thank you from all concerned. Trevor also worked wonders with the generator and was given a little something on Saturday night to say thanks.

Unfortunately a dog, identity unknown, got into Danny and Sue’s tent and eat their intended Sunday lunch. While I am sure they didn’t go hungry this was an unhappy event. On behalf of the committee I would like to apologise to the Haste’s, I hope it didn’t spoil their weekend. There were more dogs present than ever before and I suppose this was due to the freedom they and the children can be given at such a relaxed family event. The committee will consider the matter of dogs when we review the weekend at our next meeting, (23 September), so if you have any views please let us know.

Bruce & Margaret were both given a little something to thank them for the work they put in, without them the weekend would not happen at all and everyone who went owes them a debt of gratitude. Thank you both again.

As we near the end of the peak holiday period it is good for those of us who have been without bikes for a while to get back into the saddle. Tom & Bruce D went for rides on their road bikes and many of the rest of us were mobile on our trials bikes. The Bank Holiday Monday trial was extremely interesting and Anthony has written a review which I shall not duplicate, except perhaps to say that Dunsfold when dry is very different from Dunsfold when wet!

This coming weekend a number of members are off to Bruges, Belgium and I hope to be able to bring back chocolate, booze and a few stories for the next magazine.

Stephen Whitmore