June 2006
York Cycle Show

  We set off for York on Friday lunchtime, determined to get there in time to relax and meet up with the evening pub crawl which we'd somehow managed to miss in 2005. Not that we'd missed going to the pub, we just went on our own. This year we managed to meet up with them and we were led off to the Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis, a good pub for food and beer and with lots of outside seating. From there it was on to the Blacksmiths at Naburn, after which the group started to split up. We ended up leading a small group of dedicated drinkers back to the Ebor at Bishopthorpe for some extremely cheap Samuel Smiths bitter, and left rather later than we'd intended to...

  It was warm, cloudy weather we set off with our usual fully loaded trailer and panniers, home comforts are important. The half way point is Elvington where the village green provides a peaceful resting point for a quick drink and a chocolate biscuit before pushing on to the campsite.

  Booking in for the campsite was as busy, and disorganised, as usual but we eventually got pitched in the lightweight area, crowded as ever with some extremely small tents. How do people live in anything that small, we need room to stretch out these days.

  In great British tradition, people queued for every thing, including a very overcrowded food tent. We decided we weren't that hungry, went outside and found a burger tent just getting warmed up around the side of the main food marquee. By the time we'd finished our burgers, the rest of the queue seemed to have realised they were there.

  After the food, onto the shopping area to buy a few 'essentials'. Some good bargains to be had, and it was as popular as ever. A good chance to have a chat with a few friends and acquaintances, it's a shame more of the mainstream manufacturers don't support the rally these days.

  We didn't ride in the Grand Parade back from the church service on Sunday morning, but we did get to Ebor Way in time to watch the parade arrive, some great bikes and some great novelty items as usual.

  Tandems are great for families, this Thorn has rather more seats than our Landescape, it must take a bit of steering.

  The children's obstacle course was very popular whenever we walked past on the way from the campsite to the main arena.

  The vintage bike display was interesting, the trikes look just a bit too small for comfort. The Choppers reminded us of our childhood days and whilst they might not qualify as really vintage to some people, they certainly brought a smile to a few faces.

August 2005 Tour of the Vales	Blaxhall Weekend 2007

Pictures and text are copyright © Dave & Karen Petty- All Rights Reserved, please don't copy anything without our permission. Thanks, D & K.