The run to the Blackmore bike meet was a bit thin on the ground? But for those of us (4 bikes and one pillion) that managed to get out of bed to meet up at the LALL at 9am were in for a good day’s out. Leaving a 0930, Pete played lead man with me following on the Ariel with the others bringing up the rear. Stopping at the first junction I pass Pete his keys that were hanging from his top box! Taking the scenic route along the Maldon road via Tiptree then on through Lanford, Hatfield Peverel , Army and Navy and out on to the A414 then a slight navigational error (Pete stopping rather sharply at the turning off the A414 and the rest of us shooting pass!) then on down the road to Blackmore.
When we got there, we were met by quite a few bikes ranging from as early as 1920’s up to modern day stuff. After a quick look around we had a cuppa and a bite to eat – thanks Pete, then on for a further look around at the bikes and the bike jumble stall.  With a continuous stream of bikes coming in every time you did a ‘circuit’ of the green and car park there was more bike’s to look at. Lot’s of bikes and lot’s of people all enjoying themselves – I’ll say about 200 plus bikes in total.
Unfortunately there’s a nice old pub next door and we felt obliged to sample it’s wares – rude not to! So sitting in the garden with the warm sunshine, a good pint and the sound of rather loud old singles starting up and others chugging by – thinking life doesn’t get much better than this! But all to soon it was time to head back home the, other members making there own way home so Pete and I trundled off together following roughly the same route took going, around about Boreham I stopped Pete (again) so he could close his top box lid! So on we went until I wave goodbye to Pete as he turned off towards Birch and I ride the rest of the way alone arriving home safely and dry!
Despite the constant threat from the big grey beasties in the sky we managed to stay under the blue stuff all day and it was a very good day out. Lovely little village, with an amazing invasion of some splendid machines (others not so splendid) and a nice little run out of about 60 miles, only a shame that the others missed out! But there’s always next year?

Stephen Byrne