First piece of advice: don't bother with breakfast as the café around the back of the motorcycle accessory shop offers a full range of cooked breakfasts to satisfy the largest hunger. We met up at the Pied Bull for a 10 a.m. departure: Janneane, Barry, Ian and Julie, John Rainsley, Dave Warren, new-ish member Doug, Colin and Mags, Tank, Shelley, Gary and Jackie (and apologies to anyone I've forgotten). We had an easy ride down the A225 to Sevenoaks, picking up the A21 then the A26 before turning off on the A267 then taking a sharp left at Horam.
There were plenty of bikes already filling the front and side car parks but we squeezed ourselves in wherever and joined the queue for food. I spotted some Medway members who were keeping an eye on the bike racing on the TV in the corner. After polishing off my egg, bacon and sausage ensemble I took a look at the bikes outside, spotting two extremes in the shape of a grubby pre-unit 650 twin hardtail chop on one side of the side door and a shiny new Rocket III on the other. There was the predictable collection of chrome-covered Harleys contrasting with fully-faired sports bikes for the one-piece leather aficionados.
Then it was into the front shop and a mosey round the gear. I'm sure they had more stock this time than in the past, which I guess is a good thing. In fact their selection of summer gloves was so extensive I decided to look for a pair to replace my thoroughly worn and faded pair. After much price-checking and trying on, I settled for a snazzy looking pair with finger vents and knuckle protectors for only £30. Stomachs filled and wallets selectively emptied we headed back in twos and threes to get on whatever Sunday afternoon had in store, which for a lucky few meant a chin-wag at the Pied Bull for a while, until the heat or the passage of time called for moving on.
Thanks again to Janneane and Barry for organising the run.