21st April - The Caldarium Egg Run (AKA The Perfect Day.)
6.30am soon arrives. Scott gets up, I grunt and roll over. He says bye and heads downstairs. A few moments later I hear shouting and swearing from outside. Of course, the bike wont start. I hear a loud bang and not long after I head downstairs. By this time, he’s gone and I go out to inspect the bike. The battery was flat, and the one that had been on charge overnight hadn’t charged.
Over the past few months I’ve managed to try and not panic until the last second, so I make a coffee and message Scott to see if there are any alternatives. Luckily Scott works at a building suppliers where they have a super charger for the lorries. So I chuck the battery in a backpack and head over to his work, give him the battery and cross my fingers.
Scott hurries back from work, extremely stressed and rushing like mad. He chucks the battery in the bike, tells me to put my gear on and within ten minutes we’re making our way as quick as possible (not without a crazy amount of shouting and swearing) to the Littlemore Rugby Club.
Mark in the middle facing the camera, Scott and I on the right. No idea what is going on with my butt. Think my phone was in my back pocket? photograph credit to @paulnikki fab photographer and great guy.
A small relief washed over me after seeing Mark’s excited grin as we pulled into the car park. He would be blocking during the rally, which is where a couple of chosen club members ride ahead of the pack and cut off any traffic coming from the side roads to let the pack through. He would also be riding a V-Rad since his bike had broken after a crash, only adding to his excitement. After and chat and a few giggles the stress began to wash away and was replaced with excitement.
When the rest of the club arrived Caldarium’s president called everyone over for a briefing before we set off. Hearing so many bikes start at once gave me goosebumps, and once we were all geared up we moved into the pack and left the rugby club. The feeling of riding in a pack was incredible, riding pillion I didn’t think I’d be that bothered about it, but It’s definitely a great feeling. Occasionally a few excited howls, many grins and the revving of engines. Mark seemed in his element and did a fantastic job being as it was his first ride with the club as prospect and his first time blocking.
Our first stop was Fewcott House Nursing Home in Fritwell. We went inside in groups to hand out Easter eggs and fluffy toys to the elderly. One elderly lady pointed to a triumph and told her carer she was going to take it and ride off into the sunset!
We stayed there for around half an hour before climbing back on the bike and heading to our second stop, a disability centre in Bicester. Riding past the idyllic landscapes, the bright yellow mustard fields and rolling hills made me feel incredibly calm, and reminded me of my home in Devon.
We carried out the same procedure at the disability centre and met some of the patients, they all had a wonderful sense of humour and beautiful smiles. The nurses bought out a tea and coffee station for us. Scott and I took this opportunity to have a look at some of the bikes, including a bike decorated with characters from Tim Burton’s ‘The Corpse Bride’.
Unfortunately upon pulling into the disability centre, a girl in front of us broke harshly with no warning and my glove got caught where I was holding the back of the bike, so I slammed into the back of Scott whilst my arm stayed at the back causing quite a painful stretch in my wrist. I was too happy to worry about it at the time, however the next day was rather painful.
I’ll post more pictures in a separate post. The bike above is Yorkie’s custom bandit, pretty neat, huh?
The ride just kept getting more and more beautiful as the day moved on. The ride back to the club was met with a pink sky. We were riding behind Hagrid on his Honda Goldwing, and on the back in a carrier he had his dog Lily, who was bravely standing almost on top of the carrier quite enjoying the breeze!
When we returned to the club they began setting up a BBQ. We stretched out on the grass and I made some friends, particularly a couple that came to sit with us. Dan, the male counterpart was part of the Hog membership and had quite a few hog patches on his vest. His parents happened to live near mine in Devon, so we were talking for quite a while. His girlfriend Claire was extremely lovely and had the best pair of Harley boots I think I have ever seen.
Jack and Abi also came to join us, which topped off the perfect evening.
Mark was busy prospecting, and after staying around to see one of the prospects receive their patches and Pockets’ receive her birthday cake Scott and I bid farewell and rode home. Exhausted, Exhilarated and feeling on top of the world, I fell asleep almost immediately. The trip was around 80 miles in a full circle.
It was the most perfect day.
