Today, Sunday 19th May, was an absolute corker for the Gloucester Honda Owner’s Club. Eleven of us rocked up for breakfast at Friar Tucks, and lo and behold, Nigel – a face previously only known from our Facebook group – popped in to introduce himself in person, adding a nice touch of community spirit to the morning.
We fuelled up on what can only be called ‘The Breakfast of Champions.’ Afterwards, five members on four bikes took advantage of the glorious sunshine and hit the road. Our destination? The Piston Club. Bikers were out in droves, buzzing around like bees. Once there, Chris had a minor altercation with a plastic chair that decided it had had enough of life. The back of the chair started to come apart, and Chris, with Tom’s assistance, turned the repair job into a live-action Chuckle Brothers sketch – “To me, to you!” Top-notch entertainment, right there, minus the moustaches.
After enjoying our time at the club, we planned to ride to Hayles Fruit Farm, but along the way, we mysteriously lost Tom. Despite our best efforts, Tom remained unaccounted for the rest of the day.
Now down to three bikes and four members, we soldiered on to Hayles Fruit Farm via Broadway. Upon arrival at the gravel-covered car park, Chris, ever the experienced rider, had a minor slip. His bike went down, taking him and his wife, Jo, with it, right into a parked car. This was a gentle reminder to all bikers: even seasoned pros can have a wobble on uneven surfaces. We quickly scrambled to help lift the bike off Jo. Luckily, both were fine – just a bit shaken and possibly more than a little bruised.
To lift everyone’s spirits, we indulged in ice cream. Jo wandered off into the shop and bought Chris two massive oranges – either to keep him alert or just for a giggle. Either way, he looked very pleased with them.
With the sun still shining, we laughed off the day’s misadventures and headed home, basking in the perfect weather all the way back.
Reflecting on the day, it was the usual blend of high-octane fun, unexpected detours, and the kind of plot twists that keep our rides memorable. A big thank you to everyone for the laughs, and especially to Chris and Jo for showing us all that when life throws you off a bike, you get back up, eat ice cream, and maybe carry some oranges for good luck.
And for those wondering, Tom got home safely and is no longer unaccounted for. Good to see you, Tom!
See you all again soon for another chapter in our club’s wonderfully unpredictable adventures – hopefully with more sun and fewer chair and gravel dramas!
Cheers.
Jimmy