Honda Owners Club
17th-19th May 2024
Brecon Beacons Caravan Touring Park
The weather was booked, Marquee up and ‘kettle’ on ready for campers, with the first to arrive was Ian from Wiltshire (12:15) then closely followed by Andy (Dibble) over from France!
The next few hours seen a good selection of campers from around the UK, Liverpool, London West, Oxford, East Midlands, Isle of White, South Wales and Darlington! Some were in vans, a few stayed in rooms in the pub with most in tents. Apologies if I haven’t mentioned your area?
Due to the popularity of the GastroPub on site (The Ancient Briton) with its CaMRA status, a large table was pre-booked for those who requested and a great evening of good food, good ales and natter was enjoyed by all.
Breakfasts, for those who wanted such on Saturday and Sunday were care/of Lle Tarw a small coffee shop just 5 mins walk. A new venture by a young couple who were more than willing to cater for our needs.
Saturday brought the expected ride-out organised by Mike Jeffs and John Hawkins, John taking up the tail end role. I stayed on site as rally organiser but the feedback from the ride was all very good. There were two incidents, where the HOC Chair appeared to fall off his chair (well Mary’s actually) at slow speed and fractured his collarbone and was early back to site. The other was a well known HOC President of vice, who was a bit late back to site as he missed a corner marker and whizzed past chasing those he thought he had lost!
We also had a visit of 6 (5bikes) led by Sean from Wilts branch who missed the rendezvous at the Owl’s Nest and they had left us before the main ride got back.
The evening consisted of a rally in aid of charity (Wales Air Ambulance) in the Marquee attended by just about all at the rally, raising just shy of £200 (final total TBA) and for most afterwards was spent again in the pub as the food and drinks really were great. (Pre-booking is essential!)
Sunday morning I decided to organise a little competition “Most interesting bike on site”.
Even though everyone was busy packing up their own stuff, there were a lot of extra hands to help getting the marquee down and sorted.
The competition judge decided that in his view the most interesting bike was a new little monkey bike, with just 5 miles on its clock and spends most of its life in its campervan garage was the winner….. Well done Graham & Julie from East Mids.
For me it worked well as most were together to say those goodbyes and it felt a really good way to finish off the weekend.
I must thank:-
Wiltshire Branch HOC for their generosity lending out their marquee, EHU and industrial sized kettle – this event would not have happened without that.
The South Wales members with organisation and running duties.
The HOC for contributing a number of tables and toward raffle and facilities costs.
Marcus (HOC chair) for volunteering to return the borrowed kit to the Wiltshire Branch and his HOC equipment store.
My better half Jane, for keeping me sane, keeping spoons and tables clean and tidy and the assistance erecting the marquee.
Most of all though, all who attended as without people there would be no event.
Thank you all so much and hope to see you all again in 2025 – date to be advised.
Cheers
Murray
