Dogs’ 4th anniversary Memorial Ride 16-05-26

Well, what can we say about today’s ride out.

It was an absolute honour to be asked to accompany the Red Chiefs on Dog’s 4th memorial ride.

We met up at Cornwall services and had a quick catch up and got kitted up into full waterproofs and I’m so glad I did cause bleddy hell did we get some showers on the way up but hey ho at least they were warmish.

Off we set up towards the A30 to the Bodmin/Plymouth junction, onto the A38 and through the Glynn valley with its usual annoying people on it in their little tin boxes. Fortunately it is only a few miles but seems like forever (are we nearly home yet moment comes to mind) but it all gets better once we hit the dual carriageway up to the Saltash services. As we pulled in it was it was a lovely sight seeing so many bikes and their owners everywhere who had turned up to pay their respect for Dog, and that was only part of them as there was still plenty to turn up yet.

We parked up and went off to say hello and to pay our respects to the Red Chiefs and then off we went to mingle, it was awesome to see how many clubs and individuals had turned up from all over the country.

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After a while the 5-minute warning went up and that was when the glorious roar of a large number of motorcycles fired their engines up, and what a sound it is! It made the ground and the air rumble and vibrate, and then you get the smell (if only you could bottle it). So off we set towards Paignton, unfortunately we got rather damp again on route, but the sights and sounds of hundreds of motorcycles in front of you and behind you in your mirrors like a train disappearing in both directions made the weather fade into the background.

As we made our way meandering through the streets of Paignton towards the seafront you could feel the tarmac rumbling beneath your wheels and the way just about everyone turned their heads I’m guessing they could tell we were arriving. We all funnelled ourselves towards the seafront and parked up and soon there was no room anywhere down there left to park so everyone that arrived after us parked up anywhere they could.

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Off down the front for a bit more mingling and a brew and somewhere to shelter from the rain where we met a friendly colourful chap.

When everyone had had their fill of chips and drinks they started to kit up for their next leg of their journey, unfortunately I could not carry on with them as my poor legs decided to go on strike and said they wanted to go home as we still had a fair ride home. 

We set off home in the rain and the dark clouds above us seemed to follow us. Oh well, at least on the way home there was time to reflect on the day and what a day it’s been. It just goes to show the power of brotherhood.

I must say the marshalling was absolutely spot on, it ran like clockwork, military fashion all the way from the services to the sea front. Once again thankyou to the Red Chiefs for inviting us to join them on this memorable day of friendship and remembrance and to all the numerous clubs that attended, too many to name.

Thankyou. ML&R Celtic Crows