Copyright @ 2005 Rainy City HDC

Thought we'd have a page to update you on things going on in and around the club, particularly things mentioned at the club meetings, just in case you weren't there.

New Facility! I've added a link to a new feature that Paul Myers has developed for us. You can now look back through the Rainy City archive photos. New years/photos will be added over the coming weeks, so if you don't see the friends you met and places you went to over the last few years, keep looking!

Sunday's ride out (29th) was a bit hit and miss as far as the weather was concerned. I had hailstones (in June!) on my way home from meeting Wallace and Gromit on their narrow boat at Audlem on the Shropshire Union canal. See the pictures in the Recent Photos section.

The June meeting was well attended with 15 Harleys of all shapes and sizes outside the Brown Cow. Welcome to the Hatters members who made the long trek from the other side of Manchester! Kev's quizes get more fiendish, after 'complaints' from Margaret, Rainy City's gardening correspondent, that we ought to have more gardening questions, what does Kev produce? A gardening related quiz. Somewhat tenuous connections admittedly but great fun, even for the non-gardeners. Thanks to Margaret for the raspberry buns, brilliant! Who else offers you quizzes AND raspberry buns other than RAINY CITY?

The May meeting was not very nice evening weather-wise, but I thought Bill coming in a 17 ton truck and sleeping in the car park was a little pessimistic! We had one of the very rare Kevin-type quizzes, you know, the ones were I know some of the answers! Guess what my/our team actually won! OK, so Patricia knew most of the 'guess the personality' photos, credit where credit is due.

Let Barry know if you want to order any sweats (£20) or hoodies (£22) as he's about to put in an order.

If you fancy going to Hamburg for the big rally - see Bill Malley he's going and can offer advice.

The 'Not the Gumball Rally', the one in £100 cars(!) is now scheduled for September 2009

Remember our good friends Brian and Sue Badminton? The poor unfortunates condemned to tour the world and the USA forever? Well they've got their own 'blogspot' where you can read all about their adventures with their RV touring the USA. You'll find it at http://brianandsuesamericantour.blogspot.com/

The March meeting was a very enjoyable evening with the added attraction of free yes, free chilli! The quizzes were as usual bringing out the competitive side of our members! Bet you didn't know that 1400 actresses auditioned for the part of Scarlett O'Hara. No? we didn't either, but we do now! Come to Rainy City, you learn stuff!

With all sorts of clashes, we've decided to postpone the Lake's Ride, our usual opening ride out of the season and Nitro will organise it a bit later in the year.

There is still one ticket going for the Cider Rally. Its actually Martin's ticket, cost is £95. Contact Mal if you want details.

Congratulations to Rainy City member Shirley Pollard who has just passed her full bike test! Brilliant!

The Sam Manicom evening in March was a great success! A report by Paul Myers:

Last Tuesday (18th March) evening saw a number of club members and guests as well as representatives from other clubs in the area gathered for a presentation to Rainy City by Sam Manicom. Sam is a seasoned motorcycle traveller and journalist whose world tour lasted for around 8 years. The subject of his talk was the early part of the trip riding down through Africa. Sam's experiences could in many ways be interpreted as an incentive not to undertake such a journey as he had many unplanned for disasters along the way including being jailed in Namibia for having an accident with a local, a wipeout which brought him serious injuries such as 17 broken bones and being shot at during a dodgy army roadblock. Incidents which to many would have spelled the end of the trip, but to Sam, were just shrugged of as part and parcel of the huge adventure he was embarked on. Throughout the evening Sam's enthusiasm for travel and for Africa shone through again and again and his talk was delivered with an obvious passion which has not diminished over the intervening years since the trip ended. The presentation was accompanied by many excellent photographs of the country and its people. At the end of the evening many of the audience bought a copy of one of Sam's books, Into Africa or Under Asian Skies. Click on the images for a bigger version.

Four guys are booked for the Super Rally in Denmark (see below for the provisional itinerary) if you still want to go give Barry a call ASAP

The bands for Harley's 105th Celebration have been announced, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen Wot? No Elton John?

Following the success of the Curry Night the March meeting will be a Chilli Night! As with the curry a veggie option will be available.

Monday 12th May night ferry Rotterdam/Hull

If you want to go to the Super Rally in Denmark either direct from the Cider

rally or meeting us at Hull for the ferry please contact Barry

Rainy City 2008 World Tour T-shirts are available. See the Merchandise section

The first meeting of 2008 was a great success. Was it the attraction of free curry (very nice!) or just to see friends again? We had about 50 curry-eaters there. It was great to see some old friends rejoining and some new members. Best of luck to Shirley, a new member, who is about to take her 'bike test. We also had a visit from Mark (he of the Mark and Skye's big birthday bash , see Diary Dates 5th April) Very nice of him to make the trip.

Mick told us about his plan to compete (if that's the right word) in the Home to Rome run starting 29th September. So, to enable us to get our heads together and do lots of planning we are looking for a Rainy City team for 2009. No problem driving from Home to Rome, but it must be done in a car that cost you less than £100! You can scrap the car in Rome if you don't want the hassle of driving it back. No, you can't get your mate to 'sell' you his Ferrari F40 for a £100! Plan is to get sponsorship for the trip.

Kevin and Mal announced some events that need your urgent attention. You need to get you bookings in for Deva's Circus Maximus (13-15 June), Wallace rally (22-26 May), Hog on the Humber (8th June), Cider Rally balance of £43/person in by 15th Feb. And we want support for our friends American V's bash at the Northwich Memorial Hall (Friday 11th May)

Member of the year was presented with his (slightly drooping) trophy...congratulations Martin Wyatt! I'm sure you can fix it!

Thanks for The Happy New Year Quiz Kev! We've got the idea now. all the answers begin with the quiz title (keep it quiet, he thinks we haven't noticed yet!)

The October meeting was the AGM (Another Great Meeting) and in true Rainy City fashion there were LOADS of people there because there was LOADS of free food!

Road Captains report: Rainy City have attended 20 Rallies including 2 major rallies in Europe and Laconia and Sturgis in the USA and 34 UK Ride-outs totalling 91399 rider-miles. We rode from Scotland in the north to Italy in the south; the USA in the west and Slovenia in the east.

Mal reported we'd had 41 flyers keeping everyone up to date and she'd booked over a 100 rooms. What a service!

Jon reported we'd made a small profit despite the 'lower than we'd hoped' attendance at RD4 because of the rain over the weekend. The venue was very well received and the rugby club want us back again.

Jim Bamber won the Member's raffle a £100 voucher from our friends at Harley World

Chris Mac recounted the story of a recent dinner party where a certain new editor got down on one knee and asked a certain events co-ordinator to be his wife!!!

We had the pleasure of a full replay during the meeting, and yes, she hadn't changed her mind!

Milwaukee 2008. Its Harley's 105th anniversary and Jon announced that several of our members are going to Milwaukee and anyone is welcome to join up with them. Note that this is a 'do it yourself' trip NOT a Dunnett's Tours excursion. So you need to book your own accommodation. Currently bookable hotels are about 15 miles outside Milwaukee, although we believe there are still some available in Milwaukee. There are various options on bike hire (they are not aiming to ship bikes out, just hire them there). Talk to Jon if you want some ideas. Flights are not bookable yet as they are usually only available 11 months in advance. Tickets for the event are on sale already. Check out Harley's web site for more information.

Let Jon know if you have plans to go.

Barry is planning a trip to the Super Rally in Denmark next year 2008. Initial thoughts are to go to the Cider Rally then straight across to Denmark for the rally the following weekend, returning by the ferry on the Tuesday night after the rally. If you are interested , contact Barry.

Barry is already planning the 2009 programme! If you want to go to Sturgis in 2009 (this is not a misprint) let him know. We'll not be shipping the bikes this time but hiring them in the USA and if we get in early we hope to get hotels near the main venue.

With all these long distance riding plans, you want a riding club? You know where to come.

Check the Diary Dates page for the latest events news. New flyers get added almost weekly.

Lord, bless all riders that we may live long and happy lives, especially bless our leaders for they are all powerful.

Yea, as they lead us through the wilderness of the country lanes, though they know not where they are going.

Yea, though they lead us down the motorways and over the hills we shall feel no pain in our hearts

Grant them the knowledge to know their north from their south and their east from their west

And Lord, let the sun shine so as we may have the faintest idea in which direction we are travelling.

Give them the ability to count, so as at the end of the ride none shall have gone astray.

Spare us from breakdowns, punctures and the usual Harley failings and lead us not down dead ends.

Finally, Lord, let us arrive back home safe and sound for we are but riders in the storm,

Yea, though we are shattered, give us the strength to turn up for the next ride-out

Lord we ask this with tongue in cheek, ever conscious that many a true word is spoken in jest.