bikesandpies

Real Ale Wobble 2006

Ride Hard Die Young

17 November 2006

If the images are too big click on it and it should resize itself, ive left them in original size in case you want to save them

Simon Retford, Me, Gaz Davies, Haydn Roberts, and a brief appearance by Ian Fields, that was the line up for the annual pilgramage to the little known village of Llanwtryd Wells in deepest sheepiest Wales.

Simon was supposed to be on a Stag do in Riga with Ian Fields, but he phoned me up mid week with another pathetic excuse that he had an ear infection, and would be meeting us at the fading, but welcoming Abernant Lake Hotel about 6p.m

Haydn, me and Gaz set off early and landed about 5ish, there was no food on at the hotel , so we got stuck into the real ales on offer ,and several packets of crisps and nuts, after all it is called the Real Ale Wobble. Si and Ian turned up about 7.30ish, Ian was full of fantastic stories about the Riga Stag party, which kept us amused for an hour.We got stuck into the reasonably priced buffet, then went into town to sample the local hospitality.No sooner had we got there, than the sleepy twins announced it was bedtime and off they went to their love nest. That left three of us holding the fort. In true Ride Hard Die Young attitude, we drank up and went back to the hotel, we were in bed for 10.00 p.m.Cant believe we wait all year, travel 150 miles, and go to bed early, must be old age creeping in.

Gaz kept us awake most of the night snoring, and announced in the morning that he had not slept much"!!!!!. Neither had we mate.

We had a hearty breakfast of eggs and bacon etc, Ian announced he was not riding the course, he was stopping behind (dont think he grasped the concept of the weekend) then we set off on the 25 mile course, it was a beautiful sunny crisp morning, and we were soon in the damp misty pine forest.Gaz dismounted and walked over to the forest edge, he looked into the undergrowth. Was he going to comment on how good life was, what a beautiful day he was having, how good it was to be alive?.

We all looked over with baited breath, he slowly bent over and .....chucked his guts up, as usual he came out with the pearl of wisdom "I dont know whats up with me, i dont usually do that". The howls of laughter could be heard for miles, as we sympathetically watched him empty his stomach contents onto the forest floor for a second time. After a few minutes he seemed to pick up and we carried on our way. The riding as usual was great, the tracks were not churned up as we had set off ahead of the main group, about 3 p.m we were riding in the village, we has our now customary pint of murphys and black in the Neudd arms, then wobbled back to the hotel for a sleep and a shower.

We met up at 5p.m in the bar and Si announced that Ian had gone home........ Gone home hows he done that then?, his girlfriend had travelled down and picked him up, Si asked if i was bothered, im bothered that he owes me £35 for the room!!!. With that huge dissapointment behind us we made our way into town to drown our sorrows. All the pubs were packed to the rafters so we had two pig barms and settled into the Neuedd Arms to watch the band, gaz was timing how long it took them to set up, whilst Si again announced that his sleeping sickness had got the better of him and he made his way back to the hotel at 9.30!!!!

The band finally set up, and the atmosphere changed, Haydn launched himself downstairs in a surprise stair surfing frenzy, we chatted to the locals and enjoyed the beer and music, before we knew it was 1.30 and we were off back to the hotel, we were the last ones in, and the owner had stayed up waiting for us!!

Gaz didnt snore at all on Sat Night(Right).A quick 12 mile ride on Sunday cleared the cobwebs although i did have a bad case of Pernod and Southern comfort burps all the way round