TREK Run - December 2006

Chilham to Harrietsham (and back again!).

By  Ian Roscow (TRiK Web Master)
20^th December 2006

It was one of the first frosty days of the winter and I decided to ride to Chilham for the start of the December TREK ride. The roads were slippery and my hands frozen, but the friendly smiles I found in the Chilham car park soon warmed up my soul!

There were fifteen of us, and only me to lead, so we thought we'd have a big mobile party! Does look a bit like the KTM owners club here, but we also had a Honda and some Suzukis and Yamahas as well. Oh, and a Gas Gas ;-) !

First stop, up at Mountain Street, where the Kings Wood lane TRO starts - we must get that removed soon. Here's John sorting his goggles out. The chalk hill was slippery. Ian was on the other Serow. Jason was the sweeper.

After breaking the ice into the next lane, Dane Street I call it, we exited all a bit warmer by now. This is Steve on the EXC300 and Paul on the CRM.

Tim being pensive while John checks that we're all here.

Then through the infamous puddle... not sure I can recognise everyone from behind!

But this is Rob on the 250EXC.

I think this is Ian on the Serow.

And Mark on the 425EXC (or is a 450?).

Not sure who this is.

I think this is Francis.

And Jason. Right, so that's everyone - my turn now... but no pic, of course!

Down past the gliding club and a chance for the smokers to have a quick ciggy.

Panomaric scene of the riders. The weather was turning out brilliant!

Here's Rob, getting to know his 250EXC.

I think this is Paul looking very serious...

And Francis cruises in.

And Jason means we're all here.

Dave has a coffee.

And the Serows get to know each other!

No leaves and a crystal blue sky means mid-winter (nearly). Getting warmer now, though.

That's the gliding club behind. The shotguns of the shooting club next to this lane seemed remarkably close... This is Steve on his new KTM.

Dave trying to out-stare me!! The others wait for the tail enders, making sure they haven't been shot.

Along the Pilgrims way, the turn north up to these lanes. This is Tim.

This is new rider Nic on his RMX250.

John glides up this hill on his sure-footed Serow.

Steve (Northy) on his 300EXC.

Is this Paul? - my memory's going...

Ah, this is Paul on his CRM!

And Ian on the Serow. Such capable bikes.

And we all make it to the top OK, albeit a bit muddy. Time for another break!

Paul wonders if he's got time for

a little carb needle adjustment...

...while a local horse rider ambles past.

Mark discusses his nice round rear tyre...

We set off, and stop for a horse and pony to pass by.

Back to the Pilgrims Way and past the memorial, the White Cross. Here's Mark again.

And Nic's enjoying the ride.

Here comes Paul and the others after a delay while Rob and his bike have been recovered after taking a tumble on the way down the hill.

Rob decides that as I missed the last tumble he'd repeat it for the camera! Thanks Rob.

Yep, the bike's fallen over.

Let us pick it up and check it for you, Rob...

Yep, looks ok...

You can have it back now!

On and up Drake Lane. Here's Mark, nail hunting...

And Ian hot on his tail.

And Rob keeping things upright!

Francis getting a move on!

Hi, Jason! I think that's a smile in there. :-)

I guess this is some form of un-official TRO - but it doesn't obviously affect motorcycles!

No one's looking...

Great! Mark has found The Nail!!

As Francis said "It's only flat on the bottom"!

Indulge myself in a picture of my KTM!!

Mark tries some french Finilec stuff...

...and then does the obligatory tyre spin-up.

It doesn't really work so he wobbles down to Harrietsham (via a few good lanes, though!).

Where a convenient wall is found to use as a bike stand!

The rest of the team break open the sarnies!

Sorry, mate, it's lunch-break...

Mark struggles while the others nosh...

Tyre levers are found and off comes the tyre.

Off to wash out that tyre sealent.

Yep, that's a hole and a half!

One of the guys (whose name I have already forgotten - sorry, DRZ man) rushes off for a 30 mile ride to get a spare tube from a friend of his - such brilliant team-work!! And then it's quickly put in...

And then we set off back home via the Pilgrims Way as it threatens to get dark quickly. I think this is Steve covered in mud. Jason and Paul had set off back to the Medway towns by now.

Met a couple of 4x4s on the way back - they were headed for Drake Lane I think. There were walkers here as well, so it all got a bit busy!! It was very narrow, but we squeezed past eventually.

Back to Mountain Street near Chilham and a traffic jam while I stop to take a photo, trying to use the fallen tree as a frame - didn't quite work.

Gas Gas and Serow all strapped up on a boat trailer ready to go. We had a little laugh firstly as Rob's KTM slipped as he powered it up the ramp into his people carrier and it fell off the side - he saved that ok, and then next time when the bike was nearly in he let the clutch lever go too early - he and the KTM disappeared inside very quickly!! That got it in a foot more than he thought possible!! Then off home, via a power wash at Minster - where a gust of wind blew my KTM over and wrecked a footrest - must sort my prop stand out soon...
All in all a great days riding and a load of smiles and lots of thumbs up. Later it seems Dave fell on the last lane (wet chalk downhill) and hurt his wrist and leg. But no serious damage done thankfully - unlike Cliff who dislocated his thumb on the run before this. Get well soon Cliff!