MORECAMBE VINTAGE BY THE SEA 2nd September 2023
Saturday 2nd September was a very pleasant and warm morning and 7 riders arrived at Auction Eats for the run. After some chat and breakfast we set off through Garstang and up the A6 to Hollins Lane where we took the usual route up to Caton and on to Bull Beck Picnic Site where Peter and our leaders Chris and Trevor were waiting. At 11:30 we set off back through Caton and down through Crook o’ Lune to turn right and ride through Halton Park. After joining the Kirkby Lonsdale road we soon turned off right to Aughton towards Gressingham and then back to the Kirkby Lonsdale road for a right turn to Arkholme. Through Newton to Whittington where we turned left to Hutton Roof and Dalton. At Borwick we turned south to go through Over Kellet and Nether Kellet where we headed across to Bolton Le Sands and entered Morecambe from Hest Bank.
It was very busy along the promenade with many folks in period (1950’s) costume. We stopped at a layby and Trevor phoned the event authority that we were about to arrive and we set off again in nose to tail, stop go traffic. We eventually reached the barrier before the Midland Hotel and we were shown to our display point right outside the station and opposite the Midland Hotel. Many bikes were suffering in the heat and clutches were getting heavy. My bike oiled a plug so I was glad we had arrived.
There was an immediate gathering of the crowds and many shouts of “I used to ride one of those”. After a while we left the bikes to go to see the vintage car exhibits in the Midland car park where there were a fine selection of Morris Minors and British and American cars from the 40’s 50’s and 60’s
Tony was obviously spotted doing something wrong and was arrested by a period copper and had a photo taken with him.
Some then took a walk round the market or down to the Eric Morecambe statue past the fairground and generally mingled with the crowds. It was a very hot day now and and the market was a godsend selling 3 cans of Iron Bru for £1!
At about 4pm after the group returned from exploring we saddled up and got Trevor to lead us out of Morecambe along the now gridlocked roads as the crowds were all trying to get out before the rush! At one point I noticed there was no one behind me so I backtracked to find the group by a roundabout trying to get Chris’s bike to come alive. For some reason it started and everyone saddled up and continued on, but after they left, my bike refused to start! I pushed it under some trees for shade and stripped off as it was so hot. I tried again and after a few kicks it started and I put my gear back on and set off to catch them up. I obviously missed a turn and ended up on the A6 at Skerton so I headed for Caton and saw Trevor coming the other way as I passed under the motorway! At Caton I turned off to Quernmore and a mile or so after the crossroads I caught up with the group again, stopped, with Tony setting up his mag points. So the day ended with quite a few unwanted events! John noticed I had a lot of oil running down my engine but that it typical of the bike so I carried on regardless. At home I checked on the oil leak and found the 3 nuts on the rocker cover had come loose and one had departed somewhere so the oils was coming out from the rocker cover. I looked on the web to find one but at £19 plus VAT and postage I decided to make one!
A very pleasant ride and day out despite the odd hiccups!
Richard