(Yesterday). With a slightly improved weather forecast I was out in the garage by 07:30 in an attempt to clean off the results of yesterday’s rain and hail, in preparation for the Mayday Run. I made it to Locksbottom, the meeting place, by 9ish. There was very little police presence despite the scaremongering on several social media sites, and the reduced crowd made social distancing quite easy, as we had a stroll round checking out the bikes. The entertainment highlight was a rolling burnout by an R1, that went the length of the high street. Hope he’s got a few bob if the price of my new rear tyre is anything to go by. Our group of five left as planned at 10am and was soon away from the crowds by taking an early exit from the A21. Some cross country high jinks ensued, which got us to the 1066 cafe a few miles outside of Hastings at John’s Cross. This was quite busy, with about forty HA adding to the numbers. I must admit it looked pretty cool when the car park Marshall’s held the traffic up to let them leave en masse on their way to the coast.
After a cuppa it was off to our usual lunchtime haunt in Rye Harbour, but early into the precedings we came across an unmarked police bike, the rider dressed all in black, including his crash helmet, with just a small “Police” logo on the back of his jacket. This was on one of our favoured roads, so the legal limit it was, all the way to Rye. A similar sized group to us was leaving the pub as we arrived, so parking and grabbing a suitable table for our number was easily sorted. Good social distancing and table service got us fed and watered in record time, and after a chinwag, it was back on the bikes for some more B road action, getting us into north Kent to a country pub for an afternoon pint. It was then just a half hour whizz to the M25 where we went our different ways. It was great to be back giving the Fazer a good workout, and we all got home before the rain, having had 148 miles of fun and frolics.