Friday lunchtime sees us meet up at the Minerva to travel down together, Gary & Carol, Martin, Kiz and Old Dave, with Styled & Bouffanted to join us later. Had a pint then drove the hours' journey down to Llangollen. Got there just after one, but had to wait in Bensons Bar until we could check in to the Royal at about four o'clock. We hadn't got a clue what we were going to do whilst in Bensons, but after a few seconds someone came up with the idea of having a drink. So we did. A few others arrived and joined us, Steppenwolf (on his bike), the Cybertecs and BaZa, to mention a few (the ones I could remember the names of anyway). UNBEATEN, on the Pool table my meal finally arrived (an excellent Cottage Pie), more beer and finally into our rooms via the chippy for Carol (who bought me a bag of chips I hadn't asked for, but ate), cheers Carol. I'd only been in the room about 20 minutes or so when Shaun (Styled etc) arrived and unpacked his clothes into the wardrobe, all neatly hung up. Great stuff mate. I managed to doze off for an hour or so before joining up with everyone back in Bensons for a pint. We decided to nip off down the road to the Wynnstay for a couple and found that to be very warm and cosy, but with good beer and we had a laugh about the "six fingered locals". At some time before we could get into the rooms Kiz had wandered off to find a decent toilet for a dump, but the only one he found would have cost 20 pence, but he said to Gary that he would sooner piss his pants and wash them out in the sink (not the first time I think Kiz).

Back to Bensons to meet up with the rest of the Harley Riders. Just after we got back in there we were informed by some of the very hospitable Sussex Coasters that BadnameMike and some of his crew had missed the turning for the M54 (M6 J10a) and ended up in Stoke (M6 J15). Sat Nav, no chance with the farmers (turn left at the cow shed and right at the barn just doesn't cut it in the modern world). Never mind though we were chuffed to see them when they did finally arrive, Jimmy, Mike & Kim. Later we handed out some of the bags of "Black Country scratchings" that we had brought with us, (I noticed that Spicey put one bag straight in his pocket and then devoured another bag left on the table), no problem there mate, a man after my own heart. This was later reciprocated by Chris (Cybertec) handing out some most excellent Cornish Pasties for everyone. Bloody good stuff all round I'd say. Just before retiring to bed back up to the chippy for Carol to have a kebab with chilli sauce (can't imagine what she wanted that for). I had a kebab, but only ate a quarter of it before giving it to Kiz. BED!!!!!

Saturday, up with the lark at seven and out to get a couple of cans of Diet Coke and a paper. Shaun still asleep. Back in the room at quarter to eight and Shaun finally woke up, a quick read of the paper and down to breakfast. First in to sample the full english. Not too bad, but not the (as we found out the next day, lamb sausages), not to mine, or anyone elses taste apparently. After we'd finished we went out in the rain to look at the bridge and the river to be joined a bit later by Gary, Carol, Old Dave and Kiz. On the bridge we discussed the possibility of purchasing the big white house on the hill as our clubhouse, £10 each, but Mogsy exempt (he can do the cleaning). No Thomas the Tank engine in this year at the station so we thought we'd have a look in Riverside Taxidermy, Kiz thought it was a restaurant. Shaun tried to tempt us into a walk here, there and everywhere, but was just met with blank expressions. He decided to go off anyway a little bit later on his own. Anyway, walking back towards the hotel we saw Sean (badshape) arriving on his bike. He'd just come down for a couple of hours to see us, Gaz and Shelagh were on their way, so our group was very nearly complete. After their arrival we headed on up to the Wynnstay for a few (myself and Gary were only planning to have two, but two became six) and after a while Sean left us to go back to Dawn via a peace offring he was planning to buy from Oswestry Market. Ta Ta Sean!! Shaun arrived back from his seven mile walk with mud all over his style and panache walking trainers, but that was ok because Imelda Marcos had brought another two pairs of footwear with him (Kiz brought nothing except what he stood up in). Back to hotel for a lie down and watch some sport, Birmingham lost, Wolves won and England got pissed all over at Rugby. Bloody great eh! I just knew that Mr Rutter would have something to say about that. Mr Cleary all of a sudden is Irish. Bah!!!! The Welsh got stuffed too.

Over to Bensons for the evening and what a cracker it turned out to be. Great food, nice Pizzas, sandwiches etc. Sean ordered a pizza for himself, but was impatient and was eating Shelagh's, Dave's and Gaz's before his arrived and then only ate one piece of his own. Kiz, meanwhile, disappeared for an hour or so for a curry. After the food had just about gone down Dave brought out the rest of the scratchings and handed them out. The look on the foreigners faces were brilliant as they tried to make out what they were eating. Our resident lech (who will remain nameless, but he knows who he is) was ogling everything, but more than met his match with the coasters own Jimmy (in the words of Tim Nicebutdim " A Bloody nice bloke". Cheers Jimmy!!!! The band were great, as usual and got everyone up dancing and "air guitarring". Sue and her daughter came round with the raffle tickets, so we all had some, then a bit later came round with some "lucky green ones". Ha Ha Ha!!! So no prizes for us then. As the night wore on Gaz managed to obtain a "Gold Star" off Carol, but only by default as I was, apparently being naughty. Gaz was so proud of his star that he drew a picture of it to keep and show us at every opportunity. Git!!!

About 12.30 and off to bed for al of us except Shaun, who stayed on with the Coasters. Anyway about 3.30 am Shaun comes in, not on his own, but with Gary in his turqoise underpants and nothing else.
Why is this I hear you ask? Well I'll tell you. Gary needed a piss and so got up to go to the toilet, as you do. Then it all went wrong for him. Being faced with a decision of two doors to choose from he chose the wrong one and ended up in the corridor, the doors shuts leaving gary alone in the corridor in his finest bri-nylons, but not for long because Mike and Kim from the coasters are just arriving back with Shaun. Gary knocks on the door for Carol to let him in, but she's fast asleep and doesn't hear the door. Oh woe thinks Gary what can i do. "I know there is an empty room next door I'll have a piss in a bucket in there", so he does. I'll try the door again, but Carol isn't hearing him. I know, he says I will go and see if Shaun and Martin can help. I lent him my jacket so he could go and find the night porter to let him in. Wouldn't you just believe it, he is nowhere to be seen. Gary, your night isn't getting any better is it? Back up to our room, where Shaun very quickly produces a pillow and pushes the beds together and invites Mr Rutter to join us in bed. This is, quite rightly, declined and so Gary has to kip on the floor. Carol told us that the previous night she was awakened every hour by the Church clock chiming. Gary, remebering this decided that every hour he would try and knock on his own door, Carol would hear him and let him in, but this cunning plan failed too as she slept through the lot until 8.00, when he could finally get back in his room. It was, later suggested that the night porter may have been in with Carol, but this was denied by both parties (although the night porter looked completely knackered upon leaving the hotel after his shift).

Sunday morning breakfast a very shame-faced Gary comes down to tell everyone about his exploits of the night. Gaz, meanwhile, was BORING everyone with his gold star and even put his picture of it on the table. This, however, backfired because he was told by Shelagh that if he metioned it once more it would be taken off him. He is, of course, now back in "one roller skate world". Anyway we set off home about 10.30 in convoy lead by Gaz then Gary then us (being driven by Dave) followed by Shaun. On the way home there was much overtaking with the usual v signs as we passed, but this "race" was eventually won by "Lead foot Dave".

Ta Ta for now see you all at Talgarth.

Martin

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