Category: Our rides

AFR Summer Ride Out 2022

Paul Moore has just posted the following:
“I know it seems like a long time to go but you have to get in early on these things!
I asked for opinions on whether this would be a good idea and got a resounding and very positive response! Therefore, I have gone ahead and booked the location and paid the deposit. I have had confirmation back that we are booked Friday 22 July to Sunday 24 July 2022 at St Michaels Environmental Education Centre at Hathersage in the Peak District. Link:
https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planning-your-visit/ambassador-centres/st-michaels-environmental-education-centre
There are 44 bed spaces available as I have also hired the attached cottage so it works out at a little under £50 per head for two nights self catering. Could I please ask that all those who said they would like a slot please send me £50 a head by Paypal asap so that I can pay the bill in full to get it done.
This will leave a small amount that I will put towards getting in the essentials for our stay such as brew making gear, snacks, a few cold drinks and possibly some pizzas for the first night shortly after arrival. Please note that I also have a reserve list of names that want to go on the trip but places at the centre are limited.
Note that once paid the fee is non refundable, but is transferrable to another AFR rider by your own arrangement if you find you cannot go. There are plenty of other accommodations in and around Hathersage such as a YHA just up the road, several BnB and a couple of campsites.
I am planning on doing a full recce of the area in the near future and will produce a detailed plan and itinerary in the early part of 2022. This is the first time we have attempted this and I’m hoping that it will be a great success and lead to us having a regular summer get together and ride out in the UK in the future.
Moore out.”

Send your payment through PayPal (as family and friends gift) to:  paul508@mac.com

ADVANCE NOTICE (No bookings allowed yet)

Our planned weekend ride out is in the early planning stage.  The location has been decided.  The cost is likely to be around £50 per head, covering a two night stay.  Accommodation is much better than Albert Sreet Mill in Belfast in 1971…but it is “group” accommodation.  So, it is bunks and dorms.

Planned dates are Friday 22nd July 2022 from 1700hrs to Sunday 24th July.  Departing for home after breakfast (ps meals not included in the expected price).

More info when available

Click for location

Just a quick heads up!

France has banned the practice of filtering in traffic for motorcycles.  If you are planning, when we can, riding out in France it would sensible to read the latest rules send requirements.  France police will issue fines and points at the drop of a hat following Brexit.

Be aware 😀

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THE DREAM THAT MANY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND:
I bought a BIKE for a personal dream.
One day when I am very old and when I can not walk anymore, it will be in my garage as a trophy of my memories.
I met people who taught me something and have the same spirit and I met others that I’m glad I forgot.
I got wet,
I felt cold,
And I felt warm,
I was afraid,
I fell,
And I stood up,
I even hurt myself,
But also, I laughed out loud inside the helmet.
I spoke a thousand times with myself.
I sang and shouted with joy like a madman,
And yes … sometimes I cried.
I have seen wonderful places and lived unforgettable experiences.
I often made curves that even Marc Marquez would be proud of; other times I made curves full of terror.
I stopped a thousand times to see a landscape.
I spoke with perfect strangers, and I forgot people I see every day.
I went out with my demons inside and returned home with a feeling of absolute peace in my heart.
I always thought how dangerous it is, knowing that the meaning of courage is to advance even feeling fear.
Every time I go up to my machine I think about how wonderful it is.
I stopped talking to those who do not understand and I learned through gestures to communicate with other riders.
I spent money that I did not have, giving up many things, but all these things are not worth even a moment without my BIKE.
It is not a means of transport or a piece of iron with wheels, it is the lost part of my soul and my spirit.
And when someone says to me “You should sell your bike and do something less dangerous”… I do not answer. I just shake my head and smile as only a person who loves bikes would understand the way I feel.
Be Blessed my friends and their bikes and may we have many more adventures together!
Airborne Forces Riders and camaraderie with beeer n smiles
🍺🍺🍺🍺

Paul is in the process of organising a ride out in 2021.  Dates yet to be agreed but the outline plan is:

Friday – Ride to Aldershot for RV  evening in the Trafalgar Pub (Lord help us!)

Saturday – Ride (carefully after Friday night) to Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth for an overnight CAMPING (you know, the stuff civvies do when they want to play soldiers) , with BBQ and band possibly

Sunday – Ride home (or those going to Normandy board the boat if last weekend in May is chosen)

More details to follow

Here is the latest message from Paul Moore, our President, regarding the background work he is doing in preparation for next year:

All, I recently had an online meeting with a chap called Ian Parsons, who runs the London Taxi Charity. These are the guys who since 1945 have been taking veterans on days out etc and in recent years have been taking our elderly WW2 veterans to Normandy and Arnhem. They are also the guys who provide free taxi rides to Waterloo for veterans attending the cenotaph on remembrance day in London.
We discussed a possible alliance between Airborne Forces Riders and the London Taxi Charity, in order to visit elderly veterans in care homes / home locations in the south of the UK on significant dates such as birthdays, remembrance day etc. Clearly, there are currently restrictions in place and we must abide by those, but in the future this may become easier. We may also be involved in a possible joint venture to Worthing in West Sussex (day trip with WW2 veterans), Normandy and Arnhem in 2021. This is all in the ‘discussion stage’ at this time and I will keep you updated. No action required at this point. Stay safe all. P.

Sadly the ride out from Market Harborough to Cleethorpes has been cancelled.

Latest Government Covid instructions meant that it was impractical.

We shall arrange a ride out as soon as we can in the future.. when? Who knows!

Stay safe

What a belting weekend!

We arrived on Friday night and the festivities began.  A true airborne gathering with beer and banter in equal measures.

Saturday morning we set off to join members of the local biker’s club, Van Dieman MCC, who escorted us on a scenic ride to the Walnut Pub, Weston Super Mare, for coffee and a bite to eat.  Paul Moore, our President, presented them with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Airborne Forces Riders.

They were surprised and very pleased with the gift.

Suitably replenished we set off for the Milton Road Cemetery where we held a short memorial service at the graves of the 23 fatalities from Double Hills.

We then rode out to an addition to our programme.  We rode to the grave of the hero of Rorke’s Drift, Lt Chard VC, RE.  He was the one who pulled rank on Michael Caine in the film Zulu.  In real life he organised Rorke’s Drift to successfully defend against the Zulu attack.  It was a special privilege to visit his grave, especially for the 9 Sqn lads

Sunday, after another night of merriment, saw us ride to the Double Hills Memorial for the annual service.

A poignant end to a super weekend.

Click here for video of the event

WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM