The above picture was taken the week before we set off to the Easter Egg Rally, it is a, what I think was, a mobilty scooter as it is located at a Carehome. Passenger seat looks comfy and what a view you would get, the rider’s seat back folds down to allow easy access to the passenger seat via the checker plate steps.
The Easter Egg Rally this year was a Memorial Rally for John Askham. Seen here at a Split Lincs and Cambs Rally in the late 90’s
On to the Easter Egg, after a minor issue we set off at 2pm, a wee bit of queuing at the M5/M6 junction, all was good until we hit the High Peaks and from Leek to Buxton all hell broke loose with the weather. You name it, we got it, it wasn’t pleasant to say the least. But as luck would have it when we arrived at Bamford, the rain had stopped, but the wind hadn’t so it was a bit of a job putting up the tent, but at least it was dry. As it was around 6 to 6:30 when we arrived and no one on the field I thought they were up the pub, but no, they emerged from their tents like tortoises, guess the storm before we arrived confined them to their tents.
After we had set up we headed up the pub, most had gone up there before we had got set up. After recent issues it was nice to see John and Pat out again on their Outfit and camping. The pub was pretty full, with a good selection of beers. Below some more pics of the outfits attending.
I do like this BM outfit, really tidy and nicely set up.
Out and about on the Saturday, we turned into the Bus Pass cruisers (well for some) others had to pay.
Dancing girls, music and free beer at the Hope Valley Beer and Cider Festival.
Saturday night and Storm Dave hit, Sunday morning and lets see what’s still standing, Daniel’s tent had gained a sky light, but the reception on his TV improved with his new aerials out the top of his tent.
Yes the weather was kind at times, but as always a warm welome from the South Yorks gang and a ftting event for John Askham, who in his Motorcycling and Sidecarring life, would have camped in these conditions many times, with plenty of tales to tell.
My story of issues didn’t stop there, I blame Rachel Reeves, as I got my tax code for next year the day before we set off and I see I have to pay for another boat load of ……………..
When I got back, I noticed the fuel line from my extra tank had one or two cracks appearing so I thought I would replace it, also on the way home I could hear a rattle whenever I was stopped awaiting at junctions etc. Anyhow jacked up the bike to get room to do the hose, I then found out what the rattling was, one exhaust clamp completely broken and spinning around, well rusted away and the other just about to give up. Why did Mr Honda fit a full stainless exhaust and then use plain steel clamps? So new clamps (stainless) and seals ordered and fitted.
It didn’t end there, as we were going up to the lakes, I thought I would give the suspension one turn on the pre-load as we need to take a bit more kit for the 5 day getaway. I noticed what appeared to be a small half inch crack in the sidecar swinging arm. So I got a screwdriver and hit it with a hammer and lo and behold a hole appeared, it had rusted from the inside on the part that they crease for tyre clearance. So swinging arm out, then I find out why when some water comes out of the hole. The old Pan swinging arm issue.
Knock it out and then fill weld the hole and then grind smooth and put a plate over the whole lot and weld that all up. You can see clearly the line where the crease they put in for tyre clearance where it had cracked. The rest of the swinging arm is solid. Good job I spotted it, as it was a fairly easy repair, but if left a few years down the line I think I would be cutting it and having to sleeve it with a tube.
Once done, drilled a drain hole, and filled it up with ACF 50 and good shake to cover all the inside and put it all back together.
Repair complete. But I did drill a drain hole in Lesley’s RX4 , no water, perfectly dry, but just in case, it got the ACF 50 treatment on the inside. Now I am not telling everyone to drill a small hole in the bottom of your swinging arm, I could have been unlucky, just happened to be my swinging arm that got water in, (could be down to fording) but worth checking just to see if all is good.
Anyway, everything sorted (at the moment) with the Batmobile and time to load up for the Lakes.