What a small world, the bikerworld.

When I left Portobello near Edinburgh on October 10, 2005, I would not have guessed that this would happen. There was a heavy wind and I was fully packed. I had a hard time keeping the bike on the left side of the road. I only had two roundabouts to go and I was on the A1, the coast-road, heading for New Castle. To get my mind of the heavy wind, I realised it was my last day in the UK. So I'd better enjoy the scenery and pay attention to the signs when I entered New Castle. So I enjoyed the landscape, while fighting the strong side-wind.

In New Castle, traffic rushes with 60 mph on the bypass. What ever signs I saw, there was no ferry-sign on it. By the time I drove out of New Castle, I knew I had a problem. No where to make a U-turn. It must have been 20 miles outside of New Castle that I got the opportunity to turn back and it was getting late. How many miles I drove, nowhere a ferry sign to be seen. I thought I'd missed it and made another U-turn. There, a car on a bypass. The man was on his cell-phone. I parked my bike right in front of the car, so he could not leave. I needed directions and fast. Time was running out. He told me that the ferry was another half hours drive. He asked if I had some papers, so he would call them. The ferry had already left. I had to phone a certain number before 8 pm to book for the next day, without any costs, but the battery of my cell-phone was dead. He made the call for me. That was done. Now I asked, if he had any idea, where I could find a B&B in the area. Then he asked if I had any objections to sleep on a sofa. Then he made a call to his wife: Is the sofa free tonight, got a biker in distress, she missed the ferry. I had to follow him, it was only 2 miles. His wife had already opened the carportdoor. The bike could be put inside.

That is how I met Alex and June Smith and their lovely kids Samantha and Gordon. We connected immediatly. The next morning the kids gave me a cuddle, before going to school and Gordon specifically asked me, if I would come back next year. I promised to try my very best. We kept in touch with mail and MSN. By the end of january, Alex told me in a chat, that he was coming to Europe with a group of bikers and wanted to visit me on his way back. Later I got a mail, that he was looking for a B&B, as they were with a party of 3. I answered, that if they had no objections to sleep on a mat in a sleeping bag, they were welcome here.

Alex was enthousiasic immediatly. We would be able to talk all night then, in stead of one hour. On May 17, the evening before I had a biker-forum-weekend, I met him on MSN. He would be leaving on sunday, the day I would come back. I would not see him, or talk to him until May 30. They would arrive late in the afternoon. Told him I would peel some extra patatoes. I was not allowed to do any special things about dinner. Promised I wouldn't.

On the 30st of May they arrive. I'd seen them coming around the corner and I'd rushed outside to make a picture. I recognised the bright-yellow Daytona. I send the 2 Aprilia's in the direction of the garage. The bikes are put inside. I get aquainted with Mick and John and we go inside, as I have some coffee ready. We place ourselves in the kitchen and start talking. Alex talks most, as we alrady know each other. I have to get used to the accent first. Haven't heard any english in a while.

In the mean time I heat up the soup, that I already cooked in the morning. I put some patatoes on and the carrots. Put the letuce in a bowl. I made some sausages in the morning already and heat them up as well. Around 6 pm, we clear the table, put some plates on them and we have dinner, with the 6 of us. Have the idea, that they did not have a home-cooked meal all week. They really enjoy it.

After dinner, we sit down in the livingroom and let the dinner go down. Then I suggest, that if they need anything from the bikes, we'd better do it by daylight, then with a torch. Then they will know where they can sleep as well. When they have chosen their "bed", they come down and they tell me a story.
The year before they'd been to Germany as well and they were lost so many times during one week, that they called themselves the "U-turn-motorcycleclub". Because I was lost and made some U-turns in New Castle, they thought I should become a member as well and I was given a T-shirt, with the text: U-turn Motorcycleclub - Lost in Europe 2006.

That evening we had a real good time and knowing the men like a good wodka-juice, I ask Alex to help me in the kitchen to pour the Wodka, while I squeezed the juice, from the oranges that I've put in the fridge a few days ago. Then there is the subject of the things that are worth wile to see in the area. Well there is the pier, that he was curious about, we have the seadike and there is a woodshoe-museum not too far away. That brings Alex to the idea to take some real woodshoes for June home. So the next morning we go to the woodshoe museum in Noardburgum, only about 2 miles away from here. They have forgotten to bring their camera, but I haven't and I make a lot of pictures. At home I put them on the computer, while the men re-pack their belongings and put things on the bike. A quick sandwich and of we go.

In Harlingen we have a look in the harbour and we stop at the "stienen man" on the seadike. The "stone man", watching over land and sea, as he has 2 faces. Then we stay on the secondary road in the shade of the seadike as there is a strong wind, but at Breezandijk we have to go on the highway. At the "Monument" on the Afsluitdijk, we stop, so they can see that there is water on both sides. The men have often been to Europe, but never crossed "the long bridge". There are signs saying that Alkmaar has a delay, because of roadworks, so we have to drive by Zaanstad and Krommenie towards the pier of IJmuiden. On arrival we have an hour left. It gives me a good feeling that we didn't have to make a U-turn this day.

We choose to go to a fish-restaurant, to kill the time. Order some coffee and each a portion of "fish and chips". Then all of a sudden my bike-alarm goes off. Because we can see the bike from the place we are seated, I shut it down. As soon as I sit down, it goes off again and I go to the bike. Put it "off", "on" and "off" and then put the ignition key in, so it won't go off again. Now I can enjoy my fish and chips, which I do. An yes, there it sounds again. At the next table, some guys have a lot of fun about it, but I understand what they are saying. I see the word "Wâlden" on their jackets, they are from the next village from where I live, also from Friesland. We have a short talk.

By 16.30 the guys leave for customs and I leave for home. Stubborn as I am, I drive by Alkmaar. That is going to cost me one hour extra. On arrival home I send a text-message to Alex his phone, to let him know I'm home safe. He sends a message back to thank me once again, for the lovely 24 hours we had. In the next chat, I tell Alex that we will be arriving on july 30th. He will pick us up from the ferry and take us home to June and the kids. A nice day at West-Denton and I will keep my promise to Gordon. I've done my best and we're coming.

On june 17 the local bikerclub has it's doors open. Other biker-clubs are invited as well. Late in the afternoon, while removing empty beerbottles from the ground, I'm asked, by a young man, if I got home dry from IJmuiden. He was one of the guys from the next table in the fish-restaurant. He remembered me so well because of the alarm going off all the time. That evening there was another guy, calling me, saying: Hé IJmuiden. Together with Gerard and Jaap I share some good memories about the UK. They had a nice week with lovely weather.

That's why I say, what a small world, the bikerworld is.