Forumtour May 12...

Since I became moderator of motorforum.nl just over two years ago, I've been asked to organise member-meetings. This usually means I set the date and have to find someone, who will compose a tour, somewhere in the middle of our country. Well I succeeded in that again this year...

Announcement...
To avoid all the questions and speculations, I open a new topic in the forum in January. But now that the date is getting closer by, members from all areas start making agreements to drive to the startingplace together. I am approached by Rudyhadee and Henks. Two brothers from up north. These two really feel the urge to tease each other and mostly in a very original way. It's always a good laugh with them. Because Rudy has an aversion by birth to Opels and everything Japanese, Henk has decided that we should gather at the Opel-museum in Tijnje. And so it happens...

Together to the start...
Just before seven-thirty I am on the bike to drive to the gatheringplace. I am early, because the brothers have not arrived yet. But I don't have to wait for very long. It is cloudy, but dry and then the sun comes out. Is this going to be a nice day? When Rudy and Henk arrive, I suggest we first get our nicotine-levels up. Rudy has back-problems and walking around could make a difference. Just passed eight o'clock we leave into the direction of Heerenveen and Joure. Near Lemmer we get a real shower. This repeats a few times while driving through the polders. Near Almere we stop at a service-station and Rudy is already wringing out the front parts of his bodywarmer.

The startingplace...
We pass Utrecht and then, well, the exit to Lexmond is closed. There is a detour of about 6 miles or so. But at a quarter passed ten we have arrived in Ameide as well. While I park my bike, CeesBMW approaches. Cees is the other moderator of the forum. Finally we meet. Inside is already quite a group of members and so I walk around, to either meet members for the first time or greet familiar faces. And then there is coffee. Pictures are made and soon it is by eleven. CeesBMW leaves for home in his car and Dopey rides a few kilometres with us. Then we move on with 15 members on 14 bikes.

The tour...
Because it was dry in Ameide at the start, I hadn't bothered to put on my rainoverall again and soon I regret it. Slowly it starts drizzling and not long after, the rain is pooring down. I drive in the back, with Old-timer behind me. When we leave a village I open the throttle and all the water from my fuelltank slides towards me and flows on the buddy. Faultless the droplets find their way through the seam of my leather pants and that is COLD! When we have to stop for a parade of trucks, I take my chance and put on my overall again. I'm assisted by Old-timer, to pull the back-part over my wet coat. Then there is the problem to get my wet gloves on again, but they start driving again. There is some hassle to get back to the group again.

Bright interval...
Dré-ke has composed a wonderful tour. We have lunch in Asperen and after lunch the sky is much brighter. Few forum-members leave homewards, but another is joining. Eventually we arrive near Wijk bij Duurstede and take a break by the side of the road. Then Old-timer opens his top-suitcase and has some "Bosche Bollen" and while everybody is enjoying them, he takes his accordeon and his mouth-organ and starts playing a song. Of course the break is stretched and the afternoon is coming to an end. Many a member leaves homeward from this point. We are left with only four members. We agree that we will ride another part of the tour and end at a service-station in Culemborg. Then our roads will part. I drive to Utrecht with Ronald, where he moves on, on the A28 and I stay on the A27. Underway I take a short break. Just passed Drachten I get some specks on my visor. For a moment the thought crosses my mind that I will come home soaking, because I still don't wear the overall. But by the exit of Nijega it is dry again. By the clock of seven-thirty I'm back on base.

Remember with pleasure...
When I am home, I catch up first, then I start the computer. CeesBMW has already opened a new topic and contributions are coming in, all positive. But first I want to take a long hot shower to get back on temperature. Then I empty my camera into the computer and minimise the pictures, compose a page and put a link in my website. That way the forum-members that couldn't make it today, can see what they have missed. Then the guestpictures are coming in. They are waiting for them too, so lots to do. Also on sunday pictures come in, but in the morning and in the afternoon I have guests. Rudy has made a short movie of Old-timer playing music. I place the link in between visitors. The pictures will have to wait for now. Untill late at night I'm busy to put it all online, but I can look back on a fabulous weekend.

Betty Smit, Motormeisje.nl