Event Reports

East Coast Rideout - Sunday 23rd August 2009

Over twenty of us met up at Stork Lodge Tea Rooms, Thornes Park on Sunday 23rd August, for our much awaited rideout to the East Coast. Steve led the rideout, with Mick and Chas acting as floating marshals and Lorna the back marker. We set off bang on 10:00 (under threat of fines from Lisa for poor-timekeeping) and took the A642 out of Wakefield, passing through Stanley, Oulton, Swillington and Garforth, before heading past Lotherton Hall and Towton, en-route to the A64. We hit heavy traffic at the roadworks on the A64 roundabout near Stockton on the Forest, but being on bikes and able to filter, it didn't slow us up much.

We had our first stop at the Highwayman Cafe, and the obligatory group photo.

Group Photo at the Highwayman Cafe

After a suitable watering (and bacon butties for some), we continued our journey on the A64, coming off just after Malton, onto the A169, towards Pickering and a petrol stop. Once past Pickering and into the north Yorkshire Moors National Park, the road and scenery becomes much more interesting. We had a slight detour into Goathland (Aidensfield) for another group photo outside Scripps Garage, where we proved to be as much of an attraction as the Heartbeat set.

Scripps Garage in Aidensfield (Goathland really)
Group Photo at Scripps Garage in Aidensfield

Back onto the Whitby road, we took the B1410 at Sleights, then the B1416 heading south towards Scarborough MAG's bike show at the Flask Cafe. A quick check of the map in a layby just to confirm we were on the right road (which we were of course), then a right onto the A171 Scarborough to Whitby road, and the Flask Cafe.

Scarborough MAG's bike show was a cracking little show, with some quality entries, and very well attended.

WWII Themed paint job
Low riding custom
Gold Wing Engined Trike

We had a chat to the Scarborough MAG guys and met up with York MAG there too. As it was late lunchtime, a number of our contingent couldn't resist the call of food for much longer, and took full advantage of the carvery in the adjoining pub. The rest of us had fish and chips at the seaside firmly in our sights, so set off towards Scarborough, parking on the sea front on Marine Drive.

Marine Drive ... and the Sea !!

We enjoyed our Fish and chips overlooking the Harbour, then had a walkabout, enjoying the hot sunny weather. We set off home late afternoon, taking the A64, bypassing yet more queueing traffic, arriving home early evening, after covering around 170 miles.

It was good to combine supporting an event of one of our fellow Yorkshire MAG groups, with a most pleasant rideout in hot sunny weather. Result !!!!