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Event Report

Girlie Run 1
Oct-2005

It may have gone virtually unnoticed but there has been an underground movement gathering momentum within the echelons of the Wiltshire TRF.

Known as the ’Girlie Rideouts’ these events are generally too extreme for the lads to handle, however, on this instance, 22 October, the number of lads equaled the girlies - albeit Ted Spires was a last minute gatecrasher! The rest of the crew was made up by Editor Sarah (on her comeback tour), Heather, ‘Black Rat Steve’, Bob and myself.
As an aside, the lads might have well and truly outnumbered the girlies if not for the following:
1.     Glen declined the invitation. Personally, I think he’s a closet rambler and when Heather is out riding he dons his red bobble hat and gets a clandestine fix!
2.     Russell didn’t want to get his bike dirty - at least his bike works!
3.     Dave - well, his DRZ still doesn’t work - halfway through some major cam-chain surgery

Having checked throughout the week that the weather was going to be suitable (sunny!) we met at 10.00am at Heytesbury to find it drizzling! Being the die-hards that we are we saddled up and headed into the wilds of Tytherington where the sun soon smiled on us. Ted, who had to make a diversion for a fuel pit stop, caught us up again when Heather was having her own pit stop! (While we’re on the subject ..... did you know Steve carries a toilet roll in his oversize tool kit?! Mind you, he could also complete a full strip down and re-build on the trail.)
 



Having explored the trails around Tytherington/Chicklade for a while and crossing the extremely busy A303 a couple of times we picked up the Monarchs Way and followed this roller coaster all the way through to Wilton. We met up with a couple of horse riders in the woods who very kindly took themselves into the trees and allowed us to pass. Judging by the bored look on
the horses’ faces they’re pretty used to hiding in the trees so as not to scare trail bikes!
 



A little bit of roadwork through Great Wishford then a short up and over from Stoford, down Chain Hill and another pit stop at Stapleford - this time for food and drink too .......... well - it was a girlie ride!
Once refuelled we passed through Berwick St James and made our way past Stonehenge, crawling with tourists, and onto Salisbury Plain. Having been stopped a little earlier by a Landrover warning us that the army was out playing we were stopped again by the Range Warden. A few minutes later and satisfied that we (and he), knew where we were going, he bid us a cheery farewell and we continued our way through Shrewton and back across the plain to Chitterne.
It should be noted here that at every opportunity Steve took to the water - the deeper the better – ‘Black Rat’ turned ‘Water Rat’! Seeing him water splashing with his legs up by the bars gave a new meaning to the term ’feet up’.


Shortly after Chitterne, and having sent me up to the front, everyone decided it was a good point to call it a day and went their seperate ways home! I missed the ’good byes’ but hope that everyone had as good a time as I did. Roll on the next one!

We saw more trail users, two and four wheeled, on this ride than normal - maybe all making the most of it having been NERC’d. Mind you, it was also gratifying to see a number of DMMO orders slapped up - at least some of the hard ROW work done by Ted, Bill and Steve has been rewarded.


 
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