Dick turpin 2009
Dick Turpin Ride To York 2009
23rd and 24th May 2009
The Dick Turpin Ride To York was a idea that I got from doing a similar event on Horseback, with a group of Riders from the British Horse Society Long Distance Team, back in the Seventies, when we did it back then we started at Horseguards in London, and it took a whole week to complete, so how the h*ll, did Dick Turpin do it in a day, or overnight as alleged, (well it's simple - he didn't).
Back to the 2009 attempt, after speaking to Phil Garner "T V Activities Officer back in October 2008 a plan was hatched by the pair of us, we thought to start at The Ace Cafe would be a good idea and to finish in York at The Castle Museum with a photo shoot in Dick Turpin's Cell, which we did with a guide to explain the true story of Dick Turpin, "if you want to know more about him you could always join us next year", Phil is under instruction to come back from the depths of Cornwall to join in next year.
Along came Saturday morning June, myself, Jon our youngest, Sarah and Kevin (our friends from Harrogate who had ridden down on Friday to join the ride) arrived at the Ace to be met by a group of Thames Valley members, waiting for a ride to York, I am sorry but I am no good at names, but you know who you are. After a photo with the group holding the Chapter flag and the flag from the Alexander Devine Children's Cancer Charity, for who we were raising money, the riders mounted up and we set off for the A1"me following behind in our campervan as support vehicle". After roaring through the Hatfield tunnel on the A1m, we had a quick fuel stop at Baldock Services for these Sportsters with their peanut tanks like to stop more often than their big brothers, then it was onto Stibbington diner for Breakfast. We left the diner and headed north to St Ledger Harley Davidson at Doncaster, where we had arranged to meet a group of riders from Aire Valley Chapter (Leeds) after about 45mins break and a good look around we left for York. Our bunch of fifteen that left the Ace was now a group of 35 with 4 St Ledger chapter bikes and 16 Aire Valley we were led by our Jon who had never done it before, he told me afterwards he was pooing himself in case he got it wrong, but apparently Phil told him he would make a good road captain, so he will have to get his own Harley first and not use mine. (Almost sorted - Ed)
We stopped just outside York to ring the Museum to let them know our ETA, I went on ahead with the van to get a good position for arrival photos, it was obvious that quite a few visitors had been told we were on our way, as when I said to one group the peace and quiet was about to be shattered by a lot of noisy Harleys, they said yes we are waiting for them.
The area outside the Museum is called The Eye Of York and is a strictly no parking area, but with the help of Lee from the Castle Museum And the good people of York City Council, we were able to get a waiver to park from 3.30pm until 5.00pm, so we lined the bikes up in a semi circle outside the Museum with Clifford's Tower in the background.
After another Flag photo, a group of us went inside to look around Dick Turpins Cell, it was all very interesting and very good of the staff to take such good care of us. After our tour of the Cells we said goodbye to our new friends from Aire Valley and St Ledger, then set off for our 20 mile ride to the Hotel. As I was brought up in York it was my turn to lead and we followed the City Walls round to Monkgate Bar, with a plan to go under the arch and on past York Minster, but someone has decided to close the road off, so we ended up following a car all the way through the centre of York, through the pedestrian zone; great fun with loads of visitors were snapping away with cameras. We got to our hotel, booked in had a clean up then met in the restaurant for dinner, a few drinks in the bar afterwards, then bed.
Sunday morning came and after breakfast we got ready for the ride south, leaving the Hotel at 9.30am, once again I was leading the group to Thoresby Hall in Robin Hood country, Phil had arranged for us to meet up with Sherwood Chapter, have tea and bikkies with them, and then they would take us on a little ride through Robin Hood Country to Sherwood Harley at Nottingham. This turned out to be a good ride led by Bodecia on her chariot with her army following on behind, we were near the back of the ride and all we could see up front were a pair of arms sticking up belonging to our ride leader a very tall slim young lady with long black hair, flowing in the wind behind her (sorry you chaps that missed out) she certainly did give us a good readout but all I could think of was Bodecia on her chariot.
From the Dealership we went for lunch at a local pub, before mounting up again for a ride to the A5, after leaving there we went to Tamworth services for yet more fuel. Most of our remaining group went off down the M42 then M40 South to their respective destinations, Phil, June and I followed the A5 to Towcester, then Phil took the A43 home whilst we carried on down the A5 and to Aylesbury then home to Hazlemere.
I am hoping that we can do the ride next year, on the same Bank Holiday weekend, but over 3 days with Sunday off to look around York or a ride out in the Yorkshire Dales. I would like to finish by saying a BIG thank you to Phil for his help with the event, also to all the riders and pillions who took part, and to all our new friends up north. Also to whoever gave us the great weather. I am sure Phil will be putting something in the magazine to let you all know how much we raised. So if any of you would like to dress up as Dick Turpin to lead the ride into York next year let me know.
Regards to all
Derick Robinson