Spring is in the air, the days grow longer and warmer and we have a whole new riding season approaching. With that in mind it's time to look back at the end of 1999 and plans for 2000.

It’s been about two and a half years since the first posse gathered at the instigation of Fred Henderson, a bunch of people with seemingly nothing in common except lumps of American-made iron to sit on. In my opinion 1999 has been the year where the group started to mould into something we can really build around. Some have come and gone, others are just starting to get involved but despite all this we have a group which looks as though it will be around for a while.

Last year the North "clique" had many meetings; lots of short ride-outs and a good handful of rallies were attended in greater or smaller numbers. We also had a few new guys who joined in meeting us by various means, tagging on to either the Aberdeen or Inverness hard core to swell the numbers. Eddie McDonald and Big Bob have been keen supporters from the Highlands adding to Charlie and Grace's attendance and we’ve picked up one or two from down Aberdeen way who are just starting to hook up.

We also bumped into Russ Alminde originally from New Jersey while at the Aviemore rally and he joined in a couple of events last year.

We hope to have a small recruitment campaign at the start of next year’s season with mailshots and perhaps a wee mention in the local rag to try and further boost numbers and let others in on our fun.  

Big Bob's Birthday Bash

Not an official start of season doo but we tried to turn it into one. Big Bob from Tomatin celebrated his 50^th birthday in February. Eddie MacDonald, of the Tomatin sub-clique had a big part in organising this and invited eight of us who'd been to rallies with Bob last year along to help celebrate.

Once again the venue was a hotel in Grantown-on-Spey and the party was a complete surprise for the guest of honour. When he arrived it did look for a while as though he'd never see 51. The combination of the surprise and the effect of a seemingly very hot Thai Green curry consumed earlier seemed to be having a visible effect on his blood pressure and temperature. Several pints of medicine soon remedied the problem and he went from his flabbergasted state to his normal "quiet" self. Bob seemed fairly pleased with his present of a HD cookie jar despite the fact it had no cookies in it.

He had to work for his night out though as Bob leads a blues band and he ended up playing along with them demonstrating just how excellent a guitar player he really is. I've also heard he's pretty hot on the piano too. I hate talented people!!

2000 Plans

So to the rest of 2000, another year with more to look forward to. More rallies, ride-outs and meets with hopefully a great season of dry weather. We already have some members heading for Barcelona, around 10 I believe at last count. In July/August ten of the group have also planned a trip of some 4000 miles through at least half a dozen states, including Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado with Sturgis ND towards the end. We'll be hooking up with around another 6 or so locals on the way. More details to follow

Monthly meetings have started again held at 7.00pm in the Red Garth Hotel, Oldmeldrum on the first Wednesday of every month from February onwards. All are welcome so see you there.