Northern Rally
Date for the 2025 rally is still to be confirmed.
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DOC GB Official Northern Rally What happened 2023!
The Northern Rally was as always a great success and again this year we were lucky with the weather, attendees were confirmed far and wide, Natalee worked really hard squeezing people in to the Cavendish and other places in the lovely village of Cartmel, Richard who is the owner of the Cavendish as always works really hard to accommodate our discerning rally goers.
I have rode up on lots of bikes from various dealers and people over the years, a Multistrada V4 rally this time, as my usual steed, the V4s had been borrowed by Foggy and Charley Boorman !!
I set off with my lad Theo on the back and as soon as I got a couple of miles up the road I could tell the difference, the suspension so much more supple and really smooth, a great bike, we met up with Miguel and his son Jose and of course my good friend Johann Bustin on the A6, a quick ride up the A6 and into the car park, the weather was great on the ride up, a quick change and a well earned drink in the outside area and then inside for dinner, Friday was buy your own but we had the whole restaurant booked out for us from 8.30pm and we drank and caught up with each other until late.
Saturday morning and a quick check of the weather as there was rain forecast we changed the route to stay low and not up the mountains, we headed off towards Hart side pass but took a left over Shap then eventually to Bowness, no, not Windermere, on Solway, we could see Scotland across the water, we had a great lunch at a country pub and it was then back, quick stop at the Filling Station in Keswick and back south, Dave, our ride leader took us over some very tight twisty passes, I was cursing the tight downhill left which had me paddling with my feet and trying not to topple over, Theo loving it as it was like an off road adventure, apparently it was sick ? Young people speak ha ha.
Despite our best intentions we did get a little split up and arrived back in a few groups, the sun was shining, we had seen a few wet roads but not had any rain, perfect weather organisation by Natalee, we met up with ladies and their honouree ladies after their lady’s who lunch afternoon in Unsworth yard where the wine bar, brewery, the most amazing cheese shop and delicatessen had kept them in drink and cheese boards for the afternoon.
The main event got underway with a glass of Italian fizzy red a favourite of Natalee’s and quite hard to source out of Italy !!! Followed by a fab cheese and Italian meats and breadstick starter, followed by lots of home made lasagne with a big glass of vino Rosso of course, a great evening ensued, lots of merriment had by all, the tickets not only gained entry to the event food and drinks but also your raffle ticket with some fab prizes from Richard at the Cavendish offering a free nights stay, some great DOCGB club prizes offered by Colin, our Merchandise secretary and a prize each from both Ducati Manchester and Ducati Preston, finishing the night with a whip round for a nominated charity thanks to Tracy and Kevin for a fab suggestion of the BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION in memory of our dear friend Clive FitzGerald a stalwart of the not just the Northern rally but many of the clubs rally’s, thank you to everyone who really did dig deep as we raised a whopping £271.01 !!!
Sunday is always a little sad being the final day, as it was nice again a few of us took the long way home, through North Yorkshire and back down through a lovely road towards Settle and Gisburn and then home for a welcome rest and reflection of a great week end again.
Thanks to Natalee, Richard and all the members for turning up making the event what it was and yes, it’s on next year, contact Natalee to book your place.
Martyn
For further info please feel free to contact me, Natalee Claydon-Yates northernrally@docgb.net
