Pilgrims Rally

The Pilgrim rally took place in August in Essex.

There was the normal real ale and cider bar. We went to a pub on the Saturday morning, then back to the site for the band in the evening and more sampling.

The weather was good. The food was up to the normal standard.

All in all a very good weekend.

- Dave Ranger


40th Pilgrims Rally, August 2015
Mayflower MCC

This year five motorcyclists came together again for our England tour. On Friday 7 August, Walter Trappe (BMW F650GS), Günter Reuter (Honda CB600S), Mathias Bongarts (Aprilia 1000RSV), Norbert Wisskirchen (Honda CBF600) and I, Hans Mondorf (BMW K100RS) drove our usual route to Calais for the ferry. Fish and chips lunch during the crossing.

From Dover via the A20/M20 and as soon as possible (obviously traffic jam before Dartford Tunnel) the rest of the Route via M25/A12 to New Hall Vineyards in Purleigh.

After registering and setting up the tent, let's have fun. The scouts once again provided us with a delicious dinner. A cozy evening in the barn with music from the CD followed.

On Saturday morning, after a delicious English breakfast with the Scouts, we set out again on our motorbikes (you can hardly believe it) to the Ace Café. This year we were unable to turn onto North Circular Road at a large roundabout in the Redbridge area. Exactly at this point a traffic accident had occurred. After two laps in the roundabout, we let ourselves be carried along in the traffic on the A12 in the direction of the city. Our motorcycle friend Norbert Wisskirchen suddenly stopped on this stretch and pushed his Honda onto the sidewalk. The clutch cable had snapped. However, as luck would have it, since this had happened to him before, he had the spare parts he needed in his tank bag. The replacement was completed in a short time.

The journey continued. After some time we saw the Tower Bridge. There under the bridge we looked for somewhere to park our motorbikes. We walked to the top of the Tower of London. Here the buses depart for a city tour. However, when we asked for the price of such we decided to spend that amount of money on a beer at the Mayflower MCC in the evening. Then we discovered an affordable river cruise on the Thames. From Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge and back. Unfortunately, we only heard a little of the captain's explanations. We should have paid more attention in English class at school!

After our return to Purleigh, the wonderful Saturday evening began. First a dinner with the scouts and then a usual cozy evening in the barn with a live band and a cold beer.

After a lengthy, delicious English breakfast by the scouts on Sunday morning, we said goodbye and drove our usual route towards Dover.

Like last year, first a visit to St Margaret's Beach and then checked into the hotel at St Magaret's Holiday Park. Dinner in the hotel restaurant, and the last pints at the bar.

Monday morning down to the ferry and, after loading the motorbikes, of course, our last delicious full English breakfast.

Apart from the broken clutch cable, we were spared any technical problems.

- Hans Mondorf