Page 15 - Police World Edition 1 2014
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15
POLICE WORLD
Vol 59 No. 1, 2014
In
Other News
The 1 Region Scottish Motorcycle Touring Club (SMCTC)
hosted more than 12 events during the summer 2013
bike season.
Tom McInally said,
“Shortly after the Club was set up we
were delighted to receive an invitation to an event being
hosted by the Garda Motorcycle Club.”
In September, 2013, members of the SMCTC represented
1 Region in Dundalk where the Garda hosts their famous
Gathering. This is a well organised event. We were given
a written guide that allowed us to tour through the roving
countryside of the Irish/Northern Irish borders. The guide
covered the history of all the places we visited. Over 58
bikes attended from all over Ireland and the group riding
system held us together for most of the ride presenting a
great show for locals.
No Irish gathering would be complete without the social
gathering which was in the form of a meal, a presentation
of gifts to the Scottish members and a few drinks.
Tom added,
“The weather was ideal with hardly a drop of
rain and we were able to establish some good friendships
with our Irish colleagues. The Garda Motorcycle Club is
already planning some trips to Scotland and we hope to
have the opportunity to reciprocate in the coming years.”
A video of the tour and some more photographs are
available to view on the Club’s Facebook page at:
A
Tour
Shortly after setting up the Scottish Motorcycle Touring Club, the group’s committee thought it would be a
good idea to get the name out there with an event. Well, that was the excuse that their wives got as three
intrepid bikers made off for a 5 day tour of Holland and the Harz Mountains in Germany.
C
lub member, Tom McInally, said “
Having
a lightning tour was preceded by a
lightning decision to do it in the first
place. Quick idea, quick advert and off we went.”
The Club met with the Section Netherlands
Motorcycle Group. Tom added, “
What a
breakfast they laid on for us after a ride through
Amsterdam. It was great to meet up and plan
future trips etc...”
The riders then headed off Germany bound.
IPA member, John Baylor, a former officer
from Thames Valley, now resident in
Minden, Germany, contacted the Club
to join in on the tour. So it was an easy
decision to start the German part of the
tour in John’s home town.
John guided the group toward the
Harz mountains via Hameln - arriving
at the Roseneck Pension which is a
guest house owned by Greg, a friend of the
group, and is situated in the lovely village of
Bad Lauterberg. Greg’s place is an ideal biker
friendly headquarters for the Harz area and is
recommended.
Jimmy Kelly, a member from Northern Ireland,
conducted a great tour of the Harz mountains as
he knows the area well. The group visited the old
military posts at the former East German border
crossing (DDR border) before zooming north
to Münster and then again over the border to
Holland.
Tom said,
“We had a ‘stay as you go’ approach
to planning accommodation so we didn’t book
hotels in advance. This leaves
flexibility of routes and makes it easy
to fit in a day off. On this occasion we
found a nice wee hotel where, when
we asked about bike parking, they
opened up the hotel ballroom and we
drove the bikes onto the dance floor...
service or what?”
A video of the Club’s trip has been
produced which is available to view
via the Club’s Facebook page - see
below for details.
The Scottish Motorcycle Touring
Club meet their Dutch counterparts
Jimmy Kelly, Dougie Wright, John
Baylor and Tom McInally
Admiring the bikes in Ireland
Mike Vince
Maddie Fletcher and
Denise Ripley
