Police World Edition 1 2014

Article

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 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

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

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

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: www.tinyurl.com/SMCTC

Mike Vince

Admiring the bikes in Ireland

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

Maddie Fletcher and Denise Ripley

POLICE WORLD Vol 59 No. 1, 2014

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