AR11 - Ed's proposal - long version - image intensive

This is the long (very long in fact) version of my proposal. It will take you a while to read but it has a lot more detail, and nice piccies

Proposal to hold AR11 at Wem, Shropshire

1. Why Ed?

• Co-organiser (with admin) of the highly successful AR2006 and organiser of numerous smaller rides since – for example, several Marches Meanders, Barmouth, Abersoch, and so on.
• AR2006 was the first ‘social’ ride, where the social side of things started to matter. The social side has really taken off in recent years and my proposal is sympathetic to this, with ample opportunity for members to meet and greet, my proposal addresses how to get people to mix.
• Great way of contributing something to my internet ‘home’.
• If I’m successful I will involve Border Patrol members in the event, both to help organise the accommodation and the weekend generally, and to help plan the ride.
• Responsible and measured approach - I’m one of the er older members of the org both in terms of actual age (50) and length of membership (6years).
• I live in the area – at Baschurch, just 7 miles away, I know the area very well.
• Would be there from the Thursday to plan, set up, liaise with campsite owner, and deal with last minute problems and emergencies

2. Haven’t we been to Shropshire before? So do we want to go there again?

• Yes, we have, AR2006 was based at Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury. It was 5 years ago, and the membership on the board has changed dramatically, in numbers and in make-up.
• This proposal is for the AR to be held at Wem, in a different part of Shropshire, in fact it’s almost in Cheshire, and the ride I organise would not be the same route. We wouldn’t use any of the same roads.
• So it isn’t a re-run, it’s something completely different.
• North Shropshire is mainly flat, and very ‘English’ – very rural, hedges, oak trees, large fields, huge skies. And very twisty roads that are really exciting

But once we get into Wales, it’s a different story! Hills, hills, hills….

3. OK, so where the hell is Wem, and how do you get there?

• Wem is a small town in rural north Shropshire. It’s about 15 miles north of Shrewsbury. The population is about 7 – 8,000, to include the remote villages around and abouts. It’s what you’d call ‘quaint’. Please bear in mind that these pics were all taken on a wet day in late October

• Despite its small size and its apparent timewarp, it’s the centre of a thriving rural community with several good pubs, like this one, The Albion, a mile from the campsite:

• It also has a train station (trains go to Shrewsbury or Chester), a Co-Op supermarket with very good offie section, and several smaller specialist shops. My former law firm had an office there

• It’s easy to get to, the nearest major road is the A49 (Hereford – Warrington), and then a short ride (3 miles) along a very pretty country road (B5065) that you won’t want to end. From London it’s 170 miles, the route would be M1 or M40/M42, then M6, M54, A5, A49, B5065. From Manchester it’s about 60 miles, down the A49. From Leeds it’s 100 miles, M62/M60 and A49. From Bristol, 135 miles.

4. So what are you offering?
4A Highlights

• Camping at Lower Lacon Caravan Park.
• Friendly site, flat, welcomes large bike parties and is used to dealing with them.
• Lots of facilities to include swim pool and crazy golf.
• Site will put on a hog roast if we want.
• Welcomes well-behaved dogs with responsible owners.
• £7 per night camping.

• My proposal is to base the weekend at Lower Lacon Caravan Park, on the outskirts of Wem, between the edge of town and the A49. This is the site entrance from the road. I parked my Landy in the pic to give you an idea of scale:

• The entranceway is big, it would be a suitable start, although there would be caravans arriving, so maybe better to use a hard stand just to the right, currently bollarded off:

• Alternatively the site has a long spine road through it, it would be easily possible to line up along that.
• I will be there Thursday – Sunday, probably in my touring caravan, which would be Ride HQ. I think that the event is so big now that it needs a dedicated presence there.
• Here’s a linky:

http://www.llcp.co.uk/

4B Detail

• The site is both a caravan park and a campsite, about a mile and a half east from the centre of Wem, on the B5065. The site is completely flat. It has a range of facilities, which I have inspected, to include a site shop (sells beer and wine). This is the shop (left) and the office/reception building:

• And this is the view up the site towards the fields at the end, where we would be:

• Bring your cozzie. There’s a heated outdoors swimming pool:

• There’s a bar next door, with a terrace/seating area:

• crazy golf:

• indoor amusements, and some cash machines – note that these aren’t free, I think it’s £1.50/withdrawal, but there are several normal bank ones in Wem. The site shop is typical of places like this, small and offering basic goods. The Co-op in Wem is easy to get to with loads of free parking, about 5 mins down the road. There’s a decent café on site offering hot food, can take out also. It sits about 40; we would not have exclusive use of it though. I saw what they were cooking, it looked good, and the cost is very reasonable – typically about £5 - £6 for a cooked meal. Wide choice of options, from steak to fish & chips to veggie

• Site will put on hog roast if we want, see below. Not sure that they’d use these local residents though – they have hogs and alpacas on site as a visitor attraction:

• Similarly there is a large bar, they call it a barn. It’s big, they don’t call it a barn for nothing. There is karaoke in there in high season. We would not have exclusive use however and as the site can get busy it would not be possible to negotiate this. It has the advantage of being immediately next to the field that we would have. From the outside it looks OK, not the most attractive TBH - but inside (I went in a few weeks ago, didn’t have camera with, couldn’t get inside on second trip) it’s perfectly OK with plenty seating for large parties. As you can see, there are tables and chairs outside too:

• Drinks are reasonably priced:

• The usual problem is how to get everyone to mix. There would probably be some who wanted to sit in the bar, and others who’d want to sit outside a tent. You’ll see from the pic that there are tables and chairs outside the bar, and this would be visible and audible from the field – it’s just to the right of the barn. The field that we would have and the bar are very close to each other, no more than 20 yards apart, so mixing between the two would be easy, and encouraged if there was a group sat outside the bar area.

• The site is OK for us to have gazebos or a marquee, and also a camp fire as long as it's off the ground to avoid killing the grass. I'm investigating getting hold of a large fire pit, I know a few farmers who might have something appropriate, even if it’s a JCB bucket. I have plenty wood at home. It’s physically a much smaller place than the Baskerville at AR10, so the relative spaces for people to spread out are not so great. Also, the café is just round the corner from the bar, between the bar and the field. Plus, I’d tempt some with home brew. You can lead a horse to water...

• Toilets and showers are well kept, clean and most acceptable. The site is immaculately maintained. There are two loo and shower blocks on the site, A few pics of the sanitary facilities:

• Some might find this machine useful

• Commercial vehicles – vans in particular – are not allowed on the site. It’s OK if they have passenger windows, there is a guide on their website

• I went to talk to the site manager. Bikers do not put them off, quite the contrary - we would be most welcome – they are used to hosting large bike and petrolhead meets. When I went there last month they had a West Midlands Harley owners’ meet, there must have been about 150 tents and camper vans there I would think. We would have a dedicated field that is a short drive away from the caravans, in my opinion they are far enough away for us not to be a problem to them or for them to be a problem to us. The only slight disadvantage is that it’s fairly close to a train line, but this is not a busy line. They are OK with bikes going onto the field, or there is a hard stand nearby. Some pitches have an electric hook up, and they would be OK for a few touring caravans to be on the field also. Here are a few pics of the field. For starters, this is a look back down the spine road of the site to the entrance, as you can see it’s quite a walk:

• Here’s the pub (in the above pic it was behind me to my right).

• On the right you can see a gate. This leads to these three fields. We would have the first or maybe the second, depends how many we have. Field no 1 currently has sheep on it:

• Field no 2 and 3. The fence in the above pic is on the extreme left of this next pic:

• Field 3:

• The white boxes are leccie hook ups. The three fields are next to each other. I thought that either 1 or 2 would be OK for us, no 3 is huge and we wouldn’t fill it unless we had 200+. This was the field where the Harleys were, there was a great atmosphere there, a tented village. As you can see, all three are level, and some way away from the caravans, so although the site is a little sensitive about noise, I don’t think we’d disturb anyone, not least with a pub in the way. The tarmac road serves all three fields, it is to the right of the field in the above pic.

• Dogs are welcome but must (read – supposed to) be kept on a lead and owners are requested to clean up after them. As the field is some distance from the caravans I don’t think it would hurt to have dogs off the lead in the field. There are some sheep nearby so you’d need to be sure that the dogs were OK with livestock. Plus there are a few very tame site cats that wander around, and some of the year-round caravan residents have cats too. But on the main site they should be on a lead, partly because there would be small kids running around who might be afraid of dogs, partly because of the cats, and partly because they have tame alpacas and pigs on the site as a visitor attraction. One of those long extendy things is OK.

• BBQs are OK as long as they are off the ground. I have a gas thingy that I could bring if anyone would want to use it.

• Because it’s a caravan park, with families using it, and access to the campsite is through the caravan park, there is a very strictly applied site speed limit of 5mph. No wheelies!!!! In fact when I went there I collected the manager from the site office and we drove through the site, he asked me to slow down!!

• Camping at £7 per night.

• Nearby – several pubs in Wem, a Co-op, and several fast food outlets. And for Manxmatt yes there’s a tyre fitters within walking distance! There’s also a small independent bike shop nearby, http://www.tonymossmotorcycles.co.uk

• Here’s the emails that I exchanged with the site manager. I emailed first, then went to inspect, then Robert (site manager) replied.

My email:

Hi, I hope you can help.

My name's Ed Austin. I'm a member of an internet based motorcycle club, www.sv650.org. I live in Baschurch. Every year we have an Annual Ride, this year it was based at the Baskerville Arms Hotel at Clyro, near Hay on Wye. I'm preparing a bid for the committee with a view to holding it in Shropshire next year - date to be decided but likely to be late July/early August.

We would expect about 100 - 130 bikes with about 150 people (as some will not do the ride) - we are not hells angels, all are well behaved normal people!!! And the bikes are all roadworthy!!! Our members come from all over the United Kingdom and would come from pretty well every corner so would expect a quality event. Most people would want to camp but some would want a holiday home or bunkhouse or similar.

What we need is a level field that doesn't flood (motorbikes will sink!!!), a bar and off licence, and well-behaved dogs to be allowed. We'd need catering facilities from Friday evening to Sunday morning. A hog roast or similar would be fantastic. We also need a 'focal point' - whether this is a large marquee or a camp fire, I don't know. If there is a separate field then that would be great. I'd need to park my touring caravan on the field as the Ride HQ.

The idea is that we would arrive Friday (but some of the more distant members would probably arrive Thursday), go for a long ride Saturday, and then have a big social event Saturday evening. Most will leave Sunday but some will stay till Monday.

This is very much outline: I know you're there because I drive past quite often, and your web site says you cater for rallies, so hence the interest. We did have the event at Montford Bridge in 2006 but as the event has grown I'm not sure that The Wingfield Arms is big enough now and besides not all our members would want to go back to the same place.

Please could you let me know whether you offer this sort of event, and if you do then I'd like to come with a colleague and have a site visit to discuss how we could arrange things. My mobile is 07*** ******, or home is 01939 ******.

Thanks a lot

Regards

Edward Austin


Robert’s reply:


Hi Ed

just a quick check list

camping £7 per person per night (if it was out of school hols £5 per person
per night)
holiday home or bunkhouse or similar. We have 5 holiday homes to hire so it
would be first to book. But no bunkhouse or similar.

A level field that doesn't flood (motorbikes will sink!!!) yes the topfield
left hand side that I showed you. (it does not flood but if we have very
heavy rain it will have puddles)

A bar and off licence. Yes bar x 2 and off licence in shop.

A well-behaved dogs to be allowed.Yes as long as on a lead at all times

Catering facilities from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Yes as you saw

A hog roast or similar would be fantastic. Yes we can do a hog roast £350
plain or £400 with salads plus... for 120 to 150 people approx


We also need a 'focal point' - whether this is a large marquee or a campfire, I don't know. Yes large marquee would be allowed but would need to be
in your area (1 x 16amp electric included) A camp fire possibly- it would have to off the ground to not kill the grass.

If there is a separate field then that would be great. Yes as long as the
number is at least 250 nights (eg,125 people for 2 nights) you saw, we could
always manage but not necessarily in a seperate area.


I'd need to park my touring caravan on the field as the Ride HQ. Yes as rally organiser / marshal you would get a free pitch with 16amp electic included (if you could come thursday night or friday morning to sunday when group gone) to sort the group as they come and sort the cleanup as they go.

Robert Shingler

• They are very flexible. The main concerns that they would have are not to be too noisy (because there will be families with young children there) and not to ride over the site speed limit – same reason. But they host several bike and car rallies, so it isn’t a problem. It’s a beautiful spot, very peaceful. It’s also got lots of facilities and I have no doubt that it would be a great base. The main meeting area would be the bar in the barn. It’s not an old barn, as you can see it’s much more modern, but still has good atmosphere. It would accommodate about 200 people, and they wouldn’t mind if we spilled outside. As stated, we wouldn’t have exclusive use of it though.

5. What about people who don’t do camping?

• The site has 5 mobile homes which it rents out on a first come first served basis. They sleep six, one sleeps 8. They each have one twin bedded room, otherwise double beds.

• Prices for 2011 aren’t fixed yet, but for 2010 they charged £197 Fri- Sun, which works out at £16.50/night each. Robert offered a small discount if we bulk book all 5. This compares with the £19/night in the dorms at AR10.

• If people don’t want a mobile home or prefer to stop off site, there are a number of B&Bs in the area, as follows:

http://www.aston-lodge.co.uk/index.htm

This is a beautiful Georgian house, it has 8 letting bedrooms, all rooms are ensuite, typical cost per double or twin room is £70/night. It’s just under a mile from the campsite along a level road with a pavement. I don’t remember seeing streetlights though. Or

http://www.bandbtherowanswem.co.uk/home

This is a modern house, with only 2 letting bedrooms, same price. It’s a bit further away from the site, I haven’t been to investigate it.

• And a few hotels, but they are all rather more expensive. One in particular, the Soulton Hall, has a reputation for doing upmarket weddings. If I get the nod from the committee I’ll make an appointment to go inspect the B&Bs.

• I don’t know of any bunkhouse within reasonable distance. The nearest is at Glyn Ceiriog, about an hour’s ride away, so not feasible.

6. What about the ride-out?

• There can be no doubt that Shropshire and mid and north Wales have some of the finest biking roads in the United Kingdom. I can go in any direction and have a fantastic day out. The route is not finalised yet and nor will it be until I have a better idea of numbers, I would not want to take 100+ bikes down some of the lanes that I use!!! It is simply not safe to bring 100+ bikes along twisty mountain roads and the route will recognise this. But it would be a shame to go into Wales and miss the dramatic mountain and lakes scenery. Bring your bucket and spade as we might well end up by the seaside! I like Barmouth and Aberdovey!

• However the route is likely to go through north Shropshire, and into mid and then north Wales. As you saw above, North Shropshire is very ‘English’ – lots of twisty roads, hedges, oak trees, huge skies, mainly rural. In fact some of those pics up tops are the view from my back garden. Wales speaks for itself. Mike (Luckypants) has generously offered to help in planning a route. There will be plenty of coffee /smoke /fuel /lunch /tea stops, and a mix of roads and scenery. It will be planned so as to avoid fixed speed cameras, traffic lights, and known accident black spots.

• Whatever, the route will offer something for everyone. Please don’t ride like a knob, you’ll spoil the day for yourself and for others, too.

• The start will be from the camp site. I don’t like having to go some place else, and besides the camp site is a very good start point. Day-trippers would find it easy to get to. The ride will also end at the camp site. If we stop off at my place (in Baschurch, 7 miles away) for tea, and it’s a possibility as it’s likely to be on the way back, some day-tripper riders might want to leave from there.

• West Mercia Police are OK with bikes, North Wales police has a supposedly fierce reputation. But I have never been stopped in north Wales, nope not once, and I believe that as long as people ride responsibly then there should be no problem. The usual issue is speeding through villages, ignoring 30s and 40s. This is totally unacceptable and is bound to attract adverse attention. The point would be made, firmly, at the start of the ride. Don’t be put off by old wives’ tales about North Wales. It’s really very simple, ride responsibly and you’re OK, ride like a knob, expect a tug.
  

• We will need several marshals. I would be TEC as I know the likely route well. We would need to identify a lead (I have someone in mond but haven’t asked them yet though) and I would press the Border Patrol peeps as markers.

7. What if it rains?

• Sorry I can’t control this, rain is a fact of life! However there is hard stand for the bikes, and the bar is inside. There are also several pubs in Wem. We could also have a large marquee or gazebos on the field, leccie provided as part of the deal. So we would not all be cooped up in tents, there would be plenty of foul weather shelter.

• The ride would go ahead, whatever the weather, unless it was completely unsafe (unlikely).

8. Can I bring my mates? Can I come for the day? What if I want to come to the AR but don’t want to do the ride?

• Yes, as long as they observe the rules. ‘Knob-faced knobsters’ are not welcome.
  

• Would be nice if they registered as members on the org so we know who we’re talking to.

• Yes you can come for the day. Please bear in mind a likely 9.30am prompt start.
  

• The site has a heated outdoor swimming pool, two bars, a pool table, games machines, and so on. In Wem there are several pubs. Or you might want to ride the local roads into Shrewsbury – or get the train.

9. Sounds good to me, what are the not so goods?

• Some noise from the nearby train line – but not much.

• Site will not allow outside caterers – but no need for them as the on-site facilities are good.

• Limited leccie hook up for tents and site not keen on gennies – but most wouldn’t want it anyway.

• Still a long way for Scottish, Irish and Manx members – can’t do anything about this I’m afraid.

10. What else can you offer?

• I liked the welcoming reception at Yeovil, a free tinnie on arrival was a fantastic surprise. If funds permit, I’d repeat that.

• I intend to bring some home brew with.

• Clothing – if Paul will repeat (hint!!).

• Laminated name tags.

• Ride might even stop off at my gaff for tea!!!!

Ed

26 October 2010

that sounds brilliant !!!!

[TamSV]

You had me at £2 per pint

[christopher]

Any chance of a bit more information? Excellent effort Ed

Thanks for going to so much effort Ed. All looks good to me.

Looks a brill proposal, as you know i'm free to help with anything.

Daryl.

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by Ed

I'm in!


Oh Giiirth, come here sweetheart