I was very impressed with the organisation of the Ripley meeting, well done to Iain Harper, Sam Manicom, the team leaders and the many other volunteers.

The weather was a challenge. Thursday was sunny, hot (25C) and incredibly humid so a little bit of rain to cool things down seemed a good idea, but nature didn't understand the request for 'little' and dumped several million gallons of water on Ripley. Thursday night and most of Friday was wet with a lake developing in the upper camping field.



I think I might have won the record for the longest-ever presentation at Horizons with my Morocco double session on Friday night extending to 2 hours, 25 minutes. Apologies to all those who were crossing their legs by the end!

Quite a lot of sun on Saturday dried things up a bit and the trade stands did far more business. Lots of interesting stands, though not having brought my driving licence with me I wasn't able to take advantage of the test rides. HU could have done a roaring trade on HUBB t-shirts but for some reason there were hardly any of the higher-quality versions available.

The food served by Lumb Farm was brilliant quality and reasonably priced, and the staff friendly, so a nice atmosphere.

I needed to get back to London by Sunday lunchtime, I took the opportunity to strike camp during Saturday whilst it was dry and packed the bike up. I was giving a double session on GPS/Mapsource on Saturday night from 10pm to midnight, and after it finished I set off for London and arrived home just before 3am this morning, soaked through and rather cold.

I really enjoyed the event, despite the weather. Some really interesting sessions and demonstrations. The TRF organised ride outs. Many new faces amongst the regular attendees, a lot of younger people as well. Brilliant way to pick up travel and bike tips, great to touch base with so many people I've met in the past.

Tim

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

It was my first time at a HU meeting and I thoroughly enjoyed it and saw some excellent talks.
Click here to see the pictures I took.

I have to fully support Tim's comments. A superb event that was really well organised. A big vote of thanks should go to Sam and Iain and all the helpers.

I found the atmosphere amongst the attendees to be very postive too.

A couple of pics:


Tyre selection for an R1!


Dorothy


A new light weight overlander with 15 odd kg of heavy metal behind the back axle :confused1:


What happened next?


Evening entertainment

See you next year.

Chris

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I also agree with Tim, the weather did not dampen spirts and the weekend was organised well, i have to say Tim i thoughly enjoyed your talk on Saturday, its inspired me to do my Morocco trip next year. Yes there was a small puddle, but everybody ignorned the British summer weather, Like my mate Paul relaxing next to his tent.

Trev

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+1 big thanks to the organisers & all staff & volunteers, well done. Brilliant weekend (bar the weather on Friday, which was outside their control).
The lake was really funny but then my tent wasn't in danger (despite some people with radios being concerned - the donkeys & adventure spec were gonna cop it before me!)
What I have to say, and I never thought I would, is well done to lumb farm.
I know numbers were down with the weather but staffed up for a change, no bar queues, food organised to deal with the numbers, well done. Still bitch about price of food ( was cheaper than my local so can't say owt about that) but...
Lumb Farm Well Done!

For all the whining before on the forum about the prices,
cost£ v value
It wasn't cheap but....
Ripley = value
ps really funny watching all the fat German bikes falling over trying to exit the top camping field haha
If that was you, don't worry, it's nowt personal

I think a well done to every one on what ever bike getting out of the top field.

Brilliant weekend as usual its the company not the weather that matters.

I do think Lumb farm after taking an extra ten pounds each person could have put down a bit more hay and made life not so nerve wrecking for those that felt all eyes watching them while they tried to get off the field on road tyres.

Hi Guys n Gals,

it's the first 'Ripley' that I've missed for 5 years.

I was ready to ride down from work on the Friday but my mate Doc texted me to say I'd be mad to come down in the weather, with a lake forming on the camp site, his tent was leaking in, Bruce's tent had flooded and they couldn't use the Cobb cooker! I therefore decided to scrub it.

A real shame, as it's one of the social highlights of the year for me!

There's always next year.

One of the positive effects on the small turnout was that people could get to see any of the talks and there no queues at the bar!

Regards

Reggie

This was my first time to Ripley and what a great experience it was. It was great to meet face's old and new. All in all Liz and I not only found the weekend entertaining but also informative.

I would like to thank all the organizers and volunteers who put on the weekend and although the weather was a down pour one minute and sunshine the next we really enjoyed a great weekend.

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http://mudandknobblies.co.uk
http://www.justgiving.com/FMFox

I've visited Ripley twice before and was from the first impressed as all have already said. This time my eagerness got the better of me and I set off on Sunday morning to camp out in the Derbyshire hills enjoying a sunny July afternoon. As it happened my leathers got soaked through and came up spotlessly clean. I'd already e-mailed Angela at Lumb Farm and she'd agreed I could arrive on Monday, well in time for volunteer work in setting it all up. I rolled in sodden and she cheerily said of course I could camp. So. The staff at Lumb Farm are exceptional. Effective, hard working, friendly and happy. Angela is an awsome manager and yet genuinely kind and fun.

I seem to do things all backwards as I got there with a broken speedo cable, smashed rear indicator and the number plate fallen off. Back home on Sunday night and I find the parts waiting and had found the number plate in the grass by the farm entrance. Leathers all muddy again as well but it was great and even gave me some first experience on crap tyres for mud. Actually easy!!!! Lindsay.

Hi
Never done this before but have to say that Ripley was great.
you really do meet the nicest people at a HUBB meeting.
For all out there who did not go, you mist a great weekend Lots of food and drink and Mud, just wonderful..

thanks to all who gave up there time to look after us all.
hope to see people out on the road soon.

Can anyone let me know who the Saturday evening artist was please. I had such a good time listening to his music that i forgot to buy some cd's. If anybody has his contact details ...........

The excellent entertainment around the bonfire was courtesy of Stevie Simpson. Glad you enjoyed it. Here's a link....

Many thanks to Tim for starting this really positive thread. It's great to receive so much glowing feedback.

On behalf of Sam, Grant, Susan and myself, I'd like to thank everyone who was there for creating another memorable and enjoyable event with a relaxed atmosphere and lots of laughter. Special thanks are due to all the presenters, authors and vendors, and especially to the fantastic team of volunteers who made it all happen.

We'd like to add our thanks to everybody as well. The kindness and consideration showed for our visit was lovely and the interest at our presentations was a real relief!

A special thanks to everybody who leapt out of the way as we made our way around the site with Biscuit. She had a great time as well. It will take some time for the fur to grow back on her head as she was fussed so much by everybody.

A great weekend and a lot of good memories. Thank you everybody concerned. Best wishes to you all.

Cathy, Bernard and Biscuit the Guide Dog.

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Touching the World: A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles

So glad it went as well as it did. I was thinking of you all as I camped at a wedding (no consideration some people...) in Dorset. Yes it was there too!

My one and only miss of HU Ripley since I first went in 2001...

I hope to bring the good weather back with me next year

CoGS