Hog'n the Bridge
Over the Severn Bridge for charity
Every year hundreds of Harley riders plus others make a run over the Severn Bridge in aid of charity. Most people enter into the spirit of it.
From my horizontal perspective lying flat on the ground with a long lens balanced on a folded jacket like some kind of sniper, two thousand bikes rolling toward me over a spectacular structure like the Severn Bridge is a hell of a sight. Coming out of the sun like a great hazy army I was reminded of the awesome opening scenes of 'Excalibur' where the knights clash in the wooded vale, all battle cries and clashing metal amidst curling mist, epic stuff.
Of course shooting into the sun makes for hazy shots but since the bikes were only running North to South in the late morning there was no way around that. This bash started as a HOG event, as the name suggests, but there are quite a few other bikes taking part as well, perhaps as many as 10% of the total . I had a chat with one guy, a HOG and MAG member (pictured here in his Russian hat) who has a number of bikes and had decided to bring his Ural combo for a change this year. Can you get in touch please I want to do a feature on the bike. I also forgot to get the name of the magnificent Rotweiller reproduced here, just look at the beast! What a fabulous specimen, and with just that kind of wet black leathery muzzle that you want to get hold of and kiss, unless there's something wrong with you of course. I also met Cassy the dog who featured on the cover of the first ROAD, we've left her out of this issue lest too much media exposure swells her head.
The ubiquitous Ant was in attendance (below hound), and bought a copy of my picture book which obviously makes him a star and a fine judge of both literature and art.
After gathering at the services on the Somerset side of the bridge, the run crosses the Severn and terminates in Chepstow which is a quaint atmospheric kind of a market town with nice little cafes and shops curiously marketing a conspicuous line in Harley-Davidson books and artefacts. It's the kind of place you want to browse around for hours on a Sunny Sunday morning drinking tea on the pavement and swallowing Welsh cakes whatever they are.
Stop - contest - the first person to contact The ROAD with the correct definition of a Welshcake gets a very slightly rain-damaged copy of the seminal picture book 'Motorcycles Forever' describing the history of MAG and the broader motorcycle culture.
Further reason for lurking was provided by a band in the town square and the convenience of all the central car parks being turned over for the free use of motorcycles.
There is actually some point to the run besides providing a good day which is to raise money for local charities, St Anne's Hospice, Brainwave Bridgewater, the Severn Search and Rescue Unit and the Secret World Animal Rescue all profiting from the riders' generosity.
The Bridgewater HOG chapter, which was the first in the UK, is the body responsible for the excellent organisation. If my notes mean anything then I think Papa Smurf (left of Ant) is partly responsible for the bash with Chapter Director Dave Holden, another kingpin of the do that's now a regular feature on the calendar.
Police co-operation (with one unpleasant exception, see Mutch's diary) was excellent, and the town of Chepstow, if that is to be be the regular destination, now has another event on its tourist itinery.
Being an October event there is a risk of inclemency but this year was great and by leaving early in the afternoon I was back to the smoke before dark. After a run to the Yorkshire AGM on the Friday it rounded the weekend off nicely.
Mutch
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