Stuart’s GoldWing Blog

It’s the time of year when many of us are booking touring holidays and other trips abroad although maybe, because of the weakness of the Pound against the Euro, not quite so many as last year. As readers of this Blog may be aware, I will be off to Germany for a week in mid June with a group of Wingers.  having a trip like that all booked up gives you something to really look forward to.

However, ensuring you have adequate insurance cover for a trip to Europe is very important.  You have to be a bit of an anorak to enjoy reading about insurance, so I won’t pretend this will be the most interesting or enjoyable Article on the Blog, but there are somethings you should probably know.  So here are a few tips to help you check that your cover is adequate.

I approached two of the major suppliers of insurance to the UK GoldWing market for up to date information and their helpful responses forms the basis of this Article.  Thanks therefore continues………

There's Group Riding and there's GROUP RIDING! The Central Florida Motorcycle Drill Team at the 2008 Light Parade

This is the final part of this series of Articles and it’s mostly about how to lead a group ride.  It’s a bit long in order to cover the necessary ground, so if you find it too long to be bothered with please forgive me – and you might still want to read the Summary I have written at the end, which provides a concise summary of the whole subject in the form of a checklist, from which you can choose the things which you think are important.

And by the way this series of Articles was always intended to be a basis for discussion and suggestion, so if you have any experiences or ideas which other Wingers could benefit, or of course criticisms of the ideas I have put forward, please add them as comments.

Leading a group ride can be very satisfying and there are perks – for example continues………

There have been forty bookings by Wingers already since bookings finally opened last week, so thank you to those of you who were patient during the difficulties we had getting Pontin’s booking system up and running.

The business papers have been reporting a 17% increase in Pontin’s bookings this year because of the strong Euro, recession etc.  The general public can book to stay there for our weekend too – and are likely to do so in large numbers.  If you look at Blackpool Hotels’ websites they are all listing the Light Parade as one of the year’s major Events, which gives emphasis to the prominence our Event now has in Blackpool’s Illuminations Season, and the extent to which the public now go the Blackpool specially to watch our Parade.

There can be no doubt that Pontin’s will be crammed full for our weekend this year, so Wingers PLEASE don’t miss the boat and let Joe Public book all the available chalets before you get your booking in.  The telephone number is 01253 340100 and if that’s busy or unanswered, try 01253 340101.  Don’t delay, you could miss the boat!

Barry Walton of Colin Appleyards is selling a pre-owned (i.e.used but serviceable) Hondaline CB Radio (to fit a Gl1800) for a friend.

It was removed from his 2004 GL1800.

This is a Plug and Play fit for a US-spec GL1800 and it comes with the three suppressors supplied by Honda which are necessary to prevent interference from the radiator fan motors and the fuel pump.

This radio CANNOT be installed on UK or EU spec GL1800s.  It’s strictly for US (or Canadian)  Spec GL1800s.

Price £350 ovno.

Contact Barry Walton personally on 07730822374.

I am delighted (and relieved) to be able to announce that Pontin’s computer is at last accepting bookings, so it is now possible (during weekday office hours) to ring them to make a reservation.

The telephone number is 01253 340100, which connects directly to Blackpool Pontin’s.  Don’t try ringing their Head Office bookings number, that would be tempting fate. You may have difficulty getting this number answered (yes, I know, they should at least answer the phones) so please persist if you don’t get answered straight away.  I will be nagging them regularly.

The prices and supplements are as displayed on the Accomodation Page of the Light Parade Website, so if they tell you differently (like telling you a single supplement is £999 like they did last year!) don’t take no for an answer.

Unfortunately, although they do very decent breakfasts and the Bluecoat Girls look very pretty in their feathers, so it’s a great place when you actually get there, they don’t have Nigel Mackintosh as webmaster.

Sorry for the delay folks but it will be worth it – it’s going to be a great weekend!

Appleyards Annual Open Day is tomorrow morning, Sunday, April 5th.

It’s become a meeting day for Wingers from all over the North and there will be upwards of 400 GoldWings.

Appleyards organise themselves to sell a vast array of shiny bits at (allegedly, and often genuinely) bargain prices and there is a jumble sale of used parts and accessories downstairs (cast offs from the Service Department) which is often a great opportunity to pick up an odd item rather have to buy a new pair. (Pillion passegers are not included in this particular special offer.)

It’s a good place to go to meet other Wingers at the start of the season and have a good natter, whether you want any shiny bits or not – and with the added spectator value of seeing Barry Walton talking even more continuously and even faster than usual, to spread his charms as widely as possible. How he remembers all the names is amazing.

The usual packed lunch of roll + bag of crisps + cold drink is available for a nominal charge, which Appleyards generously donate to charity, so it’s effectively on them. Don’t wait until 1 o’clock to go down to get yours, there won’t be any left.

It’s held at their Motorcycle Showrooms at Wellington Road, Keighley and runs all day. They organise plenty of parking, thanks to the cooperation of their neighbours, and someone will direct you to a space.