The title says it all....two years now since I've been to this event and boy has it changed. For the better I hasten to add! Obviously the weather helped considerably today, easily temperatures of mid 20's. 8) 8)
The organisers claimed that they had between 12 & 15 thousand attendees today, can you just imagine that many bikes at one single venue? Outstanding effort.
As usual I took a few pictures to try to capture the spirit of the event. At an event such as this I like to concentrate on people as much as bikes and the memorial. Hope you enjoy and for those who attended today, here's a reminder of the day's event.
A sea of bikes in the overflow carpark.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0734.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0735.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0740.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0741.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0742.jpg)
An overheating ice cream van!
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0746.jpg)
Plenty of grub on offer.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0748.jpg)
Some of the bikes & their owners.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0738.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0778.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0752.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0808.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0754.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0815.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0750.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0816.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0758.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0848.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0760.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0764.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0766.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0768.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0771.jpg)
The detail on this bike is outstanding.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0772.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0773.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0774.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0775.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0857.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0858.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0855.jpg)
Something they didn't have two years ago was a parachute display team.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0782.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/1.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/2.jpg)
The wall which bears the names of sixteen thousand fallen men and women dating back to the second world war.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0831.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0836.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0837.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0850.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0832.jpg)
A couple of the monuments from the grounds.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0770.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0769.jpg)
Two of the many Armed Forces staff at the memorial.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0805.jpg)
The band...possibly going for a well earned cool beer.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0820.jpg)
A guy in a freaky shirt. ( I used to own many like this). :o
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0800.jpg)
And finally the riders making their way home from the overflow car park.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0864.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/RTTW%20%202011/DSC_0863.jpg)
I have to say that the Service was both humerous and moving. The Chaplain who spoke was very down to earth and entertaining but at the same time spoke in such a way that tugged at the heart strings a bit & I may have even got something in my eye at one point.
Hope you enjoy the photos. Maybe even see you there next year on the 6th October 2012?
We went to RTTW 2009 but unfortunately we've been unable to attend the ones since (well, to be honest, we were doing something else which we could have binned but chose not to). That was quite an experience and the bikes have grown in number since then. Thanks for the pictures.
Kevin
Well documented Mr Wolf ;D.... looks like a good day was had as well as attending a " great cause event " .... plus you had sun,bikes,Union Jacks, burgers and ice cream .... what a combination !
It was a moving event and a day to remember. Didn't expect to be greeted by a Status Quo tribute band, that's for sure. Thanks.