ISDT

I didn't sign up for the ISDT Centenary ride in the end, I just didn't have the spare cash at the time. I had visions of riding my Harley off-road for a good distance but I think, in the end, it was only the enduro bikes that did that. All others went on tarmac swathed in cloaks of hi-visibility. Information was a bit sketchy both before and during the event; even the riders didn't seem to know any information beyond their own class. But they all looked like they were having a hoot.

We got to the Filling Station at around noon, expecting the first riders to turn up shortly but, as always with older machines, time is a relative thing. As you would expect from the ISDT a fairly steady stream of mostly enduro machine arrived and settled in to a pasty and chip lunch. Once lunch had settled they were quickly off again to go around Lorton and Buttermere. Fortunately I had the pleasure of riding that loop two weeks ago albeit with a stinking hang-over after the Iron Ore Rally. On the way home we had our own little ISDT; taking the long route through the Caldbeck and Mungrisedale commons. Andy flings his little AJS around like its an RD250.

I was down at the sun-drenched Ace Cafe the week previously for a classics day and I have to say that we had more classics at the Filling Station and we weren't far adrift of the total amount of bikes present. The food is still of the highest standard and the crack is always good. It is a source of great pleasure to me to have such a great biker specific cafe on my doorstep and to know that it is not only surviving but thriving. Keep up the good work.