The weekend started with the UK battling gale-force winds, and our members battling to keep their vans in a straight line! As the final van rolled in under the cover of darkness, they were warmly greeted by the hosts before heading straight to the Black Bull pub—highly recommended by the site owner. There, we sampled some real ales, had a great catch-up, and enjoyed a local band’s impromptu practice session (which felt like our own private gig!).
Saturday arrived with a glorious burst of sunshine—ideal for those of us relying on solar panels and even better for our big bike ride! We set off towards Sherwood Forest full of enthusiasm… and somehow ended up totally lost on the way back. At one point, a helicopter flew overhead, and for a brief moment, the group wondered if The Van Club had sent in a rescue mission! Spoiler: we made it back, tired but in stitches.
With the evening turning chilly, we tucked into fish & chips from the local chippy before heading to the Bird in Hand pub, where a lively disco was in full swing. The real highlight? Two of our members, Claire and James, winning big in the meat raffle—who knew we’d have an unexpected Sunday roast to take home!
And speaking of food… the onsite breakfast van was an absolute winner, keeping us well-fed with proper full English breakfasts both mornings. The perfect end to a weekend of bikes, beers, and belly laughs!
