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Ren's Biking Blog
Huggies Memorial Rideout 2012
Blog Date - 28 August 2012
I knew nothing of the "Huggies Memorial Rideout" until a week or so ago. Since then I've leaned that Paul "Huggie Monster" Amis was a young man who died at the age of 31 due to complications of cancer treatment. He was known as Huggie Monster as that was his personality, the details were not explained to me but it paints a picture of a warm outgoing chap who greeted everyone with open arms. It's around 5 years since his death, since then his family, all bikers of some order, have organised the memorial run.
I'm a member of Swan 2 Wheels, a bike club based in the Hindley area of Wigan. Recently the club has been coming to terms with the tragic loss of Leah Davies, a young and much loved club member. She died as a result of her injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident just a few weeks before the Huggies rideout. Due to various connections in the biking world, Huggie's family and the organisers of the Huggies Memorial Rideout decided to open the rideout to the Swannies, and anyone else who's lost a loved biker.
So it was that the August bank holiday, 27th of August, was the date set. No matter how noble and righteous the reasons for our rideout, the weather was very much against us! If the fallen riders are in heaven watching us from above they were having a great laugh at our expense. The previous and following day were both glorious, the day of the ride brought us rain, mixed with downpours and wind. There's no doubt this reduced the numbers on the ride yet around 20 brave, wet and cold souls ventured out and met up at Rivington Barn. As we stood there sheltering and dripping the mood was surprisingly light and positive.
No, I was NOT exaggerating when I said it was raining. Stood under the Parasol at Rivi.
After much messing around, drinking of tea and coffee and being told off for smoking under the shelter of a huge parasol, we received our instructions. We are to head to the Southport Carousel, using the 2nd man drop off system to keep us all going in the same direction. We're also to keep speeds to a sensible level due to both the weather and the fact not all of us were on 170mph superbikes. Me...I was on my shiny new 125, I was thankful for the "slow" instruction. With that we kitted up, battened down the hatches and set off into another downpour.
I don't know why Biker Garfield was joining us on the rideout. I am told he did nothing but moan about the rain though...
Rain is never pleasant, but if you're properly prepared it's manageable, sometimes even fun! I'd got my gear on so although I almost drowned inside my helmet and my feet were already bathing, the important parts of me remained dry. To be honest the weather was a boon, everyone seemed perfectly happy to cruise, to keep a sensible distance and roll along. The 2nd man drop off system, which often fails due to impatience and confusion, was working a treat. The rain also calms the car drivers down, they were that bit more likely to let us all pass through.
It's only 25 miles from Rivington to Southport, but in this weather at these speeds with this many riders all trying to stay together without being silly it takes over an hour of soaking downpours before our first stop at the outskirts of Southport. We pulled into a bus stop layby, the elderly lady waiting in the bus shelter looked concerned. She wasn't worried about her safety, she was more worried about where the buses were and whether they'd be able to pull in and collect her. We did offer her a ride into town, she laughed but declined, sensible woman, another downpour started. As we were preparing to leave one of the bikers, Matty, made sure she caught her bus. See, we're not all bad.
Still raining...
We bounced along the coast road with the wind lashing the rain into those crevices not yet soaked. At the Carousel we finally parked and the rain started to ease. From here there was no plan. Most of the group went off to a chippy to sit inside, eat chips and dry out. I remained with a handful of others back at the bikes. I'd already eaten far too much fast food that weekend and I'm still not giving in to middle aged spread...yet. As we sat there chatting I watched as people read the memorial notices affixed to the bike screens. Of course we're accosted by a few of Southport's more unusual characters and made friends with a chap who wanted to tell us all about his support for Liverpool FC.
Southport...and the rain abates...for a while...
We were also joined for a short while by a gentleman who arrived on a 1923 vintage Triumph. Sidevalves, leather belt drive, pushbike style brakes, hand gear shift, magneto and oil leaks, amazing! It's fascinating to me to see all the workings on show and to imagine that this was the cutting edge all those years ago. It seems the owner has many vintage machines, I photograph the Triumph as he tells us all about this. I do appreciate a classic or vintage motorcycle, but seeing him "put put put" away with a wobble and clank, I don't desire to own or ride one.
The classic Triumph. How things have changed...but it's still 2 wheels with an engine inbetween.
The ride back is to Rivington, and I'm to lead! I've no magic or special reason to lead, I just know a different route. It was dry the last hour we were at Southport, as we collected our helmets and jackets the rain started again, come on, you've had you're laugh now! Sure enough the ride home just got wetter and wetter. Again everyone behaved themselves but as we got closer to home our group numbers dwindled as people returned home to dry out. By the time we returned to Rivi there were but a handful of us.
I stopped at the Barn for a while and talked to Chris, Paul "Huggie Monster"'s brother. This is when I learned Huggies story. It's been 5 years since he died and his brother and father have gone past tears when they talk of him. Still I sensed the remnants of loss that remain with them. It wasn't until that time that I remembered my own losses. I thought for a moment about Leah, and Cath who used to ride on the back seat of my bike and demand "More!". I remembered my Grandad who I know used to ride when he was a younger man.
I enjoyed the day. There were memories but no-one was miserable or morbid. The rain did not dampen the mood and I'm glad I went. Life is short, so lets Ride.
Reader's Comments
Tom 'MadDogMcQ' McQuiggan said :-
Well written record of the event Ren. Nice one!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
John Almond said :-
Great write up Ren. You forgot to mention the hot chocolate and cheese butty............lol :)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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