Remembrance Sunday
There was quite a crowd gathered at Bloomfield this morning. Pete, Mad Doig, Gwen, Beloved Chairman, the G’s Nick and Matt, Tom, Flapjack, a chap with an orange bike dressed head to toe in orange (a Dutchman?), quite possible one or two others and my Sweaty self.
The weather was good, of course, and the route posted in plenty of time but I think the reason for the massive turnout was because it was Remembrance Sunday, a chance to remember our fallen colleagues. At the appointed time, 9.05 or ValleyRoad o’clock we held a minutes silence to remember the sadly missed and fondly remembered Mr and Mrs Valleyman.
Our Beloved Chairman followed this with an emotional speech recounting Kim’s fluid pedalling style and 10% discount for Dynamos members as well the more cautionary tale of Ian’s furious pace setting followed by the inevitable Paula Radcliffesque lolling of head, back, arms and even legs as his misguided bravado took its inevitable toll.
After much clearing of throats and wiping of eyes the group set off towards Freshwater East. We hacked along at a fine pace, our Glorious Chairman, Mad Doig and I sporting our Movember facial hair, Matt the beginnings of a ‘Grav Goatee’ and Celia her lovely year round down.
The ride itself was everything a club ride should be, lots of chatting, everyone staying together and a good deal of smiling. When we hit the Ridgeway the group split into two with the early birds heading home. This faction further fractured in Tenby when I stopped to watch my son play rugby.
Now, it could have been the Sun in my eyes or the sheer emotion of the day but later, as I meandered up Narberth hill towards the monument, I could have sworn I glimpsed the Valley Road Two heading towards Plum Vanilla whilst discussing the do’s and don’t’s of polytunnel use.
I miss them!
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