50th Sinterklaastreffen - 2019

Still plenty of time before I become Billy No-Mates again for other riders to stand up and join me on the run across to Ostend.  

Of course, we may have Brexited on October 31st and the EU might have erected a sea-wall between us and the mainland of Europe..... Or then again, everyone might see sense and carry on as normal and allow tourism to take place. Might.

It won't be too bad. I will meet up up with long term biker buddy Tony Young and family on his trike.  When we went for the first time in 1985, Tony and Heather were there I think on his Aspencade or maybe a BMW RT. 

My memory has faded.

My partner at the time, Audrey, was on the pillion of my almost new MZ 250ETZ. Two up with luggage was a struggle.

Back then we used to stay the weekend from Friday to Sunday at the Hotel Polaris.  It became "our" hotel and over the years we stayed there as a Suzuki Owners Club group we tended to meet the same  group German riders year in year out.

Tony will be doing that again this year but not at the Polaris that closed many years ago. 

Like most of the last fifteen years or so, I will be going for the day only on the Saturday. In the early days Claire used to come with me on the trip and she remembers the "uniqueness" of the Polaris! 

The rally is a week earlier than the traditional St Nick's day, which is December 6th.  I guess this so that it can actually go ahead.

Over the years to rally has become more difficult to stage due to changes in regulations about camping at the Velodrome and other environmental concerns. Such a shame as a charity event it raised money and collected toys for children.