We set off on Thursday for the last Begonia Rally in Belgium, exited to see our friends we haven't seen due to Covid nonsense. I was on the Mk3 Commando and Fi took the new Guzzi to save me some stress. We took the boat from Newcastle to Ijmuiden and then down to the Rally just south of Staden. We stopped in Staden for a snack and to get our wits about us before the Rally but withing a few minutes our good friend Hessel appeared and so began a fantastic weekend of talking, catching up, retelling old stories and some new ones. It really was great to see everybody again and although there was an element of sadness because it was the last one we all spent the weekend laughing and smiling. Attendees came from Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, France and Italy so as always it was an International event. Heartfelt thanks to the organisers who between them have kept the meeting going for 37 years, although the Begonia may be finished the group who are regular attendees will in no doubt get together in a field somewhere in Europe in future. As I have often said a motorcycling friend is a friend for life and I am so happy for that.
Enough of my ramblings, enjoy the pics, mostly Nortons for which I make no apology, I will put together a video so there will be no escape!
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| Mk3 Commando ready to go |
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| Guzzi ready to go |
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| Newcastle, boat loaded quickly |
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| Arriving in Holland, always seems to be wet |
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| Expensive Fuel stop (Belgium is cheaper) |
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| Hessels bike, as always still going strong |
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| Our Neighbours |
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| Hans taking photos as always |
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| Evening |
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| Nice Cafe racer |
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| Interesting tank bag mount |
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| Big tank bag |
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| My bike still looking clean |
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| Ian poses for the camera |
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| Richards 961 |
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| Our ex chairmans Tim Commando |
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| Hans chatting with Max who normally brings his Manx |
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| Nice |
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| Nancy's 500t |
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| Hans's Inter |
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| Model 16 |
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| Triumph giving issues |
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| Michel from Bordeaux's bike |
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| I like the red |
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| Micheal making a new friend |
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| Classic luggage |
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| A very trick bike |
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| Special swinging arm |
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| Will it go |
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| A regular attender |
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| Car park scene |
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| Jan has a similar outlook to me on the new Nortons |
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| Nortons |
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| Richards prize winning bike |
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| More bikes |
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| And more |
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| ES2 |
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| Luciano's Commando |
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| With very cool engraving, he lives near Venice |
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| Commandos and Guzzi |
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| Paul's tasty production racer |
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| BSA Interloper |
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| And another |
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| 961 |
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| our Marshals for the run |
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| Jan sleeping it looks like |
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| Nice Fastback |
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| Bennie lining up for first kick competition |
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| Competition time |
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| The last 2, Geerts Commando and Han's Inter |
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| Single winner |
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| Geert wins for the twins |
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| Winners congratulations |
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| Hans almost happy |
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| The London boys |
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| Evening |
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| Richard, Fiona, Marc and Ian |
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| Geert and I |
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| London chaps on the beer |
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| Heading home |
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| Interesting Hotel, its a converted water tower, lucky it had a lift |
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| Heading into Newcastle |
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| And its goodnight from us! |
