Begonia 2022

 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!

 

Mk3 Commando ready to go

Guzzi ready to go

Newcastle, boat loaded quickly

Arriving in Holland, always seems to be wet

Expensive Fuel stop (Belgium is cheaper)

Hessels bike, as always still going strong

Our Neighbours

Hans taking photos as always

Evening

Nice Cafe racer

Interesting tank bag mount

Big tank bag

My bike still looking clean

Ian poses for the camera

Richards 961

Our ex chairmans Tim Commando

Hans chatting with Max who normally brings his Manx

Nice

Nancy's 500t

Hans's Inter

Model 16

Triumph giving issues

Michel from Bordeaux's bike

I like the red

Micheal making a new friend

Classic luggage

A very trick bike 

Special swinging arm

Will it go

A regular attender

Car park scene

Jan has a similar outlook to me on the new Nortons

Nortons

Richards prize winning bike

More bikes

And more

ES2

Luciano's Commando

With very cool engraving, he lives near Venice

Commandos and Guzzi

Paul's tasty production racer

BSA Interloper

And another

961

our Marshals for the run

Jan sleeping it looks like

Nice Fastback

Bennie lining up for first kick competition

Competition time

The last 2, Geerts Commando and Han's Inter

Single winner

Geert wins for the twins

Winners congratulations 

Hans almost happy

The London boys

Evening

Richard, Fiona, Marc and Ian

Geert and I 

London chaps on the beer

Heading home

Interesting Hotel, its a converted water tower, lucky it had a lift

Heading into Newcastle

And its goodnight from us!