Big John's Newcastle Bikers 4 Kids Toy Run 2009 was on today in support of the Salvation Army. Armed with a clean enough bike and my wife keen to participate we headed to the gathering point at the Sandgate fruit markets. I knew where the members of the local HOG chapter would be so we found them among the throng of bikes, parked and settled in for the wait to get started on our way.
The interesting thing about the Toy Run is that bikes come out of the woodwork and wandering around you catch up with people you never expected to see. In this case I met up with some people I worked with in the 1980's and one in particular, Robbo, who I knew as a boating fanatic, was describing touring around Australia and New Zealand on his Harley with his wife.
Chatting over and time came to leave. Because of the number of bikes (no idea how many but at a guess over 2000) it took about 15 minutes to weave our way out onto Sandgate road and then a right to head into Newcastle. Three or four bikes across for as far as you could see ahead and behind. Have a look at a slideshow on the local rag.
Riding in such a large, mixed group is fun, the streets were littered with people who had come out to watch the procession of bikes go past, many taking videos and photos along the way. It was my wife's first Toy Run and despite the heat being a little uncomfortable at the slow pace, seemed to enjoy taking snaps along the way.
We arrived at the foreshore to a park packed with bikes and people. Our gift to the kids was deposited in front of the stage and while my wife joined the long queue for a ride patch I joined an equally long one to get a couple of soft drinks. We stayed briefly and chatted with friends and acquaintances but opted to head off home to get out of the heat.
A good short, mass ride for a good cause. We look forward to the next one.
