They said:
One of Lowestoft’s biggest fundraising events is coming to an end next weekend.
Motorcyclists will be revving up for the final time to complete the Eastern Lights Cavalcade to raise money for the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston. The event, which will take place on Sunday, July 31, has raised nearly £25,000 over the last four years for the accident and emergency department at the James Paget. This has helped to completely refurbish the relatives’ room and buy a blood gas machine. Mr Howard said he would ideally like to raise more than £6000 this year, which would pay for two years upkeep of the blood gas machine. He said they were on the way to the best ever attendance with up to 1000 bikes booked but soaring insurance costs has urged the committee to call it a day and go out in style.
Daughter Amy and I were set to join Michael (Bandit 1200) and his son Chris and Tony (Z1000) and his wife Sally for the Norfolk Eastern Lights charity ride-out from the Norfolk Showground to Lowestoft to raise money for the A&E department at James Paget Hospital. I also arranged to meet another ZRX rider, Gregg, on the way.
Despite the weather forecasts, it had been raining overnight and there was still some drizzle in the air. Mrs Blue took son Jack over to Michael and Carole’s house on her way to work. I went to get the bike out of the garage but found it locked … with my house and garage keys inside. I jumped into the car and met Mrs Blue as she arrived for work to get her house keys. Then back home, got the bike and leathers out and we set off for petrol. I decided to see if Gregg had made it to the rendezvous early - which he had - so we collected him and Chad on a FireBlade and went to Michael’s house to wait for Tony to arrive.
Then off to the start point, handed over our £8 on the gate and waited in some light drizzle for the off. At midday, the convoy rolled out. Limited to ‘just’ 1000 bikes, we all pulled out into the road which was blocked off my police bikers. They did the same at the roundabout over the A47 and as we rode down onto the southern bypass, I saw that the police had closed it for the bikes to have to themselves. We rode on in convoy with police outriders all the way to Great Yarmouth and from there to Lowestoft. The roads, laybys and bridges were packed with people waving and filming. Amy was amazed and said she felt like a celebrity.We got parked up in a special area at Lowestoft seafront and wandered off for lunch. Met up with another ZRXOC member who’s currently got no Tinterweb and so hadn’t realised we’d be coming along.
Then we decided to take the long way home, so we headed south down the A12 towards Leiston before turning off towards Stowmarket and taking the back roads back to Michael’s. Some spirited riding and a dice with an Aston Martin DB7. Amy got airborne over one small rise despite my keeping our speed below 100mph for most of the time, anyway.
Back in time for tea.
Marvellous. Amy is definitely teh biker chick.