What a Kickstart that was!

So they came today for our new Malta Chapter's first inaugural Sunday ride... not only 'one by one' or 'two by two' but try '40 by 40' and by the time Sergio and our Head Road Captain Frank were giving out the ride briefing they were '50 by 50'! Yep 50 plus 2 in fact was the final mega tally of Harleys parked outside Kettles!! 52 bikes, 104 pistons and wheels that brought 76 new members to today's resounding success of an event! Oopss wait, I forgot to mention our cutest 4 legged member ever, a dog by the name of Hachi. What a Trooper huh happily nestled in behind Chris on his Harley hahaa!

Then someone said Ladies and Gentlemen start your engines. It wasn't just a rumble, it was a ground shaking thunder that ensued which was heard from neighbouring towns and villages too!

52 First gears were kicked in and off they went along the Mriehel Bypass and onto the Regional Road, Coast Road where many a biker there stopped what they were doing, dropped their ice creams and watched the swarm of Harleys drive past!! Then onto Xemxija to Manikata via the fields to our first welcoming pit stop watering hole at the Popeye's Village Diner. Everybody was parched by the sun making its appearance by mid-day so the liquids flowed like nectar! Many a great conversation and laughter ensued too, spirits were high and the tongue in cheek ribbing was well received and taken and returned with gusto among old friends. What a great group of like minded Harlistas they were. But soon most started to give in to a different kind of rumble.... that of their tummies! So off to Porto Lounge open air restaurant in Marfa Mellieha for lunch. Poor staff their jaws dropped when they saw all these bikers rolling in! Certainly was a profit day for the restaurant and we thinks from now on wherever our members go in such large numbers it will be like a manna from heaven day to our hosts! The staff quickly fashioned a long... long ... did I say long (?) table to accommodate us all and those rumbling tummies started to calm down as plate after plate of sumptuous food was served and ehh some wine too for those that this was their last stop on the ride. You could see the overall experience was a success from the beaming red cheeks on our members’ faces and dare I say it one or two... nah quite a few jeans belt buckles being undone too!

Alas all good things... no wait... all unbelieveably great things must come to an end too. Ample goodbyes and hugs n kisses later bikes came back to life. Some rode home, some die hards went for coffees as if never wanting this day to end! Don't blame them it was a superb success and one that paves well the long road to this Chapter's future success for sure.... forever! Long live the new Malta Chapter 💪

" I wrote that !" words by your common old garden variety Chapter Historian Ray.