The Journey Begins
In December, a group of OGRI MCC members (Graham, Mac, Keiron, Piglet, James, Daffydd) set off for Germany to join our friends at Spiders MC for their annual Christmas party.
It wasn’t a short hop, over 1,500 km of road lay ahead, but with Mac ‘Iron-Arse’ McEwan behind the wheel and plenty of coffee stops and pasties along the way, made it to our digs for the night.
Day 1 – Bad Pyrmont: The Tavern of Tales
Before the main event, we explored Bad Pyrmont and accidentally found a local drinking establishment called Rock Bar. It turned into a great warm-up night with good beer, plenty of laughs, and the usual OGRI MCC banter. Highlights being arm wrestling with the locals, singing classic songs (out of tune) and the only gay in the village appeared – roamer has it, it was down to Piglets glorious locks. At one point and thanks to some mis-interpreted pronouns, we may have been thinking there was a female only club called the Strippers – we were so, so, soooooo wrong. A prospect’s challenge was issued: to gather relics for liberty in the most OGRI way imaginable – chaotic, bold, and slightly questionable…… PS – what happens in Bad Pyrmont, stays in Bad Pyrmont.
Day 2 Am (ish) – Hamelin: Where Legends Walk
We decided to pop into the historic town of Hamelin. Think cobbled streets, timbered houses, and echoes of the Pied Piper’s tune to help set the scene.
Yet in this modern OGRI MCC take on the classic tale, it was not rats or children who followed the Piper – it was the women. Obviously bewitched by Piglet, they followed him through the alleys like enchanted souls.
It would have been rude not to have sampled the local beer, currywurst and German gyros, more beer, some hot chocolate for Iron-Arse plus a good soaking of the town’s history and sightseeing.
Day 2 PM – The Hall of Spiders
We met up with some of our European prospects, , as well as a crazy Dutch bastard at the accommodation before heading off to the Spiders MC clubhouse, a place steeped in history (going back to the pre OGRI days) and full of characters. The Spiders MC hospitality was second to none (once again!) with bonfires, cold beer, and plenty of conversations with old and new friends that reminded us why these trips matter.
Oh, beer, there may have been beer
The Return of the Iron-Arse
After a weekend of great company and festive cheer, the happy bus hit the road back to the UK. Tired but happy, everyone agreed it was worth every kilometre (another 1500).
Special thanks to Mac McEwan, whose legendary stamina driving the happy wagon across Europe – solo, and to Graham, the architect of this road trip which is becoming an OGRI MCC thing.
Kez
