The Fat Controller Returns
Sunday 5th September 2004

Little Chef, West Meon Hut

THE FAT CONTROLLER RETURNS - 5TH SEPTEMBER 2004

The weather could not have been better for the 14 bikes turning up at West Meon
to join the Fat Controller on his return to the biking after his 4-month mandatory break!

It was great to see most of the usual suspects and a number of new-comers,
according to their testimony they had a brilliant time and the ranks of the usual suspects
look set to swell further. The route took us amongst familiar ground, west on the A272
to Petersfield and then onto the technical B2146 and the fabulous B2141 together with
a decent helping of unmarked roads back to the A272 towards Midhurst.
We then turned north for another helping of unmarked roads and joined the A286 at Fernhurst
riding south towards Midhurst where we stopped for "relief".

We continued south to Singleton where we turned east on unmarked roards
once again to join the A285 at Upwaltham. The ride north through Petworth
with a left turn onto the B2131 through Haslemere took us to Liphook and eventually Hill Brow
and Selborne to Alton on the B3006.

Short burst down the A32 and we arrived at the Royal Oak ready for lunch and liquid refreshments
where we were joined by some of the "other halves". Chris with his knee bandaged up after an operation
was driven there by Phyl who peeled off earlier. He hopes to be back on the bike soon and will join us for the
Exe Valley run on the 3rd October. The same goes for Simon, aka The Saint, who was also bikeless
on account of a little local difficulty with a ditch, allegedly.

Andy Nicolas was undoubtely the "man of the match" as not only he provided the ride
with a solid back marker but invited all of those who had space left after the lunch back
to his house for spring rolls and ice tea. They were fantstic and the only way the Fat Controller
would gladly eat vegetables!

And the most entertaining moment of the ride .... hmmm, it has to be where the Fat Controller
did his sideways sumo-style high kick in the Royal Oak, almost reaching shoulder height.
I still worry about the poor waitress, she would probably be scared for life after such a sight!

Finally, a big thank you to all the participants, it is indeed the people that make
these rides such fun. Until the next time........

The Fat Controller on his Sunny Yellow 1150GS