Netley Marsh EuroJumble

Netley Marsh is just down the road from the Farm and being a very local bikey event it seemed foolish to not go along! It is depending on your point of view an amazing display of rusting metal or a fascinating opportunity to see some old bikes in various states of repair - their owners likewise! It is good for being a very focussed event. There is none of the usual stalls selling rubbish folding chairs, polishing cloths and the like - there were only two food stalls for goodness sake and they normally take over at these shows. There was however all sorts of old bikes, old bits of old bikes and bits of old bits of old bike for sale. It was also, genuinely, a 'Euro' Jumble with loads of French and Dutch in evidence along with a few Germans and even an I talian I spotted; there were several stalls offering a 'Euro to Pound' exchange rate. Al of this being considerably better than the pathetic European Famers Market held in Romsey a few weeks back witha grand total of 6 traders - Netley Marsh was full of them.
I have not really taken much interest in the Classic Bike scene before and am still not sure I'm ready for the lengthy discussions on valve guides, correct tyre tread patterns and kick starting technique that seems to be required. I still love riding the thing rather than playing with it in the garage. There is also the whole boring Norman bit about Classic Bikers though I did have a chat to a couple of entertaining chaps - I have the beard but that's as far as it goes (and that is an experiment in being cultivated to the extreme lengths required for credible Harley ownership!).
Nonetheless it cannot be denied that while they might not go very fast or stop very well they do generally look great and many of them, even in really good condition, can be bought very cheaply indeed. So may be soething to consider in a few years time then!