Tenere Legend Festival

BY MARDI-LOUISE

It took us about seven double tequilas on ice, at least three wild parties in London and many, many shoulders to cry on, to get over the fact, that we were NOT going to the Tenere Legend festival with our bikes.

To make matters worse -- flights on the Friday, cost the same as a new 5th gear (or at least somewhere closer to that yummy exhaust system we both covet) - so we had to make do with arriving on the Saturday! (£35 return... god bless Ryainair!)

Thus we arrived, after an hour flight from Stansted at the little town of Mothern, feeling completel LOST: this can't be it!! Mothern is a little CHOCOLATE BOX town, with GINGERBREAD houses... surely nothing as HARD CORE as a Tenere festival can possibly take place here!

It was, as one by one, sexy Tenere beast after the other, swept past us, sparkling in the gorgeous sunshine, that we realised we were close to the hallowed grounds.

To say, that we were, like little girls let loose in a sweet shop on our arrival at the Mothern Motocross Track, would be an understatement:

One gorgeous Teutonic giant after the other, walked around in tasty off-road gear with admiring looks on their faces (for the various bikes on display). Dutch, Swiss, German, Belgian... the smooth accents were everywhere, saying dirty words like: "cantilevered swingarm" and "head bolt conversion".

A large contingent of Italians, French and Hungarians added spice. We couldn't believe our eyes! So here's where all the gorgeous, tall blokes around Europe have been hiding all this time: behind their helmets on their Tenere's!

And then, ofcourse, there were the bikes! Everywhere you looked they were parked up, a dizzying display of Tenere's of every shape and size.

Words can not do justice to the feeling of pride and amazement to see such a collection: classics that were so lovingly kept pristine, it made us want to cry with admiration. See the official web site for pics and videos.

(And, ofcourse, a few others which made us want to cry for admiration that they were still going!)

Although we couldn't participate in the ride-out, because of not bringing our licenses ( "Your papers are not in order!" ) we got to DROOOOL over the new '08 Tenere and were allowed to sit on it, fondle it, kiss it and contemplate how that GORGEOUS camo green will go with our Revi't jackets.

Which brings me, to the HEROIC actions of the Belgians: there we were, Gigi and I, forlornly gazing at the hordes of Tenere's, listening to the haunting thud-thud of the engines, watching every one else enjoying golden ride-outs into the beautiful countryside.... when two KNIGHTS IN BLACK TUAREG SUITS came to our rescue: Guy and Jos.

Not only, did they DARE to do the unthinkable: lend their bikes to someone else... but, they didn't even KNOW OUR NAMES!

PLUS - we are WOMEN!

As if THAT isn't the bravest thing ever conceived of in humanity - they actually LET US OUT THEIR SIGHT... and postively ENCOURAGED us to stay out as long as we could.

Guy and Jos -- we salute you!!

The organisers, made sure that even GIRLS come away from the event, having soaked up some Tenere culture and bags full of useful information:

Apart from having on display, the original rally bikes (we even learnt the difference between street and rally bikes!), we were given a COMPREHENSIVE presentation, detailing the history of the Tenere Legend. They even included PICTURES so we didn't get bored!

Special mention, has to go, to the Tart Flambe: the DELICIOUS local delicacy, AUTHENTICALLY made for us by a busy team of local cooks. The "Alsace Pizza" was prepared al fresco in mobile pizza ovens and served in GIANT portions on rustic wooden platters to the appreciative hordes.

Fred - Hoover Mouth We DID find that we had to FIGHT OFF some of the Dutch blokes (in particular Fred, aka Hoover Mouth) who confused our friendliness with a willingness to share our food. Lucky we soon learnt that the Afrikaans word for "Hands Off!" translates equally well in Dutch!

The balance was redressed by a German gentleman, who INSISTED on feeding us a slice from his platter. Every time he walked past us. Which was about thirteen times in total. Thanks!

All in all, we can not congratulate the organisers enough. Everything was very well organised. The toilets were pleasant and clean, and didn't run out of loo roll! The camping area couldn't have been more pretty and easily accessible. The food was, as festival food goes, very nice and there was something for everyone.


XT GIRLS HOME PAGE	TENERE LEGEND - FESTIVAL REPORT
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