The large group of Harley-Davidson riders who used Llangollen Pavilion as the base for a big annual rally over the weekend have said a collective thank you to the people of town for the warm welcome they gave them yet again.
Chester-based Deva Legion of the Harley-Davidson Owners' Group - HOG for short - have been staging their Rally in the Valley locally for the past 10 years or so. And this year they returned to make the Pavilion their HQ.
They've been using the venue not only as the starting and finishing points for a series of rides by enthusiasts of the mighty American cruising bikes to various points of north Wales but also a place to pitch their tents and park their campervans.
On the Friday and Saturday evenings of their stay they also used the Pavilion and its many facilities to host entertainment in the shape of live bands and disco sessions, all helped along by a couple of bars.
"We keep coming back to Llangollen because of the quality of the rides we're able to plan through some stunning countryside and to seaside resorts like Llandudno but also because the Pavilion is the ideal venue," said Paul Jones, the Deva Legion webmaster.
"It's got all the facilities we need, is set in some beautiful countryside, the field has a one-way system to help the bikes safely manoeuvre around and is close at hand for the local B&Bs and the awesome town centre."
Paul explained that this year's rally - it has a Wild Wild West theme which has meant some inventive costumes - attracted around 450 riders and guests, some 120 gleaming Harleys ... and lots of local goodwill.
"After our rides out on Friday and Saturday we arrived back in town as a large group and lots of people came out to welcome us with cheers and waves. It was the same story at other places we rode through along the route, with some even waving Welsh flags."
One of the key reasons for staging the rally each year is to raise as much money as possible for Merseyside-based Claire House Children's Hospice which helps seriously and terminally-ill children make the most of the time they have, however long or short that may be.
In the past decade Deva Legion has collected over £50,000 for what is its dedicated charity, with money coming from a range of activities, including donations from traders they use at the rally venues and raffles with lots of valuable prizes, all donated by well-wishers, like this year's £600 360-degree camera for mounting aboard a bike.
Paul said: "Last year we were able to donate £3,500 to Claire House and, although we haven't yet added things up there are some positive signs for the latest total."
And that big thank you to Llangollen?
"We hope our rally and rides bring something a little special to the town. The welcome we always get when we come to Llangollen is phenomenal, so we'd all like to say thanks for having us again.
"We'd also like to say thanks to Keith Potts, who runs the Pavilion, whose hard at work for us from early in the morning until late at night. Nothing is too much trouble for him."
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