|
|
NORTHERN DIVISION
Isle of Wight
August Bank holiday 2005
The isle of wight rally 2005, our first pilgrimage to the Mecca of scootering. Thanks to friends in the greatest scootering club in the world , Bagzy and Pauline, allowing us to leave the car and trailer at their gaff saved me a lot of grief. The GP had only got 50 or 60 miles on it since a complete rebuild, and exactly one mile since I got twitchy and stripped the top end again to replace the gudgeon circlips that were nagging at me as being too loose. I really did not fancy riding her 260 miles each way. I love her unconditionally but I don’t trust her at all. Sue on the other hand point blank refused to go on the LML so the trailer was the only option.
We left Grimsby at 0900 on the Thursday and had got around 25 miles to Partney (of Skeggy Rv fame) when Sue asked if I’d remembered the padlock. Sod it I’ll lock it to someone else’s if need be. A mile further and she says have you got a spare key for the lammy, Shit I haven’t got any keys for the lammy!
We got back to Grimsby picked up the keys and the padlock, oh and the tent which was still sitting on the kitchen worktop! It was not looking like this was going to be a good rally with the BBC weather forecast being rain all weekend.
Arriving in Pompey with no more problem than a lost Possums tail (ebay £2.99 and a bottle of red vinegar, bargain) we unloaded the scoot stowed the trailer and car and loaded the luggage on to front and back racks. She started first kick (wow!) Sue got on and off we set for the ferry … all of 3 yards. As usual PPPPPP and I hadn’t checked the weight. Unless anyone can tell me different I think a standard lambretta spring must be weak. I saw a vespa carrying a 25 stone bloke , a 20 stone woman and at least as much luggage as we had but it just felt like I was running on two flat tyres. Bagzy yet again came to the rescue and took the rucksack to the ferry terminal for us, while we rode behind. An hour later were on day release manor. Sue got a taxi to the camp site. I got lost. Finally we are there pitched the tent this time a millets 2 man instead of our marquee, Imagine trying to take that on the GP! We were met by Dickie and Dee and then went to get something to eat. We found a Malaysian restaurant on Ryde High street, not even thinking I had turned up there in doc Martens Levis and braces, until I was looked up and down by the owner, fair play to them they let us in, and taught me how to eat dog curry with chopsticks. (Sue finished her meal before me for the first time ever)
Back on camp at midnight and totally bolloxed we hit the sack to be woken by the 3 lads next to us deciding to put a nice bit of Ska on at 0200. Were on a rally , tough, I thought. Not Sue she decides to bollock em. Next morning she was to take all the stick her actions deserved and the lads were great blokes , 2 of them will be joining the club in the next few weeks. Next job was breakfast so to the clubhouse for the first and last brekky on site. Absolutely inedible to anyone but DDR. Down to the seafront and the green outside the king Ludd was heaving with at least 500 scooters parked on and around and its still only Friday morning. The day went on with more members arriving Bootie and Sallyanne arrived bearing gifts. Womble in the AFSC van, after his unfortunate clash with thieving bastards. Day release , Brookie and Marshy or was it the three stooges. Pompey Pete and Dave. And Bagzy and Pauline and finally I got to meet the elusive Pete Cheadle, It really was a pleasure mate. The evening came and we met Nick and Sallyanne for a trip to “skinhead train” a small working mens club in the back streets of Ryde and what a night we had, cheap booze and brilliant music surrounded by the biggest, meanest looking and politest skinheads its been my pleasure to mix with. At the end of the night we went on safari, hunting wild kebab and found Trifle and Pauline with DDR and Bagzy fighting over a discarded bag of chips on the floor. Back to the campsite to find the burger bar was completely out of wasps. It was next morning before they got a new delivery.
Saturday back to the seafront and by now the amount of scooters was awesome. I have truly never seen anything to compare with this. Wall to wall scooters all over the town. As usual the highway code had been left outside town and scoots were buzzing up and down the esplanade. Spoilt only by the 3 Police motorcyclists pulling in as many as they could and checking em over with a magnifying glass. I suppose discretion being the better part of valour we opted to go the opposite way out of town I am sure I was OK but with the amount of alcohol downed the night before you cant be too careful. The highlight of the afternoon had to be whilst I was trying to recruit a new member , Gavin an ex royal artillery lad from Notts we saw a flash of sunlight reflecting off the shiniest arse on the site, as a certain airborne warrior ran a good 500 yards with his tackle swinging. Apparently Chris didn’t want to put dirty shreddies on his newly scrubbed dusters. We queued for the magic bus being kept in line by a 12 year old descendant of Adolf Hitler mated with Ghengis Khans particularly nasty sister back to town some going to see Grasp others ourselves included desperate for food. We met up with DDR , Brookie and big Gaz at the balcony and were treated to a demonstration of how demure young ladies could do unnatural things if they were supple enough by DDR the Sunday sport photographer on the next table was more than interested in that and Brookies DM700 tug story. Then into the ice-rink for bad manners a story told by others so I wont bother other than saying the (ex) big man was awesome and The airborne warrior was at it again not wanting toto get his clothes sweaty simply took em all off again! Tucked them under the stage and carried on dancing. If Daves wife reads this all the photos of him and various women were set up by me please don’t kill him too much.
We had booked on the Monday morning ferry but It became apparent that we wouldn’t get home until around eight and I was due on shift at ten not really feasible so we decided to leave after the ride out. Both my machine and Bagzy’s Tonka toy were running rich and not liking sitting in traffic so we decided to sit on top of the hill and watch the ride past. I am using this word too much today but it was once again “awesome” I don’t know how many but it took at least half an hour to pass us. Then it was pack up and say our goodbyes an uneventful by my standards trip back to Bagzys riding with Gaz and then home arriving about midnight. Completely cream crackered but fulfilled and assured of a place in scootering paradise.
