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Eu rolambretta
– Hasslo, Sweden 2008
When
I first heard that Eurolambretta 2008 was to be held in Sweden and
that a lot of the Blues would be involved in the running of the
event I resolved to go. So it was that I set off one morning on my
new GTS250 heading down the A1 to Harwich. The weather was beautiful
– warm and sunny and I made good time arriving in plenty of time for
the ferry.
There were about 80 scooters on the ferry many of whom I knew from
the old days like the Modrapheniacs and York S.C. So it was nice to
have a couple of beers and catch up. Thursday we docked at Esjberg,
Denmark at 13.00 local time and then it was a 200 mile drive along
the E20 in blazing sunshine to Copenhagen where most of us were
staying the night. After a quick wash and brush up it was round to
an English pub the Southern Cross where all the English and some of
the local Danish lads were meeting. We met up with a load of the
Yorkshire clubs who had come via Amsterdam and Germany. Tony Class
managed to take over the decks and the place was still jumping when
I left in the early hours. Up early the next day and another
beautiful day. I drove over the massive bridge into Sweden and then
through some spectacular countryside to the rally venue in the south
of Sweden at Hasslo Island. The facilities were brilliant. I checked
in and got my goodie bag which included a beautiful paper weight,
and a lambretta watch. Then it was into the dorm to get freshened
up. A lot of the Blues were helping to steward so I sat in the beer
garden enjoying the sun and chatting to them as they came off duty.
By the time the dancing started most of them had finished work and
it was time to party Blues style. The bar shut at 1am but the Blues
had their own free supply of beer for members to enjoy until we were
all too drunk and crashed out.
Saturday and after breakfast we just chilled
until it was time for the ride out to nearby Karlskrona. It was
awesome with around 400 scooters taking part. We parked up in the
main square where there were shows going on. The Mayor of the town
was there to give a welcoming speech and the concours’d’elegance
took place. Whilst that was going on about a dozen of us Blues
settled into a sports bar on the square and sat outside having a
meal enjoying the sun and the site of all the scooters parked up.
Karlskrona is a heritage site so it has some beautiful buildings and
it was just a lovely atmosphere. After a couple of hours it was time
for the whole cavalcade to set off again back to the campsite. A
word of praise here for the stewards who did an excellent job of
traffic control both to and from the town. Once back at the site we
all enjoyed a couple of beers from the Blues supply before we had to
go and get washed and changed for the Gala Dinner at night. For the
dinner we
wandered about 300 yards down the road from the site to the wharf
where we got ferries to a castle on an island. As each ferry arrived
it was met by an honour guard dressed in 17th century
uniform and received a one cannon salute. We went into the forecourt
of the castle where we enjoyed a buffet lunch and a free beer. Then
we had time to wander round the castle and look at the museum etc.
before Bo Martin the chair of the Lambretta Club of Sweden held the
prize giving (with the Lambretta Club of Scotland winning furthest
travelled), and the various Presidents of the other national
lambretta clubs also gave speeches. Then once that was finished we
were back on the ferries and back to site for the do. As a special
one off treat Sweden’s top ska band The TicTox had reformed for the
night and they were excellent. Certainly their cover of Kraftwerk’s
’Model’ was a first and bloody good it was to. Tonight festivities
were on until 5 am which is roughly when I stumbled off to bed
although I could still hear the music playing a long time after I
hit the sack.
Sunday yet another beautiful day and most
people were starting their journey home. I’d opted to stay on so I
gave the Blues a hand to start dismantling the site. After that we
showered and changed and Marcello, Kate, Christian, Stone, Bob,
myself and some others wandered up to the bar/restaurant on site for
a nice meal and a chilled beer watching some of Euro 2008. A really
nice way to end the weekend. The next morning I said my good byes
and headed back up the road towards Copenhagen. Just as I pulled off
the motorway into the city I got my first rain of the entire trip
but within 5 mins I was at the hostel and by the time I had checked
in and changed etc. the skies had cleared and the sun was out again.
I had arranged to meet someone from the local chapter of a
motorcycle club who run their own shop and enjoyed a pleasant hour
with him getting a lot of ideas on things the club could do but more
of that at a later date. After looking round the shop I hooked up
with the Copenhagen guys again to do the whole tourist site seeing
bit. It was nice to spend the day in a really beautiful city.
Tuesday and another glorious day for the drive
along to the ferry port at Esjberg. We got the evening ferry and as
I had a long drive the next day I had an early night. Wednesday we
docked in Harwich and after saying my goodbyes I was off back up
north. It was cold, wet and dull. Yes I was definitely back in
Britain. What a fucking brilliant trip!!! The Swedes had organised a
fantastic rally and seemed to have thought of everything. It was
also nice to meet Morris and the 3 other guys from Thailand who were
there as guests of the Swedish Blues absolute top blokes. A huge
thank you to all of the Swedish Blues who looked after me so well.
Willie
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