Southport 2006

 

This rally was planned well in advance. In fact, the flyers were handed out at Isle of Wight 2005 for the Pontins site and a pissed-up me gave it the plastic payment over the phone there and then on the campsite! Bit of a mixed feeling this one – I was really looking forward to Southport but bit disappointed it clashed weekends with Bamburgh Castle at Budle Bay. Jeannie and me were already committed to Southport but by all accounts a good few of the club went to Bamburgh for a top weekend there. Hopefully someone else might do a wee review? Anyway, we were treated to a forecast of heat wave for the weekend – braw! However I think we were the only people in Britain to need waterproofs as we went over the Border Hills! Once down towards Penrith it cleared up and right enough turned into a scorcher. A quick lunch stop at Tebay services and we got chatting to an old couple on a bus tour. She says the usual ‘Oh, I had one of them in the 60’s’ - aw aye sure. Then she says ‘is that a spare wheel under there, never seen that before. Do you need that often?’ Naw hen, only had three punctures in my life before. ‘Aw right – cheerio then’. - You can see where this is going right?………….sure enough back on the M6 minutes later doing about 75mph in the middle lane and yee-haaa! Hold on and try to get to the hard shoulder where a quick look reveals a totally flat back tyre! Weird coincidence eh?

 I wish I could say the rest of the journey went fine but a motorway heat seize by Jeannie followed by her snapping a clutch cable in Southport then us getting lost made sure we arrived hot and bothered. Total journey time about 8 bloody hours! As we rode onto site we quickly bumped into some familiar faces including Blues - Buster, Tracy, Helen and Gary, Tony and Caz, Gordy from Derby as well as Hailey, Alex, Blackpool Phil (with a full entourage in tow including little Colin who’s ‘Monkey’ outfit was superb – check the pics), and our flatmates for the weekend – Sam and Martyn. First job of the day was a Tesco trip for 2 crates of strongbow and some pizzas because it’s the law and you can’t mess with the law. Friday night got really messy with all the pop finished and I woke up on the grass outside the chalet. Must’ve been spiked obviously, heehee. Saturday was another scorching day but bit windy, which being next to the beach was a bit like walking about being shotblasted! Anyway – quick visit to the stalls to get some new rubber and replaced the punctured one on the scoot. Then a visit to the swimming pool was in order – except it wisnae because they had a power cut as we walked in and it was out of order! 30-minute wait and we were in playing aboot like the big bairns we are. The afternoon entertainment was provided by the Bamber Bridge SC who nearly perfected towing some poor git in a Tesco trolley behind a Vespa! I see a future at Mersea for this (if you sign a disclaimer first!) Then big thanks to Jeannie who did another Tesco run and came back with another crate of pop and loads of wee Indian mini-bites. Aaahh – the finer things in life! Off to the do then for a funtastic set by the one and only Buster Bloodvessel and his Bad Manners band. Except he’s no the one and only – or is he? Goes like this – our Buster is at the bar, someone shouts over ‘Buster – you wantin a pint?’, to which a wee guy looks and goes ‘Buster – can I have your autograph?’ hahahaha. Thing is our Buster doesnae even flinch and gives him it – quality! Legend. Imagine his face when the real Buster appears on stage and is about 12 stone now! Haha.

                                                                                                                                                      The set was really good and even got me up stompin on the talcum covered dance floor. Except then I noticed the wee burst bag so maybe it wisnae talc? Oops. The spider didn’t seem to mind anyway (check out the pic). It was roastin’ in the do, which obviously meant I had to dance topless (obviously?). Must apologise for throwing ma cricket hat like a Frisbee, which knocked over all of Gary and Helen’s drinks. Oops again. Least I managed to avoid hitting Caz’s new tattoo freshly done that day to commemorate being a granny! Once Buster ska’d–off we spent the rest of the night bouncing around like pinballs. I remember talking to some of the Lone Sharks from Fife who I’m happy to say seem to be getting about a lot more often these days (or maybe I was too pished to notice before!). Then last orders kicked in and it was back to the chalet to find that wild bears had made a huge mess of all the food and pop tins (wisnae us – honest!)

Sunday morning was as painful as it should always be on a rally but not too bad a ride home hopefully as it’s only about 250 miles. Said our cheerios to the gang until next week then set off. Turned out a bit of a hassle though as Jeannie seized again before Lockerbie so we had to go the back roads all the way home under 50mph. (Found out later the top piston ring was in four pieces and still drove ok!) My scoot was pissing oil everywhere by the time we got home and needed a full strip and rebuild same night so it would be ready for next weeks adventures in Whitby……..see ya all soon!

Dunf

Stats – Southport 2006 – 10 June

 Club scooters attending:-

Jeannie-Vespa PX200

Dunf-Vespa PX210

Click here for Photo's

 
 

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