Poo Of Doom Rally
Just for a change, Rod, Cath, Jane and I went to a small rally in
Chelveston, Northants. My now legendary sense of direction, was, as usual, way
off course. And I managed to get us a little lost again. Still it was a nice
day for a ride.
When we got to The Star and Garter in Chelveston, we were
surprised to see so many there, as we booked in who should walk up, but Polly,
this really is a small world.
Now if it wasn't for Polly, I would probably
still be putting up the tent, Thanks Polly.
Quite a few had gone home, the
previous nights -3 degrees had sent a few home, oooer.
We got down to the
serious side of any good rally, sitting down, eating, drinking, and letting
your cares float away. By heck it was hot, until the sun went in, then Jane and
Rod resembled quick change artists, it fair made me dizzy.
We passed on the
silly games, too busy re-laxing, the band tent was about 100 yards away, and we
could hear the music very nicely thank you. The band in the afternoon were very
talented and played a lot of very well known songs, excellent.
Late
afternoon and the temperature started to drop, so off to the pub we went in
search of food, nothing doing, so we ordered take-away, and went back to the
tent to indulge.
By now it was COLD, so I came up with the idea of lighting
our petrol fuelled cooker, worked a treat. Then it ran out of petrol, so fill
it up again, I said.
Now no-one said being 50 years old made anyone
sensible, especially after an afternoon of re-laxing, and the odd drink or two,
but the operation was going quite well until I got Rod to relight the
cooker.
Mistake 1, being in the tent whilst attempting the relighting.
Mistake 2, spilling a little of the petrol in the semi-dark.
Mistake 3,
Holding the cooker.
I am sure I don't have to really tell anyone, but bloody
hell is petrol hot when you are holding a flaming ball of the stuff. I had to
drop the cooker so I could put out the flames on my hand, which of course
placed the tent in serious danger.
The burns to my hand were a lot sorer
than the resultant small mark suggests they were, and we managed to not do any
damage to the tent, so no harm done.
Back to the pub, probably be safer,
sure will be warmer at least.
We Missed the main attraction, Gatecrasher,
they were just finishing as we left the pub, rats.
The tents were all
crispy, and sparkly, not the warmest of nights.
Sunday, very sunny and warm,
lovely. On the way home we dropped off at the start point of this years
gathering, Northampton Town football ground. Now I am not sure exactly where I
got the puncture, but the tyre was well flat within a couple of miles after
leaving the ground.
Having the tyre gloop in my tubes, I filled up on air,
and actually made it back to Rod and Cath's before it went flat again. Time for
the International Rescue, good old MAG Rescue, within 40 mins a break down unit
was on scene, and soon we were being whisked home. Not an ideal end to the
weekend, but those guys were a welcome sight.
Different kind of weekend,
very chilled, for the most part, and we still found a few familiar faces, and
once again the motorcycling family were warm ,friendly, and damn fine
company.
Thank You all, Buggar it MCC.