The Return of the PeacockThe Return of the Peacock
Leading up to the first rally of the year, the weather reports got
steadily worse as the event grew closer.
Special one for me this, four
years ago this weekend, Jane & I went to our very first VSOC rally, hosted
by the Yorkies, memories.
We had to go up on Sat, so missed the Fri night,
the band, and the sunniest day of the weekend.
Never mind, the trip on Sat
morning was pretty much dry, and not a bad ride to Doncaster. We met Rod &
Cath at Bingham, and set off excited and in good spirits
As we arrived, a
few spots of rain, tents up, and start to relax.
We pitched our tent beside
the portable hotel, that is Steve and Clare's tent, it's a nice tent mate, but
a bugger to put away.
Tony and Kendra called in to say hello before they set
off to the States, have fun .
Wow so many members, I am told the final
attendance was just under 500, well done people, never let the weather beat
you, that's the way.
Off to the club house for the evenings entertainment.
Saturdays band, Two out of Three, how good were they? Some of the best rocking
cover songs I have heard in ages, the room absolutely packed, really was
jumping. Could not get my new camera to work, so no pics, sorry.
Very late
to bed, might even have been wet, can't remember. The one thing I do know is it
sure as hell was wet on Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon, and Sunday
evening, didn't rain much in the pub though.
Quite a few of us enjoyed the
hospitality of Steve, good job you had that tent mate.
Dozens of us walked
up the road to the pub, good food but none too reliable.
Had a bit of an
afternoon siesta, took a photo of the sunset, just to prove it did come out,
and set off to enjoy Sunday night.
If you know the band The Jalopenos, then
you know how good they are, and they did not dissapoint,
brilliant, two
really good sets, and the amazing thing was,
even though there had been a
steady stream of bikes leaving in the rain all day, the room was packed
again.
Monday morning woke up to the sound of rain, and boy was it cold.
Still Steve and Clare had offered to cook us breakfast, and as we all packed
into their tent, it got much warmer, and the rain hammering against the tent no
longer seemed to matter.
Lovely breakfast you two, and even the BBQ in the
tent didn't seem that smoky, what a lovely start to the day.
By the time we
had all finished the rain had just about stopped, then Malc and Ken had arrived
to pick up the rally equipment.
More nattering, the world was getting a
better place by the minute, then the sun came out, it could not get any
better.
All tents down, no rain, just a little wind, everybody packed, now
it was the turn of Chez Little,(Fawlty Towers).
That really is some area of
tent, good job the wind was not any stronger, good old Malc, helpful
suggestions made the task very much easier.
All we had to do was get the
air out, laying on it seemed the best way, not sure it helped being jumped on
by Rod,
or even having all the others step on us while Chris took photos,
but what the heck, the sun was out.
All packed up, only our newsletter
editor Keith, and his wife Jane left, I think they were still in bed when we
left, at 12.15pm.
Steve took us on a really scenic route to the start of the
A614, Do you know your way from here? he asked.
I think so I said, Rod
waved me in front, and I went down the A1, bugger, in front for 150 yards and
gone wrong already, gonna have to sort out this solar powered sat nav.
So a
leisurely drive to Newark, and on home missing all the showers, I planned it
really.
Thanks to Terry Lewis & all of the Yorkies for having us,
and so many thanks to the Doncaster Rugby Football Club staff, you were
magnificent.
Bring on the Shindig!
Terry
