Setting
off from Whitehaven at a frantic pace I was late again, nowt new here.
I was heading south to meet up with the Barrow MAG crew (Cumbria Beer
monsters) to join them on their run to the rally. (Well it does save a
lot of hassle map reading n the like when someone actually knows where
to go!)
Arriving at Greenod and already I’m 15mins late but Manfred’s
on his trike so 
I
recon that I’ll soon catch em up! But zooming up the roads at a
hectic pace and I still haven’t caught up. The A65 is the usual
nightmare with little or no passing places and pretty soon I’ve
almost given up on the idea that I will catch up.
Then in the distance I see a trike overtake an articulated wagon narrowly
avoiding a car- Manfred!! Soon I’m happily following and eventually
we all meet near Harrogate.
Arriving at the site and the usual signing in and greetings later its
time to get the tents up and settle into the pub, or so I thought but
I manage to snap one of my tent poles Bar**ard. Fortunately all was not
lost and after a visit to a spookily local camping show I’m able
to botch my tent for the weekend.
I wander down to the pub with Jude (My mother!! No really!!) and the drinking
commences.
The crack in the bar is really good and before long we are talking to
various bikers, one of the Bridge rats (BOB) is chatting my mum up when
I return with the drinks, sorry for chatting your bird up mate!, Then
I explain that she’s my mum ! (you couldn’t get the smug look
off her face!).
The night goes on and we meet a couple of local guys- the Stan Laurel
look alike and Swiss Tony! Both of them are true petrol heads and the
crack goes on until we realise the bands have finished and the bar is
closing so after a brief stagger we head back to the tents.
Morning comes all too soon and its bloody freezing, there is a frost on
the ground and on small parts of my anatomy (it felt like) but after several
coffees and a bacon buttie I’m ready for what the day has to throw
at Me.
Mike ‘Shandy Pants’ Marsden is dying and Chris is being ill
behind the tent much to Stan’s and my amusement.
Lunch time arrives and after a look at the bikes in the pub car park we
wander off down the road to a local hotel too see what is going on as
the pub is busy. As we arrive I dupe Mike into buying a shandy and the
barman gets the full Shandy Pants story and so the afternoons abuse begins.
Mike is given a few Bee Gee skits and asks a couple that arrive at the
bar if he looks like a bee gee, the answer is YES. Andy Britten finally
came out of the closet announcing that him and a guy have ‘got it
together’ much too our amusement. Copious quantities of beer and
shandy are being consumed and a very nice bar meal but it seems just as
the more adventurous souls have decided to join us in the hotel its time
to shut up shop. Mike is pleasantly surprised when the barman presents
him with a bottle wrapped up for him to take away and is even more pleased
when he finds out its ‘Shandy Bass’.
We head back to the pub and carry out the judging on the bike show with
lots of intellectual decisions being made (and bribes gladly received).
Then we head to the bar to continue the session.
The First band of the night come on and though they are young in years
thy were pretty good musically though it looked like there granddad or
Santa was singing.
Then it was time for more beers and food and a sit by the gate for a crack
as the Barrow crew were on duty, so with fires burning and toxic waste
(it smelled like it) in an old 40-gallon drum we waited for the raffle
to be drawn.
Its
9.00pm when the Barrow crew clock off so we head inside for the Raffle
and the presenting of the bike show prizes. One lad has volunteered to
have his head and beard shaved off for the local air ambulance and raises
a good bit of cash for the cause- pity his eyebrows had to go but hey
it’s for charity mate.. The recipients of the bike show prizes are
all pretty pleased with Swiss Tony getting Best in show with a trick EFE
1170.
The second band start their set and from the off its evident that they
know their stuff. Tunes from yesteryear from UFO and the like keep the
dance floor full of pissed bikers late into the night. We retire to the
bar to have a crack and finish off the night. Andy finds Osama Bin Laden
in the bar but he’s off down a pot hole before we can alert the
authorities Mike seems to have a lust full look in his eye as he eyes
up Andy or maybe he’s just pissed.
1.30 am and I’m off to bed it’s freezing again and my airbeds
going flat hmmm.
Morning
arrives and I’m feeling ok which can sometimes be a bad sign (still
pissed) but with coffee and sausage buttie on board all is well. I have
a wander round the site and eventually Dave York shows his face. My mam’s
not far behind and soon I’ve got my gear packed up and tent dropped
and on the back of my bike.
Stan gets up just as I’m ready to set off but there is no life in
both Chris and Jan or Mike and Barbara’s tents so I head off home
with Mam in pursuit!
First time at this doo and I really enjoyed it, met some good folk and
drank some good beer.
See ya next time..
PS - Is Shandy
Pants ok???
