Our eagerly awaited trip to the MC Pendragon Summerparty in Vockerode, Germany kicked off on rather a low note when Graham discovered the night before departure that his passport had expired in February!
The remaining 4 club members made the short flight and long drive to Vockerode without hitch, arriving at the MC Pendragon clubhouse just in time to partake of the food and drink laid on by our hosts. For John all the free drink on the Friday night was just too much and on the way back to his tent he managed to miss a bridge and go arse-up into a small river gouging his leg in the process.
Saturday was spent seeing a bit of the area and visiting some of the mementoes to the nearby border with the ‘East’. Back at the rally site things were beginning to warm up and it was time to chill out and have a few beers with some of the members of MC Rednecks from Belgium. From then on the night was just a blur or beer, whisky, dancing and er… mud as it didn’t half rain, but by then it didn’t matter and everybody had a great night. Our return journey necessitated a stopover on Sunday night near the airport to catch an early flight on Monday. Our accommodation for the night was taken care of by MC Pendragon members, Haarold and Selma who showed us great hospitality, fed and watered us and even arranged a wine tasting session at a local vineyard!
A great time was had and we hope to return some of the hospitality we received when MC Pendragon and Alex visit Bute for our rally in August.
After April's early spring weather, temperatures plummeted for our first overnight Club run of the year. Nevertheless a full turnout of 18 members made the scenic run through Glencoe on Saturday for the usual piss up at Glenuig. Entertainment for the evening was provided by Neil with his fire-dancing routine. The run home was bleak to say the least. The only respite from the rain was when it changed to hailstones. (pictures)
Ian's first attempt at a trailbike enduro event. Three 35-mile laps which included everything you could possibly hope to encounter off-road. A real test for a 21-year old XL250, not to mention 40-year old rider. Both made it to the end in one piece, finishing 96th (out of 350) to proudly collect a finisher's medal. See pictures.
Held at Ingleston Showground this show grows from strength to strength each year. Members who had not attended for some years were surprised by the size of the show and the diversity of stands. Shame about the weather.
Ian and Webby made it again this year to attend this excellent small rally held in a pub in Salford on the outskirts of Milton Keynes. About 100 people gathered on the Saturday night to be entertained by old favourites 'The Peartree Bridge Family'. A fine time was had by all.
John and Ian met up with Gerry in Glasgow at about 6pm for the run down the boring, wet M74 in almost zero visibility, the stop at Gretna could not have come sooner (even for the BMW riders!).
But as soon as we left the services and joined the 69 we were rewarded with clear skies and dry roads making for an enjoyable thrash over to Lanchester.
This was a small rally held in a sports club house with camping on the grounds adjacent, about 3 miles from the Dragonslayers summer rally venue.
Cheap beer, a friendly atmosphere and non-stop music set the theme for a good weekend, even the weather stayed reasonable.
With Sticky Fingers providing the sounds for Saturday night it was good to see old friends from the Dragonslayers letting their hair down.
It was also great to get feedback about our own rally from the people who really count, rallygoers.
We even won the furthest travelled trophy, an impressively large plaque with mounted dragon, which had to make the journey home gaffa taped to
the top box of Ian's TL! (Click for a better view)
A very enjoyable end to our rally calendar of 2001.
Kenny, Webby and Ian flew down to Luton for this one (no furthest
travelled award this year eh!) where Davy and Carol from Hemel were
waiting with their spare bikes for us, so at least we arrived on two
wheels.
Arriving at the usual rally site (with its stunning views of the M1) we had to muster all our very limited off road riding skills to negotiate the ruts as it appeared to have been a venue for a ploughing competition.
With Davy having already set up a tent for us there was now nothing between us and the bar.
The rest of the weekend was a blur of good company, good music, mediocre food and of course plenty of drink finished off with a shite talking session round the fire in the early hours of Sunday morning (the true sign of a good night!)
The Peartree Bridge Family were excellent as usual and even the weather was mostly good.
Sunday was finished off with a quick trip to Davy and Carole's to freshen up, and a few pints down the pub before being dropped off at Luton airport for the flight home.
A big thank you to Davy and Carole (once again) for not only supplying us with bikes but all the camping luxuries they keep in their trailer, much appreciated.