How long does it take to get from Leicester to Poole? Well I know how long it could take, but I also know how long it did take. Let me explain…
Anyway, with the scoot running again, we carried on,
right past Bern & Dunney and Pete from STSC who had waited for us further
down the road, who then had to chase after us to catch up.
Eventually, after a game of scooter cat and mouse, we caught up at a
garage just after the M40, and problem 3, a newly rebuilt and very tidy TV 175
decided that the wet weather was too much for it, and seized solid, so a call to
the very nice man was in order. At
the same garage, I lost my keys, only to find that they’d been handed in, and
the Brain of Britain at the cashier’s desk didn’t realise that the group
with the crash helmets and the scooters may have lost a key ring with a
‘Lambretta’ tag!! DOH!
Off we set again, and straight into problem 4, the
circlip on my gear selector arm disappeared, so no gears.
Another roadside repair, and off again, only for the roadside repair to
fail, so time to stop and have another go.
Whilst I fixed my gears problem, a repair was completed on one of the
Vespas that had decided that its exhaust would work better without the main bolt
that holds it to the frame, problems 5 & 6.
Some ingenious mending worthy of scrap heap challenge
saw the Vespa mended, so off again, as far as Salisbury where my clutch-arm
started playing up, so another roadside repair – problem 7.
Next, problem 8, Pete lost the gears on his Vespa, and after removing the
selector, we found that the pin holding the selector to the selector arm had
fallen out, which we found in the pool of oil we had made, knocked it back in,
and set off again. No more problems, apart from one of the STSC almost being
wiped out at a roundabout. Finally
arrived at the site at 9-00pm, 11 hours after leaving Leicester!!
Straight to the bar, meet up with old friends –
particular mention to H & Beeb who had tied the knot that afternoon, and
were honeymooning at the rally, excellent dedication. A few beers and a pot noodle are all I can remember of the
evening, other than an excellent set by a two-tone review band.
Saturday morning, and Mam & Kel made breakfast.
Those who endured this will never forget it – it took somewhere in the
region of 2 hours to arrive, and most of us are still eating it now, some 7 days
later! After a brief walk round the
custom show I spent the afternoon checking over my roadside repairs, listening
to the footy, taking my customary afternoon nap and chilling ready for the
evening do, which when we got there was excellent and very well attended.
Sunday started all too early, but after quick mooch
around, we set off for home at 11am. Strangely
STSC decided not to wait for us, so just the 2 scoots it was.
Journey back on the A roads took 5 hours, with no breakdowns, and a
couple of fuel stops. What was
surprising was the number of scooters we bumped into on the way back.
Overall an absolutely stonking weekend: the journey
there was character building, and those who were on it will one day look back
and laugh [well maybe, but now is probably too soon], the atmosphere on the site
and in the chalet was terrific, and the breakfast will never be forgotten,
mainly cos we’ll be eating it forever! Thanks
to the Modrapheniacs for once again organising an excellent event, and thanks to
everyone who made it such a brilliant weekend – there are far too many to
mention by name, but those who were there know who they are.
Leicester non-affiliated