British Legion Riders Rally 2007
Bit of a short notice on this one so apologies to those how didn't know.
Well, yet again the weather forecast didn't hold up much hope of a dry weekend but hay ho. Left home in the sunshine and headed off to Cirencester services to meet up with Mal and Tonka, so far so good. We met up and made our way to Tewkesbury, Just of the motorway our first sign for the rally, excellent. In to Tewkesbury, no more signs !!!. The rally was at the Lower Lode Inn, Forthampton. Only problem was my map said Lower Lode and Forthampton where two different places with no pub in Forthampton but one in Lower Lode!. Also the PH on my map was in the middle of the river Severn!. At the services I happened to mention this Mal & Tonka and wouldn't it be funny if we ended up on the wrong side of the river. Guess what, as we went through town we found a sign for Lower Lode and followed it. You get a really good view of the pub from the wrong side of the river!!. Never mind we got a cheer from every one in the pub as we did a u‑turn, bastards. Back into town and a few more wrong turns later we finally made it to the rally site. What a site, right on the banks of the river Severn.
Tents up as soon as, and off to the pub – problem!. Tonka and Mal were sharing a tent, Tonka brought the tent, Mal the airbed. Mal even brought the pump, shame he forgot the plug!!!. Resolution – get pissed won't notice the hard floor. Off to the pub then. Real ale at only £2.20 in a pub, heaven. Last orders at the pub was 2am so we hammered it. Drank them out of Doom Bar !.
Saturday - sun up, had to get out of the tent by 8 o'clock as it was roasting. Off for breakfast. This was the only downer of the weekend £3 for a bacon roll from the burger van in the camping area. Not helped by being told we could have had a full English in the pub for £4!. Moan over. On the big plus side was free tea and coffee on site. Please note :- Punter + free tea = happy camper. So we sat in the sun drinking free tea for hours putting the world to rights. Togs turned up at midday on his pink bike and his gay boots, with a new airbed. All sorted we went of to the pub. Just a couple of pints then we can wander round the site looking at the bikes, well that was the plan. Sitting outside by the river in the sun drinking beer, it doesn't get much better than this. Hours passed - the beer kept coming - the day past. Camp Andy had said he might turn so a couple of phone calls later he turned up and joined us for a beer or two, nice one mate – we did at least let you get your lid off before telling you it was your round!!. We never did get to look round the site as we just sat in the sun all day. The whole atmosphere at the rally was chilled out and relaxed. There where a few prizes for the normal stuff, distance etc as well as best bike. It was chosen by a non bike person, and you could tell. A CHIPS trike ( Pan European in American police colours with a bolt‑on rear axle ) or LEGO toy as Tonka called it. The evening's entertainment was a girlie rock band but it was too hot inside the small hall so we sat outside drinking.
Woke up Sunday with a sore head – nothing to do with the beer but the sun!. Burnt the top of my head, Mal was also looking a bit red, or at least red and white – turned into a Saints fan ?. In no hurry to leave we packed up and went to the pub for a cuppa. Talking to the landlady she said it was one of the best and most relaxed events they had done.
All‑in‑all it was a greet weekend and well done to the British Legion Riders on their first ever rally, and above all don't believe a word the weather forecasters say.
Rich
Southern Rep
main news page
Well, yet again the weather forecast didn't hold up much hope of a dry weekend but hay ho. Left home in the sunshine and headed off to Cirencester services to meet up with Mal and Tonka, so far so good. We met up and made our way to Tewkesbury, Just of the motorway our first sign for the rally, excellent. In to Tewkesbury, no more signs !!!. The rally was at the Lower Lode Inn, Forthampton. Only problem was my map said Lower Lode and Forthampton where two different places with no pub in Forthampton but one in Lower Lode!. Also the PH on my map was in the middle of the river Severn!. At the services I happened to mention this Mal & Tonka and wouldn't it be funny if we ended up on the wrong side of the river. Guess what, as we went through town we found a sign for Lower Lode and followed it. You get a really good view of the pub from the wrong side of the river!!. Never mind we got a cheer from every one in the pub as we did a u‑turn, bastards. Back into town and a few more wrong turns later we finally made it to the rally site. What a site, right on the banks of the river Severn.
Tents up as soon as, and off to the pub – problem!. Tonka and Mal were sharing a tent, Tonka brought the tent, Mal the airbed. Mal even brought the pump, shame he forgot the plug!!!. Resolution – get pissed won't notice the hard floor. Off to the pub then. Real ale at only £2.20 in a pub, heaven. Last orders at the pub was 2am so we hammered it. Drank them out of Doom Bar !.
Saturday - sun up, had to get out of the tent by 8 o'clock as it was roasting. Off for breakfast. This was the only downer of the weekend £3 for a bacon roll from the burger van in the camping area. Not helped by being told we could have had a full English in the pub for £4!. Moan over. On the big plus side was free tea and coffee on site. Please note :- Punter + free tea = happy camper. So we sat in the sun drinking free tea for hours putting the world to rights. Togs turned up at midday on his pink bike and his gay boots, with a new airbed. All sorted we went of to the pub. Just a couple of pints then we can wander round the site looking at the bikes, well that was the plan. Sitting outside by the river in the sun drinking beer, it doesn't get much better than this. Hours passed - the beer kept coming - the day past. Camp Andy had said he might turn so a couple of phone calls later he turned up and joined us for a beer or two, nice one mate – we did at least let you get your lid off before telling you it was your round!!. We never did get to look round the site as we just sat in the sun all day. The whole atmosphere at the rally was chilled out and relaxed. There where a few prizes for the normal stuff, distance etc as well as best bike. It was chosen by a non bike person, and you could tell. A CHIPS trike ( Pan European in American police colours with a bolt‑on rear axle ) or LEGO toy as Tonka called it. The evening's entertainment was a girlie rock band but it was too hot inside the small hall so we sat outside drinking.
Woke up Sunday with a sore head – nothing to do with the beer but the sun!. Burnt the top of my head, Mal was also looking a bit red, or at least red and white – turned into a Saints fan ?. In no hurry to leave we packed up and went to the pub for a cuppa. Talking to the landlady she said it was one of the best and most relaxed events they had done.
All‑in‑all it was a greet weekend and well done to the British Legion Riders on their first ever rally, and above all don't believe a word the weather forecasters say.
Rich
Southern Rep
main news page