Bowser and I rode off to Holland to Valkenswaard for the Ratbike rally.
As we left at lunchtime, we decided to break the journey with a stop in Middelkerke at a ‘hotel’
This turned out to be a holiday home type set up with chalets. Nice twin room with good toilet/shower and able to park bikes right outside and was a good price as out of season.
Next morning after a shower we were off to Valkenswaard.
The site was located after a couple of duty U turns and was found down a short track, a small field with trees all round it. A hut was in the corner and a small marquee, the size of probably our white OGRI MCC catering tent.
There were only a couple of other tents there and a couple of cars/vans. We had made a schoolboy error in your initial planning and thought this was a 2 day rally but it was only a Saturday night party !
However as we knew most of the organisers, a swift message resulted in an invite to come drinking with them on the Friday evening as well.
We were greeted and introduced to those we did not know.
Tents were put up and offers of help setting up made and declined. We popped out to grab some supplies and then on our return, we were forced to drink some beer. There was a choice of beer, just the one choice or you could not drink beer. However various concoctions of drinks were offered by individuals, some pleasant and some not so.
Music was from Big Jon’s phone via a Bluetooth speaker (as was all of the music for the weekend). Entertainment was courtesy of conversation, jokes, piss taking & sarcasm in English Dutch German Vlaams & Walloon and a fire. A good evening was well enjoyed.
The next day, we went for a ride out and to treat ourselves to lunch in Valkenswaard. We decided that the Irish bar called Guinizz would obviously do traditional Dutch cuisine and a fine schnitzel and chips was enjoyed.
Back at the site a few more people had arrived and the beer was flowing.
30 euro entrance got you as much beer as you could drink and free chilli or soup.
However you had to arrive on a motorbike/trike or combo, so the cyclist and pedestrian were fucked off at the gate! Even the organisers moved any cars/vans they had off site.
The site ended up packed out with tents and about 130+ people. By then my phone was away as it interfered with drinking and so no more phots were taken.
It was surprising how many we recognised or knew to say hello to, including the one other English guy there. It was a traditional style do where you created your own entertainment, talked to people and made new contacts/friendships. People were really shocked when we pointed out that the site was closer to Calais than our homes were to Dover when they were surprised we had come all this way to party with them.
Would I do it again?
Too damn right I would.
Nic,
OGRI MCC
