All accoding to plan I pootle down to the Tavern in Darlo so i can ride down in the company of B, Mr and Mrs Smugger and BigG. By the time we reach the outskirts of Darlington G and the Smuggers have lost us in the traffic and instead of waiting the keep going. So it's just B and me.
The agreed route is motorway then the more boring A roads to get everyone there as quickly as possible, however as only B and I know where the rally site is we eventually catch up with the turbo bunnies siting on a roundabout bleeting and looking lost.
Pausing only briefly to take the piss we're off again for the final mile to the site. Dispite having two bike in front leading the way Smugger still manages to take the wrong turning off the roundabout, it's these little incidents that make riding with this lot such an entertaining experience.
Soon we're all on site, bikes parked, tents pitched and avoiding the stampede for the bar (Smuggers again).
I catch up with Vince, who I've gibbered to in TheBikersClub but have never met for real. He's come down on his RF900 (good choice) with his kids in the company of a couple of mates, including one brave soul on a 125 with "L" plates. So it had taken them over 4 hours.
Later I'm in the bar gibbering senselessly to anyone daft enough to listen, watching the band, who aint bad, and later i even dance a bit. It's during the dancing stage I make a horrible discovery; I'm almost sober. Having started drinking early, and facing a long to ride home the following day, I had started on the J2O's mid evening and discovered a taste for it! So let that be a lesson to you all, beware the perils of soft drinks.
All this had it's advantages though as I'm quite fit and healthy the following day. Rather than loose the whole day I set off back with Vince's contingent. Progress is, er... stately, but enjoyable as far as Ripon when the first open twisty bit proves too much for my self control. Bye guys...
From Ripon I take the Dales roads back; it takes longer and covers more miles but the weather is great and I've makes me smile, surely this is what biking is all about.
So in conclusion a nice
little rally that I think I'll try and get to again next year.
And as you may have noticed there are no photographs on this one. I know sorry. But tough. Anyway you all know what you look like so whats the problem?