Escape from work, sprint home (ibiza actually), finish packing, load the bike, have a coffee and we're off. No waiting around or meeting up with people half way there - just get and go.
The western bypass gives us no hassle, the weather holds up and by 6:30 we're on the site, chatting with Lynn and putting up the tent. We're soon joined by various members of the Darlington contingent and the drinking can start for real.
The bands on Friday night fail to impress us at all which leads to us occupying our usual spot in the cafeteria section and getting collectively pissed whilst talking utter bollox to anyone daft enough to listen. It's worth noting that the beer carry capacity of Giddy and Smugger has no upper limit.
Hangovers abound throughout the morning and don't really start to clear to riding level till after midday - which suits us fine as this coincides with the weather getting it's act together.
So about 1:00 ish the gales force winds have blasted the rain away and we set off to play. Andy B, Jo, Giddy, John and myself.
Forgoing the usual Kielder run I lead them into the depths of Northumberland.
Initially up to Rothbury along the good, sniggly, bouncy stuff for a coffee and feed, John is taking it easy and keeping Jo company while Giddy and Andy are contemplating which hedge they would like to land in.
From there it's out over the tops to Bamborough where I take the wrong road and land us on Alnwick but rather than loose face I take them off onto the coastal route. Leaving Bamborough I again take the wrong road and after several "U" turns up cart tracks off the A1 admit defeat, hang my head in shame and prepare to pootle back to Newcastle on the A1. Just as my spirits reach their lowest and the jibes the cruelest, I spot the it. The B6348 and salvation.
Top road this (although a bit weird doing it the wrong way) which soon drops us at the "other" main road through this part of the country and into a cafe/diner for tea before the boring bit back to the rally.
Later on site and motivated we wander off to watch the Wildcats of Killkenny. Lindsey, Lynn, Emma and Mother Superior (aka Bev) are already there chatting and boozing as is their want, also present and not necessarily correct Kev, Karen, John and assorted other reprobates.
The Wildcats don't do it for me this time and I fail to dance. Assuming that the musical night is over for me I start to drink a little more, then a lot more and then it happens. Pleasure Dome start their set. From the cafeteria I can hear them but not see anything so am unaware of exactly what is out there till they start to play some T-Rex and my legs propel me out for a boogie.
A most strange and scary sight greets my eyes; the singer looks like a refugee from aerosmith (after the party), the bassist is wearing a french maids outfit, the guitarist is wearing a ruff, short skirt and assorted leather straps around his exposed tackle, the singer is female but very weird and the drummer the most almost normal. Which is VERY weird.
Due to the scantily clad but weird female the dance floor if full of live-to-ride-knuckles-dragging-on-the-floor types which means sod all boogie room. Soon I am joined by Bev who after a short dance announces the female is in fact a transvestite / chick-with-dick type. I don't know what to make of that but really, really, really hope she's right - that'll teach 'em to clog up the dance floor for slavering purposes. However Bev is perhaps most kindly described as a mad old trout ...
By the time Pleasure Dome have finshed playing we're all danced out - Top band. Book them for your rally now.
Well all good things must come to an end and that's the end of the Heart and Soul for 2004. So we pack up our hangovers and ride off into the sunset...
