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The day began for me around 4pm
while leaving work…the weather was good and I headed home from Glasgow. On
arrival at Coatbridge, two minutes from the motorway after horsing it home
off the clock, I realised that all was not well with the scooter while
sitting at the lights…the damn exhaust had blown.
After looking forward to the rally for a few weeks, I was not going to let
the exhaust stop me arriving at the Scottish national on my scooter, so it
was time to call a mate and whack on some gun gum.(Steph did laugh when he
saw the size of the hole…but I was determined to make it on scooter). It
was now around 7pm and I headed off from Airdrie…twos’d up with my
brother…the weather was great (well dry at least). The scoot ran well, and
the exhaust held until I was a good few miles outside Carluke, then it just
got too loud to bare. We pulled over and started repairs with the help of
someone from Animals (pulled over in a corsa to lend a hand…still have the
pliers he lent me…which came in well handy).
After a few mins at the side of the road the camper eventually caught
up, I managed to strip a clutch cable and tie up the exhaust…and we hit
the road again. What a great road to travel, the scooter was running well
despite the exhaust and the road was just spot on a great mix of sweeping
turns and straights to open up on. We hit Peebles and stopped for fuel but
straight of again as beer was waiting to be drunk. Once we hit Galashiels we
decided to stop for a bite to eat at a local chippy. Before making the final
push for the campsite, I checked in with the camper which was still at
Peebles (they were all having a curry…fancy!), then chips scoffed it was
time to set of again. After finding our way out of Galashiels onto the road
for Kelso…absolute nightmare I must add…Kelso must be the least sign
posted town I know. On the final 10 or so miles I opened up the scooter and
it ran like a dream (for a change), off the clock along the last stretch of
road until I can over a bridge and could see the campsite just ahead…made
and the exhaust held! We got to the gate, it was around 10ish, had a bit on
banter and paid our dues, we cracked open a few beers while we waited for
the camper van to arrive with the fridge full of cold ones.
I was impressed with the venue, the ground at the campsite was solid enough
and the do looked, well, big! Friday night was just the 5 of us as no-one
else from the CVS turned up…well not until around 11pm when our leader
Davie and his wife arrived. We hit the do around 11 got the last table next
to the bloody speakers, but knocked back a few more beers and nothing was an
issue. It was back to Davies tent after the dance to drink and blether
through to the wee hours before trying to catch a couple of hours sleep
before we had to do it all over again. Saturday for me was mainly spent
trying to re-patch the exhaust to get back upt the road on Sunday. (a
combination of gun gum, stripped clutch cable, circlips and that stuff
stookies are made of…no chance of a new exhaust due to a sheared exhaust
bolt) Also replacing my break pads, caused by a seized caliper of course all
this done with a helping of cool beer from the camper fridge (nothing like
living in the lap of luxury…!). Once the scooter was done it was back to a
full on bevy session in preparations for the nights events. We hit the
campsite for the usual wander to see sho was there and what the scooters
were like. Was the usual selection of Lambrettas, Vespas (both done up to
nines and of course the rats), some top looking Lamy and Vespa chops (a
favorite of mine) and a couple of new vespas, much nicer than the pics…wasn’t
sure when I first saw them. (But give me a clutch an four gears any day)
More of the club had arrived throughout the day and the beer and banter were
flowing. Saturdays do was much fuller and the dance floor was packed, the
usual tunes filled the hall and there was a great atmosphere. I can remember
some stuff being handed out for the usual stuff, but for what and to who I
was far to drunk to care never mind remember! Once the do finished it was
back to the camper to stock up on beer and drink some more, but I didn’t
last long, after a good old empting of the stomach, it was time to
crash…3:30am the last I looked.
We got up on Sunday, early as usual to noise of scooters starting up for the
journey home. Having arrange to get some scooters up the road, we all hung
about until we were compus mentos for leaving…turned by time we left,
around 12:30 the place was deserted…you’d think there was a match on or
something? Anyways after bleeding my breaks so at least I could stop four
scooters headed back for AIRDRIE with the camper van and support taxi not
far behind. Another excellent trip was had, great weather and that top road.
I made it all the way to Peebles before having to re-patch the exhaust…so
that was a bonus.
All in all a great weekend…and a brilliant venue…I hope we can see more
of the same next year and make it a bigger rally…well done to those who
organised it. 10/10
Stovie
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