Big Andys Scootering Site

.....Having done very little over the last couple of months, both Dawn and myself were looking forward to this one as we always have a great time on the island. My daughter, Sophie and my niece, Kirsty were also attending with us this year and were also looking forward to the rally as well. All lot of scooterists i know don't do this rally as they think of it as a 'mod rally' and is full of 'one rally a year pretend scooterists' but its also full of proper scooterists and you mix with who you want to anyway don't you. Anyway after a minor hiccup we were on the road Thursday morning, making good time and arrived at Southampton in plenty of time for our ferry. We always use the Southampton crossing as its cheaper. I cant understand anyone who comes down the A34 and goes on to Portsmouth and pays twice as much for a ferry. Anyway we were soon on the Speedway 'campsite' and went off to the same area we usually camp, only to find half the site had been fenced off. Apparently because of the lack of rain, great big, deep cracks had open up all over the whole area and were worse down in the far area so the owners had decided to close off that half, but allowed camping on the cricket area instead. Tents up we made our way over to Tesco for the weekends supplies then ambled over to the bar to meet up with folk and watch the speedway racing. There was a twist to this years racing as it was quad bikes instead of the usual speedway bikes. Before long the efforts of the day took its toll and being a lightweight we retired to bed.

.....We awoke Friday morning with the sun beaming through the tent. Dawn did a great job making breakfast with the limited equipment we had, then we went off into town to go swimming. Well, it was better than using the showers on the site. We hadn't used this pool before so was pleasantly surprised to find the roof opened up, making it an outside pool inside. We then spent a pleasant afternoon in Newport and whilst there i popped into the Holland & Barrett shop to say hello. I deliver to the Newport & Ryde shops every Wednesday morning. I was working for VFM in the Ice Rink friday night so we made our way to the King Lud earlish for a couple before i left Dawn with friends and made my way over to the Ice Rink. Tonights offerings were Dexter and Angelo Starr & the Team. I hadn't heard of Dexter before but they were ok, just a pity they had to play to only a handful of people. The Ice Rink soon started to fill up after they had been on, mainly because the heavens had opened up outside. It wasn't really the place to be if you were soaking wet through. Angelo Starr needs no introduction. Edwins brother has done a great job of stepping into his brothers shoes. I saw him for the first time on the Isle Of Man a few years ago, just after Edwin died and to be honest he was not very good, but he has worked hard on his singing and when we saw him again earlier in the year at the Modrapheniacs rally he was really good. Anyway he and the Team were on top form again keeping the dance floor packed. The only sour note was the pain in the arse at the front of the stage who kept trying to grab Angelo. We soon tired of her and she was told to either pack up and bugger off or be thrown out.

.....We were rudely awaken Saturday morning by Jigs from the Macclesfield Kroozers SC belting out Tony Blackburn at full blast on his stereo. Again we went swimming and had planned to go to Sandown and Shanklin on the train but the weather looked very dodgy so decided to stay in Ryde. We had a good look around the Custom show where there was some very good efforts on show, before lounging outside the King Lud for a while. Feeling refreshed after a short nap back on the campsite, we made our way back to the 'Lud' and met up with the Kroozers as well as the 'ii' crew. Tonight was my night off and i was determined to make the most of it. We arrived in the Ice Rink just in time to catch the end of The Racketeers who seemed ok. Jigs's wife to be Paula, decided to have a go on the bucking rodeo bull, so not to be out done jigs also had a go. Then came the biggest shock of the night... i went on it. I say went on it, it took me longer to get on the damn thing then actually stay on it. Still it gave everyone a good laugh, especially Dawn, who couldn't believe what she had just seen. The rest of the night is a little bit blurred from then on. I must have banged my head when i came off the bull because it couldn't possibly have been too much alcohol, honest. I vaguely remember Frank Pop Ensemble taking to the stage, i even danced apparently. Some of the VFM lads asking Dawn "how the hell are you going to get him home in that state". I then remember abusing the staff in the chinese as we waited for our takeaway. I might have been in a total drunken mess but at least i never pissed the bed in a B&B, unlike someone else i could mention who had managed it on Friday night. tut tut.

.....We originally had planned on going home on Sunday but because we were having such fun we phoned the ferry company up and decided to stay untill Monday. We spent the day in Ryde watching the ride out go and having a drink or two with our friends, Mick & Sarah, Jimmy, T, and OAJJ before we all went of to a BBQ at Tara & Ice's, our friends who live on the island. I again was working tonight, but in the balcony club this time. Dawn was with the Mansfield Monsters girls, Marie and Tracey and they set about wrapping everyone up in toilet roll. At least they cleaned up the mess afterwards.

.....Monday morning arrived far too quickly and it was time to put everything away, say our goodbyes and make our way to East Cowes for our ferry back. We had all had a fantastic time on the island, as we normally do and the company we had was again fantastic. As usual we over spent but who counts the pennies when your having that much fun. Our memories are priceless.

.....We wont have too long to wait to do it all again as its Run To The Shires 2 weeks after this rally. Dawn is celebrating her birthday at shires so should be a good one. steve foster has already doubled the security staff for it. I'm to much of a gentleman to tell you how old Dawn will be but she's over 39 and under 41, so if you're there, you're more than welcome to join us Saturday night and give Dawn a cracking night.

untill then

safe scootering

PHOTOS .......... PAGE 1 .......... PAGE 2

DONT FORGET TO VOTE FOR THIS SITE BY CLICKING ON THESE TWO BANNERS