Bridlington – or gust?    PHOTOS

  I decided to take half a day’s holiday and go to Brid Friday lunchtime so as to miss the usual car park that the M1 becomes on Friday evenings – all reports were that the road of death didn’t let any of the later users down.  Journey up was pretty uneventful, saw a couple of the A1SC on scoots in Thorne, and then junior Shady, whose Vespa had decided that it would work better without the suppresser cap?  Bit of gaffer tape, and we were soon in Brid, reaching the Greyhound at 3-00pm. Bit of confusion over digs, but nothing that couldn’t be sorted.  Thanks to Sam and Dean for sorting things for us.  I chained the scoot to a no parking sign outside our digs and then it was time for early beers in the Greyhound, with the usual suspects from the Lammy-Cav team, with two new members, sister Loggie and Knobby-Knock-Back., and the Pacemakers. Several hours later, the rest of the crew arrived, with San and Dean confirming that the M1 had lived down to expectations, and Taxi confirming that the deep sarff to Brid on a Friday night is a long, slow journey.  Off we went to check into the digs, where we met our landlady for the weekend, a woman with the grace and charm of Attila the Hun.  Whilst checking in, she asked us if anyone knew whose was ‘that thing’ chained to the post outside, as she doesn’t allow scooterists in her digs.  We denied all knowledge of course, which some of us found easier to do than others, and went about the task of smuggling 7 scooterists and their stuff into digs where there were only meant to be 5 non-scooterists.  We managed it, and she had no problems from us all weekend, so a result all round! Only sensible thing to do then was have us tea of chips and curry sauce, and go for more beer.  At some point we headed to the do, but we’d missed the bands, so we just drank some more and caught up with folks.  Back to the digs, sneak in past Attila, and off to bed, after telling Dean off for not going to bed as well – how rude!! Saturday was spent chilling round Brid, and enjoying the excellent weather – the calm before the storm?  Popped along to the Spa centre for the custom show, which was ok, but nothing more.  Have to say it was disappointing to hear that peeps were being asked to fork out £2-50 for their kids to go in, ok it’s another bod inside, but does strike me as being a bit steep. Back to digs for my power nap, and change for night-time do at the Spa.  The Spa already had a fair queue outside when we got there, and when the rain started, queuing was less than pleasant.  The band were a Who tribute band who played an excellent, tight set, but were for my money the wrong band for the wrong audience.  Now, I’m all for embracing the full range of scootering musical tastes at rallies, but you only had to take a peak in the ska room where the majority were strutting their stuff, to know what the top sound is on the scene at the moment.  Then there was the now customary fight, a few more beers and a stroll back home in the rain and wind, which seemed to be getting up a bit…as anyone who hasn’t been to Mars over the last few days knows, Sunday was a tad breezy.  The journey home was at times downright dangerous (crossing the Humber Bridge on the Lammy), funny (watching DMs do his usual three times round the roundabout routine), knackering (finding the A46 closed) and exhilarating (reaching home).  Now I’ve been riding these moped thingies for 23 years, and can honestly say that in all those years I’ve never experienced weather like that.  At one point I just pulled into a lay-by as I was sick of fighting the wind.  Still, all character building stuff!!  Texted the ii peeps when I got home to see how they were going, all had a bad time of it on 2-wheels, especially Jane, who fell off after being blown into the curb, and AVT who, in a moment of Sir Gallahad-type valour, decided to launch his steed back to see if Jane was ok.  Unfortunately, he’d forgotten that his better half had already gotten off his mount, with the result that he wheelied his steed, and then fell over in sympathy with Jane – so two bouts of tarmac surfing in a month for AVT.  Anyway, I said I wouldn’t mention it in the rally report, so I haven’t!  The really good news is that neither Jane nor Sir Gallahad were seriously hurt. The weekend was good, the company excellent, the dos ok, and the weather a little inclement at times!  Next stop Hemsby, but will be checking weather forecast before deciding how to get there. I-Spy  ii