Letting the train take the strain

Photo: Richard "Tank" Turner

Letting the train take the strain

Photo: Richard "Tank" Turner

Ever since I joined the club I've been going to the IOW Rally and this year would be no exception. I skived off work at 5:15, the bike was already packed up and waiting in the garage below, I headed off down the A3 and after a short stop at Stockwell to see the wife and child it was straight down to the ferry terminal to catch the earliest possible ferry.
Bob Colvin was already there and we were soon on our way, we also bumped into Andy Pike, a former member, who shoved a map under our noses and said that he'd found this great route to the campsite. I knew it was bound to end in tears but we followed him anyway, sure enough he took a wrong turning and ended up back on the main road to Ryde, so I took over and led us all straight to the campsite.
We pitched up and joined the others (a far smaller contingent had made the trip this year), the band had just started, same as last year, playing a variety of 60's and 70's music and the dance team was soon in action. I got talking to the editor about the lack of support he was receiving to do the kickstart recently - the last two editions had been all his own work - so to help him out I volunteered to write this report. A late bar meant loads of beer was drunk.
Up the next morning nursing a hangover, breakfast at the campsite was reasonable in spite of the wait required, after which it was off to the Havenstreet Steam Railway, which was a short stretch of what was left of a full network of railway on the Island. At one end of the line it connected with the modern part of the railway, relatively speaking that is - since ‘modern' consists of a 1920's London Underground Tube train!
After this we went to a craft centre, were the group split up - some including myself had lunch other went back to the campsite and others went into Newport. After lunch I thought it was time for a quick blast round the island, Shanklin - Ventnor - Niton - Freshwater - Carisbrooke - Newport and back to the campsite (strictly within speed limits of course!) as was rumoured a section of road between Ventnor and Niton had collapsed into the sea and it was necessary to detour inland past the Rugby Club where this rally used to be held.
The rally weekend now coincides with the Ryde mini carnival. Last year we hired a minibus to get into the town, but on this occasion when we rang no minibuses, taxis etc were available so we had no choice but to go down on the bikes and park - which sadly meant no drinking until we got back on site. The carnival was the usual array of floats based on many different themes and also had the Notting Hill type flags, banners and large stick operated puppets.
Back at the campsite the band had already struck up playing 70's and 80's music, after the first session they stopped and the weekend awards were given out. Surprisingly we won best club turnout, considering only about 13 of us turned up. The band started its 2nd session; judging by the way the bar emptied out quite quickly I don't think they went down too well, the entire dance team remained firmly on its backside, personally I thought they were OK and stayed on almost to the end in order to see as much as possible to write this report (the pretty blond bird in the mini dress and knee boots had absolutely nothing to with it whatsoever!).
A lot of people were up early next morning, some went for breakfast and petrol, as for myself, I already had a full tank of petrol and did not want any breakfast. I thought about the route home, the A3/M25 just didn't appeal at all, so I borrowed Malc's road atlas and devised a route via Chichester and up on a variety of A and B roads to the Pied Bull. I said my goodbyes and left for the ferry - the route itself proved great and I was soon back at the pub and after a couple of coffees, I set off for a short ride home. Another enjoyable IOW rally, I'm already looking forward to next year, and old Tom didn't even break down!