I've made some mistakes in my life, some bigger than others, but perhaps one of the biggest was going up to the Centenary Rally at Mablethorpe four days early. Let me explain: The actual rally started on Friday 13th September and went through until Monday 16th, but so as to make a nice long break of it, Helen, Elizabeth and myself decided to make the trek up North on Monday 9th - wrong move.
I think someone up there was looking down on us and giving us a clue what type of week we were in for - it was slashing down with gale force winds to boot. On arrival at the Haven Holiday Park in Mablethorpe the weather was still bad news, so we parked the car opposite reception and took stock of our surroundings. Everything looked bleak, run down and in desparate need of a coat of paint. After checking in we were given a map of how to find our caravan and after driving past row after row after row of caravans we eventually found ours. On entering our home for the next eight days, morale was given a sudden boost. Things didn't look too bad: T.V., fire, shower etc. Looking around outside after the rain and wind had stopped, we noticed that a lot of the vans on the inner part of the park, away from the roads, were underwater and we were told that Gary and Jackie were going to be close by to us, so I must confess I did have a little chuckle.
That first night we decided to take a walk to the Harry Ramsdens on site for some nice take-away scoff, but could not help noticing posters and other Elvis things stuck in the windows and doors of many of the vans and even in the chippy I was standing in the queue with a couple of sad gits dressed up like the man himself. Yes, to cap it all there was a bloody Elvis convention on the week leading up to our rally.
Anyway things were not too bad, the weather picked up a little and on the Thursday night our two guests turned up in the shape of big Lee Sykes and Steve (Oliver Reed) Romeril. The scene was set for a good night - Helen had cooked some lovely nosh and there was a 'fridge full of booze. In the early hours we all crashed out, getting up quite early due to the fact that Elizabeth doesn't quite understand yet that after a late session, big people need to come round gradually. Still at least she got us all up and doing.
Most of the day was spent, where else, but in the bar waiting for the others to turn up. Tracy and Gail were to try a new route which meant zig-zagging across most of the country. We all sat in the bar in contact with these two by mobile 'phone plotting their course and trying to estimate what time they would arrive. When they finally did get there it was kisses and cuddles for everyone and another round of drinks.
At about six o'clock Gary Jackie and the others turned up and found their caravans and Lee and Steve got their kit and moved out of ours and into theirs, cheaper rates I guess. Once everyone got sorted out it was time for some tucker with Jackie going off to the on-site Harry Ramsdens for fish and chips for her, Gary and the two boys, only to return empty-handed about forty minutes later. The service was that slow she had a moan and walked out, which I don't blame her for - we had noticed this all week.
Plan B was put into action with Gary going to the local chippy and Tracy, Lee, Steve and Gail making their way into town to find a restaurant, which they did and very nice it was too. Everyone met up in the bar later that evening by which time Kevin and Graham had pitched their tent and were ready for a light ale. It was a good job Gary and Jackie had been before because information and directions as to where to go and register were a bit thin on the ground, so Gary became tour leader and it was decided that this task would be done in the morning due to the fact that it was poxy weather and a fair trot to where we had to go.
We were now missing only two: Clive and Helen, but unknown to us, they were there but in a different part of the camp, so the rest of the evening was spent necking back a few beers and talking of small dramas on the way up. At lights- out we went back to our respective caravans; three in ours and eight in Gary and Jackie's. By the end of the weekend they were all to get to know each other quite well!
After what seemed only a very short space of time, Saturday morning was upon us and Mablethorpe still looked and felt the same: cold, flat and bleak, not to mention wet. But pecker up, this was the big day! So things went with a sort of military precision in our 'van and then it was off to see Jackie, Gary and the rest of the troops in their hostel. On arrival the smell of the full English greeted us, I think it was the second or third sitting and also I think it was person number five in the shower, but morale was high and things were under control so we had a quick cup of tea and left them to it.
We were told by our tour leader Gary that we had to book in at a place called the Broadway which was another part of the Stalag only a short distance away, so off we went. On checking in I met a lovely lady called Sylvia who was very friendly and efficient, giving us vouchers, passes, badges etc. I heard that there was going to be a ride out so I thought Sylvia will know about this and the rest of the weekend's activities - I'll ask her. This was a mistake: "I haven't got time to do everything!" she responded, which left me feeling about as tall as Elizabeth. After checking in we met up with Clive and Helen who told us they had checked in the night before, been ushered to some poxy field miles from anywhere and had a similar experience. Anyway after putting up the tent they went to the bar for a light ale and didn't get served so they had a good start to the weekend - things could only get better.
The rest of Saturday was spent doing our own thing. Helen, Elizabeth and myself went into town, returning in the afternoon and going for a swim. There we met up with big Lee and Tracey who informed us that they and the others had spent most of the day relaxing in the bar. We were all having a pretty good time in the pool until some poor lad chucked up, then that was it - all out of the pool and back to the 'vans.
Everyone got ready for the party and we were looking forward to a good night. Kevin and Graham had bagged a table so at least we all together, The hall was done out pretty patriotic like; loads of red, white and blue balloons and heaps of Union Jack plastic hats although Clive thought it looked like a wedding reception! After some naff music Steve Gibbons came on and about 3½ people got up on the dance floor. He played for about forty minutes and then it was time for the longest raffle known to man. At this time I seized the opportunity to go to the bar and purchase a round of drinks and who was I standing next to but the great man himself, Steve Gibbons. A really nice guy, we had a good chat and even he was moaning about the length of time the raffle was taking. The pair of us had to keep moving around or else we would have stuck to the carpet by the bar area. Very nice.
A good hour later the raffle was finally over and the second band came on. They were called Junction 15 and they were good, straight in with a ZZ Top number and it was non-stop good sounds for their whole set; the dance floor spoke for itself. By the time Steve Gibbons came on for his second set, people were heading home. All in all it was a good night and full praise to Sylvia - on reflection a do like this must take a hell of a lot of organisation.
Everyone had a bit of a late night, so Sunday was a bit of a slow start. The bikes went on show at the Broadway with Gary taking the T160 there, but unfortunately he didn't get anything this time, perhaps due to the fact that there was a Hurricane there in mint condition in his class. It was a low key day with Lee and Steve having to go back to Scunthorpe, Gail and Tracey leaving to go back home along with Clive and Helen. The rest of us stayed until Monday and I guess Jackie, Gary and the boys enjoyed the extra space in the caravan. I don't know what to say about Mablethorpe really, it was a bit different to what I expected, but all I know is I had a bloody good weekend with some very special people.