A few more Bexley members had resolved to go to this years rally, but couldn't all meet up at the same time. Hence Tank went pretty early whereas myself and Tony set off at roughly the same time in mid-afternoon but got to the ferry separately, where we met Andy and Lee who had got there half an hour earlier than me and been bumped off the previous ferry for lack of space. Being the Bank Holiday weekend the port certainly was busy, so much so that Tony's fifteen minute later arrival resulted in him having to wait for the next sailing. Fortunately the damp weather that had persuaded all of us to don waterproofs before setting out was easing off.
The crossing, once we were on board, was smooth and swift so before long Andy, Lee and I were following the other ten or so bikes off the ramp. Some seemed to be going to the same rally but a quick quay-side conversation before boarding revealed that no-one knew a sure-fire route. Therefore Andy, Lee and I reckoned we'd take the scenic and easy route around Ryde and the East side before heading for the Blackgang area.
That went reasonably well and before too long we were bowling up the Military Road keeping an eye out for the holiday camp. The large marquee was a give-away so we pulled in to the gate, checked in and followed Shelley's directions to the recommended camping area which was near the entrance, not too near the spectacular but rather exposed clifftop that ran along the back of the site.
There we put up our tents and just as we had finished, Tony arrived having followed some other rally-goers from the ferry on a more-or-less straight route through Newport. A little while later, Lee Sykes, Gary and Matt pulled in just in time to get pitched before darkness fell. Then it was off to the marquee to sample the evening's jollity.
The marquee was a good old size and reminded me of a minature version of the BMF one - complete with a couple of half-hearted pole climbers who, due to the pole being rather thin, were on a hiding to nothing. There was a good selection of beer, complemented by the good selection of bands. First up on stage on the Friday night were Skybus, whom we had seen at the British & Classic rally in previous years, and very good they were too. Following them were Slider who played a more 90s selection of rock which nevertheless went down very well, as did the pizza that Tony and I each had from the mobile trailer that boasted its own on-board brick, wood-fired (it looked like) oven! Hand made to order and cooked in the oven, they were very tasty and just the thing to soak up the beer.
Later highlights are a bit of a blur and the temperature that night was best countered by keeping all my clothes on inside the sleeping bag. Saturday morning started off with a tasty full English breakfast in the holiday camp dining hall, which gave away the age of the place somewhat, coming as it could have straight from an episode of "Hi-De-Hi". We took our time deciding what to do and settled on a ride up the rest of the Military road to the Needles, where further refreshment would be available.
The trip was uneventful, as was the refreshment - once that is we had found the most sensible place to park. A tempting roadside verge was tried but we quickly realised it was marked "no parking from 1 May to 31 October" or similar. It being 1 May that day we went back to the main Needles car park and were pleasantly surprised to find that bikes were being let in free.
After parking up it was straight down to the café and join the sizeable queue for whatever took our fancy. Choices varied but it passed the time until we headed back in the general direction of the camp, with several of us looking out for petrol. Not for the first time on the Isle of Wight we encountered Tank and Shelley going the other way, aiming to meet us where we had just come from.
They turned around and followed us back to the site where, after parking up we all took the chance to distribute some fliers for our rally and have a look round the bike show. By this time the weather had gravitated to clear and sunny, although not exactly warm. The show was a mixed bag of chops, classics, trikes and even mopeds - one decorated in an animal print fabric and the other with four foot apehanger bars and a pink paintjob. Gary put his T160 in against a similar one in the white and yellow tank colouring.
I took a stroll around the site and marvelled at how much of it there was round the cliff-side behind the marquee. Some brave people were camped there, either not having heard of the windy conditions of last year that left some tents pinned against the fencing, or perhaps hoping that there would not be a repeat of the gales. They certainly had a good view!
We adjourned at length to the Wight Mouse inn, taking a chance that the few negative comments on their current menu that had been voiced by other rally-goers were in the minority. It was busy but service at the bar and for the food was reasonably quick so we stuffed our faces as the sun set over the sea. To save us all taking bikes I had got a lift on the back of Tony's Bonnie America and both Shelley and Lee took vacant seats on Tank's outfit. Most comfy we all were too, apart from the alarmed look on Lee's face when we got back!
Over in the marquee the crowd was swelling and the first band were starting. Lemon Wedge, for that was their name, played some excellent mid-tempo classic rock managing - I noted after some time - to pick all the great artists but avoid playing all the most obvious of their songs. As a closet muso that kept my attention throughout their set. Apart from trips to the bar, obviously.
They were followed by the curiously named Pear Tree Bridge Family who went more for the classic punk style with some robust badinage from their frontman. Like all the other bands we saw they went down well with the punters but at an appropriate point in the proceedings I called it a day and took a chance by leaving the leathers off overnight.
Sunday was even sunnier than the day before as most of us packed up, having decided to get back home and fulfil various commitments on the Bank Holiday Monday. Gary and Lee Sykes wanted to have a look at the classic bike show that was happening in Ventnor, so with Matt accompanying them that left myself and Tony plus Andy and Lee Adie to get the earlier ferry. This was achieved with the minimum of wrong turnings, again via the East side and Ryde.
The ferry terminal was virtually deserted so we nipped down to the normal waiting spot only to be waved back to a coned-off lane by an agitated official. It seems that on Bank Holiday weekends when they get a lot of bikes the old system of taking the first available gap tends to cause arguments so they have switched to a proper lane for bikes. The trouble was it was only Sunday so with only the four of us and another guy on a Yamaha XJR it looked a bit pointless but we were soon on the almost empty ferry steaming North. Once at the other side, Tony headed off towards Southampton to see his folks wereas the rest of us took to the A3 and went home.
A follow-up report from Tank revealed that we were in no danger of winning the "biggest club turnout" award as the Barrel Bikers had over sixty members there! Still we at least put in an appearance and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, so thanks to the Wight Riders for a great rally.