The Toad in the Hole rally is so called because it's run by the Toad and Dog Ends rally club at the Tunnel Inn at Coates in Gloucestershire - the hole being the canal tunnel entrance near the pub.
This year was my second visit to the rally, and I was determined to find the other end of the tunnel; last year, with no map, I'd just got lost in the woods. The Daytona Super III, now fitted with a new ignition coil to no. 1 cylinder, gave me a trouble free ride: M25, M4, A419 to Coates - 140 easy miles. I arrived early about 2.00pm in order to avoid the low sun getting in my eyes, which had spoiled the ride last year. Tent pitched, I renewed my acquaintance with "Old Spot" ale and the Toads in the Tunnel Inn. After a few pints I was joined by Charlie and Wendy, Paul, Steve and MicMac from the Wight Riders club.
Much drinking was done on Friday night. I vaguely remember finding my tent and crashing out, I also remember waking up and putting more clothes on, it was bloody cold!
Morning came and with frost on the ground it was off to the Munchies van, (always a welcome sight) and a full breakfast. On the way back from breakfast I noticed a very nice Brough Superior SS80, later to win a well-deserved Best British award.
After a chat with Donna and Compo of the Toads and Shelley from the Isle of Wight, armed with my new map, I set off to find the pub at the other end of the tunnel.
The Sapperton canal tunnel, at 3808 yards (over 2 miles), is the second longest canal tunnel in the country. The tunnel does not have a towpath so the horses used to be walked over the top through the woods. I was trying to follow the same path. The map proved invaluable and, in a deep cutting outside of Sapperton village, I found the other end of the tunnel, but no pub. Following the dried up canal for half a mile, there was the pub, the Dane Way. In contrast to the freezing cold night, it was quite warm in the sunshine of the pub garden and two pints and a meal went down very nicely.
Back through the woods to the campsite and get changed for the Saturday night heavy rock disco. The Toad rally has a heavy rock disco both Friday and Saturday nights, not everyone's taste but I think it's brilliant.
Not so cold Saturday night and Sunday sees prize giving and raffle before goodbyes to all and the ride home. Verdict, a bit nippy but overall a well-run and very friendly rally with the best disco in town!
The ride home proved eventful, first there was a lorry crash on the M25, which closed the motorway and gave the option of either going to Croydon or Brighton. I chose to head for Brighton down the M23 and stopped at Gatwick for petrol. Now here is a warning for you all, BP do a very good petrol called BP Ultimate, but they also do a very good diesel called BP Ultimate and guess which I put in my tank? Yes Ultimate diesel! So two hours later after two very nice men from the RAC pumped my tank out, off I went via East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells back home. I arrived home, not a happy bunny, at about 8.00pm!