Where
do we start? What a brilliant rally and didn’t our hosts
look after us incredibly well? Jean and I met up with Davy
and Lorna at their house and headed over the Forth Bridge
and round to Rosyth where we met up with Ken and Yvonne. Davy
was very upset when he realised the block booking they had
made for the ferry did not become a reality as Superfast do
not allow parties of swingers in one cabin! After some powerful
persuasion from Yvonne and Lorna they were eventually reallocated
separate rooms for the MacKays and Meiklejohns and so onto
the boat. Due to an influx of illegal immigrants, engine trouble
and lack of pilot boat the boat’s departure was delayed
by a couple of hours. This meant we were all pissed before
leaving the dock with both drinking on deck and in the bar.
We all went outside to view the Bridges and scenery of the
Forth as we left with drink in hands and then back to the
bar. The hospitality on the boat was good and we were the
last people to go to the restaurant for food although some
of us cannot remember being there. Back to the bar and the
band. Ken was determined to give the band a tip, after drooling
over the lead singer – sitting on his own at the front-
he came to Yvonne to ask for money and the band suddenly went
quiet as he was told to F_ _ K off! The ladies on the next
table cheered! As the night wore on there was only Davy ‘just
one more for the road’ Meiklejohn and myself left. After
five last Tequilas I took myself off to bed. Davy was so upset
at the change in the sleeping arrangements that he was determined
to stay on and make some new friends – the illegal immigrants.
He also made friends with the bar staff who eventually helped
him to his room and found his key. Lorna was more upset later
when Davy woke up at 5a.m. and redecorated the whole of the
room with puke. They were eventually given another cabin and
Lorna was surprised to hear the staff ask Davy if his wife
was feeling better the next morning! I can’t laugh too
much as I was sick after breakfast but I did manage to get
it down the pan. I was later told Mick had managed a puke
over the back of his Ferry too!
And so to twente! We had a great run across Belgium &
Holland (350Km) with no mistakes until we reached Borne where
we went wrong for a couple of Kms. but soon recovered &
found the site. We stopped and Davy fitted his Caledonia Saltire
to his bike while I fitted my Lion Rampant to mine & so
we entered the Site .We were met at the gate by most of Club
Twente & their Club Piper-Hans who piped us in wearing
his kilt! Anyone could easily have mistaken it for a Caledonia
do as most of Club Twente seemed to be wearing Wallace or
Caledonia & Caledonian T-shirts(Neil). We were later informed
that Piper means Cock sucker in Dutch – so Hans probably
wasn’t over impressed with being told what a great piper
he was. Ian , Billy, Mick, Alan & Sharon joined us at
the Gate and we were presented with the first, second &
more of many, many free beers.
When we entered the main Marquee –The Caledonia Harley
Club banner (stolen from the Wallace) was proudly displayed
above the main stage and so a plot was half hatched (well
we were pissed – again) to get it back and more. Everytime
we turned round Twente friends were presenting us with more
beer – we never seemed to have less than two in our
hands at any one time. We for our part were handing out Wallace
miniatures & surplus badges on the promise that they would
have to come and visit us next year. By this time we were
getting what came to be known as Scottish weather ie lots
of rain. Lorna was exhibiting Scottish hospitality by dancing
with all comers on slightly wobbly legs and wasn’t quite
herself the next morning-though we never heard of her puking.
Alan was more pissed than I’ve ever seen him and wasn’t
letting Sharon leave him for bed. Well the beers were mostly
free& his name is Tightwad. Mick kept up Caledonia’s
reputation by being the last to bed!
Saturday morning found us reasonably well ( with the possible
exceptions of Lorna, Alan who claimed to be well but didn’t
make the ride-out and Mick who just looked a bit shady) and
after breakfast we went on the ride out which took us on lots
of small twisty roads through rich farmlands and forest which
we never would have found on our own. We stopped at a Bar
owned or run by a club member in Almelo for more free Beer
then on with the ride-out & back to the site-this time
with Jean & I on Mick’s new 1450 & him on ours.
I’m certain we enjoyed it more! Isn’t it time
the Club got together to buy the President a new Bike????
Mickey then took Ken , Mick & ourselves off to a traditional
Clog makers works & shop - where we fascinated to watch
them make clogs out of cuts of Willow and Poplar trees from
scratch. Mickey & Ken both bought a pair. The big band
saw he used looked dangerous to say the least and he told
us that shrapnel from the war made it worse and that bullet
metal was the hardest.
We returned again to the site and went to the tents for a
drink and to get the kilts on. We then met up with Will &
Anna & Gary & Sue who had flown in & Nigel who
arrived with his wagon. We then offered a toast to the assembled
members of Twente with a bottle of 12yr. Old Highland Park
I took over, & some more miniatures when this disappeared-
all to the sound of the Pipes & flower of Scotland and
of course more presents of beer. We then made Twente our official
Twin Club-well why not if you can have twin towns?? After
this came the silly games –see who could toss the Toilets
the furthest and of course it came down to a closely fought
battle between Mick & Gary with Gary emerging the winner.
On to more beers then back to the tent to get our faces, arses
& willies painted. Saltires of course. Some time around
this period Davy and I took our bikes across a now muddy site
& tried to enter the big marquee-we were stopped twice
but they gave up in the end and we took our bikes, again with
flags flying, into the heart of the crowd , up to the stage
, where Davy recovered the Caledonia Banner and off out again.
How we didn’t fall over with all the crowding round,
photo flashes and very beery wet floor I don’t know
but we didn’t and we managed to plough our way back
to the tents- where our flags mysteriously disappeared shortly
later. By this time Ken , Davy & Will had all bagged Twente
Banners from around the site-in fact Ken got two but lost
one. So we now have some for them to come to the Wallace and
win back! After we got back to the Marquee the exotic dancers
were on but as Davy & I went to work behind the bar-you’ll
need to ask Jean & Lorna for more details on them. We
on the other hand went and had a laugh serving beers and more
for the next two to three hours, pushing each other out of
the way in our haste to serve the very thirsty & demanding
hordes whilst quenching - yes you guessed it more presents
of beer & attracting/demanding kisses from the girls.
At one point one lassie asked Davy for 2 beers & 2 cokes-so
after giving her the 2 beers Davy called me over & we
lifted our kilts to give her the rest of her order.
On Sunday we bade a sad farewell to new & old friends.
Jean had a puke over the fence at the tent –just to
keep up family traditions. We were even given more beer for
the ferry! More Scottish weather as we left but it soon brightened
up and we then had a good but blustery run all the way back
to the ferry. Our wheels kept on following depression lines
in the road, particularly in Belgium, where the supertrucks
wheels cause ruts.This kept us sharp & we all thought
we had punctures at first. Back at the ferry, more beers,
food, banter and laughter but an earlier and quieter night.
And so to home.
All in all a great Rally, great Hospitality from our friends
in Twente, great food , great beer- many great memories &
I have heard we already feature on their website. This is
a must on the calendar for all Party Caledonians for next
year & the future.
|
