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So after several weeks of
high anticipation and numerous hoax text messages from the Skipper,
Yarmouth day had arrived. First bit of good news was that the predicted
rain in mid-Essex had held off. Scoots out and ready, tires pumped and
tents packed (Tents? you do realize it's March they all said?)....Ready
to Move. So having met up with a bunch of local club mates, we headed
North up theA12 to meet with Fred and Rose at the Mersea flyover.
Brownie duly arrived only a couple of mins late and again off we set.
The wind en route was most definitely against, and a couple of extremely
hairy moments ensued as we got blown across all three lanes of the Essex
Raceway. We'd had a serious chat about whether to chance the Orwell
Bridge being closed, but in the end we went for it. Straight across no
probs. The rest of the route gave us a taster of Sunday's return as a
number of snow falls gave us cause for minor concern.
We made it the rest of the way into Yarmouth with one POL stop (and two
smoke breaks/Arse Breaks for non smokers!). At this point I thought I'd
look at the Destination RV map, and found to my own amazement that I'd
actually got us within a km of the place without even realizing!
Quality...could have been a pathfinder eh Brownie!!!
On reaching the Marina Keys, we immediately noted Si Cuerden and Daz
Stocks engaged in some kind of warped kite flying practice. Couldn't
really understand what Stocksy was saying to Si, but he was getting
fcuking wet for sure, as by this time, Sleet had begun to fall in
horizontal format. We'd done our 105 miles in 3.05 hours, and against
the wind, I was well chuffed with that.
We de-bussed to the bar whilst Hunty decided he couldn't let Si suffer
alone, so he went to Stocksy's assistance with their big kite. A couple
of other folks were also intent on challenging the northern lads at the
kite challenge, so we had quite a chuckle whilst demolishing a beer!
Anyway, we eventually ran outside to assist and hey-presto, tents
erected and correct Staff!
So onto the serious stuff of meeting greeting and eating. And a lot of
Drinking. I'm not gonna attempt to recollect everyone's names here, but
if you were there, I'm pretty sure I said hello. At this point, I should
point out that 4 of my club buddies from Essex wimped right out and went
B&B stylee. Not for them the hard core camping malarkey. And actually,
not for bloody me either. After numerous bursts of greeting
rhetoric...with numerous new arrivals (Most of whom whacked their tents
up in nice calm but cold conditions), we got some Sherbet Dabs organised
for the run into town, or Ashore as Bagzy kept saying. Strange.
The final RV was the VFM do, with some punk covers band giving it a go.
But we'd managed to drink our way via the pier bar, the long bar and a
brief stop in Mission. Everywhere you went, Black AFSC badges were
prevalent, as were a huge number of smiley faces....Bad Weather?
Scarborough? fcukit...we're partying right here. The punk band were
actually not bad, although the Soulies amongst us were telling us were
we in for a treat on Saturday with Angelo starr on show for our delights
and entertainment (Well it showed what they fcuking know then eh!).
I believe there was a Norvun Soul room somewhere in the do, but never
found it till Saturday, when it had morphed into a room full of Skinhead
types playing Ska/Boss sounds. (More to my liking anyway!). About
0100hrs we decided to shuffle back to base, and via a cab arrived back
at Marina Keys, where the party was in full flow. Johnny the Guvnor had
got a local mate to rig up an ipod connector and me; blitz and Bish had
several hours of fun playing at DJ's. Apologies to all for some body
finding a copy of "the Sash" on my Ipod, honest, I reckon Bish put it on
there with his majic light bulb device. We leveled things up by playing
the Jolly Ploughman though and ended Honours even for the sectarian
singing! Finishing up the night with a rousing chorus of I'm forever
blowing bubbles. Luves it...
I believe there may have been some Jolly japes occurring during the
night, but as I'd secured myself a nice cozy corner of the bar room and
adopted the prone reverse supported position, I wouldn't have a clue
what they were. Although for some reason, my Arse was and still is all
clogged up and Blitz was fcuking smiling at me? There were some very
serious attempts made on the world snoring record though. Well done
Bish. |
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Saturday night followed and
amidst the drunken Haze, I can remember 3 of our intrepid scooterists as
having a ride in the tea cups on Yarmouth Front, Brownie breaking a
world record for referring to me as a "fcuking Stab", Angelo Starr being
pretty fcuking toss, a whole barrel of beer being drunk, and somewhere
amongst it, my girlfriend showing up and going home again. I hear she
actually stayed for 3 hours...lol. I also remember being told to smoke
inside a pub, and then the order being rescinded sheepishly by the pub
Guvnor. Didn't really get to grips with that. |
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Back at the Marina Keys, we'd been evicted from the Bar and were dossing
in some canal side cafe. It looked warmer than a tent, but it bloody
wasn't. I had Hunty snoring one side and Johno the Pup giving it rock
all the other side. Total sleep? Fcuk all. All of that led me to being
awake and packed by 0645hrs ....so having said my farewells to those who
were awake, me and Steve headed off back to sunny Essex. Like Fcuk it
was. Apart from the life threatening journey home, an absolutely superb
weekend. Brilliant to see everyone again, make some new mates
(Uggy/Jeanette, Damage and Co, Truddy/Evesy, andy/Lou) and well done to
the Norfolk contingent for hosting and sorting out the Marina Keys.
Pompey next then? Please can it be warmer??? |