International Rally 2005

Beerse in Belgium was the venue for this years Rally, just 15Km from Antwerp. It was held at a cowboy camp, which from the week before had been inhabited by cowboys and Indians. We left on the Thursday and met at Morrisons in Berwick for an early lunch. Dave Templeman was there first having stayed there the night before. Then on to Newcastle to catch the DFDS ferry (Superfast were also Super expensive so no choice). A quick stop to wait on the rest was soon interrupted by a policeman who tried to give us a £30 ticket for stopping in a clearway, but after telling him to F*** off and get a life and explaining that the NOC had diplomatic immunity we drove away leaving hip speechless and feeling I think a bit foolish. We arrived at the ferry and enjoyed the sunshine, lying in the grass wathching the other people arrive. Suddenly the ticket controls were open, a mad scramble and we all skipped to the front of the queue much to the disgust of the waiting cars ( if fairness we had been waiting much longer than them, just not in an orderly queue)

On to the ship and the first port of call if you pardon the pun was the reception desk to book a table for dinner. Then a quick change and sort out before heading to the bar. The entertainment as usual was typical social club on a Saturday night type, perfect for the civilians and a source of entertainment for us. The Edinburgh branch were also well supported on this trip and they joined in with us for a drink or two!

The next morning and up as bright as a lark, then on to the bikes, through passport control and off to-wards Beerse in Belgium, only drama was one our number (no name no pack drill) lost their water proofs off the back of the bike cause they were not tied on properly. Lucky it stayed dry all weekend! Gary led the way with his GPS equipped F1 Norton, the pace was a bit slow for me and it did at times seem to be more dangerous dodging the traffic on the motorway at sub 70mph speeds. I’m convinced going slow kills as many as going too fast! We still got split up! And 113 miles later we arrived to a very warm welcome from Marc Maes (President of the Belgian NOC) and his wife Micky who it has to be said worked tirelessly over the weekend.

After the tents were erected (near the tepee no kidding we were at a live cowboys and Indians playground) We headed not unsurprisingly for the Bar to re acquaint ourselves with old friends and to meet new. The evening was completely mad and lost in a swirl of beer, sandwiches, dancing and I can’t forget to mention the evening delicacy, .Spinach & sausage. ( I was reminded of this most of the night as it kept coming back to say hello). Lolo arrived from Ibiza at around 10pm (and incidentally spent the night in the tepee but that’s another story) having travelled non stop since late Thursday afternoon. It was also good to see Wolf from Austria who unfortunately missed last year due to an accident en route to Holland. He was on first class form having visited the Lucas Rally in Norway (at Evjie, site of the NOC Rally in 2003) two weeks earlier. We also spent some time in the company of Pat Fielder & Helen who both work in the British Antarctic survey (and we moan about the weather!) and I also met up with Nigel Whittaker from Dunblane who I first met when he helped organise the NOC Flash Rally in about 1982 in the Peak District.

The band were a 50’s style rock and roll band and had the place jumping all night.

Saturday, hangover, and a slow ride in to town to watch the world go by. It was good to sit in the café in the small town square and watch the comings and goings of the Norton folk. Dave Templeman, Forfar John and George appeared at one point for some of the same. Iced lollies & whisky from the local supermarket, iced lollies to help with the heat & the whisky for later.

In the afternoon a trip to the Zwembad was in order, quite a laugh as wel, strict 45 minute swim sessions (well what did you think it was?) separated by a 15 minute dressing stage. The only slight problem was that I ended up in the women’s changing area! Not really a problem as I didn’t mind.

Saturday night and the Band were in the bigger hall, George and I spent the evening trying to poison everyone by giving them swig’s out of our bottles. I don’t think I would have been as popular in the morning!

Sunday, a run to Amsterdam via a major wegomlegging around Beerse, unfortunately wegomlegging doesn’t translate to well, it means diversion and had I been more fluent in Flemish I would have avoided the 10 mile trip around the town instead of getting out! It was one of these situations where you start to recognise things and then realise you’ve been here before, problem was it was only 10 minutes earlier. Amsterdam was Tacky but interesting!!! B&Q there seems to sell more red light bulbs than anything else! The only thing of note that happened back at the camp site on the Sunday was that a half blind horse (which had been left over from the previous weeks cowboy fest had knocked julians bike over.

The sad trip back (it always is) we all had an excellent al le carte meal on the ship, people were sleeping on their feet following the partying and as always?? A bit more subdued on the way home.

A brilliant Rally, superb company and I can’t wait till next year!!!

Ardnamurchan

As part of my quest to find a perfect motorcycling holiday for our overseas friends I was up at Ardnamurchan a few weeks ago, leaving on the Friday night and heading to just North of Ballahullish to get the Corran Ferry over to the peninsula. Luckily I called ahead to book a meal in the pub at the Recipal campsite (highly recommended site) I arrived in the dark and despite much crabbitness managed to get the tent up. Excellent meal in the pub and then it shut at 10.30 as it was so quiet (oh no!) Up in the morning and at seemed quite cold, tent packed and off to the nearest café for a heat and some food and tea (the water of life after whisky) a brilliant run past Glen Uig, and Ardnasheen to Mallaig (dump) to catch the ferry to Skye.Whilst waiting for the ferry I spotted a Robin had committed suicide by flying into my bike and jamming itself between the fairing & radiator, Hmmm cooked Robin an excellent meal! I was glad the heating was up on the boat as I was bloody freezing by this point. Blast across Skye and over the Skye bridge to the Kyle. Stopped for provisions at the co-op where everybody seems to know everybody and then over by loch Carron and the Bealach to Applecross. Tent up (again) and down the pub, I was feeling a bit ill due to my kidneys ceasing to function either because of the cold or because of the drink However double whisky’s for £3 meant the more you drink the more you save! Excellent Fish & I left the chips as I’m watching my figure!!!

Sunday was quite pleasant, and warm! A nice stroll down to the walled Garden for afternoon tea and creamed scones was superb but on the way back it was raining so we made a dash for the pub. At around 4pm a woman came in, set up and done a two hour set on the Harp! Unreal or surreal I don’t know which! Only in Applecross do things like this happen. Another excellent evening and then an early night as we kept getting told the storms were coming in. Monday, feck, wind even more impressive than mine, oh no, I really didn’t fancy the Bealach in this. Tent down (which was a laugh!!) and then one of the scariest rides ever over the Bealach, at times I had virtually no control, if the wind had just picked up another mile or two an hour then I could have been spending a night at Raigmore. Breakfast at Loch Carron (usually good but very average on this occasion) and We decided to go via Inverness on the return journey. Really good run until Inverness then it was crap all the way from then,high winds are the least good thing to experience whilst motorcycling.

Brilliant weekend and more information to add to my book.

Georges Party

Our very own crusty seadog George Peddie recently turned 60 and has also decided to retire (bugger) Most of us were at his party on Friday night in the Civil Service Club. A great night was had by all and I hope George has got to know his new blow up sheep better since then.

Heated Clothing

After many years of suffering the cold I finally decided to get a heated Underjacket. My verdict is bloody brilliant, even on just a slightly chilly day it makes so much difference. It is a bit of a pain remembering to unplug before you walk away from the bike but for journeys of reasonable length I can’t praise it highly enough. Because it keeps your core warm your feet & hands don’t get so cold. At long last when you stop on a winters day there is (a) a chance you can find your willy and (b) less chance of giving it frostbite. I know Ladies are different but there must be advantages for you also (cold tit’s cant be much fun!)

Norton For Sale

I received an E mail from Dave Fenner re a bike for sale in Harris;

I had a call from a guy who says he is an ex NOC member and lives on the Isle of Harris which is a lot closer to you than me! Anyway, he is moving very soon and has a 1954 16H he needs to dispose of.(must be one of the last of the line) It is not totally complete but sounds a good base for a renovation project. Would you or anyone else in your branch be interested. His name is John Macloud and his number is 01851 701145. He is looking for around £500 which sounds about right to me but I know nothing about 16H's

Could you let me know if you or anyone else contacts John.

Calendars

I now have the 2006 calendars, after a year of no Norton calendar Peter Cocks has stepped into the breach and taken over. Get yours now before they run out!

End of season Do

Probably at the end of November at Lochearnhead, TBA after the October meeting.

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not necessarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli

September 2005 20052005