It's the first weekend in May, the summer weather decides to go drink somewhere else, and the rain comes down.
Not that the damp was going to put anyone off, especially me. This was my first rally of the season and I had a date with a bottle of JD.
Having pitched tent I imediately ran into folk I haven't seen since last season. Somehow they all had a hipflask (Andy had a perticularly fine malt). I was feeling pretty good even before I started on the JD.
This is the second time round for the Rampant Lion, see last year's report for info about the site. Actually I'm just being lazy and don't want to write it all again ;-)
Most folk parked up on the hardstanding as the field was a bit? squishy, some of us managed to get bikes round to the other side of the field, hoping we'd get them out again on Sunday.
The site was busy by tea time on Friday with a large turnout from ourselves, Forth Valley, The Cruiser Club and the Dragonslayers, who had come up from Durham en masse.
Grub was supplied by the local Scouts, which was pretty good and cheap. Some moans 'bout no veggie stuff, but they did take it on board and had a veggie curry on Saturday.
After the usual famine of winter the first rally of the year is always special, or maybe that's just the excuse for getting totally rat arsed.
By eight o'clock the hall was throbbing, two bands, who's names I can't recall entertained us along with mr jumpy and scratchy's jittering CD disco, apparently a bouncy floor !. From what I can remember ;-) It was a great party, there's a great atmosphere at this rally, speaking to folk, most seemed to share my liking for the smaller rallies, they are generally more intimate and laid back.
Saturday managed to be rain free for at least a while, be warned if someone called Raymond tells you that the pub is just round the corner, don't believe him, it's about a mile and a half, I only know this coz Walter didn't stop going on about it after spending 6 hours in said pub.
Saturday night and the hall was heaving, trophies were awarded, Farthest travelled to the Dragonslayers, best Rat to Goody, who wasn't terribly pleased, second time he's won it and insists it's not a rat, in fact he said if it gets another trophy he's gonna paint it!
The last band of the evening was "Joe's Band" who were probably one of the best "covers" bands I heard at a rally for a while. My benchmark for this is if they play "All Right Now" and it doesn't sound crap, and it didn't.
A mention has to go to the folk from the Mauraders MCC from N.Ireland who arrived at 10pm on Saturday night, they must have wandered Scotland for most of the day before finding the site.
After being ejected from the hall everyone either, made their way to the marquee, fell over, fell asleep or just wandered aimlessly, as ye do.
The was a fair amount of wreckage in the marquee, including the Mauraders who had made up for lost time in the bar.
It all get's a bit hazy after this, I woke up on me sleeping bag as the sun was at gas mark 8 in my tent oven.
Thanks to the Clyde Valley for the great party, look forward to next year's.
Sketchy recollections and Pics by Al
More Photos to come, and any More Photos Over at the Clyde Valley Site
Bob puts a brave face on while Ali tries to convince him to name his new Dragstar
"PEGGY"
This is wee Cheri, I promised to up put a photo of her awake this year.
