After an unnecessarily stressful week (some little scrote tried to pinch my scoot and managed to break the handlebars), I’m sorted and ready for my trip to Dawlish for the SWSC rally at Lady’s Mile Holiday Park.
It’s an easy ride up (about 140 miles for me), even managing to get through the usual pinch points (Ferndown I’m looking at you) without filtering. It’s bright but cold, and frankly a great way to blow the winter cobwebs out.
People watching
Arriving at Dawlish (which is near to Teignmouth) I relax for a bit in the sunshine and enjoy the comings and goings of the scooters, as well as the locals wondering what’s going on.
When the sun is out, it’s glorious, but as soon as a cloud passes over it, the temperature plummets. I’m glad I left my bike gear on until I could get into my caravan.
Friends have done a shop run and dropped off a bottle of vodka for me, and I head off to my caravan while my caravan mate has headed off to another caravan. When he gets back he’s a little squiffy (read slaughtered!).
Light refreshments
Time to head to the bar. We wander down to continue ‘some light drinking’; yeah, right?
I wake up the next morning still a little wobbly.
In between getting to the bar and waking up the next day, I catch up with lots of old friends, photograph a re-enactment of a marriage proposal and catch Friday’s band, The Corsairs, an absolute staple of the scooter scene. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen them, but they always do an absolutely blistering set.
Downtown
Saturday morning and we head off to Dawlish town to do the tourist thing, which includes trying out the local pubs of course.
This is where I hear my favourite quote of the weekend. Sitting out in the pub garden, I overhear an old guy, complete with a heavy Devon accent, saying to a couple heading into the pub,
“You don’t want to go in there; it’s full of wrong’uns”.
I have no idea who he was referring to…
Plenty of scooters
Saturday’s custom show has a decent turnout, with a lot of good-quality scoots on display.
Speaking of scooters, there were a good number at the rally. It’s becoming increasingly common (especially at non-National events) to leave the scooters at home and drive there, but not this time. It was good to see a steady stream of scooters through the gate over the weekend.
Butterfly collective
Saturday evening and it’s back to the bar and time to catch Saturday’s band, The Butterfly Collective, another band well-known on the local rally scene, playing a great mix of mod and soul anthems, they always go down well with the crowd.
My night at an end and it’s time for cheesy chips, with curry sauce, this is my new favourite food.
Get well soon
Lastly, I’d like to send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to Ian Knox who had a nasty tumble when he lost his back wheel on the the way home from Dawlish
Words and photos: Booga
