Baffled in Belgium
1) We (Baz, Brian, Keith & Sandra, Dan) met at the Shirehorse - Thursday 8am. Mike was a tad late. Apparently he lost one of his baffles on route to the Shire.
2) Weather was fine. M25 was kind.
3) An hour or so to spare for the Ferry.
4) We were hauled into customs for a search.
5) Barry charmed them enough that they didn't search us. We left the officials all laughing.
6) Sea France Food was ferry nice as always! Great strapping down system on the ferry.
7) From Calais - Barry had slight Tom Tom trouble (to do with battery charge..)
8) Arrived at rally site (On the Thursday, a day early). Awesome weather.
9) Lots of Viragos. Seems like Yamaha made them in so many different colours. I always see one with a different colour scheme.
10) Unusual site - The Belgians closed a whole road off and had some tents pitched under a foot bridge next to a river.
11) There were shops and bars just a stroll away from the site.
12) The Vultures' tents were situated in a small field, behind the bar/biker pub.
13) There was a stage on this field, it was huge. The bands didn't play on the stage.
14) Fred did.
15) And then he played again... and then he played again...
16) The Columbian Yamaha Custom Club was at the rally.
17) Brian and others were invited to stay at a Hotel in Columbia with the use of Yamaha Cruisers thrown in.
18) Kevin Hoyte arrived on his Raider
19) That night we ate out at the best chippy you've ever seen. Easy on the sauce...(see Dan and Sandra for details)
20) I went to bed and coughed all night. No sleep, got up at 4am
21) Friday, the Brits arrive while we go off for a Vulture ride out (Tom Tom ok....) Lovely Belgian town.
22) Had a coffee on Baz, even though a Pearce and his pound are not easily parted. Weather still beautiful...
23) Mike's other baffle fell out. How we laughed...Ed and Sue - we need a patch for Mike saying 'BAFFLES'
24) Mike's spedo cable ruptured and swung dangerously close to his front wheel during a ride. Didn't stop him smiling.
25) Other road users franticly tried to warn him. He smiled to them and waved - like he does so well...
26) Get back to greet Mr K and new companion. Mr K's tent ready and waiting for the couple. Complete with flowers laid out compliments of Pearce and his pound.
27) Food served that night was cone of chips and a jumbo sausage. We're still unsure as to what was in the sausage.
28) We drank with Sally, Grumpy and others.
29) Sally did not put her hand on Barry's knee!!!
30) Brian, Keith and Mike drank dark ale. There were no spirits, at all, sold in the biker pub or campsite bar.
31) The VSOC were in good spirits none the less.
32) Keith and Brian staggered back to their tents in pitch dark holding each other up and with a Zippo for a torch! Zippos don't make good torches.
33) Live bands were ok. Both bands played Sweet Home Alabama.
34) The portaloos had no flush. There should be a law against this.
35) Showers were HOT and took some tweaking. They had a separate portashower unit also.
36) Vultures had their own ride out on Saturday. Coffee on Keith and Sandra.
37) Tom Tom got us home, with some all terrain riding! Just in time before the battery failed.
38) Stripper on Sat night. Yes she was... and no she didn't.
39) Columbians wanted a photo of everyone present. In true British tradition - moonies were pulled.
40) Columbians sang their national anthem and danced.
41) Bar B Q on Sat was good.
42) Rally breakfasts were good, egg n bacon. Plentiful supplies.
43) Blissful weather all weekend. Some rain on Sat night. Nothing to dampen our spirits.
44) Caught an earlier ferry home. M25 was kind again.
45) Sun still out in full.
46) Thank you Belgian Custom Yamaha, hope to see you in Southampton.
47) Hope Mike 'BAFFLES' got home ok.
