Whitby

June 08

Write Up

 

Well the weather report had said rain, rain and more rain for Whitby weekend, that coupled with the fact that the camp site was a couple of miles out (and we all know Bos don't like paying for cabs) prompted the decision to spend Thursday night ringing around to try and find a B&B in Whitby. After 2 hours I finally admitted defeat and settled down to an evening in front of the TV. The phone rang at around 10pm - PANIC! It's never good news when the phone rings that late - but this time it was the exception to the rules - a landlady that I had called had had a cancellation and there was a double, en-suite room for us if we wanted it. I bit her hand off and did a little dance around the front room!

We both had to work Friday morning so we didn't set off til 3.30. The sky was overcast, but it was dry, scoots were running well and the roads were clear. About an hour later we were approaching York and the heavens opened. We pulled over and put on our waterproofs and set off again - luckily it didn't last too long and by the time we reached Pickering it was much better - if a tad cool. The best part of the ride in is definitely from the Hole of Horcam and across the moors, culminating in the view across Whitby.

We pulled up to our B&B (which was a stones throw from everything) at about 5.30 to find two blokes we knew from Barnsley knocking on the door. The landlady was very welcoming and let us put all our scoots in her backyard before showing us our room - which was fantastic. We dumped our gear, got showered and changed and headed out for some dinner.

We saw Cheffie and Hippy outside a pub, but didn't stop as we hadn't eaten. We finally found a chippy that was still open and bought our usual Friday night rally treat of chips and curry sauce - deciding to eat it on the harbour wall - big mistake! We were promptly surrounded by seagulls (or should that be vultures?). Fed and watered we could now be a bit more sociable and soon ran into Ravey Davey from AFSC, Pashy and Hippy and Co to name but a few. After a good old gossip and catch up we headed for the do. It was already busy so we made our way downstairs to the soul room which was a bit clearer. As the evening progressed it filled up with the most people we have seen on a Friday night for quite a while. We did take a brief walk around upstairs while the band were on, but as they were not our cup of tea, we were soon back downstairs.

By 2am we had had enough and made our way out to walk the 2 minutes back to our digs. Outside we saw John from the 606 slumped on the steps, refusing to move until a Taxi arrived. Ta Da!! We left his club mates with the problem of getting him back to the campsite and headed off.

Saturday dawned dry and bright - them weathermen are crap! So after a full breakfast we went over to the parts fair and custom show. We had just about finished the parts fair when it was time for the ride out to leave. We had decided not to take part, but went to watch them ride off - in the rain (good decision by us) before going back in to look around the custom show. One or two new scoots including an interesting 1957 LDA complete with German helmet headset! By now my tummy was rumbling so we went into town to grab some lunch which consisted of an impromtu picnic next to the big ship in the harbour. We went for a walk along the pier meeting a few friends on the way and stopping for a gossip before nipping back to the parts fair to pick up a new tyre.

All that walking had worn us out, so we nipped back to the B&B for a bit. An hour or so later, much refreshed we nipped out to the local pub for some dinner which seemed to be filled with other hungry scooterists filling their faces. Back for a quick change and then out for the evening. We had decided to forgo the main do in favour of the YSA at the Metropole. It was already quite full with lots of familiar faces so we made our rounds, stopping and chatting along the way.

Young Matt took to the stage with his usual accoustic set and was as well received as ever. Glyn took to the decks afterwards and managed to blast out some reggae classics in between the speakers cutting out! Next up were a band who's name I didn't catch, but its not important as I wouldn't rush to see them again - especially judging by the way the dance floor cleared! A set of northern saw it quickly refilled, too many to have a good dance, so instead I stood about chatting. Around 1am we decided to call it a night, but then spent another half hour or so chatting to Joe, Kala, Mugello and his much more handsome brother.

Sunday morning and it was wet! Typical! So after breakfast it was on with the waterproofs, a quick stop to fill up and we were off. We negotiated the Hole of Horcam without any problems and were soon on our way - only for disaster to strike - my scoot decided to lock up just outside York, and despite grabbing handfuls of clutch I was deposited uncerimoniously in the road. The next hour or so is a bit of a blur - I remember a lady leaning over me, telling me she was a trainee nurse and not to move, next thing I am in the ambulance, answering frantic texts from Dawn and telling Jimmy I was fine - then I am at the hospital having an x-ray and being told that my collar bone is fractured - bugger!

Meanwhile poor old Bos had been left to deal with the aftermath. Luckily some kindly souls from the Tin Soldiers Scooter Club stopped and were able to get my scoot into their van, following Bos miles out of their way to deposit it safely at home, so when I called to say I was ready for collecting he was already on his way back to me. So there we are - 4 weeks til our holiday, with a poorly scoot and a broken collar bone! Best I do as the doctor says and rest, so I may give the rideout a miss the weekend and settle for being a pillion on the way to Cleethorpes! ;o)