KELSO 2000     by Tony and Gillian Allen & Nick Hodson

This was our first major sortie with South London & Surrey.  Tony’s work means that we miss most meetings and rallies and so far we’ve been fairly inactive members.  But, the Kelso trip was booked well in advance and cover arranged for work commitments.

Thursday 13th July:  We set off for the 10 o’clock rendezvous at South Mimms (A1/M25) services in plenty of time.  Just as well because it was cold, pouring with rain and the traffic was solid from Dartford onwards.  Now a confession – we were not on our XV1000 Virago, but on our new Honda Varadero. (pause for cries of derision.)  Well, it’s all about comfort, confidence, luggage – OK so we haven’t got a decent excuse – but when you’re biking to foreign climes for the first time, etc., etc.  At South Mimms we collectively stared at, and cursed, the weather and it did not seem to be brightening up.  But we knew we had to get going so with Anne up front and Steve as last man, 9 bikes set off up the A1(M). In between Anne and Steve were (in no particular order), ourselves, Chris & Angie, Jack, Mary, Mick, Barb, plus Nick who would ride up and down the line to check we were all OK.  Later on, at our first pit stop, we were joined by Pete and another Mary, so the convey now 11 bikes long.  We soon realised how well we were being looked after  - apart from all the planning and arranging that had been done on our behalf beforehand, we just followed in the line of ducklings behind Anne who was in contact by radio with Steve and Nick.  So all we had to do was turn up!

We followed the A1 north, (collecting Pete and Mary from the Scrumpies along the way), as far as Newark on Trent where we took the A46to Lincoln and then the A15 to the Humber Bridge where it was so windy that the windsock was horizontal!  We pressed on and made our way to Scarborough via Beverley and Bridlington

After a few stops and improving weather we arrived in Scarborough in the early evening, to the biker friendly Donnington Hotel.  Run by Iain & Lynne, bikers themselves, they understood and took care of all our needs.  After we were settled into our rooms, it was off to downtown Scarborough for feeding at a restaurant that had been pre-booked by Steve (see what we mean about planning).  Steve also bought us all a drink so we could even take our time unpacking our wallets!  After a good meal, a few bevvies, some more bonding (hands above the table of course) and Mick entertaining us with him chatting up all the other guests, we were taxied back to the hotel for some well-deserved kip.

Saturday 15th July:  At breakkie, Bobby and his son Stuart had joined us for the final push north.  Mick had a prior engagement down south and was leaving us this morning and Barb decided to leave us to visit her man across country.  We wished them well and after a photo call outside the hotel, we set off up the coast to Whitby, then to Middlesborough, Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

We stopped for fuel and R&R in Crook.  While the others fuelled up, we decided to have a lie down – literally.  Having stopped the bike Gill and Tony gracefully fell sideways onto the road “TIMBER”.  We were soon surrounded by helpers to get us vertical again and with no damage, except to pride and ego, it was off to the pub for a beer and lunch.  We would like to say that this incident was never referred to again, but our friends felt the need to mention it now and again – “is this God’s way of pointing out that you brought the wrong bike?”  Well as long as they don’t grass us up to the Honda UK Riders Club!!  Suitably refreshed we moved on through Tow Law and Consett.

Then through the Northumberland National Park and onto the Scottish border and Jedburgh.  The scenery and roads just got better and better, long straights for a good blast, winding corkscrew bends to make you dizzy and Northumberland forest turning into Scottish, um, er, well scenery, lovely views and open vistas in all directions.  Well, I mean, us Southerners need at least a few buildings to focus on!  Weather now perfect, funny blue colour in the sky and a strange hot light shinning down.  Along with Chris & Angie, we left the group at Jedburgh as they forged on to Kelso to the BMF site to set up camp.  Confession No.2, we had time to explore Jedburgh because we were booked into a  B&B  in Kelso.  Now that Steve and the advance party had secured Kelso, we arrived leaving them in the trenches while we decamped into the Old Priory & Coach House. The show-ground is only 1km from the town centre.  After a walk around town and an excellent meal, it was time to turn in, ready for the show tomorrow.

We now, temporarily, hand you over to Nick who’ll tell you all about the fun of camping and the evenings entertainment at the show….

Some of the stalls around the show ground were still setting up whilst others appeared to be up and running, so a quick reckie  for any early bargains before the masses arrived was called for. Anne fell in love with a painted helmet, so Steve took her off to keep her out of the way whilst said helmet was purchased and hidden in our tent as a surprise. All done with the sounds of a Scottish drum and pipe band that were playing in the afternoon sun that had greeted us as we arrived and stayed with us all the time we were in Scotland.

Shortly after this, and meeting up with Dougie who lives somewhere out there in the wonderful Scottish mountains and hills that are everywhere and form such superb scenery in that part of the world. Anne then finally decided on which new jacket she would purchase and we returned to that stall, joined by Steve. On another stall also selling imported bikes Steve tried out a Honda VFR400 for size and found it fitted him perfectly. He had to be dragged kicking and screaming from the bike when they closed up the stall for their evening meal. Hunger beckoned for us and we walked into Kelso to find feedings. Walking over the bridge into the town we discovered on the bridge an old lamp which had started life on Waterloo Bridge in London. We paused out of respect for this part of London for a few moments, pondering whether this was part of our invasion, or a trophy taken by the Scots from us?

Having filled ourselves, in this town now full of bikers we returned to the site via an off licence for the evenings entertainment. The band Blind “Chitlin” Smith and the Lamedogs put on a couple of sets interspersed with a disco and karaoke. Anne who had decided on an earylish night made a reappearance some time later thrilled at having found a new crash helmet hidden in her sleeping bag! How she had not noticed it before I shall never know?

Steve very much enjoyed the bands and also the hospitality of Dougie and his pals, but most of the audience’s attention was taken up with what was to prove the highlight of the evenings entertainment a young blonde girl called Kimberley who couldn’t quite contain herself in her enthusiasm to dance and be noticed.

Now as I mentioned Steve was very much enjoying the band and was most put out as big hairy Scotsman stood in front of him totally blocking his view as they all vied for better positions to watch the antics of Kimberley. Other VSOC reps perhaps being perhaps more resourceful – braver –less scared of heights jumped on the tables for a better view of the band.

After a fun filled evening of partying it was back to out tents for some well deserved sleep.

Now, back to Tony and Gillian…..

Sunday 16th July:  Another day, another breakfast – this time a full Scottish (same thing!).  Weather still perfect so it’s off with Chris & Angie to the Kelso show.  It’s about the same size as the Garden of England show, although not nearly as busy – it has the feel of a village fete.  Apparently it is double the size of last year!!  The upside is that it’s easy to get around the stands, buy food and use the loos and we were told afterwards that the afternoon was a lot busier.  The Kelso show is expected to get bigger each year.  We met up with the campers of our party that we left in a field yesterday to say hi and check out the action.  The stunt shows were good but very familiar and the VSOC were invited into the arena.  Chris & Angie were invited to join in, so on their Wildstar 1600 they rode round the ring. Steve, our ever considerate Rep, thought that they might be sent over the stunt ramps and through the wall of fire, so with no thought for his own safety, he “borrowed” a water rifle from a little girl in the crowd, and thoroughly doused Chris & Angie, just to be safe. It was a nice sight, all those VSOC bikes parading around the arena, including the VSOC President, or was that just a rumour.

On the moors we decided for another lie down with the bike having attempted a U-turn on the road with a camber from hell.  So there we were lying down on a grass bank, and cuddling our bike which is so affectionate that we could not get it off us!!

To help get over our fall, the four of us stopped in Helmsley for dinner, one of the best meals for ages.  They had seen 11,000 bikes there the weekend before, as part of the Scarborough festival.  Definitely a place to visit if you get the chance.

Pretty soon we were all back at the hotel and with a Chinese take-away for those who had not eaten and beer & wine for all, we settled down to an evening of chat and reflection, where Steve told us we were down for the “write-up” of the trip!!

Monday 17th July:  Iain & Lynne continued to keep up their reputation for good hospitality, and after a well-deserved kip, served us yet another full English breakkie.  There was a distinct lack of desire to leave, but after much pottering about and a final cuppa, by late morning we got going.  The route back was a rewind of the journey up, and each time we stopped the weather just got hotter and hotter.  By early evening we were back at South Mimms, M25.  Steve sailed on past, desperate to get back to reality, whilst the rest stopped for one last drink, before going our separate ways.